#477 in the world · QS 2027

China Agricultural University

中国农业大学

China's leading agricultural university in Beijing, with nine Double First-Class disciplines from crop science to veterinary medicine.

Beijing, Haidian District, China Public research university Founded 1905 Official website

See my chances at CAU Admissions office

Photo: N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0

Students: 32,838; 16,038 undergraduates
International: 1%; of students
Tuition: CN¥20,000; 2027-28
Founded: 1905

About CAU

China Agricultural University (CAU) in Beijing traces its history to 1905, when the agricultural college of the Imperial University of Peking was founded, and calls itself the birthplace of modern agricultural higher education in China. It is a key university directly under the Ministry of Education, part of Projects 211 and 985, and in 2017 joined the list of universities building toward world-class status.

CAU is the country's leading specialist in food and farming science. Nine of its disciplines are in the second round of Double First-Class construction: biology, agricultural engineering, food science and engineering, crop science, agricultural resources and environment, plant protection, animal science, veterinary medicine and grassland science. It co-founded the A5 alliance of leading agricultural universities with Wageningen, UC Davis, Cornell and the University of Sao Paulo, and set up a College of International Development and Global Agriculture in 2017.

The university has 21 colleges on its East and West campuses in Haidian, plus a Yantai Institute on the coast in Shandong, and about 15,000 full-time undergraduates. International undergraduates study in Chinese, so the university suits students with strong Chinese (HSK 5) who want to work in agriculture, food, environment or life sciences.

解民生之多艰，育天下之英才

“Solve the difficulties of people's livelihood; educate talents under the sky” — university motto

Why students choose CAU

Nine Double First-Class disciplines, including crop science, animal science, veterinary medicine, plant protection and food science and engineering.

Unusual specialist majors such as Viticulture and Oenology, Winemaking Engineering, Turfgrass Science and Companion Animal Science.

Tuition for international undergraduates is 20,000 yuan a year for every major (2027 guide).

CAU co-founded the A5 alliance with Wageningen, UC Davis, Cornell and the University of Sao Paulo, and has partnerships with 260+ institutions in 50+ countries.

Admissions

Autumn 2027 entry (2027 international undergraduate guide, published 3 September 2026)

Selectivity

CAU does not publish an admission rate for international undergraduates. It admits by reviewing application materials plus an online interview, which is organised once enough applicants have registered.

Testing CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) required for all undergraduate applicants since 2026, with a cut-off of 50 in each required subject. Most science, agriculture and engineering majors require Chinese, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry; Urban and Rural Planning requires Chinese, Mathematics and Physics; Marketing, Public Affairs Management and E-commerce require Chinese and Mathematics.

Grades High school graduate with good grades; a recommendation letter from a high school teacher is required.

Typical entry requirements

High school diploma	Completed high school with good grades, aged 18 or over, non-Chinese citizen with a valid ordinary passport
CSCA	Required; at least 50 in each subject your major requires
HSK	HSK 5 or above for all majors; Veterinary Medicine requires HSK 5 with 250 or more

Deadlines

Undergraduate programmes, autumn 2027 entry Non-binding Next deadline · In ~8 months

31 May 2027

Online applications open 1 November 2026; applications must be submitted in the system by the deadline.

Interviews are scheduled flexibly once enough applicants have registered, so applying early can mean an earlier interview and decision. Admitted students receive an admission letter and JW202 form for the X1 student visa.

How to apply

Apply online at apply.cau.edu.cn between 1 November 2026 and 31 May 2027, paying a 400 yuan application fee. Upload your passport (valid to at least December 2027), high school diploma and transcripts (or expected-graduation letter), HSK certificate, CSCA score report, a recommendation letter from a high school teacher, a physical examination form, all Chinese visa and entry-exit records, a police certificate and a financial guarantee. Selected applicants are invited to an online interview by email.

What admissions looks for

A completed high school education with good grades.
Chinese proficiency of HSK 5 or above (HSK 5 with 250+ for Veterinary Medicine).
CSCA scores of at least 50 in each subject required for your major.
Good character and a clean record, plus a teacher's recommendation and performance in the online interview.

Tips for applying to CAU

1 Choose your major carefully: CAU does not allow changes, and students in broad first-year programmes must pick the same major they applied for in year two.
2 Aim above the minimum HSK 5 if you want Veterinary Medicine, which requires 250 or more.
3 Book the CSCA in the right subjects: most CAU majors need all four (Chinese, Maths, Physics, Chemistry), and each needs at least 50.
4 Watch your email after applying: interviews are arranged once enough applications come in, and invitations go out by email.

Costs & financial aid

2027-28 · figures in CNY

International undergraduates, all majors, per year (2027 guide) Tuition CN¥20,000

Financial aid

The 2027 undergraduate guide does not list university scholarships. CAU's scholarship notices in 2025-26 covered Chinese Government Scholarship programmes such as the Silk Road (Type B) and High-Level Graduate programmes, plus a Ministry of Commerce master's programme; check with the Chinese embassy in your country about Chinese Government Scholarships for undergraduates.

400 yuan, non-refundable
Application fee: 1,000 to 1,600 yuan per month
On-campus housing (double room): 800 yuan per year
Insurance

Academics

Academic calendar: Semesters; autumn intake

Animal Science

CAU describes it as an A+ Double First-Class discipline and national characteristic major, backed by a national key laboratory.

Veterinary Medicine (5 years)

A Double First-Class discipline; international applicants need HSK 5 with at least 250.

Food Science and Engineering

A Double First-Class discipline covering nutrition, processing, intelligent food manufacturing and food safety.

Agronomy and Seed Science and Engineering

Crop science is a Double First-Class discipline, focused on breeding, field ecology and smart crop management.

Viticulture and Oenology

Covers the whole process from vineyard to wine, offered in Beijing and at the Yantai Institute.

Research

CAU hosts 11 national key laboratories, 2 national engineering technology research centres and a national major science and technology infrastructure facility.
In 2018 it set up the Belt and Road South-South Cooperation Agricultural Education and Science Innovation Alliance (BRSSCAL) with 75 universities from 29 countries, with 11 international joint research centres.
Its College of International Development and Global Agriculture, launched in 2017, acts as a think tank for South-South cooperation.

Schools & faculties

College of Agronomy and Biotechnology
College of Horticulture
College of Biological Sciences
College of Resources and Environmental Sciences
College of Animal Science and Technology
College of Veterinary Medicine
College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering
College of Information and Electrical Engineering
College of International Development and Global Agriculture
Yantai Institute

CAU says international graduates since the 1950s and 1960s have included ministers in countries such as Vietnam, Albania and Ethiopia, as well as university presidents and senior agronomists.

Student life

CAU has two campuses in Beijing's Haidian district, the university district that is also home to Tsinghua and Peking University: the East Campus on Qinghua East Road and the West Campus on Yuanmingyuan West Road, near the Old Summer Palace. The East Campus gymnasium was a venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. International students live in double rooms on campus and take part in field practice on rural development, a core part of CAU's hands-on approach to teaching.

The CAU Gymnasium was an Olympic venue in 2008.
International students join practical study trips on agriculture and rural revitalisation.
A student art troupe, volunteer service and many student clubs are listed on the university's culture pages.
A second site, the Yantai Institute in Shandong, offers aquaculture and wine-related majors by the sea.

Housing. International undergraduates can live on campus in double rooms at 1,000 to 1,600 yuan per month depending on the building (2027 guide).

Location

Beijing is China's capital and its main centre for politics, culture and research. CAU's Haidian district is packed with universities, tech companies and research institutes, so students share the area with a large student population. The metro connects both campuses to the rest of the city, and living costs are among the highest in China.

Nearest airport: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK); Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)

Notable alumni

GF
George F. Gao

Virologist and former director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; graduate studies at Beijing Agricultural University (a CAU predecessor)
YZ
Yi Zhang

Harvard epigenetics researcher; BSc and master's in biophysics from CAU
ZY
Ziheng Yang

Statistical geneticist at UCL and Fellow of the Royal Society; MSc and PhD from Beijing Agricultural University
JZ
Jian-Kang Zhu

Plant biologist and member of the US National Academy of Sciences; BS from Beijing Agricultural University
WT
Wen Tiejun

Agricultural economist known for his work on China's Three Rural Issues; studied at CAU's School of Economics and Management and Graduate School
JA
J. Alexander Nuetah

Liberian agricultural economist and Liberia's minister of agriculture since 2024; master's and PhD from CAU

Frequently asked questions

How much is tuition at China Agricultural University for international students?

The 2027 guide sets undergraduate tuition at 20,000 yuan a year for all majors, plus 800 yuan a year for insurance and 1,000 to 1,600 yuan a month for a double room on campus.

Does CAU offer English-taught bachelor's degrees?

No. International undergraduates need HSK 5 or above, because undergraduate programmes are taught in Chinese.

What is the CAU application deadline for 2027?

Online applications run from 1 November 2026 to 31 May 2027 at apply.cau.edu.cn.

Does China Agricultural University require the CSCA?

Yes. Since 2026 all undergraduate applicants need CSCA scores, with at least 50 in each subject required for their major.

Is there an interview for CAU?

Yes. CAU combines document review with an online interview, organised once enough applicants have registered, and sends invitations by email.

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.