#488 in the world · QS 2027

Jilin University

吉林大学

One of China's largest universities, in Changchun, covering nearly every field and offering an English-taught MBBS.

Changchun, Jilin, China Public research university Founded 1946 Official website

See my chances at JLU Admissions office

Photo: Liuxingy · CC BY-SA 4.0

Students: 79,173; 42,601 undergraduates
International: 2%; of students
Tuition: CN¥19,000; From · 2026-27
Founded: 1946

About JLU

Jilin University (JLU) in Changchun, the capital of Jilin province in north-east China, was founded in 1946, named a national key university in 1960, and in 1984 became one of the first 22 Chinese universities to set up a graduate school. It is part of Projects 211 and 985 and the first group of Double First-Class universities.

JLU is enormous: 48 teaching units covering 13 discipline categories, 122 undergraduate majors, and about 79,000 registered students, spread over seven campuses in six locations across the city. It reports 20 subjects in the ESI global top 1%, 15 academicians and 6,289 full-time teachers, and hosts 7 national key laboratories.

Around 1,400 international students study at JLU. Most bachelor's majors for international students are taught in Chinese; the 2026-2027 catalogue lists just two English-taught bachelor's programmes, the six-year MBBS and a four-year Pharmacy degree, alongside 35 Chinese-taught bachelor's majors. JLU suits students who want a big, full-range university at modest cost in a northern city with four distinct seasons.

求实创新励志图强

“Truth, Innovation, Aspiration” — university motto

Why students choose JLU

An English-taught six-year MBBS at 36,000 yuan a year, one of JLU's most popular programmes for international students.

A broad choice of 35 bachelor's majors taught in Chinese for international students.

Chinese-taught tuition starts at 19,000 yuan a year, with medicine, art, sports and pharmacy at 25,000 yuan.

Changchun is known as China's automobile city, a good fit for JLU's Vehicle Engineering programme.

Admissions

Autumn 2027 entry (the 2027-28 international admission guide had not been published as of 29 September 2026; details below are from the 2026-2027 guide)

Selectivity

JLU does not publish an admission rate for international students. It says it gives feedback on admission results within 10 working days of a completed online application; MBBS applicants also face subject-grade thresholds and an interview.

Testing CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) required for undergraduate applicants. MBBS applicants also need minimum high school grades and an interview organised by the college; for the English-taught Pharmacy degree, the college sets its own exam.

Grades English-taught MBBS: at least 70 in mathematics, physics and chemistry. Chinese-taught MBBS: at least 90 (or A) in biology and chemistry and at least 80 (or B) in other courses.

Typical entry requirements

High school diploma	Senior high school graduation certificate and transcript, plus passport
CSCA	Required for undergraduate programmes
HSK (Chinese-taught programmes)	HSK 4 with 180+ for most bachelor's majors; HSK 5 with 180+ for Diplomacy and Chinese-taught MBBS (Diplomacy also needs TOEFL 79 iBT or IELTS 6.0)
English-taught MBBS	IELTS Academic 6.0 (5.0 in each band) or TOEFL iBT 70 (15 in each section); maths, physics and chemistry at 70 or above; interview
English language	IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 70 For the English-taught MBBS: IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.0 in each band, or TOEFL iBT 70 with at least 15 in each section, or equivalent. The English-taught Pharmacy degree uses an exam set by the college.

Deadlines

Fall semester 2026 entry - PAST CYCLE, for reference only Non-binding Passed

30 June 2026 (closed)

Degree programmes start in the fall semester; the spring deadline (31 December 2025) applied to non-degree programmes.

The 2026-2027 guide set a 30 June 2026 deadline for fall entry. Some Chinese-taught programmes (Chinese Language and International Economics and Trade) also admit in spring with HSK 4 (210+). Expect the 2027-2028 guide to follow a similar timetable and confirm it on cie.jlu.edu.cn.

How to apply

Apply online at apply.jlu.edu.cn, pay the application fee, then receive the admission notice and apply for your visa before registering. Undergraduate applicants upload a high school certificate and transcript, passport page, CSCA results, and the required HSK or English scores; MBBS applicants also take a college interview.

What admissions looks for

A completed senior high school education with transcripts.
CSCA results for undergraduate applicants.
Language proficiency: HSK 4 (180+) for most Chinese-taught majors, or IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught MBBS.
For MBBS, strong science grades (maths, physics and chemistry 70+) and a successful interview.

Tips for applying to JLU

1 For MBBS, check your science grades against the thresholds before applying and prepare for the college interview.
2 Apply well before the end-of-June deadline: JLU replies within about 10 working days, which leaves time for the visa.
3 If your Chinese is at HSK 4, you can enter Chinese Language or International Economics and Trade in spring; HSK 5 lets you join year two in the fall.
4 Prepare for the climate: Changchun is in north-east China, and the university guide itself highlights its four distinct seasons.

Costs & financial aid

2026-27 · figures in CNY

International bachelor's students per year (2026-2027 guide): Chinese-taught 19,000 (humanities, social sciences, science, engineering, agriculture) or 25,000 (medicine, art, sports, pharmacy); English-taught Pharmacy 28,000 and MBBS 36,000 (the only two English-taught bachelor's programmes in the 2026-2027 catalogue; the fee table also prints bachelor's rates for Economics, Law, Vehicle Engineering and Nursing, up to 40,000, which are not in that catalogue) Tuition CN¥19,000 – CN¥36,000

Financial aid

JLU takes part in Chinese Government Scholarship programmes (for example its 2026/2027 CSC High-Level Graduate Programme and annual CSC scholarship reviews). International students pay their own insurance.

1,000-1,200 yuan per month; 3 buildings with 412 rooms and 753 beds
International student apartments: 36,000 yuan per year, six years of study
English-taught MBBS

Academics

Academic calendar: Semesters; degree programmes start in the fall

MBBS (English-taught, 6 years)

JLU's flagship English-taught degree for international students, with science grade thresholds and an interview.

Vehicle Engineering (Chinese-taught bachelor's)

Taught in Changchun, which the university guide describes as China's automobile city; a four-year Chinese-taught bachelor's at 19,000 yuan a year, with English-taught master's and doctoral options.

Pharmacy (English-taught)

A four-year English-taught bachelor's at 28,000 yuan a year.

International Chinese Language Education (Chinese-taught)

One of the most popular Chinese-taught majors among JLU's international students.

International Economics and Trade (Chinese-taught)

A popular Chinese-taught major that admits in spring with HSK 4 (210+) or into year two in the fall with HSK 5.

Research

JLU has 7 national key laboratories and a national major science and technology infrastructure facility.
20 subjects are in the ESI global top 1%, including one in the top 0.01%.
It partners with 319 universities and research institutions in 45 countries and regions, including 50 of the world's top 100.

Schools & faculties

College of Chemistry
School of Mathematics
College of Physics
College of Computer Science and Technology
College of Communication Engineering
School of Materials Science and Engineering
College of Automotive Engineering
College of Basic Medical Sciences
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
School of Economics
School of Law
College of International Education

Student life

JLU's campuses are spread across Changchun, including the Central campus and the large Qianwei campus in Chaoyang district. International students live in three international student apartment buildings (412 rooms, 753 beds), and the university arranges roommates with majors and hobbies in mind. Each year there are international cultural festivals, performances, sports meetings and cultural trips, and JLU runs Chinese Bridge culture camps and alumni gatherings for international graduates.

Annual international cultural festivals, performances and sports meetings.
Chinese Bridge culture camps exploring north-east China.
Seven campuses in six locations across Changchun.
An international alumni network with reunions organised by the College of International Education.

Housing. Three international student apartment buildings with 753 beds; rent is 1,000-1,200 yuan per month (2026-2027 guide).

Location

Changchun is the capital of Jilin province in north-east China, known as China's film city, automobile city and forest city. The JLU guide notes it has four distinct seasons and good air quality, with flights of about two hours to Beijing and about six hours by high-speed rail. The metro and buses connect the university's scattered campuses.

Nearest airport: Changchun Longjia International Airport (CGQ)

Notable alumni

LX
Liu Xiaobo

Writer and 2010 Nobel Peace Prize laureate; studied in JLU's Department of Chinese Literature
CJ
Chen Jia'er

Nuclear and accelerator physicist, CAS academician; physics graduate of Northeast China People's University (now JLU), 1954
JW
Joe Wong

Stand-up comedian in the US and China; bachelor's degree from JLU
SX
Shuang Xuetao

Novelist; graduate of the JLU School of Law
ZH
Zhang Haidi

Writer, translator and chair of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (from 2008); JLU master's in philosophy (1993)
LY
Liu Yandong

Former Vice Premier of China; completed on-the-job graduate studies at Renmin University and JLU

Frequently asked questions

How much is the MBBS at Jilin University?

The English-taught MBBS costs 36,000 yuan a year for six years of study (2026-2027 guide). International students also pay their own insurance and housing (1,000-1,200 yuan a month on campus).

What are the MBBS entry requirements at Jilin University?

IELTS 6.0 (5.0 per band) or TOEFL iBT 70 (15 per section), at least 70 in maths, physics and chemistry, CSCA results and an interview organised by the college.

Which bachelor's degrees does JLU teach in English?

Two: the six-year MBBS and the four-year Pharmacy degree, according to JLU's 2026-2027 programme catalogue. Its fee table also prints English-taught bachelor's fees for Economics, Law, Vehicle Engineering and Nursing, so confirm with the College of International Education before applying for those.

What HSK level does Jilin University require?

Most Chinese-taught bachelor's majors need HSK 4 with 180 or more; Chinese-taught MBBS and Diplomacy need HSK 5 with 180 or more.

When is the Jilin University application deadline?

For 2026 fall entry it was 30 June 2026. The 2027-2028 guide had not been published by late September 2026.

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.