Northwest University
西北大学
A Xi'an university known for geology, archaeology and the humanities, with Chinese-taught degrees for international students.
- Students
- 30,000
- 14,000 undergraduates
- International
- 3%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 13.2:1
- ratio
- Founded
- 1902
About NWU Xi'an
Northwest University in Xi'an traces its history to 1902, when the Shaanxi University Hall was founded. It took the name Northwest University in 1912, and became a Ministry of Education university after 1949 before moving to provincial administration in 1958. Today it is a Double First-Class university co-built by the Ministry of Education and Shaanxi Province.
The university reports more than 30,000 students (over 14,000 undergraduates, over 15,400 postgraduates and over 600 international students), more than 3,000 staff, 26 schools and departments, and 81 undergraduate programmes. Geology and Archaeology are its two Double First-Class disciplines. It describes itself as the mother of Chinese petroleum talent, a cradle of economists and a cradle of writers. It operates three campuses in Xi'an: Taibai, Taoyuan and Chang'an.
For international applicants, the picture is Chinese-language first. The international admissions site lists Chinese-taught bachelor's programmes with an HSK Level 4 requirement, mostly Chinese-taught master's programmes and a mix of Chinese- and English-taught doctoral programmes. It suits students who want to study archaeology, geology, chemistry, economics or Chinese studies in a historic Chinese city and who are prepared to work in Chinese, ideally with a scholarship.
Why students choose NWU Xi'an
Geology and Archaeology are both national Double First-Class disciplines, according to the university's own introduction.
The 2025 Silk Road Chinese Government Scholarship for Belt and Road citizens covers tuition, free on-campus housing, a CNY 2,500 monthly living allowance and medical insurance for a four-year Chinese-taught bachelor's degree.
International Economics and Trade has run a dedicated international-student plan since 2008 and, the university says, has graduated about 600 international students over the past decade.
The main campuses are in Xi'an, and the university states it has cooperation with more than 130 universities and research institutions in over 30 countries and regions.
Admissions
International students, 2025-26 postings (latest cycle found; 2027 intake dates not yet published)
Selectivity
Northwest University publishes no acceptance rate for international students. Applications go through a first selection, pre-admission lists around mid-April, and a final list in early September once scholarship and self-funded admissions are known.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma | High school / senior secondary or advanced diploma, notarized, with notarized transcripts |
|---|---|
| Chinese language (Silk Road Scholarship bachelor's) | HSK Level 4 with 180 points or above; applicants aged 18 to under 25 with a passport from a Belt and Road partner country |
| CSCA (2026 guide) | Science/engineering: Chinese (Science), Mathematics, Chemistry or Physics; liberal arts: Chinese (Liberal Arts), Mathematics. Check whether the 2027 guide keeps this. |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 75 From the 2026 undergraduate programme guide, as an alternative to HSK 4 (180+) for the medium of instruction; the guide does not say which bachelor programmes are taught in English. |
Deadlines
- 2025 Silk Road Chinese Government Scholarship, bachelor's (previous cycle) Non-binding Passed20 May 2025
The only undergraduate deadline posted on the international admissions site when checked; applications after the deadline are not accepted.
- Master's and doctoral: Chinese Government Scholarship and Silk Road doctoral scholarship Non-binding1 December of the previous year to 30 March
From the university's postgraduate FAQ.
- Master's and doctoral: NWU International Student Scholarship and self-funded Non-binding1 January to 30 June
From the university's postgraduate FAQ.
2027 undergraduate dates were not posted when checked on 2026-09-30, so the undergraduate deadline shown is the previous cycle's. The 2026 Undergraduate Program Guide (posted 1 December 2025) lists two batches, 1 January to 25 February and 1 March to 30 May, but prints the year as 2025, so confirm the dates at sie.nwu.edu.cn before relying on them. Its CSCA paragraph gives 20 May 2026 as the score deadline for that intake.
How to apply
Apply through the university's online application system (nwu.17gz.org) after checking the bachelor's programme guide on sie.nwu.edu.cn. Scholarship applicants also register on the China Scholarship Council (CSC) system. Documents for the Silk Road bachelor's scholarship include the application form, notarized diploma and transcripts, two recommendation letters, a study plan of at least 500 words in Chinese, a foreigner physical examination form, the HSK certificate and a passport copy.
What admissions looks for
- Notarized secondary-school qualifications and transcripts.
- Chinese proficiency: HSK Level 4 at 180 or above for the scholarship bachelor's programme.
- For postgraduate study, a supervisor who agrees to accept you and issues an acceptance letter before the admissions office review.
Tips for applying to NWU Xi'an
- 1 Contact a potential supervisor first for master's or doctoral study, because the university requires a supervisor's acceptance letter.
- 2 Check the medium of instruction for your major before applying: the postgraduate FAQ refers to both Chinese-taught and English-taught programmes, and the bachelor's scholarship programme is Chinese-taught.
- 3 New students must report by 30 September each year, or the place is treated as given up.
- 4 Write your study plan in Chinese for the bachelor's scholarship: it must be at least 500 words.
- 5 Undergraduate applicants for the 2026 intake had to supply CSCA results (or proof of registration) as well as language proof; plan your CSCA sitting early.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for Northwest University
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CNY
Northwest University offers Chinese Government Scholarships, Silk Road scholarships and its own International Student Scholarship. The 2025 Silk Road bachelor's scholarship for Belt and Road citizens waives tuition, provides free on-campus accommodation, a CNY 2,500 monthly allowance and comprehensive medical insurance. Tuition for self-funded international students was not found on the pages reviewed.
- Tuition waiver, free on-campus housing, CNY 2,500 a month, medical insurance; 4 years, Chinese-taught
- Silk Road bachelor's scholarship (2025 posting)
- CNY 2,500 (CNY 30,000 over 12 months)
- Monthly allowance, Silk Road bachelor's scholarship
Academics
Archaeology
One of the university's two Double First-Class disciplines, offered at Chinese-taught undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Geology
The other Double First-Class discipline; the university also calls itself the mother of Chinese petroleum talent.
International Economics and Trade (Chinese-taught)
Built around the Belt and Road Initiative, with a dedicated international-student training plan since 2008.
Cultural Relics Preservation
Offered at doctoral level in the School of Cultural Heritage, alongside Archaeology.
Research
- The university says it has 137 research platforms at provincial or ministerial level or above, including one national key laboratory and one national engineering research centre.
- It hosts a national Silk Road archaeology cooperation research centre and a national Belt and Road joint laboratory, according to its own introduction.
Schools & faculties
- School of Cultural Heritage
- School of Marxism
- School of Public Administration
Student life
Northwest University spreads across three Xi'an campuses: Taibai, Taoyuan and Chang'an. International students are handled by the School of International Education, which runs student activities and associations, internships and practice placements, and an alumni network. New international students have an orientation section on accommodation, regulations and preparing to come to China. Xi'an is a large historic city, which matters for archaeology and cultural heritage students in particular.
- Three campuses: Taibai, Taoyuan and Chang'an.
- School of International Education runs student activities, associations and internship programmes for international students.
- Orientation pages cover preparing to come to China, accommodation and regulations.
- Overseas alumni association and alumni registration for international graduates.
Housing. Silk Road Scholarship bachelor's holders receive free on-campus accommodation; other students should check the accommodation page of the international admissions site.
Location
The Taibai campus is on North Taibai Road in central Xi'an and the Chang'an campus is in the Guodu education and technology district in the south of the city. Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi Province, and the university's strengths in archaeology and cultural heritage are tied to the city's historic sites.
Nearest airport: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY)
Notable alumni
- CZ Chi ZijianNovelist and Mao Dun Literary Prize winner (2008); accepted to Northwest University in 1988 to study writing, for one year
- ZW Zhang WeiyingEconomist, former head of Peking University's Guanghua School of Management; bachelor's (1982) and master's (1984) from Northwest University
- LL Liu LiArchaeologist and Sir Robert Ho Tung Professor in Chinese Archaeology at Stanford; undergraduate degree in archaeology, 1982
- DQ Duan QingboArchaeologist (1964-2019), chief archaeologist of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and later dean of Northwest University's School of Cultural Heritage; bachelor's in archaeology, 1985
- ZW Zhao WenzhiPetroleum geologist; BS in Petroleum Geology, 1982
- HX Hou XunOptical physicist and former director of the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics; graduated in physics, 1959
- ZX Zhang XiaoyeMeteorologist at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences; BSc from Northwest University, 1986
Frequently asked questions
Can international students study at Northwest University in English?
Mostly no at undergraduate level: the Silk Road Scholarship bachelor's programme is Chinese-taught and needs HSK Level 4 (180+), although the 2026 programme guide also lists IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 75 as an alternative language proof. The postgraduate FAQ refers to both Chinese-taught and English-taught postgraduate programmes.
What scholarships does Northwest University offer international students?
Chinese Government Scholarships, Silk Road scholarships and the NWU International Student Scholarship. The 2025 Silk Road bachelor's scholarship waives tuition, provides free housing and a CNY 2,500 monthly allowance.
What is the HSK requirement for Northwest University?
The Silk Road Scholarship bachelor's programme asks for HSK Level 4 with a score of 180 or above.
When should I apply to Northwest University as an international student?
For master's and doctoral study, the university lists 1 December to 30 March for Chinese Government and Silk Road scholarships and 1 January to 30 June for its own scholarship and self-funded applicants. The last undergraduate deadline posted was 20 May 2025 (Silk Road scholarship); 2027 dates were not yet posted.
Which subjects is Northwest University known for?
The university names Geology and Archaeology as its national Double First-Class disciplines and says it is known as the mother of Chinese petroleum talent, a cradle of economists and a cradle of writers.
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.
- Northwest University: University profile (Chinese)
- Northwest University School of International Education: Admissions (English)
- Northwest University: 2025 Silk Road Chinese Government Scholarship, bachelor's
- Northwest University: Frequently asked questions on international graduate enrolment
- Northwest University: Bachelor programme (Chinese admissions site)
- Northwest University: Majors information (Chinese admissions site)
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