#649 in the world · QS 2027

Beijing University of Chemical Technology

北京化工大学

Beijing's specialist chemical engineering university, with chemistry, materials and engineering in the ESI top 1‰.

Beijing, Chaoyang and Changping districts, China Public research university (national key university under the Ministry of Education) Founded 1958 Official website

See my chances at BUCT Admissions office

Photo: N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tuition: CN¥20,000; 2026-27
Founded: 1958
QS World Ranking: #649; 2027 edition
Campus: Mixed; 2,492 mu (about 166 ha) across the Chaoyang, Haidian and Changping campuses

About BUCT

Beijing University of Chemical Technology was founded in 1958 as the Beijing Institute of Chemical Technology, created to train the high-level chemical engineers new China needed, and took its current name in 1994. It is a national key university under the Ministry of Education, a Project 211 member and a Double First-Class university, with Chemical Engineering and Technology as its Double First-Class discipline.

The university is strongest where its name suggests. Chemistry, materials science and engineering are in the top 1‰ of the Essential Science Indicators, and eight more subjects, from computer science to pharmacology, are in the top 1%. BUCT has 18 colleges and departments, more than 16,000 full-time undergraduates, over 10,000 postgraduates and about 420 international degree students, spread across campuses in Chaoyang, Haidian and Changping.

For international undergraduates, BUCT runs a compact programme: five majors can be studied in English (Chemical Engineering and Technology, Polymer Materials and Engineering, Computer Science and Technology, Chemistry, and Bioengineering), dozens more are taught in Chinese, and a Sino-French chemical and pharmaceutical engineering track is taught in French and English. Tuition is CNY 20,000 a year. It suits applicants who already know they want chemistry, materials or process engineering and want a specialist university in Beijing rather than a large comprehensive one.

宏德博学，化育天工

“To be ambitious, virtuous, profoundly learned and to serve people (the university's own English rendering)” — university motto

Why students choose BUCT

Chemistry, materials science and engineering rank in the top 1‰ of the Essential Science Indicators, the university's strongest research areas.

Five undergraduate majors, including Chemical Engineering and Technology and Computer Science and Technology, can be taken in English.

Tuition for international undergraduates is CNY 20,000 a year, and the Beijing Government Scholarship can cover it in full.

Double-degree (2+2) routes link BUCT with partner universities such as Kazan National Research Technological University, Tomsk State University and Prince of Songkla University.

Admissions

September 2027 intake (the latest published guide is for the past 2026-27 intake)

Selectivity

BUCT does not publish an admission rate for international undergraduates. Applicants pass a preliminary review, an online academic proficiency test and a comprehensive interview before pre-admission.

Testing Required: the CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment). Every major requires CSCA Mathematics, plus Chemistry for chemical engineering, materials, chemistry and life-science majors, or Physics for mechanical, mathematics and physics majors; information science, economics and management, and humanities and law majors need Mathematics only. Chinese-taught applicants must also pass the CSCA Professional Chinese test.

Typical entry requirements

High school diploma	High school graduate or above, non-Chinese citizen with a valid private passport, aged 18-25; under-18s need a guardian with Beijing residency; applicants with Chinese background must meet Ministry of Education rules
CSCA	Mathematics plus the designated elective for your major (Chemistry or Physics for most science and engineering majors)
HSK (Chinese-taught programmes)	HSK 4 with 180 or above, plus a pass in the CSCA Professional Chinese test
French (Sino-French programme)	French B1 or equivalent; native French speakers exempt
English language	IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 85 English-taught programmes: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 85, or another certificate BUCT recognises (its FAQ mentions Duolingo). Native English speakers are exempt.

Deadlines

2026-27 intake, undergraduate application - PAST CYCLE, for reference only Non-binding Passed

June 30, 2026 (closed)

Previous cycle deadline. BUCT had not published the 2027-28 undergraduate guide as of September 29, 2026.
Beijing Government Scholarship (2026 intake) - PAST CYCLE, for reference only Non-binding

June 2026 (closed)

Applied for through the BUCT application system; early applications get priority.
Chinese Government Scholarship Type A (2026 intake) - PAST CYCLE, for reference only Non-binding

March 2026 (closed)

Apply through the Chinese embassy or consulate (usually November to April), choosing Type A with BUCT (institution code 10010) as first choice, and also apply on study.buct.edu.cn.

The latest published BUCT undergraduate guide is for the 2026-27 academic year (deadline June 30, 2026; Chinese Government Scholarship Type A by March 2026; Beijing Government Scholarship by June 2026). Expect a similar timetable for 2027 entry and apply early, since BUCT says early applications get priority in scholarship review.

How to apply

Register at study.buct.edu.cn and upload a CV and study proposal, passport, notarised high school transcript and diploma, language certificate, CSCA elective scores, the Foreigner Physical Examination Form and a no-criminal-record certificate. After passing the preliminary review, pay the CNY 500 application fee, then take an online academic proficiency test and a comprehensive interview; admitted students receive an admission letter and JW201/JW202 visa form. Only one programme application is allowed per year, and majors cannot be changed after enrolment.

What admissions looks for

A completed high school education, shown by notarised transcripts and diploma.
CSCA results in Mathematics and the elective subject designated for your major.
Language proficiency: HSK 4 (180+) plus CSCA Professional Chinese for Chinese-taught majors, or IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 85 for English-taught majors.
A pass in the online academic proficiency test and the comprehensive interview, supported by a clear study proposal.

Tips for applying to BUCT

1 Choose your major carefully: BUCT allows one programme application per year and does not allow changes of major after enrolment.
2 Check the CSCA elective for your major before you book the test: Chemistry for chemical engineering and materials, Physics for mechanical and physics majors.
3 For the Chinese Government Scholarship, apply both through your embassy's CSC system and on the BUCT system; the BUCT system shows Self-funded until the interview stage, which is normal.
4 Book university housing early: rooms in the international student apartments are allocated first come, first served and are not guaranteed.

Costs & financial aid

2026-27 · figures in CNY

International undergraduates per year (2026-27 intake), all majors Tuition CN¥20,000

+ housing only: on-campus double room at cny 10,800 a semester = cny 21,600 a year per person (single room cny 25,200 a year); food and other costs are not published CN¥21,600 ≈ CN¥41,600 per year

Tuition Housing only: on-campus double room at CNY 10,800 a semester = CNY 21,600 a year per person (single room CNY 25,200 a year); food and other costs are not published

Financial aid

The Chinese Government Scholarship (Type A, through your embassy) covers tuition, on-campus housing, a CNY 2,500 monthly stipend for bachelor's students and medical insurance. The Beijing Government Scholarship covers full undergraduate tuition (CNY 20,000 a year) and insurance and is applied for directly through BUCT; both are renewed after an annual review.

CNY 2,500 per month, plus tuition, housing and insurance
Chinese Government Scholarship, bachelor's stipend: Full tuition (CNY 20,000 a year) and medical insurance
Beijing Government Scholarship: CNY 500
Application fee: Insurance CNY 800 a year; residence permit CNY 400 a year
Insurance and residence permit

Academics

Academic calendar: Two semesters

Chemical Engineering and Technology (BEng)

BUCT's Double First-Class discipline, taught in English or Chinese, with CSCA Mathematics and Chemistry required.

Polymer Materials and Engineering (BEng)

Taught in English or Chinese in the College of Materials Science and Engineering; materials science is in the ESI top 1‰.

Computer Science and Technology (BEng)

One of five English-taught majors; computer science is in the ESI top 1%.

Chemistry

Taught in English or Chinese; chemistry is in the ESI top 1‰.

Bioengineering (BEng)

English-taught major in the College of Life Science and Technology, which focuses on green biomanufacturing, biomedicine and biosafety.

Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering (Sino-French Elite Engineering Education Program)

Taught in French and English at the Chimie Pékin Paris Curie Engineer School; French B1 required.

Research

BUCT received a record CNY 1.381 billion in research funding in 2025.
The university has 4 national key laboratories and won the first National Natural Science Foundation of China Basic Science Center project in the chemical engineering field.
Since 2001, 33 BUCT research projects have won China's top national science and technology awards.

Schools & faculties

College of Chemical Engineering
College of Materials Science and Engineering
College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
College of Information Science and Technology
School of Economics and Management
College of Chemistry
College of Mathematics and Physics
College of Humanities and Law
College of Life Science and Technology
Chimie Pékin Paris Curie Engineer School
Hou Debang Engineering College
School of International Education

Student life

International undergraduates at BUCT live in international student apartments with air conditioning, heating, private bathrooms and internet. The School of International Education runs events for its roughly 400 international degree students, including an annual International Cultural Festival (the 10th was held in 2025), outings to Beijing sights such as the Summer Palace, and festival celebrations. Most undergraduate majors are taught in Chinese, so many international students study alongside Chinese classmates and keep building their Chinese through the degree.

The annual International Cultural Festival, organised by the School of International Education.
Organised outings to Beijing sights such as the Summer Palace.
About 420 international degree students among more than 26,000 full-time students.
A new Changping campus in Nankou Town, near the Ming Tombs and the Badaling area.

Housing. On-campus double rooms cost CNY 10,800 a semester and single rooms CNY 12,600 a semester; places are allocated first come, first served and are not guaranteed, and students living off campus must register with the local police within 24 hours.

Location

BUCT's historic East Campus sits on the North Third Ring Road in Chaoyang District, southeast of the Asian Games Village and inside Beijing's urban core. The newer North Campus is in Nankou Town, Changping District, about 40 km from the urban area and close to the Ming Tombs and the Badaling section of the Great Wall. Beijing offers a huge range of culture and history, but distances between campuses and the city centre are large.

Nearest airport: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)

Notable alumni

ZX
Zhou Xiaochuan

Governor of the People's Bank of China (2002-2018); graduated from the Beijing Institute of Chemical Technology in the 1970s
HG
He Guoqiang

Member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (2007-2012) and head of its discipline inspection commission; graduated in inorganic chemistry
CW
Cheng Wei

Founder of Didi Chuxing; bachelor's degree in engineering administration
ZH
Zuo Hui

Founder of Lianjia and KE Holdings; computer science degree (1992)
GW
Grace Wang

President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute; BS and MS in polymer materials
ZL
Zhang Liqun

Materials scientist and university president (South China University of Technology, then Xi'an Jiaotong University); BS, MS and PhD from BUCT
MZ
Ma Zhengwu

Business executive and member of the 19th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party; graduated in 1985

Frequently asked questions

Does Beijing University of Chemical Technology require the CSCA?

Yes. All international undergraduate applicants must take the CSCA: Mathematics plus a designated elective such as Chemistry or Physics, depending on the major. Chinese-taught applicants also need the CSCA Professional Chinese test.

Can I study at BUCT in English?

Yes, five majors are offered in English: Chemical Engineering and Technology, Polymer Materials and Engineering, Computer Science and Technology, Chemistry and Bioengineering. You need IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 85 unless you are a native English speaker.

How much is tuition at BUCT for international students?

CNY 20,000 a year for undergraduates (2026-27 intake). An on-campus double room costs another CNY 21,600 a year.

What is the BUCT application deadline?

For the 2026-27 intake the deadline was June 30, 2026. The 2027 guide had not been published as of September 29, 2026; expect a similar timetable and apply early for scholarships.

What scholarships does BUCT offer international undergraduates?

The Chinese Government Scholarship Type A (via your embassy) covers tuition, housing, a CNY 2,500 monthly stipend and insurance, and the Beijing Government Scholarship covers full tuition and insurance.

Sources & methodology

Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.