Huaqiao University

About Huaqiao University

Huaqiao University was established in Quanzhou in 1960 to provide higher education for returning overseas Chinese students. Teaching was suspended in 1970 and resumed in 1978. The Xiamen campus opened in 2006, creating the two-city university that operates today. Huaqiao is state-established, directly administered by the United Front Work Department and jointly supported with China’s Ministry of Education and the Fujian Provincial Government. Its official charter identifies it as an independent nonprofit legal entity with authority to award degrees. The university’s distinctive role remains visible in its student composition and international activity. Official institutional data collected through December 2024 reported 28,621 full-time undergraduates, 7,926 graduate students and 9,045 students from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas. The university also reported agreements with more than 300 universities, research institutions and government departments across 53 countries and regions. These figures describe the university as a whole rather than the Xiamen campus alone. Students should understand the practical consequences of the dual-campus structure. The Xiamen campus hosts schools including computer science, engineering, architecture, international relations, journalism and communication, while Quanzhou hosts fields including economics, law, languages, business, medicine, tourism and the International School. Some 2026 undergraduate cohorts follow a “1+3” arrangement, spending the first year at one campus before moving to the other. Program and cohort notices therefore matter when planning housing and daily life.

Admission routes depend on citizenship and applicant category. Mainland Chinese undergraduate admission for 2026 is based on the applicable provincial examination and admissions authority, with provincial plans and subject-selection requirements governing eligibility. Huaqiao publishes separate arrangements for applicants from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, overseas Chinese students and foreign nationals; these routes should not be treated as interchangeable. For 2026 foreign undergraduate applicants, the university requires a foreign passport without concurrent Chinese nationality, a formal high-school education, good academic standing and suitable health and conduct. The stated age is normally no more than 22. Applicants with Chinese family or migration backgrounds may need to document nationality history and qualifying residence abroad under Ministry of Education rules. The 2026 foreign-student application-review route required an online application by May 31, 2026. Materials included a passport, authenticated Chinese- or English-language graduation documents and transcripts, national or international examination results, an HSK certificate, one recommendation, a recent medical examination and the university’s declaration. CSCA results were required for Chinese Government Scholarship assessment; Chinese-medium applicants take the relevant professional-Chinese component, while mathematics is compulsory and science applicants generally select physics or chemistry. English-taught applicants are exempt from the professional-Chinese test. A separate joint entrance examination with Jinan University is also available to eligible applicants. The May 31 deadline applies specifically to 2026 foreign undergraduate admission and has passed. Future applicants should use the next cycle’s official guide rather than assuming that its dates or document rules will remain unchanged.

Huaqiao University offers education across 11 disciplinary categories. Its official overview reports 68 undergraduate programs, 11 first-level disciplines authorized to award doctoral degrees, 26 first-level disciplines authorized to award master’s degrees and 26 professional-degree categories. It also reports five postdoctoral research stations and more than 100 national or provincial teaching and research platforms. These figures indicate a comprehensive institution with substantial postgraduate and research activity rather than an undergraduate-only university. Academic strengths span engineering, chemistry, materials science, computer science, environment and ecology, social sciences, Chinese language and culture, and overseas Chinese and regional studies. The university reports 35 nationally designated first-class undergraduate programs, 17 provincial-level programs and 23 programs that have completed national or international professional accreditation. Applicants should nevertheless evaluate the curriculum, language and accreditation of their exact program rather than treating university-wide designations as applying to every course. The two campuses divide the academic portfolio. Xiamen contains many engineering, computing, architecture, communications and international-studies schools, while Quanzhou contains economics, law, humanities, business, medicine, tourism, arts and the International School. The 2026 admissions charter identifies three English-taught International School offerings: an economics category, a business-administration category and international business. These programs have distinct fees, international-study expectations and transfer restrictions. Most other programs should not be assumed to be available in English. The university also warns that some undergraduate cohorts study their first year on the other campus under a “1+3” model.

Key Highlights

• Public comprehensive university founded in 1960
• Independent nonprofit legal entity with degree-awarding authority
• Campuses in both Xiamen and Quanzhou
• Institutional mission includes overseas Chinese education and intercultural exchange

Student Life & Environment

Student life takes place across campuses in two different Fujian cities, with activities designed to bring together mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and international students. In March 2026, the university reported 103 university-level student clubs, more than 300 club activities per year and over 30,000 participations annually. Club policy and current initiatives cover cultural, sports, science and technology, and other extracurricular interests. Because these are university-wide figures, the selection available on one campus may be narrower. The university’s international-student guide describes sports provision for basketball, football, badminton, tennis, swimming and rock climbing. Campus accommodation is available, but room configurations and prices differ by student category and location. The 2026 international guide lists double and four-person rooms with air conditioning, private bathrooms, hot water, network access, desks, wardrobes and security. Domestic students are quoted separate four- and six-person accommodation rates in the general admissions charter. Huaqiao’s institutional identity shapes campus programming. Chinese cultural activities, language learning and exchanges among domestic and overseas students are prominent. Prospective students should also plan for a primarily Chinese-language environment outside the limited English-taught portfolio. Those assigned to a “1+3” pathway should expect a campus move after the first academic year and confirm the applicable housing arrangements before enrollment.

Location & Surroundings

Huaqiao University operates two principal campuses rather than a single Xiamen site. The Xiamen campus is at 668 Jimei Avenue in Jimei District, while the Quanzhou campus is at 269 Chenghua North Road in Fengze District. A separate Longzhouchi location is associated with the Chinese Language and Culture College. Applicants should match their program to its listed school and campus before judging travel, housing or city preferences. Xiamen is a coastal city, and the campus sits in the mainland Jimei area rather than on Xiamen Island. Official university directions indicate that the campus is served by Xiamen’s BRT network at Huaqiao University station, giving students a public-transport connection toward other parts of the city. Quanzhou provides a different setting in a historic city with a strong trading and overseas-Chinese heritage. Some students will experience both locations. The 2026 admissions charter assigns certain incoming cohorts to a first year in Quanzhou before their remaining three years in Xiamen. Travel between the two cities and a possible change of residence should therefore be included in practical planning.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Fees vary substantially by student category and program. For mainland undergraduates in 2026, the official charter lists CNY 5,460 per academic year for most programs, CNY 9,360 for arts, CNY 6,760 for clinical medicine and pharmacy, and a staged Software Engineering rate of CNY 5,460 in years one and two followed by CNY 13,000 in years three and four. English-taught programs and the Sino-American 1+2+1 classes cost CNY 28,000 per year while studying at Huaqiao; overseas partner-university charges apply during study abroad. Domestic accommodation is listed at CNY 570 to CNY 1,300 annually, depending on campus and room type. The separate 2026 foreign-student guide lists undergraduate tuition of CNY 14,000 for general subjects, CNY 18,000 for specified arts subjects, CNY 17,000 for clinical medicine and pharmacy, and CNY 28,000 for English-taught programs. Its international accommodation rates range from CNY 1,300 for a four-person room at the main Xiamen or Quanzhou campuses to CNY 5,600 for a double room at Longzhouchi. The guide estimates food at approximately CNY 1,500 per month and about CNY 2,000 in other initial charges. Final charges remain subject to approval and actual registration costs. Scholarships exist for several international-student categories, but eligibility and annual availability vary. Career support includes an official recruitment platform, employer presentations and campus fairs. The June 2026 recruitment guide scheduled 12 to 15 large spring events across the two main campuses, including general, industry-specific, internship and employment fairs. This demonstrates active employer engagement but does not establish individual placement or salary outcomes.