Jiangsu University
江苏大学
China's pioneer in agricultural machinery, now a broad engineering, medicine and business university in Zhenjiang.
- Students
- 48,000
- International
- 5%
- of students
- Tuition
- CN¥16,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1960
About JSU
Jiangsu University was formed in August 2001 by merging Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang Medical College and Zhenjiang Teachers College. Its core traces back to the Zhenjiang Agricultural Machinery Institute, set up in 1960 as a spin-off of Nanjing Institute of Technology, and the university counts its roots to the Sanjiang Normal School of 1902. It was named one of China's 88 national key universities in 1978, and it trained the country's first agricultural machinery undergraduates, master's graduates and PhD.
Today JSU has more than 48,000 students, including about 14,000 postgraduates and over 2,000 international degree students, and more than 2,700 full-time teachers. It offers 98 undergraduate majors across engineering, agriculture, science, medicine, management, economics, law, education, literature, art and philosophy, and it runs a tertiary-grade affiliated hospital. Research strengths include pumps and fluid machinery, hybrid vehicles, food engineering and agricultural equipment.
For international students, JSU is one of China's larger hosts, with students from more than 110 countries and about 20 bachelor's programmes taught in English, from MBBS and Pharmacy to Vehicle Engineering and Finance. It suits applicants who want an applied engineering, medical or business degree at moderate cost in a mid-sized Yangtze River city within reach of Nanjing and Shanghai.
博学、求是、明德
“Learn broadly, seek truth, cultivate virtue (literal translation)” — university motto
Why students choose JSU
JSU was China's first university to build agricultural machinery as a discipline and hosts the National Research Center of Pumps, a national engineering centre for hybrid vehicles and a Belt and Road joint laboratory for smart agriculture.
About 20 bachelor's degrees are taught in English, including Clinical Medicine (MBBS), Dental Surgery, Pharmacy, Computer Science, Vehicle Engineering and Business Administration, at CNY 18,000 to 34,000 a year.
The JSU Presidential Scholarship gives English-taught bachelor's students from listed regions (including ASEAN, EU and Central Asian countries, the UK, the US and Russia) CNY 10,000 a year, and Chinese-taught degree students a 40% tuition discount.
JSU says it was among the first universities to pass China's quality accreditation for international student education and received an A grade with an 8-year validity on re-accreditation.
Admissions
2027 entry (September 2027 intake; spring intake for English-taught programmes)
Selectivity
JSU does not publish an admission rate. Chinese students are admitted through the national gaokao by provincial score; international applicants pass an initial review by the Overseas Education College and then take the CSCA test.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma (international applicants) | Completed high school or equivalent, valid passport, aged 18 to 25 (under-18s need a guardian's guarantee), plus transcripts, an 800-word personal statement, a medical form, a financial statement of at least USD 5,000 and a non-criminal record |
|---|---|
| CSCA | Required for all international undergraduate applicants after initial review |
| Gaokao (Chinese students) | Admission by provincial gaokao score under JSU's annual undergraduate admissions charter |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 80 For English-taught programmes: IELTS above 5.5, TOEFL above 80 or Duolingo above 100 (2025 eligibility page). |
Deadlines
- Spring 2026 intake - PAST CYCLE, for reference Non-binding PassedJanuary 1, 2026 (applications opened November 1, 2025; closed)
Spring intake is offered for most English-taught bachelor's programmes; registration was March 11, 2026.
- September 2026 intake - PAST CYCLE, for reference Non-binding PassedJune 30, 2026 (applications opened April 1, 2026; closed)
Registration on campus was scheduled for September 9, 2026.
- Chinese Government Scholarship (Type A) Non-bindingSet by the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country
Obtain an embassy sponsorship letter and a JSU admission letter; the JSU agency number is 10299.
JSU had not published dates for 2027 entry as of September 30, 2026. For 2026 the spring intake ran from November 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026 and the September intake from April 1 to June 30, 2026, so expect a similar pattern. Book a CSCA session early, since the score report is needed after the initial review.
How to apply
International students apply through JSU's online application system and pay a CNY 200 application fee. After the initial review, undergraduate applicants take the CSCA and submit their score report. Pre-admitted students pay a seat reservation fee (CNY 3,000 for undergraduates, CNY 6,000 for MBBS) before receiving the admission letter and visa form. Chinese students apply through the gaokao.
What admissions looks for
- A completed high school education with notarised diploma and transcripts.
- English proficiency for English-taught programmes (IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 80 or Duolingo 100).
- A personal statement of at least 800 words covering your education, why you want to study in China, why you chose the major and your plans after graduation.
- CSCA results for undergraduate applicants, plus proof of funds of at least USD 5,000.
Tips for applying to JSU
- 1 Consider the spring intake: most English-taught bachelor's programmes, including MBBS, admit students in both spring and autumn.
- 2 Check whether your nationality qualifies for Type B of the JSU Presidential Scholarship (CNY 10,000 a year for English-taught bachelor's students), and note it cannot be combined with other scholarships.
- 3 If your Chinese is strong, a Chinese-taught degree gets a 40% tuition discount under the Presidential Scholarship scheme.
- 4 Keep your CV complete and continuous up to the current year and quote your application number in every enquiry, as JSU's admissions office advises.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CNY
International students can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship (via the embassy for all levels), the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship and the JSU Presidential Scholarship. For bachelor's students the Presidential Scholarship pays CNY 10,000 in the first year for listed new English-taught programmes (Type A) or CNY 10,000 every year for students from listed countries and regions (Type B); Chinese-taught degree students get 40% off tuition. OEC also gives one-off prizes to top-ranked bachelor's students each year.
- CNY 10,000 per year (students from listed countries, English-taught programmes)
- JSU Presidential Scholarship, bachelor's Type B
- 40% tuition discount
- Chinese-taught degree programmes
- CNY 3,000 (top 3%), 1,000 (next 8%) or 500 (next 17%), one-off
- OEC Scholarship for Excellent Students
- CNY 200
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (autumn and spring)
Agricultural Mechanization and Automation
JSU built China's first agricultural machinery discipline and trained the country's first graduates and PhD in the field; CCTV featured it as the first university in China to launch an agricultural robotics major.
Clinical Medicine (MBBS)
Taught in English over six years with spring and autumn intakes, backed by a tertiary-grade affiliated hospital; CNY 34,000 a year.
Energy and Power Engineering
Linked to the National Research Center of Pumps and fluid machinery research; offered in English and Chinese.
Vehicle Engineering
Taught in English, with a national engineering centre for hybrid vehicles and joint programmes with Northern Arizona University and Cranfield University.
Food Science and Engineering
Agricultural Sciences is in the ESI top 0.1%, and JSU hosts the World Food Preservation Research Center.
Research
- National Research Center of Pumps and System Engineering Technology, where international students also do research, for example on solid-liquid two-phase flow in centrifugal pumps.
- 13 national-level and 77 ministerial or provincial research platforms, including a national-local joint engineering centre for hybrid vehicles and a Belt and Road joint laboratory for smart agriculture technology and equipment.
- 17 national science and technology awards, 3 China Patent Gold Awards and 3 Ho Leung Ho Lee prizes, according to the university.
- Host of the UNIDO Global Agricultural Modernization and Food Safety Education and Training Center.
Schools & faculties
- School of Agricultural Engineering
- School of Food and Biological Engineering
- School of Energy and Power Engineering
- School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering
- School of Medicine
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Mechanical Engineering
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering
- School of Computer Science and Communications Engineering
- School of Management
- School of Finance and Economics
JSU was among the first 50 universities recognised nationally for graduate employment practice and says its graduate employment rate has stayed consistently high; it does not publish a headline rate on the pages used.
Student life
JSU's main campus is on Xuefu Road in Zhenjiang, with the Wujia Bay lake at its centre of green space. Chinese and international students live on campus in apartment blocks A to G and the Overseas Students' Apartment, and freshmen are not allowed to live off campus. Sport is a big part of life: the main gym seats nearly 3,000 and is a training venue for China's national youth volleyball team, and JSU's men's volleyball team has won national titles. International students run 13 associations, and the university's International Culture Festival has reached its 15th edition.
- The Main Campus Gym has nearly 3,000 seats and trains China's national youth volleyball team.
- International student associations include JEWELS Ladies Association, the International Medical Students' Association and the Society of Agricultural Mechanization.
- The International Culture Festival for international students is now in its 15th edition.
- Campus facilities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, six tennis courts and two beach volleyball courts.
Housing. All freshmen live on campus, and international students usually live in the Overseas Students' Apartment, where double rooms cost CNY 4,500 to 4,900 a year.
Location
Zhenjiang is a historic city on the south bank of the Yangtze River, where the river meets the Grand Canal. It is smaller and cheaper than Nanjing or Shanghai: buses cost CNY 1 to 2 and JSU estimates living costs at about CNY 1,200 a month. High-speed trains reach Shanghai Hongqiao in about 1.5 hours, and Nanjing is close by.
Nearest airport: Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG)
Notable alumni
- LS Li ShenglinMinister of Transport of China (2005-2012); studied agricultural machinery at Zhenjiang Agricultural Machinery College, now JSU
- JZ Jiang ZelinPolitician, former executive vice governor of Shaanxi and chair of the Jilin CPPCC; studied agricultural mechanics at the predecessor Jiangsu Polytechnic
- WX Wang XiaoqiuPresident of SAIC Motor, listed among JSU's notable alumni
- WM Wang MinChairman of XCMG Construction Machinery, listed among JSU's notable alumni
- BL Bing LiImmunologist; graduated from Jiangsu University School of Medicine in 1994
- YL Yao LingweiChina women's national football team player; studied at JSU's School of Teacher Education
Frequently asked questions
How much does Jiangsu University cost for international students?
Bachelor's tuition runs from CNY 16,000 a year (Chinese Language and Literature) to CNY 34,000 (MBBS and other medical programmes), with most engineering programmes at CNY 20,000. A double room on campus costs CNY 4,500 to 4,900 a year.
Does Jiangsu University teach in English?
Yes. About 20 bachelor's programmes are taught in English, including MBBS, Dental Surgery, Pharmacy, Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Vehicle Engineering and Business Administration. They need IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 80 or Duolingo 100.
Do I need the CSCA to apply to Jiangsu University?
Yes. After the initial review, international undergraduate applicants must take the CSCA, run by the China Scholarship Council, and submit their score report.
When is the Jiangsu University application deadline?
For 2026 entry the September intake was open from April 1 to June 30, 2026 and the spring intake from November 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026. Dates for 2027 had not been published by September 30, 2026.
Are there scholarships at Jiangsu University for international students?
Yes: the Chinese Government Scholarship through your embassy, and the JSU Presidential Scholarship, which gives English-taught bachelor's students from listed countries CNY 10,000 a year and Chinese-taught degree students 40% off tuition.
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 JSU in the QS World University Rankings 2027.