Southeast University
东南大学
Nanjing's engineering-led research university, with a top-ranked architecture school and four admission batches a year.
- Students
- 41,756
- 17,049 undergraduates
- International
- 5%
- of students
- Tuition
- CN¥16,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1902
About SEU
Southeast University dates its founding to 1902 and is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in China. It is a national key university under the Ministry of Education, on the 985 and 211 lists, and describes itself as a comprehensive research university with a focus on engineering. Twelve of its disciplines are on the national Double First-Class list, and 17 are in ESI's global top 1%, with engineering 13th and computer science 4th worldwide in ESI.
SEU has 41,756 full-time students (17,049 undergraduates and 24,707 graduate students), 3,374 full-time teachers and 38 schools and departments offering 85 undergraduate programmes. It has three main campuses in Nanjing: the historic Sipailou Campus, inherited from National Central University, the medical Dingjiaqiao Campus, and the large suburban Jiulonghu Campus in Jiangning, where most undergraduates now study.
About 2,165 international students from more than 100 countries study at SEU. Undergraduates can choose from about 65 Chinese-taught majors, from architecture and civil engineering to artificial intelligence and law, plus a small set of English-taught ones including an MBBS. Applications run in four batches from December to July. SEU suits students with strong maths and physics who want a serious engineering or architecture education in one of China's historic capitals.
止于至善
“Strive for Perfection” — university motto
Why students choose SEU
Engineering ranks 13th and computer science 4th worldwide in ESI, and 12 SEU disciplines are on the national Double First-Class list.
SEU's architecture school trained architects such as Cheng Taining and Yung Ho Chang, and applicants to Architecture, Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture submit a portfolio.
Tuition for Chinese-taught bachelor's degrees is RMB 16,000 to 20,000 a year, and the English-taught MBBS is RMB 32,000.
Four application batches from December to July give more flexibility than a single deadline, with SEU scholarships open to undergraduates.
Admissions
2027 entry (international undergraduates); 2027 brochure not yet published, figures below are from the 2026 brochure
Selectivity
SEU does not publish an acceptance rate for international undergraduates. Applicants pass an initial review, pay the application fee and then an exam or assessment stage; SEU says it assesses candidates through a combination of written tests and interviews and selects on overall qualifications.
Typical entry requirements
| Senior high school diploma | Non-Chinese citizens over 18 who have graduated from high school (graduating students submit a pre-graduation certificate), with extra residence rules for former Chinese nationals and children of Chinese citizens |
|---|---|
| HSK (Chinese-taught majors) | HSK 4 or above with 200 or more; SEU's general guidance asks for HSK 5 (200+) for medicine, economics and international Chinese education |
| CSCA | Score report in the subjects set for your field of study |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 For English-taught programmes: TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 100, unless English is the official or native language of your country. All undergraduates must also pass HSK before graduating: HSK 5 for Chinese-taught and HSK 4 for English-taught programmes. |
Deadlines
- Batch 1, 2026 entry (past, for reference) Non-binding Passed20 January 2026
Open 21 December 2025 to 20 January 2026.
- Batch 2, 2026 entry (past, for reference) Non-binding Passed20 March 2026
Open 25 January to 20 March 2026.
- Batch 3, 2026 entry (past, for reference) Non-binding Passed20 May 2026
Open 25 March to 20 May 2026. The SEU Scholarship window ran 22 November 2025 to 15 May 2026.
- Batch 4, 2026 entry (past, for reference) Non-binding Passed8 July 2026
Open 7 June to 8 July 2026. Registration for admitted students is late August to early September.
These are SEU's four 2026-entry batches, whose timing tracked the CSCA test dates. The 2027 brochure had not been published as of September 2026; SEU's general guidance says undergraduate applications run from November to June, with the semester starting in late August or early September.
How to apply
Take the CSCA first, then apply on the SEU International Student Admission System (fs.seu.edu.cn), choosing one route: Chinese Government Scholarship, Southeast University Scholarship or self-funded (only one application per person). Upload passport, high school diploma or pre-graduation certificate, full transcript, CSCA report, HSK or English certificate, non-criminal record, physical examination record and a financial support guarantee; Architecture, Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture also need a portfolio. CSC applicants also apply at studyinchina.csc.edu.cn. The RMB 800 application fee is paid after initial review.
What admissions looks for
- CSCA scores in the subjects for your field, especially Mathematics and Physics for science and engineering.
- Chinese or English proficiency at the required level (HSK 4 with 200+, or TOEFL 80 / IELTS 6.0).
- Strong overall qualifications, assessed through written tests and interviews after an initial document review.
- For design fields, a portfolio: Architecture, Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture ask for one.
Tips for applying to SEU
- 1 Apply in an early batch: each of the four 2026 batches followed a CSCA sitting, so booking the December or January CSCA gives you the most chances.
- 2 Choose your route carefully: you can apply only once, as CSC scholarship, SEU scholarship or self-funded, and duplicate applications are not reviewed.
- 3 Budget for the RMB 800 application fee, charged after the initial review and not refunded.
- 4 Plan to keep studying Chinese: even English-taught undergraduates must reach HSK 4 before graduating.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CNY
Undergraduates can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship, the Jiangsu Province Outstanding Student Scholarship, the Nanjing Municipal Government Scholarship and the Southeast University Scholarship. SEU says its full scholarships include a monthly living allowance of up to RMB 3,500, and partial scholarships cover part of tuition.
- RMB 800 (non-refundable)
- Application fee
- RMB 9,000 per year for one bed in a double room
- Accommodation
- RMB 800
- Insurance
- 22 November 2025 to 15 May 2026
- SEU Scholarship application window (2026)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters; autumn intake (registration late August to early September)
Architecture
A five-year degree, taught in Chinese or English; alumni include Cheng Taining and Yung Ho Chang, and a portfolio is required.
Civil Engineering
Available in English as well as Chinese, alongside related majors such as Engineering Mechanics and Intelligent Building.
Computer Science and Technology
SEU reports computer science 4th worldwide in ESI; the major needs Science Chinese, Mathematics and Physics in the CSCA.
Intelligent Transportation
Offered in English by the School of Transportation, which also runs Traffic Engineering and Roads, Bridges and Ferries.
Clinical Medicine (MBBS, English-taught)
Six years at the School of Medicine, which traces back to National Central University's 1935 medical college; RMB 32,000 a year.
Biomedical Engineering
From the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, together with Intelligent Medical Engineering and Biological Information.
Research
- 17 disciplines in ESI's global top 1%, with materials science and chemistry in the top 1 per mille.
- 12 disciplines on the national Double First-Class list, which SEU says ranks eighth in China.
- 17 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering on the faculty.
- The School of Medicine has clinical practice bases in more than ten Grade A tertiary hospitals, including Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University.
Schools & faculties
- School of Architecture
- School of Civil Engineering
- School of Transportation
- School of Mechanical Engineering
- School of Energy and Environment
- School of Information Science and Engineering
- School of Computer Science and Engineering
- School of Artificial Intelligence
- School of Economics and Management
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering
- Medical School
- Law School
Student life
Most undergraduates live and study on the Jiulonghu Campus in Jiangning, a large suburban campus around 20 km from the historic centre, where the College of International Students is based. The older Sipailou Campus in central Nanjing, with its domed Grand Auditorium and plane-tree avenues, now mainly houses research institutes and administration, and the School of Medicine is at Dingjiaqiao. International students can book a bed in a double room for RMB 9,000 a year. With students from more than 100 countries, the international community is sizeable.
- The domed Grand Auditorium on the Sipailou Campus was built for National Central University.
- 2,165 international students from more than 100 countries.
- SEU's Chien-Shiung Wu Memorial Hall honours the physicist, who studied at National Central University.
- Three Nanjing campuses: Sipailou, Dingjiaqiao and Jiulonghu.
Housing. On-campus accommodation costs RMB 9,000 a year for one bed in a double room, prepaid for the first year after admission.
Location
Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province, sits in the Yangtze River Delta in eastern China. SEU describes it as an ancient capital of the Six Dynasties with 52 universities, a subtropical monsoon climate and landmarks such as Xuanwu Lake, Zijin Mountain and the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. The main undergraduate campus at Jiulonghu is in the southern suburb of Jiangning.
Nearest airport: Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG)
Notable alumni
- HS Harry ShumComputer scientist and former Microsoft executive vice president for AI and Research, known for Bing; bachelor's degree from SEU
- YH Yung Ho ChangArchitect and former head of MIT's Department of Architecture; studied at Nanjing Institute of Technology (now SEU)
- CT Cheng TainingArchitect; graduated from Nanjing Institute of Technology's School of Architecture
- DW Dio WangFormer Australian senator for Western Australia; studied civil engineering at SEU
- CW Chien-Shiung WuExperimental physicist known for the Wu experiment on parity violation; studied at National Central University, SEU's predecessor
- HW Huang WeiluMissile engineer and Two Bombs, One Satellite medal recipient; electrical engineering graduate of National Central University
Frequently asked questions
Does Southeast University teach undergraduate programmes in English?
A few: the six-year Clinical Medicine (MBBS) plus English-taught options in Architecture, Civil Engineering, E-Business and Intelligent Transportation on the 2026 major list. Most majors are taught in Chinese.
What CSCA subjects does Southeast University require?
It depends on the field: Humanities Chinese plus Mathematics for humanities, Science Chinese plus Mathematics and Physics for science and engineering, Science Chinese plus Mathematics and Chemistry for chemistry and medicine, and Mathematics and Chemistry in English for the English-taught MBBS.
How much does Southeast University cost for international students?
Chinese-taught bachelor's tuition is RMB 16,000 (liberal arts), RMB 19,000 (engineering) or RMB 20,000 (medicine) a year, and the English-taught MBBS is RMB 32,000. SEU does not list a separate fee for its other English-taught majors; its guidance quotes RMB 20,000 to 40,000 a year for English-taught undergraduate study. Add the RMB 800 application fee, RMB 800 insurance and RMB 9,000 a year for a double-room bed.
When can I apply to Southeast University?
For 2026 entry SEU ran four batches: 21 December 2025 to 20 January 2026, 25 January to 20 March, 25 March to 20 May, and 7 June to 8 July 2026. The 2027 dates had not been published as of September 2026.
What HSK level does Southeast University require?
HSK 4 with at least 200 for Chinese-taught undergraduate programmes, with HSK 5 (200+) asked for medicine, economics and international Chinese education. You must reach HSK 5 before graduating from a Chinese-taught programme.
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.
- Southeast University: Application Information for Undergraduate Programs 2026 (PDF brochure)
- Southeast University: 2026 Application Guidance for International Students (PDF)
- Southeast University: Undergraduate Programs list with CSCA subjects (PDF)
- Southeast University: English-Taught Medical Undergraduate Program (MBBS) 2026
- Southeast University: Fees Standards
- Southeast University: SEU Scholarship
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