Can international students apply?
Yes. Tsinghua University has international admissions routes for undergraduate, master’s and doctoral study. The formal conditions differ by level and programme.
EDMONT / CHINATsinghua University:
Tsinghua University:
admissions for
international students
Minimum requirements answer only the eligibility question. Application competitiveness has to be assessed separately.
This page brings together the officially confirmed Tsinghua University requirements for international applicants: undergraduate, master’s and doctoral routes, language options, CSCA, deadlines, fees and funding.
undergraduate: the latest complete published rule set is for 2026 entry; graduate study: the 2027 guide has been officially published.
Quick answer
The answers applicants usually need before selecting a programme.
Are the 2027 rules published?
For graduate admissions, yes. For undergraduate admissions, the complete 2027 guide had not been published at the date checked; this page marks the 2026 rules that must be rechecked when the new guide appears.
Is the CSCA required?
In the published FAQ for 2026 intake, Tsinghua states that CSCA scores are not required; if an applicant submits them voluntarily, at least Mathematics and Physics are recommended. For 2027 this must be rechecked after the undergraduate guide is published.
Are there English-taught programmes?
Yes, but the list is limited and level-specific. At undergraduate level Tsinghua publishes separate English-taught guides; at graduate level English-taught master’s and doctoral routes exist, but requirements are still set by the school or department.
Facts verified on 20 September 2026. Some undergraduate 2027 points are deliberately stated as “latest published cycle” because the complete undergraduate 2027 guide had not been published at the date checked.
Tsinghua admissions at a glance
One table cannot replace programme verification, but it shows why undergraduate and graduate admissions should not be conflated.
| Level | Language | Academic basis | Language / test | CSCA | Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Chinese-English or English-taught | High school graduation certificate; outstanding academic performance evidenced by transcripts, national or matriculation exams, SAT/ACT/A-Level/AP/IB/CSCA or other materials | English-taught: TOEFL/IELTS/other if English is not native. Chinese-English: HSK 5, or HSK 4 with progression to HSK 5 in year one, plus English proof | FAQ 2026: CSCA not required; if submitted voluntarily, at least Mathematics and Physics are recommended | 2026: 30 Sep 2025–28 Nov 2025; 29 Nov 2025–28 Feb 2026. 2027 not yet published |
| Master’s | Chinese, English or bilingual | Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; programme-specific background may apply | As stated in the school or department Remarks of Application in the 2027 Catalog | CSCA does not apply to graduate admissions | Generally Sep–Feb; deadlines and rounds vary by department/programme |
| Doctoral | Chinese, English or bilingual | Usually a master’s degree or equivalent; in 2027, 39 departments may accept bachelor’s degree holders directly to doctoral study | As set in the 2027 Catalog; PhD applicants also submit research experience or a research plan | CSCA does not apply | Generally Sep–Feb; for scholarship review Tsinghua recommends applying by mid-December 2026 |
Undergraduate admissions: eligibility is not admission strength
The published conditions show whether an applicant can be considered. They do not say how strong the application is for the chosen programme.
Formal basis
For undergraduate admissions Tsinghua requires foreign citizenship, good physical and mental health, goodwill toward China, a valid high school graduation certificate and compliance with Document No. 12 (2020) of the Ministry of Education of the PRC. For 2026 entry, applicants must be 18 or above by 1 September 2026; younger applicants present supporting documents at registration.
Academic evidence
Tsinghua does not publish a universal “competitive grade”. Outstanding academic performance is evidenced by transcripts, national or regional graduation or matriculation exams, international standard tests including SAT, ACT, A-Level, AP, IB, CSCA or other materials. This is a list of acceptable evidence, not a guarantee of admission.
Selection
The procedure includes the online application, document screening and a comprehensive assessment. Arts Division and Architecture routes may require portfolio review. The decision is based on a holistic evaluation of academic performance, language proficiency, supporting materials and assessment results.
CSCA at Tsinghua University
The key point here is the Tsinghua-specific answer, not the mechanics of the exam itself.
In the FAQ for 2026 intake, Tsinghua states that CSCA scores are not required. If an applicant wishes to submit a CSCA result, the university recommends including at least Mathematics and Physics. This rule should not be carried automatically into undergraduate 2027: the new guide must be checked once published.
China 2027 guideLanguage routes
English-taught does not mean “no requirements”. The Chinese-English route does not mean the same HSK rule at every level.
English-taught programmes
At undergraduate level proof of Chinese is not required, but non-native English speakers provide official English test results such as TOEFL or IELTS. At graduate level the language and thresholds are set by the school, department or programme guide.
Chinese-English programmes
For undergraduate Chinese-English taught programmes, Tsinghua requires HSK Level 5 or above, with scores above 60 in Listening, Reading and Writing. HSK 4 may allow admission, but the student must reach HSK 5 within the first academic year or enrolment is terminated.
Timeline: what is confirmed for 2027
Tsinghua does not have one deadline for every level and programme.
| Level | Date status | What the applicant should do |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | The complete 2027 calendar had not been published at the date checked. In 2026 there were two windows: 30 Sep–28 Nov 2025 and 29 Nov 2025–28 Feb 2026; Design/Fine Arts only in the first round. | Do not use 2026 dates as 2027 deadlines. Monitor the undergraduate schedule and programme guides, especially English-taught programmes. |
| Graduate 2027 | The 2027 guide is published. The application system is expected from mid-September 2026 to February 2027; deadlines and rounds vary by department and programme. Tsinghua recommends scholarship applicants submit by mid-December 2026. | Check the Remarks of Application in the 2027 Catalog for each school or department. The second programme preference opens only if the first preference is not admitted. |
Documents: a checklist without false universality
The exact set is determined by level, programme and scholarship route.
- Online form and non-refundable application fee of RMB 800.
- Academic records: diploma or certificate, transcripts, and degree authentication for graduate applicants where required.
- Language score reports: HSK, TOEFL, IELTS or other accepted evidence as required by the programme.
- Personal statement; PhD applicants also submit research experience or a research plan.
- Two academic recommendation letters for graduate applications from associate professors or higher, or senior professionals in a related academic field.
- Passport and nationality status documentation. Documents not in Chinese or English require notarised translations.
- Portfolio or programme-specific materials for Architecture, Arts Division and other routes that require them.
Fees and funding
Fees and the scholarship decision should be planned before submission, not after an offer.
Undergraduate tuition
In the published fee schedule, Tsinghua lists Chinese-English undergraduate tuition at RMB 26,000, 30,000 or 40,000 per year depending on division; clinical medicine has staged fees of RMB 40,000, 60,000 and 70,000. English-taught programme fees may refer to the programme guide.
Graduate tuition
Graduate tuition fees for 2027 were not yet posted in the tuition table at the date checked. Tsinghua says 2027 fees will be announced before the application starts in mid-September, and points applicants to 2026 tuition as reference.
Scholarships
For undergraduate applicants Tsinghua mentions the Chinese Government Scholarship through the local embassy or consulate and Tsinghua University Institutional Scholarships. For graduate applicants Tsinghua lists CGS, tuition scholarships, assistantships and awards; scholarship candidates are normally selected from pre-admitted students and funding is not automatic.
How to judge whether a profile is competitive
Checking minimum requirements is not enough: two applicants formally eligible for the same programme may have very different application strength.
01FORMAL ELIGIBILITY
02ACADEMIC DEPTH
03PROGRAMME FIT
04LANGUAGE ROUTE
05TEST STRATEGY
06FUNDING FIT
07APPLICATION POSITIONING
08CALENDAR RISK
EDMONT does not calculate admission probabilities or promise admission. We assess curriculum rigour, grades, subject preparation, language, CSCA or alternative academic evidence, research fit for graduate applicants, interviews and scholarship constraints separately.
Common mistakes
Carrying 2026 rules into 2027 without checking.
Treating the CSCA as a universal Tsinghua requirement when the 2026 FAQ says otherwise.
Confusing the English-taught route with no English proof.
Preparing a graduate application like an undergraduate file, without research fit and department-level rules.
Questions about applying to Tsinghua
Choose the level and programme, check eligibility, language of instruction, documents and the deadline in the official guide, then apply through Tsinghua’s online system. For graduate applicants, deadlines and requirements differ by school and department.
For undergraduate 2026 intake, Tsinghua’s published FAQ says CSCA scores are not required. If an applicant wishes to submit a result, at least Mathematics and Physics are recommended. This should not be carried into 2027 without checking the new undergraduate guide.
Yes. Tsinghua publishes separate English-taught undergraduate guides and a list of graduate programmes in English. An English route does not remove academic requirements, language proof or programme-specific assessment.
For undergraduate English-taught programmes, proof of Chinese is not required. For Chinese-English undergraduate programmes, HSK 5 is required, or HSK 4 with progression to HSK 5 within the first year. At graduate level the school or department sets the language rule.
For undergraduate study, the file includes the online form, academic records, proof of examinations and language, supporting materials and, for certain routes, a portfolio. For graduate applications Tsinghua lists a personal statement, degree certificates and authentication, transcripts, language score reports, two academic recommendations, passport and nationality documents; PhD applicants add a research plan.
Yes, but funding is not automatic. For undergraduates Tsinghua names the Chinese Government Scholarship and institutional scholarships. For graduate students there are CGS, tuition scholarships, assistantships and awards. Admission and funding have separate rules and timing.
Official sources
Primary sources used to verify this page. If Tsinghua publishes the new undergraduate 2027 guide, this page should be updated.
- Tsinghua University — Undergraduate Admissions: Eligibility
- Tsinghua University — Undergraduate Admissions: Application Procedures
- Tsinghua University — Undergraduate Admissions: Schedule
- Tsinghua University — Undergraduate Admissions: Fees
- Tsinghua University — Undergraduate Admissions: FAQ
- Tsinghua University — Freshmen Scholarships
- Tsinghua University — English Taught Programs
- Tsinghua University — Admission to Graduate Programs 2027
- Tsinghua University — 2027 Graduate Application Reminders
- Tsinghua University — Evaluation and Admission
- Tsinghua University — Graduate Programs in English
- Tsinghua University — Graduate Financial Aid System
- CSCA — official examination site
EDMONT / TSINGHUA
Start with the profile, then the Tsinghua route.
Tsinghua’s requirements establish formal eligibility. A strategy still has to assess the applicant’s competitiveness, programme choice, CSCA or alternative academic route, language, funding and calendar.
ELIGIBILITY → COMPETITIVENESS → PROGRAMME FIT → CALENDAR