Ningbo University
宁波大学
A Double First-Class comprehensive university in Ningbo, founded by shipping magnate Sir Yue-Kong Pao, with English-taught degrees up to medicine.
- Students
- 35,858
- 22,115 undergraduates
- International
- 3%
- of students
- Tuition
- CN¥20,000
- From · 2026 intake (undergraduate guide of 26 March 2026)
- Founded
- 1986
About NBU
Ningbo University (NBU) was founded in 1986 with a donation from the shipping magnate Sir Yue-Kong Pao, with Peking, Fudan, Zhejiang and other universities supporting its early years. In 1996 it merged with Ningbo Normal College and the Ningbo branch of Zhejiang Fisheries College to form the present university. It is now a national Double First-Class university co-supported by the Zhejiang provincial government, the Ministry of Education and Ningbo Municipality.
The university's profile, with data to June 2026, lists 22,115 full-time undergraduates, 11,798 master's students, 776 doctoral students and 1,169 international students, taught by 2,432 teaching and research staff across 26 schools and six affiliated hospitals. It offers 58 undergraduate programmes across 12 disciplines. Fifteen subjects are in the top 1 percent of ESI, and mechanics is a national Double First-Class discipline.
Its International College accepts undergraduate applications for twelve programmes: ten taught in English (business administration, international economy and trade, financial engineering, logistics management, architecture, mechanical engineering, English, primary education, musical education and a six-year medical degree), one in Chinese (law) and one in Japanese and Chinese. It suits students who want an English-taught degree in a coastal port city and are comfortable taking the national CSCA exam.
实事求是，经世致用
University motto
Why students choose NBU
Twelve undergraduate programmes are open to international students, ten of them taught in English, from four-year business degrees to a six-year MBBS.
Tuition for most of the English-taught bachelor's programmes is 20,000 CNY per year, rising to 38,000 CNY for MBBS.
The Zhejiang, Ningbo and NBU scholarships each give bachelor's students 20,000 CNY.
It has 12 discipline categories, 15 ESI top-1-percent subjects and a national Double First-Class discipline in mechanics.
Admissions
2026 intake (undergraduate application guide published 26 March 2026); 2027 guide not yet published
Selectivity
Ningbo University does not publish an admission rate for international students. Admission is based on a comprehensive evaluation of academic performance, language proficiency, supporting materials, CSCA scores and, for some programmes, an interview.
Typical entry requirements
| High-school graduation | Non-Chinese citizen with a valid foreign passport who has graduated from high school (applicants under 25 must have graduated) |
|---|---|
| Chinese-taught programmes (law; Japanese is taught in Japanese and Chinese) | HSK certificate, unless your secondary-school compulsory courses were taught in Chinese |
| English-taught programmes | No Chinese required; a TOEFL, IELTS or other English test report for non-native speakers (no minimum score is published) |
| CSCA | Valid score report in the subjects required for your programme |
| English language | Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a TOEFL, IELTS or other English test score report. The guide publishes no minimum score. |
Deadlines
- CSCA sitting, November 2026 Non-binding Next deadline · In 15 daysExam 14-15 November 2026; registration 15-21 October 2026
National exam dates from csca.cn, not an NBU deadline.
- CSCA sittings, December 2026 and January 2027 Non-binding In ~2 monthsExams 19-20 December 2026 and 23-24 January 2027
National exam dates from csca.cn; registration opens later.
The 2026 undergraduate guide tells applicants to apply 'within the application periods' but does not print the dates; they are set in the online system. NBU has not published 2027 dates, so check icnbu.nbu.edu.cn. The guide's own description of the CSCA calendar (January, March, April, June, December) differs from the 2026-27 sittings on csca.cn, so rely on csca.cn for exam dates.
How to apply
Create an account in the International College online application system at icnbu.nbu.edu.cn, complete the form within the application period, upload documents (passport page valid after 1 March 2027 for the 2026 intake, photo, highest certificate and transcript, no-criminal-record certificate, CSCA scores, language certificate, physical examination record) and pay the 500 CNY application fee. The International College reviews applications, faculties may interview some applicants, and admitted students pay the first-year tuition online and download the admission notice and the visa confirmation form.
What admissions looks for
- A complete and truthful application: the guide says NBU may withdraw an offer if materials are false, inaccurate or incomplete.
- CSCA scores in the right subjects for your programme, for example Mathematics and Physics for architecture.
- Language proficiency for the teaching language and a clean conduct and health record.
- An interview result where a faculty asks for one.
Tips for applying to NBU
- 1 Take the CSCA early; every undergraduate application needs a valid transcript, and the required subjects depend on the programme.
- 2 Check your passport: for the 2026 intake it had to be valid beyond 1 March 2027.
- 3 Applicants of Chinese heritage should read the Ministry of Education rules carefully; the guide requires proof of foreign nationality and two years of residence abroad in a set period.
- 4 Maritime, marine science and food science students study on the Meishan campus, on an island in Beilun district, not the main campus.
Costs & financial aid
2026 intake (undergraduate guide of 26 March 2026) · figures in CNY
New international bachelor's students can apply for the Zhejiang Province Government Scholarship, the Ningbo Government Scholarship and the Ningbo University Scholarship, each listed at 20,000 CNY for bachelor's students. Chinese Government Scholarship (Bilateral Program) applications go through Chinese embassies or other dispatching authorities between early January and early April; the Chinese University Program covers graduate study only (Agency No. 11646).
- 20,000 CNY each, as listed in the 2026 guide
- Zhejiang, Ningbo and NBU scholarships (bachelor's)
- 500 CNY, non-refundable
- Application fee
- 1,200 CNY per academic year
- Insurance
- 500 CNY (examination) and 800 CNY per year (residence permit)
- Medical examination and residence permit
- 450 CNY for one subject, 700 CNY for two or more
- CSCA exam fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Autumn entry; bachelor's degrees take four years, architecture five and MBBS six
Business Administration and International Economy and Trade (English)
Four-year English-taught degrees at 20,000 CNY per year, taught in the Business School.
MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery)
A six-year English-taught medical degree in the Health Science Center, with CSCA Mathematics and Chemistry; tuition 38,000 CNY per year.
Logistics Management (International Shipping)
Taught in English in the Faculty of Maritime and Transportation on the Meishan campus, close to Ningbo's port.
Architecture
Five-year English-taught degree at the Pan Tianshou College of Architecture, Art and Design; CSCA Mathematics and Physics.
Mechanical Design, Manufacturing and Automation
English-taught in the School of Mechanical Engineering and Intelligent Manufacturing; mechanics is a national Double First-Class discipline.
Research
- It has 15 subjects in the ESI top 1 percent, with engineering in the top 1 per mille, and 51 ministry-level or higher research platforms including one national key laboratory.
- The university has won 9 national science and technology awards and reports that an experiment it led flew on the Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft.
- It has a national university science park and provincial and city concept-verification centres for turning research into products.
Schools & faculties
- Business School
- Law School
- College of Teacher Education
- Faculty of Foreign Languages
- School of Mathematics and Statistics
- Faculty of Maritime and Transportation
- College of Music
- Pan Tianshou College of Architecture, Art and Design
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Intelligent Manufacturing
- Health Science Center
- School of Marine Sciences
- College of Food Science and Engineering
The undergraduate further-study rate rose from 25.6 percent to 37.38 percent, according to the university profile. Employment rate and graduate satisfaction are described as among the leading provincial universities, without figures.
Student life
NBU's main campus is in the north district of the Ningbo Higher Education Park, and a second campus on Meishan Island in Beilun serves maritime, marine science and food science students. International students can live in the Yangguang International Students Apartment, the Wong Chingmao International Student Dormitory or the Meishan international dormitory, but places are limited and need advance application. Medical insurance is compulsory and students must register with the local police within 24 hours of arrival. The university has won the national Challenge Cup 'Winner's Cup' for 13 consecutive editions, and the International College organises summer practice trips and talent shows for Chinese and international students.
- Three on-campus options for international students: Yangguang apartment (single or double rooms), Yong-Jiang dormitory and a Meishan dormitory.
- The 'Winner's Cup' in the national Challenge Cup competitions for 13 years in a row.
- 'Perceiving China' summer practice teams mixing Chinese and international students in 2026.
- Monthly HSK test registration through the International College.
Housing. On-campus housing for international students includes the Yangguang apartment (single 1,200 CNY per month, double 900 CNY per month), the Yong-Jiang dormitory (4,000 CNY per academic year) and a Meishan dormitory (3,500 CNY per academic year); places are limited and need advance application.
Location
The main campus is at 818 Fenghua Road in Jiangbei district, Ningbo, a port city in Zhejiang province. The Meishan campus is on Meishan Island in Beilun district. The university says it is supported by the provincial and city governments and by a network of overseas Ningbo-born benefactors, and the city's port shapes programmes such as international shipping and marine science.
Notable alumni
- ZY Zeng YingyingBreakdancer (B-girl Ying Zi) who represented China at the 2024 Olympic Games; attended Ningbo University
- SY Shen YueyueChinese politician and former president of the All-China Women's Federation; studied mathematics at Ningbo Normal College (1978-80), a predecessor institution
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Ningbo University?
Ningbo University does not publish an admission rate for international students. Admission is a comprehensive evaluation of grades, language ability, CSCA results, supporting materials and interviews where required.
Does Ningbo University teach bachelor's degrees in English?
Yes. The 2026 guide lists ten English-taught bachelor's programmes: Business Administration, International Economy and Trade, Financial Engineering, Logistics Management, Architecture, Mechanical Design, English, Primary Education, Musical Education and MBBS. Law is taught in Chinese, and Japanese in Japanese and Chinese.
Is the CSCA required at Ningbo University?
Yes. All international undergraduate applicants must provide a valid CSCA transcript, and the subjects depend on the programme.
How much is tuition at Ningbo University for international students?
For the 2026 intake, bachelor's tuition is 20,000 CNY per year for most English-taught programmes, 22,000 for architecture and mechanical engineering, 24,000 for musical education and 38,000 for MBBS.
What scholarships can international undergraduates get at Ningbo University?
The Zhejiang Government, Ningbo Government and Ningbo University scholarships each list 20,000 CNY for bachelor's students. Chinese Government Scholarships are available through the bilateral programme via your home country's dispatching authority.
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.
- Ningbo University: Introduction (data to June 2026)
- Ningbo University International College: Application Guide for Undergraduate Programs 2026
- Ningbo University International College: Admissions
- Ningbo University International College: Scholarships
- Ningbo University International College: Guide for new students
- CSCA: exam introduction, subjects and fees
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