Nankai University
南开大学
Tianjin's century-old comprehensive university, where international undergraduates start with a Chinese foundation year.
- Students
- 36,324
- 17,493 undergraduates
- Tuition
- CN¥20,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1919
- QS World Ranking
- #329
- 2027 edition
About NKU
Nankai University was founded in Tianjin in 1919 by the educators Zhang Boling and Yan Xiu, grew out of the Nankai Middle School founded in 1904, and during the war with Japan joined Peking and Tsinghua universities to form the National Southwest Associated University. Today it is a comprehensive national university in Project 211, Project 985 and the Double First-Class initiative, with 17,493 undergraduates, 18,831 graduate students, more than 2,000 international students and 2,460 full-time faculty across three campuses: historic Balitai, the newer Jinnan campus, and TEDA.
Nankai is best known for its sciences, especially mathematics and chemistry, and for economics, business and the social sciences. The mathematician Shiing-Shen Chern studied here and later founded the institute that now carries his name, and the university runs State Key Laboratories in elemento-organic chemistry, medicinal chemical biology, and photovoltaic materials and cells.
International undergraduates follow a "1+3" pathway: a foundation year at the School of International Education, then three years in one of 41 Chinese-taught majors (five years for medicine). Entry requires HSK Level 4 and, from the 2026 intake, a China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) score, and graduates of Chinese-taught programs must reach HSK Level 6. It suits students who are committed to studying in Chinese and want a major national university outside Beijing and Shanghai.
允公允能，日新月异
“Dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capability, and aspiration for progress with each passing day” — university motto
Why students choose NKU
The 1+3 model gives every international undergraduate a full foundation year at the School of International Education before starting the major.
Published tuition for international undergraduates is 20,000 to 35,000 RMB a year depending on the program, plus 800 RMB a year for compulsory medical insurance.
Several scholarship routes are open to undergraduates: the Chinese Government Scholarship (including a Silk Road Program for bachelor's degrees in business and finance), the Tianjin Government Scholarship and the Study-at-NKU Scholarship.
The Chern Institute of Mathematics and three State Key Laboratories in chemistry and materials put Nankai's science majors close to national-level research.
Admissions
Autumn 2026 intake (the latest published guide); the 2027 guide had not been published as of 29 September 2026
Selectivity
Nankai does not publish an admission rate for international undergraduates. Applications are reviewed on documents, CSCA results and HSK level, and shortlisted applicants are interviewed on language proficiency and overall ability.
Typical entry requirements
| Senior high school diploma | Completed with excellent academic results; applicants must be non-Chinese citizens meeting the Ministry of Education's 2020 Document No. 12 nationality rules, and born before 1 September 2008 for the 2026 intake |
|---|---|
| CSCA | Required for all applicants; register at csca.cn early enough for the score report to reach Nankai before the deadline |
| HSK (Chinese proficiency) | HSK Level 4 with at least 180 points to apply; HSK Level 6 with at least 180 points before graduation from a Chinese-taught program |
Deadlines
- Chinese Government Scholarship Silk Road Program, 2026 (past, for reference) Non-binding Passed18 May 2026
Bachelor's programs taught in Chinese such as Business Economics, Business Administration and Finance.
- Tianjin Government / Study-at-NKU Scholarship, 2026 (past, for reference) Non-binding Passed30 May 2026
Tick the scholarship option on the online application; only pre-admitted applicants can be nominated.
- Undergraduate application window, autumn 2026 intake (past, for reference) Non-binding Passed30 June 2026
Applications were open from 20 October 2025 to 30 June 2026.
Nankai had not published its 2027 undergraduate guide as of 29 September 2026. For the 2026 intake the application window opened on 20 October 2025, so the 2027 window is likely to open in autumn 2026; check ensie.nankai.edu.cn. Chinese Government Scholarship (Type A) applications go through Chinese embassies, usually from November to early February.
How to apply
Take the CSCA, then apply online through the Nankai International Students Application System (nankai.at0086.cn), choosing up to two majors in order of preference. Upload your passport, highest diploma, high school transcripts, CSCA score report, personal statement, HSK 4 certificate, one recommendation letter, supporting materials, a foreigner physical examination record, proof of funds and a non-criminal record. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed; admitted students pay the 400 RMB application fee and full tuition online, then receive the admission notice and JW201/202 visa form from July.
What admissions looks for
- A senior high school diploma with excellent academic performance and complete transcripts.
- CSCA results in the subjects relevant to your intended major.
- Chinese proficiency of at least HSK 4 (180+), tested again at interview.
- Overall competence shown through the personal statement, a recommendation letter and supplementary materials, assessed at the interview.
Tips for applying to NKU
- 1 Register for the CSCA early at csca.cn: Nankai needs your score report as part of the application, and applications without it are incomplete.
- 2 Pick your two majors carefully: Business Economics and Business Administration accept only first-choice applicants.
- 3 If you want the Tianjin Government or Study-at-NKU Scholarship, tick the scholarship box on the online form; the award level depends on your interview and application.
- 4 Plan your Chinese beyond HSK 4: you must reach HSK 6 (180+) before you can graduate from a Chinese-taught program.
- 5 Chinese Government Scholarship (Type A) applicants must apply through their Chinese embassy and also complete Nankai's online application, ideally after confirming pre-admission with Nankai.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CNY
International undergraduates can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship (Type A via embassies; Type B and Silk Road Program via Nankai), which covers tuition, accommodation, a stipend and comprehensive medical insurance. The Tianjin Government Scholarship and Study-at-NKU Scholarship give tuition subsidies to pre-admitted students, and the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship covers the International Chinese Language Education major.
- 400 RMB (waived for Chinese Government Scholarship students)
- Application fee
- 800 RMB per year, compulsory
- Medical insurance
- Tuition waiver, free housing or housing subsidy, stipend, and medical insurance
- Chinese Government Scholarship coverage
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Mathematics
Home of the Chern Institute of Mathematics, founded by alumnus Shiing-Shen Chern, and a Ministry of Education key laboratory of pure mathematics and combinatorics.
Chemistry
Nankai's chemistry discipline dates to 1920 and runs the State Key Laboratories of Elemento-organic Chemistry and of Medicinal Chemical Biology.
Business Economics and Business Administration
Popular Chinese-taught majors that accept international applicants only as a first choice and are offered under the Silk Road scholarship program.
Finance
Taught in the School of Finance and included in the Chinese Government Scholarship Silk Road Program for bachelor's students.
International Chinese Language Education
Has its own International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship for international undergraduates.
Research
- State Key Laboratories of Elemento-organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Photovoltaic Materials and Cells.
- The Chern Institute of Mathematics, founded in the 1980s by alumnus Shiing-Shen Chern, and the Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pure Mathematics and Combinatorics.
- More than 120 research institutes, including the APEC Study Center and the Institute of Modern Optics.
Schools & faculties
- School of Mathematical Science
- College of Chemistry
- School of Physics
- School of Economics
- Business School
- School of Finance
- Zhou Enlai School of Government
- School of Law
- School of Literature
- College of Computer Science
- School of Medicine
- School of International Education
Student life
International students live in six dedicated dormitory buildings: three Yiyuan buildings on the historic Balitai Campus and three International Student Apartment blocks on the Jinnan Campus, mostly in double rooms with shared kitchens and self-service laundry. Balitai is the older, tree-lined campus with the Main Building, the statue of Zhou Enlai and the Xiaoyin River, while Jinnan, opened in 2015, is larger and more modern. The foundation year at the School of International Education means your first-year classmates are other international students, and the international student office runs events and activities through the year.
- Foundation year at the School of International Education before joining a major
- Six international student dormitory buildings across Balitai and Jinnan campuses
- Smart Colleges (Zhihui Shuyuan) that bring students and teachers together in a residential-academy style
- Nankai purple and the lotus as university colour and flower
Housing. On-campus rooms for international students cost 1,000 to 3,000 RMB per month depending on room type and campus, with most rooms doubles.
Location
Tianjin is a major port city in northern China, close to Beijing. Nankai's historic Balitai Campus is at 94 Weijin Road in Nankai District, the larger Jinnan Campus (opened in 2015) is at 38 Tongyan Road in Jinnan District, and a third campus is at TEDA, the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area. International students live on the Balitai or Jinnan campus.
Nearest airport: Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN)
Notable alumni
- ZE Zhou EnlaiFirst Premier of the People's Republic of China; enrolled in Nankai University's first class in 1919 (did not complete a degree)
- SC Shiing-Shen ChernMathematician called the "father of modern differential geometry"; studied mathematics at Nankai from age 15
- WT Wu Ta-YouPhysicist known as the "Father of Chinese Physics"; undergraduate degree from Nankai (1929)
- GS Guo ShuqingBanker and financial regulator, chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (2018–2023); graduated 1982
- RH Ray HuangHistorian, author of 1587, A Year of No Significance; studied electrical engineering at Nankai (1936)
- DX David X. LiQuantitative analyst who pioneered Gaussian copula models for credit risk; master's in economics from Nankai
- CY Cao YuPlaywright (Thunderstorm); studied political science at Nankai for a year before transferring to Tsinghua
Frequently asked questions
Does Nankai University require the CSCA?
Yes. From the 2026 intake, all international undergraduate applicants must take the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) in the subjects matching their intended major and submit the score report with their application.
What HSK level do I need for Nankai?
HSK Level 4 with at least 180 points to apply, and HSK Level 6 with at least 180 points before graduating from a Chinese-taught program.
Does Nankai offer English-taught undergraduate degrees?
The international undergraduate guide lists 41 bachelor's programs, all taught in Chinese, starting with a foundation year at the School of International Education.
How much does Nankai cost for international students?
Tuition is 20,000 to 35,000 RMB a year depending on the program, housing is 1,000 to 3,000 RMB a month, medical insurance is 800 RMB a year, and the application fee is 400 RMB.
When is the Nankai application deadline?
For the 2026 intake, applications ran from 20 October 2025 to 30 June 2026, with a 30 May deadline for Tianjin Government and Study-at-NKU scholarships. The 2027 guide had not been published as of 29 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.
- Nankai University School of International Education: Undergraduate Programs for International Students 2026
- Nankai University School of International Education: Undergraduate programs
- Nankai University School of International Education: Chinese Government Scholarship
- Nankai University School of International Education: Accommodation
- Nankai University: About NKU (history, motto, facts and figures)
- Nankai University: Academics (colleges, schools and research institutes)
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