China Academy of Art

Key Highlights

• Public specialist art institution founded in 1928
• Awards bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees
• Four principal Hangzhou campuses plus a Zhangjiang campus in Shanghai
• Active domestic and international admissions in 2026

Student Life & Environment

Student life is closely tied to studios, exhibitions, critiques and public presentation. The academy’s 2026 graduation season used campus buildings and external cultural venues for exhibitions by schools including painting, architecture, film, crafts, design, fashion, animation and intermedia art. This creates opportunities to see work across disciplines and to understand how artistic practice connects with museums and audiences. CAA operates library spaces across multiple campus areas. Its library reported three operating branches in 2026 and provides art-focused print and digital collections, including specialist resources in historic books, painting manuals, rubbings and shadow-puppet heritage. The academy’s campus contacts also identify museums, an international design museum, student services, psychological-health support, medical services and a career-guidance center. International students work through the International College for application and administrative support. Housing should not be assumed to be guaranteed or identical across campuses: the 2026 international undergraduate guide says arrangements are announced separately before the semester and that the full academic year’s accommodation charge is paid at registration. Students should confirm their teaching campus and housing allocation before making commute or budget plans.

Location & Surroundings

CAA’s principal setting is Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. The Nanshan campus is at 218 Nanshan Road in Shangcheng District, while Xiangshan is at 352 Xiangshan Village in Xihu District and Liangzhu is at 2849 Gudun Road in Yuhang District. The academy also identifies a Xianghu location in Hangzhou and a Zhangjiang campus in Shanghai. These locations offer distinct contexts rather than one continuous campus. Nanshan places students near central Hangzhou and major cultural institutions around West Lake. Xiangshan is in the southwestern part of the city and hosts the International College address used in current international admissions materials. Liangzhu serves several design-oriented schools and has its own library branch. Zhangjiang places relevant activity in Shanghai rather than Hangzhou. Applicants should establish where their school and studios are based before choosing accommodation. Cross-city travel can shape daily routines, and access to facilities may depend on the assigned campus. International students should use the campus stated in their admission and registration information rather than relying only on the academy’s general postal address.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026 international undergraduates in Chinese-taught programs, the official guide set tuition at CNY 52,000 per academic year, including CNY 1,000 for comprehensive insurance. The academy’s international fee page lists CNY 60,000 per year for master’s students and CNY 68,000 for doctoral students, plus an CNY 800 application fee. These are international-student charges and should not be applied to domestic students. Materials, equipment, travel, accommodation, electricity and other miscellaneous expenses may be separate. The 2026 undergraduate guide did not give one universal housing price. It stated that accommodation arrangements would be announced before the semester and that the full academic year’s charge must be paid at registration. Applicants should therefore request the assigned residence, room type and current price before budgeting. Self-funded international undergraduates receiving pre-admission had to prepay first-year tuition by the specified deadline to reserve their place; the guide also described restrictive refund conditions. CAA maintains a graduate career-guidance service and publishes graduate employment-quality reports. Its specialist training is relevant to careers and further study in art practice, design, cultural institutions, education, media, architecture-related work and creative industries, depending on the degree and any professional requirements. No salary or placement guarantee should be inferred. Students should assess studio experience, exhibitions, internships, portfolio quality, language skills and professional networks alongside the degree title.