University guide · Tianjin

南开大学

Nankai University NKU

Founded in Tianjin in 1919, Premier Zhou Enlai's alma mater and one of the three universities behind wartime Southwest Associated University.

  • Founded 1919
  • Ministry of Education university
  • Double First-Class university
  • Tianjin · Balitai and Jinnan campuses

Checked against official websites · November 2026 · Sources

At a glance

20,000

CNY / year

Tuition for humanities, social science and business programmes

Source

HSK 4

180+

Minimum Chinese level to apply; many programmes ask for more

Source

4 June

2027

Application deadline for the 2027 intake (opened 20 October 2026)

Source

23–60

CNY / day

On-campus bed price, utilities and internet included

Source

Two ways to do a bachelor's degree here

Most international students take one of these two routes. They have different ages, tests and deadlines.

1

Self-funded bachelor's

Ages 18–25 with a high-school diploma

  • Tuition 20,000–35,000 CNY a year, depending on the programme
  • HSK 4 (180+) at least; some programmes ask for HSK 5 or HSK 6
  • CSCA scores required, plus an interview
  • Apply at nankai.at0086.cn from 20 October 2026 to 4 June 2027; you can list two programmes in order
  • 400 CNY application fee, paid only after pre-admission, non-refundable
Source

2

Chinese Government Scholarship

Type A through the Chinese embassy in your country

  • Type A: apply through the Chinese embassy or consulate, usually between November and early February
  • Nankai advises getting its pre-admission first, then applying to the embassy
  • No application fee for Chinese Government Scholarship holders
  • Type B (Silk Road): only for some countries and programmes; the 2027 details come out in April 2027
Source

Bachelor's programmes and tuition

Tuition is per academic year, in Chinese yuan (CNY). Chinese names are shown so you can match them on the university's application system.

Humanities, social sciences and business 12 20,000 CNY / year

Requirement: HSK 4 (180+) at least; the level each school asks for is in each row. Four-year programmes, taught in Chinese unless noted.

Programme中文名 Requirement CNY / year
Journalism · Library Science · Internet and New Media · Data Resources and Data Intelligence 新闻学 · 图书馆学 · 网络与新媒体 · 数据资源与数据智能 HSK 5 · Jinnan campus 20,000
Sociology · Social Work 社会学 · 社会工作 HSK 5 or higher · Jinnan campus 20,000
Philosophy 哲学 HSK 5 or higher · Jinnan campus 20,000
Chinese Language and Literature 汉语言文学 HSK 5 or higher · Balitai campus 20,000
History · Cultural Heritage and Museology · World History 历史学 · 文物与博物馆学 · 世界史 HSK 4 (180+), able to follow classes fully in Chinese · Jinnan campus 20,000
English · Japanese · French 英语 · 日语 · 法语 HSK 4 (180+) · taught in Chinese plus the target language · Balitai campus 20,000
International Politics · Public Administration · Political Science and Public Administration 国际政治 · 行政管理 · 政治学与行政学 HSK 4 (180+) · Jinnan campus 20,000
International Chinese Language Education · Chinese Language (Business Chinese) 汉语国际教育 · 汉语言（经贸汉语） CSCA: Mathematics only · Balitai campus 20,000
Business Economics 商务经济学 HSK 5 or higher, able to follow classes fully in Chinese · first choice only · Balitai campus 20,000
Financial Management · Business Administration · Marketing · Big Data Management and Applications 财务管理 · 工商管理 · 市场营销 · 大数据管理与应用 HSK 4 or higher, strong maths and English · Business Administration is taught in Chinese and English and takes first-choice applicants only · Balitai campus 20,000
Tourism Management 旅游管理 Jinnan campus 20,000
Finance · Insurance 金融学 · 保险学 HSK 6 (180+) · Jinnan campus 20,000
Science, engineering and pharmacy 8 25,000 CNY / year

Requirement: HSK 4 (180+) at least; extra requirements are in each row. Four-year programmes, taught in Chinese unless noted.

Programme中文名 Requirement CNY / year
Mathematics and Applied Mathematics · Information and Computing Science 数学与应用数学 · 信息与计算科学 HSK 4 (180+), strong maths background · Balitai campus 25,000
Statistics 统计学 Jinnan campus 25,000
Data Science 数据科学 HSK 4 (180+) · Jinnan campus 25,000
Chemistry · Chemical Biology · New Energy Science and Engineering 化学 · 化学生物学 · 新能源科学与工程 Balitai campus 25,000
Biological Sciences · Biotechnology 生物科学 · 生物技术 Taught in Chinese and English · Balitai campus 25,000
Resource Recycling Science and Engineering 资源循环科学与工程 HSK 4 (180+) · Jinnan campus 25,000
Optoelectronic Information Science and Engineering · Electronic Information Science and Technology · Electronic Science and Technology · Microelectronics Science and Engineering · Communication Engineering 光电信息科学与工程 · 电子信息科学与技术 · 电子科学与技术 · 微电子科学与工程 · 通信工程 HSK 5 (210+), good high-school grades in maths and physics · Jinnan campus 25,000
Pharmacy 药学 Jinnan campus 25,000
Medicine (five years) 2 35,000 CNY / year

Requirement: HSK 6 (180+). Five-year programmes taught in Chinese, Jinnan campus.

Programme中文名 CNY / year
Ophthalmology and Optometry Medicine 眼视光医学 35,000
Stomatology (Dentistry) 口腔医学 35,000
Source

Which CSCA subjects are required

Humanities, social sciences, languages, business and finance

Chinese (humanities or science version) + Mathematics

International Chinese Language Education, Chinese Language (Business Chinese)

Mathematics only

Mathematics, statistics, data science, electronics and optoelectronics

Science Chinese + Mathematics + Physics

Chemistry, life sciences, resource recycling, pharmacy and medicine

Science Chinese + Mathematics + Physics + Chemistry

Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

How to apply

Self-funded

  1. Take the CSCA (register at csca.cn) in the subjects your programme requires.
  2. Register at nankai.at0086.cn, choose up to two programmes in order and upload your documents. Nankai does not accept paper or emailed applications.
  3. Nankai reviews your file; if you pass, you are invited to an interview on your Chinese and overall ability.
  4. If admitted, pay the 400 CNY fee and the full tuition in the system on time. The electronic admission letter and visa form are sent from July 2027.

Documents: Passport page (valid until at least 1 September 2028) · high-school diploma or expected-graduation letter, and all high-school transcripts · CSCA score report · personal statement in Chinese (at least 800 characters) · HSK 4 (180+) report · one recommendation letter, usually from a high-school teacher · Foreigner Physical Examination Form · proof of financial support · police clearance certificate

Scholarship (Type A)

  1. Fill in Nankai's online application at nankai.at0086.cn (include the Foreigner Physical Examination Form or your Chinese residence permit page) and note your application number.
  2. Email the application number to nkadmission01@nankai.edu.cn with “预录取通知书申请” (pre-admission letter request) in the subject line.
  3. Apply for the Type A scholarship at the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country, before its own deadline.
  4. You get Nankai's formal admission as a scholarship student only after the China Scholarship Council confirms the award.

📅 Dates

For the 2027 intake, Nankai accepts applications from 20 October 2026 to 4 June 2027. Admission letters and visa documents are sent from July 2027. Scholarship places are limited, so Nankai asks scholarship applicants to apply early. For the Type A Chinese Government Scholarship, the embassy application period is usually November to early February; each embassy sets its own deadline. Source

About the university

Nankai University is a key comprehensive university under the direct administration of China's Ministry of Education, and the alma mater of Zhou Enlai, the first Premier of the People's Republic of China. It was founded in Tianjin in 1919 by the educators Yan Xiu and Zhang Boling.

After Japanese bombing destroyed the campus in 1937, Nankai moved south and joined Peking University and Tsinghua University to form National Southwest Associated University in Kunming. It returned to Tianjin in 1946 as a national university. It was later supported by China's Project 211 and Project 985, and in 2017 it was selected for the national Double First-Class initiative.

Since the Jinnan campus opened in September 2015, the university has run three campuses: Balitai, Jinnan and TEDA. Its motto is “Dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capability, and aspiration for progress with each passing day.”

Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

On-campus housing

Single room, private bathroom (Balitai)60 CNY / day
Single room, private bathroom (Jinnan)50 CNY / day
Twin room, private bathroom (Balitai)33–47 CNY / bed / day
Twin room, private bathroom (Jinnan)23 CNY / bed / day
Twin room, shared bathroom (Balitai)23 CNY / bed / day
Single room, shared bathroom, or triple room (Balitai)33 CNY / bed / day

Electricity, internet and water are included, and every room has air conditioning. Rooms are booked online; the university assigns your campus based on your programme. Source

Admissions contact

School of International Education, Admissions · +86-22-23508825 · nkadmission01@nankai.edu.cn · WeChat: NKUISO

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official pages. Checked November 2026.

  1. Nankai · 2027年南开大学国际本科生招生简章 (2027 undergraduate guide, 13 Oct 2026)
  2. Nankai · Undergraduate Programs for International Students 2027 (English)
  3. Nankai · 2027年国际本科生招生专业目录 (2027 programme catalogue, .xlsx)
  4. Nankai · 中国政府奖学金申请办法-国别双边（项目A）
  5. Nankai SIE · 住宿 (on-campus housing and prices)
  6. Nankai · 学校简介
  7. Nankai SIE · 学校简介
  8. Nankai · About NKU
  9. CSCA official site

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