Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
南京航空航天大学
One of China's first aviation colleges, behind helicopter research, the C919 airliner and English-taught engineering degrees.
- Students
- 39,624
- 20,435 undergraduates
- International
- 2%
- of students
- Tuition
- CN¥22,900
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1952
About NUAA
Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics was founded in 1952 as one of the first aviation colleges of the People's Republic of China. It became a national key university in 1978, was among the first universities allowed to award doctorates in 1981, joined Project 211 in 1996 and became a Double First-Class university in 2017. It is one of the Seven Sons of National Defence, the group of universities tied to China's defence industry.
NUAA is engineering-led, with deep roots in aircraft design, helicopters, engines, mechanics and civil aviation, alongside science, economics, management and humanities. It has 39,624 students (20,435 undergraduates, 18,366 graduate students and 823 international degree students), 2,410 full-time faculty, 23 colleges and 67 undergraduate programmes. Its researchers have worked on the C919 airliner, crewed spaceflight, the Chang'e lunar missions and Mars exploration, and it leads the State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Mechanical Structures and the National Key Laboratory of Helicopter Aeromechanics.
Since 2005 NUAA has taught engineering and business undergraduates in English. International students can now choose six English-taught bachelor's degrees, from Aeronautical Engineering to Artificial Intelligence. It suits applicants who want hands-on aerospace or engineering training in a large, historic city.
智周万物，道济天下
“Explore the Universe, Enrich the World (the university's official English rendering)” — university motto
Why students choose NUAA
Six English-taught bachelor's degrees (Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Civil Engineering and International Business) at CNY 22,900 to 23,900 a year.
Three national Double First-Class disciplines: Aerospace Science and Technology, Mechanics, and Control Science and Engineering.
The NUAA Fly-High Scholarship waived 100% of first-year tuition for 2026 entrants, and the Jiangsu Government Scholarship covers tuition, housing, insurance and CNY 15,000 a year.
Research that reaches orbit: in 2026 NUAA announced the Tianjian Constellation, a planned 12-satellite system for high-precision carbon monitoring.
Admissions
2027 entry (September 2027 intake)
Selectivity
NUAA does not publish an admission rate. Chinese students are admitted through the gaokao; international applicants are selected on academics, background, experience and CSCA score, and most applications are reviewed within one to two weeks.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma (international applicants) | Non-Chinese citizen aged 17 to 25 who has finished senior high school (under-18s need a guardian with Nanjing residency), with transcripts, two teacher recommendations and a personal statement of up to 800 words |
|---|---|
| CSCA | Mathematics and Physics in English for engineering programmes; Mathematics in English for International Business |
| HSK (Chinese-taught programmes) | HSK 4 or above |
| Gaokao (Chinese students) | Admission by provincial gaokao score under NUAA's annual undergraduate admissions charter |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 English-taught programmes: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80, or an equivalent English proficiency letter. |
Deadlines
- Recommended early application (2026 intake) - PAST CYCLE Non-binding PassedNovember 15, 2025
Applications opened November 15, 2025; NUAA encourages early applications for the best chance of admission and scholarships.
- Final application deadline (2026 intake) - PAST CYCLE Non-binding PassedMay 30, 2026 (closed)
CSCA scores also had to be submitted by this date.
- Chinese Government Scholarship (Type A) Non-bindingSet by the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country
List NUAA as your first choice (agency code 10287).
NUAA publishes each undergraduate brochure in November; the 2026 brochure (published November 21, 2025) ran applications from November 15, 2025 to May 30, 2026. The 2027 brochure had not been published as of September 30, 2026; expect a similar window of mid-November 2026 to late May 2027. Grade 12 students may apply with final Grade 11 transcripts and update them later.
How to apply
Take the CSCA, then create an account on NUAA's online application portal, upload your CSCA results, passport, diploma, transcripts, study plan, two recommendation letters, personal statement, medical form, non-criminal record, language certificate and financial guarantee, and pay the CNY 400 application fee. Once admitted, download the admission letter and JW201/JW202 form and apply for an X visa.
What admissions looks for
- Academic record, background, experience and CSCA score, which NUAA uses for both admission and scholarships.
- Strong CSCA Mathematics (and Physics for engineering programmes).
- English proficiency of IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80 for English-taught programmes, or HSK 4 for Chinese-taught ones.
- A personal statement of up to 800 words covering who you are, why you are applying and your strengths, backed by two teacher recommendations.
Tips for applying to NUAA
- 1 Apply near the November 15 recommended date rather than the May deadline: early applicants get the best shot at admission and scholarships.
- 2 Pick the right scholarship type on the online form: the Nanjing Government and NUAA Fly-High scholarships are selected there, while the Chinese Government Scholarship goes through your embassy.
- 3 Take the CSCA in English: engineering applicants need Mathematics and Physics, business applicants Mathematics only.
- 4 Bring original documents to campus; NUAA says there is no enrolment without them.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CNY
International undergraduates can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship Type A through their embassy (full tuition, housing, insurance and CNY 2,500 a month), the Jiangsu Government Scholarship (full tuition, housing, insurance and CNY 15,000 a year), the Nanjing Government Scholarship (one-off CNY 10,000) and the NUAA Fly-High Scholarship (100% tuition waiver for the 2026 academic year only). From the second year, all students can compete for the NUAA Academic Scholarship of up to CNY 10,000.
- CNY 400 (non-refundable)
- Application fee
- Double room CNY 4,000 (small) or 7,000 (large); single room CNY 8,000 or 14,000
- Dormitory (per year)
- About CNY 600-1,500 a month
- Food (NUAA estimate)
- Up to CNY 10,000
- NUAA Academic Scholarship (year 2 onward)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (autumn and spring)
Aeronautical Engineering (Aircraft Design and Engineering)
Taught in English, with core courses in aircraft structural design, flight dynamics and preliminary design; C919 chief designer Wu Guanghui studied aircraft design at NUAA.
Artificial Intelligence (Computer Science and Technology)
English-taught degree covering algorithms, machine learning, data mining and operating systems.
Mechanical Engineering
English-taught, with Mechanics a national Double First-Class discipline and a state key laboratory in mechanical structures.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
English-taught degree in electrical engineering and automation, linked to Control Science and Engineering, a Double First-Class discipline.
Flight Technology and civil aviation programmes
Taught on the Changzhou Tianmuhu Campus, reflecting NUAA's civil aviation focus.
Research
- Leads six national research platforms, including the State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Mechanical Structures and the National Key Laboratory of Helicopter Aeromechanics.
- Contributed to the C919 airliner, crewed spaceflight, the Chang'e lunar programme and Mars exploration.
- The Tianjian Constellation, announced in 2026, is planned as 12 satellites for high-precision global carbon monitoring by 2029.
- In 2025 a College of Physics team published on dielectric energy storage in Science, and an NUAA PhD graduate published first-authored work on perovskite solar cells there.
Schools & faculties
- College of Aerospace Engineering
- College of Energy and Power Engineering
- College of Automation Engineering
- College of Electronic and Information Engineering
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
- College of Materials Science and Technology
- College of Civil Aviation
- School of Mathematics
- College of Economics and Management
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Arts
- College of Foreign Languages
NUAA says it has trained more than 200,000 graduates, 25 of whom are now academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or Chinese Academy of Engineering; no graduate employment rate is published on the pages used.
Student life
NUAA runs across the historic Minggugong Campus in central Nanjing, the Jiangjunlu Campus in Jiangning, the Yangzijiang Campus, an International Innovation Port and the Tianmuhu Campus in Changzhou. Aerospace, mechanical and many engineering majors study at Jiangjunlu, while flight and low-altitude technology majors, and first- and second-year students of most other majors, are based at Tianmuhu. Aviation is part of daily life: the Aviation and Aerospace Museum, the history museum in the 1955 Huicui Building and Yufeng Garden open to visitors on campus open days, and freshmen are welcomed with robot, drone and model-aircraft displays.
- The NUAA History Museum is in the Huicui Building, one of the university's oldest structures, completed in 1955.
- Yufeng Garden added a historic air defence missile to its displays in 2026, and the Aviation and Aerospace Museum opens to visitors on campus open days.
- NUAA students set a new record at China's national electronic design contest in 2026.
- International students have their own associations and a Chinese Center that runs HSK tests.
Housing. International students live on campus, in double rooms costing CNY 4,000 or 7,000 a year or single rooms at CNY 8,000 or 14,000.
Location
Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu, is a large historic city on the Yangtze River. NUAA's oldest site is the Minggugong (Ming Palace) Campus on Zhongshan East Road in the city centre, while the Jiangjunlu Campus is in Jiangning district in the south of the city and the Tianmuhu Campus is in the neighbouring city of Changzhou. Food on or near campus costs about CNY 600 to 1,500 a month, according to NUAA.
Nearest airport: Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG)
Notable alumni
- WG Wu GuanghuiChief designer of the COMAC C919 airliner; studied aircraft design at NUAA (1978-1982)
- LZ Lin ZuomingChairman of AVIC (2012-2018); studied aero-engine design at Nanjing Aeronautical Institute, now NUAA
- LZ Lü ZushanGovernor of Zhejiang (2003-2011); entered Nanjing Aeronautical Institute in 1963
- LW Liu WeipingGovernor of Gansu (2010-2016), later a vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; studied aircraft design at the Nanjing Institute of Aeronautics
- ML Mingyan LiuDean of the University of Michigan College of Engineering (from May 2026); bachelor's in electrical engineering from NUAA (1995)
Frequently asked questions
How much is NUAA tuition for international students?
CNY 23,900 a year for the English-taught engineering programmes and CNY 22,900 for International Business (2026 brochure). A double room costs CNY 4,000 to 7,000 a year.
Does NUAA teach undergraduate degrees in English?
Yes. Six bachelor's programmes are offered in English: Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Civil Engineering and International Business.
Is the CSCA required for NUAA?
Yes, for every international undergraduate applicant: Mathematics and Physics in English for engineering, and Mathematics for business.
When should I apply to NUAA for 2027?
The 2027 brochure was not out by September 30, 2026. For 2026 entry, applications ran from November 15, 2025 to May 30, 2026, and NUAA recommended applying by November 15 for the best chance of a scholarship.
What scholarships can international undergraduates get at NUAA?
The Chinese Government Scholarship (via your embassy), the Jiangsu Government Scholarship, the Nanjing Government Scholarship (CNY 10,000 once) and the NUAA Fly-High Scholarship, which waived first-year tuition for 2026 entrants.
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.
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