One of the biggest advantages of China is affordability. In this post we break down typical tuition ranges across program levels, dormitory vs off-campus living costs, food, transport and monthly budgets for major cities. We also show how scholarships can reduce or even eliminate these costs.
Tuition by level
| Level | Tuition per year (before scholarship) | In our list |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor | 2,000 to 39,900 RMB (median 14,000) | 42 programmes |
| MBBS | 26,000 to 40,000 RMB (median 33,500) | 6 programmes, 6 years |
| Master | Fully funded offers: tuition free | 18 programmes |
| PhD | Fully funded: tuition free | 5 programmes |
| Chinese language | 5,000 RMB for 6 months incl. hostel | 1 course |
Fees everyone pays
- Medical insurance: about 800 RMB a year
- Residence permit: about 400 RMB a year
- First year only: medical check (about 400 RMB), registration (about 450 RMB) and sometimes an application fee (about 400 RMB)
These are the most common figures in our programme brochures. Each university sets its own.
Plan for proof of funds too: 19 programmes in our list ask for a family bank statement showing USD 5,000 when you apply. It is money you show, not a fee you pay.
Living costs by city
| City tier | Examples | Living per month | Shared dorm per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen | 1,200 to 3,500 RMB | about 900 RMB |
| Tier 2 | Tianjin, Hangzhou, Nanjing | 900 to 2,800 RMB | about 600 RMB |
| Tier 3 | Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Xuzhou | 700 to 2,000 RMB | about 400 RMB |
Living covers food, transport, phone and personal costs. Canteen meals keep the lean budget realistic; eating out and travel push it towards the comfortable figure.
A sample year in a tier-2 city
A self-funded Bachelor student in a city such as Nanjing or Wuhan, living in a shared dorm on a standard budget, spends roughly 26,400 RMB a year on rent, living, insurance and the residence permit. Tuition comes on top, unless a scholarship covers it.
How scholarships change the picture
With a tuition-free scholarship, your main costs are living and housing. With a fully funded offer, housing is free too and the stipend (up to 3,500 RMB a month for PhD students in our list) can cover most living costs.
Run your own numbers in the study cost calculator: it adds up tuition, housing, living and fixed fees in RMB for your city and scholarship.