Huazhong Agricultural University
华中农业大学
A lakeside agricultural and life-science university in Wuhan whose international students are mostly doctoral researchers.
- Students
- 36,000
- 20,200 undergraduates
- International
- 1%
- of students
- Tuition
- CN¥22,000
- From · 2025-26 (latest published)
- Founded
- 1898
About HZAU
Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) traces its history to the Hubei Farming School founded in 1898 by the Viceroy Zhang Zhidong. It was rebuilt as Huazhong Agricultural College in 1952, took its present name in 1985, and joined the national Double First-Class programme in 2017. Its campus covers about 5 square kilometres on Lion Hill, with lakes on three sides, in Wuhan.
The university's profile, updated September 2026, counts more than 36,000 full-time students (20,200 undergraduates, 11,750 master's and 4,677 doctoral students), 1,750 teachers, 21 colleges and 67 undergraduate programmes. Fifteen subjects are in the top 1 percent of ESI worldwide, four in the top 1 per mille and one in the top 1 per ten thousand. Research areas it names include hybrid rapeseed, green super rice, pigs, animal vaccines, citrus, cotton and maize, and freshwater fish.
International study is centred on graduate level: the university says its international students are mainly degree students, about 70 percent doctoral and 30 percent master's, from more than 40 countries. Its published international admissions route, run by the graduate school, covers master's and doctoral degrees in fields such as crop science, horticulture, animal science, veterinary medicine and food science. It suits applicants with a bachelor's degree and a research interest in agriculture or the life sciences.
Why students choose HZAU
Fifteen subjects are in the ESI global top 1 percent, including plant and animal sciences, agricultural sciences, microbiology and computer science.
The university runs the Joint Institute of HZAU and Lincoln University, and has cooperation agreements with more than 170 universities and institutes, including the University of California, Davis and Wageningen University.
Chinese Government Scholarship and HZAU Scholarship holders get a tuition waiver, free accommodation and a monthly stipend of 2,100 to 3,500 CNY.
Teaching is available in English as well as Chinese for international postgraduates, with English tuition set out in the published fee table.
Admissions
2026 intake (master's and doctoral degrees); the 2027 intake has not been announced
Selectivity
HZAU does not publish an admission rate. The international-student admissions site (run by the Graduate School) describes only master's and doctoral degrees; no English-taught or international bachelor's programme was found on HZAU's English, international-admissions or undergraduate-admissions sites on 30 September 2026, so undergraduate applicants should contact the university before planning an application.
Typical entry requirements
| Master's degree | Bachelor's degree and under 35 years of age, with two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors and a study plan |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | Master's degree and under 40 years of age, with two recommendation letters and an acceptance letter from an HZAU supervisor |
| Chinese-taught programmes | HSK level 5 or above, or one year of Chinese language study before starting |
| English language | For English-taught programmes HZAU says it is better to submit a recognised English test such as TOEFL or IELTS, and failing to demonstrate English proficiency may harm the application. No minimum score is published. |
Deadlines
- Chinese Government Scholarship and HZAU Scholarship applications (2026 intake) Non-binding Passed27 February 2026
Applications opened on 1 November 2025. This is the previous cycle; the 2027 period has not been published.
The 1 November 2025 to 27 February 2026 window is for the 2026 intake. HZAU had not published the 2027 window when checked, so expect a similar period starting in November 2026 and confirm at ic.hzau.edu.cn.
How to apply
Apply online through the HZAU system (hzau.at0086.cn/student) for the university scholarship, or through the CSC system (studyinchina.csc.edu.cn, HZAU agency number 10504) for the Chinese Government Scholarship. Upload the application form, degree certificate, transcripts, two recommendation letters, study plan, passport copy, physical examination record, non-criminal record certificate and a professor's acceptance letter.
What admissions looks for
- A degree in a relevant field and a clear study plan.
- Acceptance by an HZAU supervisor, required as an acceptance letter for the listed application route.
- Academic evidence such as published papers, awards and skills certificates as auxiliary materials.
- Language ability matched to the teaching language, HSK 5 for Chinese-taught programmes.
Tips for applying to HZAU
- 1 Contact a supervisor early: a signed acceptance letter from an HZAU professor is one of the listed required documents.
- 2 Check the FAQ for international supervisors on the graduate school site before you write to professors.
- 3 Decide between Chinese-taught and English-taught versions of your programme, because English-taught tuition is about 3,000 to 4,000 CNY higher per year.
- 4 If you are already in China, add the residence permit page and a performance certificate from your current university.
Costs & financial aid
2025-26 (latest published) · figures in CNY
The Chinese Government Scholarship and the HZAU Scholarship waive tuition, provide free university accommodation and comprehensive medical insurance, and pay a monthly stipend. The CSC stipend is 3,000 CNY for master's and 3,500 CNY for doctoral students, and the university scholarship stipend is 2,100 CNY for master's and 2,500 CNY for doctoral students.
- 10,000 CNY per academic year
- Accommodation (single room)
- 400 CNY per academic year
- Registration fee
- 800 CNY per academic year
- Insurance
- 3,000 CNY/month master's; 3,500 CNY/month doctoral
- CSC scholarship stipend
Academics
Crop science
One of the subjects the international office names as a core area for recruiting international students.
Horticulture
Selected among the five subjects in the second round of national Double First-Class construction.
Animal husbandry and veterinary medicine
Both are Double First-Class subjects, and veterinary medicine is also a named international recruitment area.
Biology
A Double First-Class subject; biology and biochemistry is in the ESI top 1 percent.
Food science and engineering
Named by the university among the subjects for which it recruits high-level international students.
Research
- The university holds 3 national key laboratories, 3 national engineering research centres and 15 international science and technology cooperation bases.
- In five years it reports leading more than 200 major national science and technology projects and winning 6 first- and second-class national science and technology awards.
- One of its results was named among Science magazine's ten breakthroughs of 2025, according to the university.
Schools & faculties
- College of Plant Science and Technology
- College of Animal Science and Technology / College of Veterinary Medicine
- College of Resources and Environment
- College of Life Science and Technology
- College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences
- College of Fisheries
- College of Engineering
- College of Economics and Management
- College of Food Science and Technology
- College of Informatics
- College of Biomedicine and Health
- Joint Institute of HZAU and Lincoln University
Student life
HZAU's Lion Hill campus is bordered by lakes on three sides, with a 9 km lake shoreline, 10 km of forest roads and a 6.6 km lakeside greenway, according to the university. International postgraduates can live in single rooms on campus at 10,000 CNY per academic year, and scholarship holders receive free university accommodation. The campus also has a library founded in 1940, a natural science museum at the foot of Shizi Mountain, and a student activity centre.
- A 5 square kilometre campus on Lion Hill with about 9 km of lake shoreline.
- Free university accommodation for scholarship holders.
- A campus museum of natural science and a library founded in 1940 (as the Hubei Agricultural College library).
- The Benyu Volunteer Team, which received a reply letter from President Xi Jinping in 2013.
Housing. Single rooms on campus cost 10,000 CNY per academic year for international postgraduates; Chinese Government and HZAU scholarship holders get free university accommodation.
Location
HZAU is in Hongshan district in Wuhan, Hubei province in central China. The campus is on Lion Hill beside South Lake, and the university's English site describes it as surrounded on three sides by clear lakes and backed by green hills.
Notable alumni
- ZQ Zhang QifaCrop geneticist and Chinese Academy of Sciences academician; graduated from Huazhong Agricultural College in 1976
- CH Chen HuanchunAnimal virologist and Chinese Academy of Engineering academician; studied at Huazhong Agricultural College from 1972 and later taught at HZAU
- XY Xiong YuanzhuAnimal geneticist and Chinese Academy of Engineering academician; graduated in 1959 and stayed as faculty
- XB Xu BenyuVolunteer teacher named a CCTV Touched China figure of 2004; studied at HZAU from 1999 to 2003
- CY Chen YaobangFormer minister of agriculture; listed among notable alumni by Chinese Wikipedia
Frequently asked questions
Can international students study at HZAU?
Yes. The university says it has taught international students since 1960 and currently hosts about 380 to 400 from more than 40 countries, about 70 percent of them doctoral students and 30 percent master's students.
Does HZAU accept international undergraduates?
Not through a route HZAU publishes. Its international admissions information covers master's and doctoral degrees only, and no international bachelor's programme was found on its websites on 30 September 2026. Contact the university before applying if you want a bachelor's degree.
How much is tuition at HZAU for international students?
For postgraduates, per academic year: master's 22,000 to 28,000 CNY and doctoral 28,000 to 44,000 CNY depending on field and teaching language. Single-room accommodation is 10,000 CNY per year.
What scholarships does HZAU offer?
The Chinese Government Scholarship and the HZAU Scholarship waive tuition, give free accommodation and medical insurance and pay a stipend of 2,100 to 3,500 CNY per month.
When is the HZAU application deadline?
For the 2026 intake, applications ran from 1 November 2025 to 27 February 2026. The 2027 dates had not been published when checked.
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.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to HZAU in the QS World University Rankings 2027.