Southwest University
西南大学
A Chongqing teacher-education and agriculture university with 61,000 students and a published, fully priced undergraduate menu for internationals.
- Students
- 61,000
- Tuition
- CN¥18,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1906
- QS World Ranking
- 951-1000
- 2027 edition
About SWU
Southwest University (SWU) is a key comprehensive university jointly built by China's Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Chongqing municipal government, and it is part of China's Double First-Class programme. It traces its history to 1906 and was formed in 2005 when Southwest Normal University and Southwest Agricultural University merged. That double origin explains its two best-known strengths: teacher education and agriculture.
The university reports more than 61,000 students, over 3,200 full-time teachers and three campuses (Beibei, Rongchang and Liangjiang) covering more than 8,000 mu. Education and Biology are its Double First-Class disciplines, and Chemistry, Agricultural Sciences, Plant and Animal Sciences and Engineering are in the top 1 per thousand of ESI worldwide.
International undergraduates apply for a four-year degree, mostly taught in Chinese, with a smaller English-taught list. Applicants need HSK 4 (200 points, or 210 for one major; 21 of the 47 Chinese-taught majors) or HSK 5 (180 to 210 points; the other 26), or for the 5 English-taught majors a TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.0 score, must be under 30, and must submit results from the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA). SWU says it welcomes around 2,000 international students a year. The application window for degree programmes runs from 1 January to 15 June, and students enrol in early September.
含弘光大，继往开来
University motto
Why students choose SWU
Published tuition is CNY 18,000 to 22,000 a year for Chinese-taught undergraduate majors and CNY 22,000 to 25,000 for the English-taught ones.
Undergraduates can study Law, Psychology, Food Science, Horticulture, Pharmacy, Animal Medicine and Artificial Intelligence, among 47 Chinese-taught and 5 English-taught majors listed for 2026-27.
The SWU President Scholarship (Type A) covers tuition plus CNY 1,100 a month for undergraduates, and the Chongqing Mayor Scholarship pays CNY 10,000 or 25,000 a year.
Freshmen live in university international student dormitories at CNY 6,000 to 12,000 a year, depending on the room type.
Admissions
Undergraduate entry September 2027 (2026-27 requirements are the latest published)
Selectivity
SWU does not publish an acceptance rate. Applications are reviewed monthly from early April to late June in stages: preliminary review, secondary review, a language proficiency interview and department review.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma or above | Non-Chinese citizen under 30 with a high school diploma, good health, GPA at least 3.0/4.0 (80/100) and a CSCA score report |
|---|---|
| Chinese-taught majors | HSK Level 4 (200+) for 21 majors (for example Applied Psychology, Animal Medicine, Applied Chemistry, Horticulture, languages and Chinese literature), HSK 5 (180 to 210) for the other 26 (for example Law, Economics, Finance, Business, Electronic Information, Food Science, Journalism and Pharmacy); Engineering Technology majors also require an interview |
| English-taught majors | IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 (no section below 20 on TOEFL; no band below 5.5 on IELTS); Duolingo 115 also accepted per the undergraduate bulletin; Electronic Information Engineering and Artificial Intelligence also require a college interview |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 TOEFL iBT 80 with no section below 20, or IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or Duolingo English Test 115 with no subscore below 115. Electronic Information Engineering and Artificial Intelligence add an interview by the college. Applicants who cannot meet the Chinese requirement must take Chinese courses first, not covered by scholarship. |
Deadlines
- Degree programmes (self-funded and university scholarships) Non-binding1 January to 15 June (each year)
Reviews run monthly from early April to late June; offers and JW202 visa forms are sent before 15 July. Enrolment is early September.
SWU publishes a standing 1 January to 15 June application window for degree programmes and did not yet post the 2027 dates when checked (the Application Procedure page also carries a stray reference to a February 15 deadline that conflicts with the Application Period page); the 2026-27 majors list is the latest. Chinese Government Scholarship (Type A) dates are set by the sending agency each March.
How to apply
Register at the SWU online application site (swu.17gz.org), fill in the application, upload your diploma, transcript, two teacher recommendations, language certificate, CSCA report, passport, photo, non-criminal record certificate and Physical Examination Record (valid 6 months), and, if your application is successful, pay the CNY 500 application fee (the fees page says only successful applicants pay it; the fee is non-refundable). Music and fine-arts applicants submit works.
What admissions looks for
- Meeting the language minimum for your major: HSK 4 to HSK 5 in Chinese, or TOEFL 80 / IELTS 6.0 in English.
- A GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 (or 80 out of 100) and a complete, notarized document set.
- A CSCA transcript, which the university requires for all undergraduate applicants.
- For some engineering majors, a strong base in mathematics, physics and chemistry, checked in a college interview.
Tips for applying to SWU
- 1 Work out the language route first: the Chinese-taught list needs HSK 4 (200) for most majors, but law, economics, engineering, journalism and pharmacy are usually HSK 5 (180 to 210).
- 2 Apply early in the window: SWU reviews applications monthly from April, and the President and Mayor scholarships use the same 1 January to 15 June window.
- 3 Freshmen must live in the international student dormitories in their first year; seniors can apply to live off campus.
- 4 Check the campus: the English-taught Animal Science major is at the Rongchang campus, not Beibei.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CNY
SWU's President Scholarship and the New Silk Road Scholarship are open to applicants in the same window: Type A covers tuition and a monthly living allowance (CNY 1,100 for undergraduates) and both types cover medical insurance; Type B covers tuition. The Chongqing Mayor Scholarship pays CNY 25,000 (first prize) or CNY 10,000 (second prize) a year to undergraduates. The Chinese Government Scholarship at SWU is aimed at graduate students (tuition waiver, free dormitory, CNY 3,000 or 3,500 a month); undergraduates should ask their local Chinese embassy about CSC Type A places. A student can hold only one scholarship at a time.
- CNY 500 (per the fees page, payable only if the application is successful; non-refundable)
- Application fee
- Tuition plus CNY 1,100 a month
- President Scholarship Type A (undergraduate)
- CNY 25,000 (first prize) or CNY 10,000 (second prize) a year
- Chongqing Mayor Scholarship (undergraduate)
- Tuition waiver, free dormitory, CNY 3,000 / 3,500 a month
- Chinese Government Scholarship (master's / PhD)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters; international students enrol in early September
Applied Psychology
Taught in Chinese in the Faculty of Psychology, with HSK 4 (200) entry and CNY 18,000 annual tuition.
Animal Science (English-taught)
One of five English-taught majors, based at the Rongchang campus, with an IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 80 entry requirement and CNY 24,000 tuition.
Artificial Intelligence (English-taught)
Listed at CNY 25,000 a year with a college interview; TOEFL 80 / IELTS 6.0.
Food Science and Engineering
Chinese-taught (HSK 5 180) in the College of Food Science; the university also has a joint China-Hungary food science laboratory.
Veterinary Medicine (Animal Medicine)
A five-year degree, with HSK 4 200 and tuition of CNY 20,000.
Research
- Chemistry, Agricultural Sciences, Plant and Animal Sciences and Engineering are in the top 1 per thousand of ESI worldwide, and 18 subjects are in the top 1 percent (SWU profile).
- National platforms include the State Key Laboratory of Efficient Rearing and Utilization of Resource Insects, the National Citrus Engineering Research Center and the Jinfo Mountain karst ecosystem field observation station.
- Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan SWU says it has won 990 National Natural Science Foundation projects.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Psychology
- College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences
- College of Electronic Information Engineering
- College of Animal Science and Technology
- College of Veterinary Medicine
- Law School
- College of Engineering and Technology
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- College of Economics and Management
- College of Life Sciences
- College of Food Science
- College of Pharmacy
SWU does not publish a single graduate employment figure on the pages used for this profile.
Student life
International students live in dormitories managed by the International College: Ziyun Building, the international student apartments and Zhuyuan. Rooms range from quad (CNY 6,000 a year) to double (CNY 9,000) and single (CNY 12,000), all with air conditioning, independent bathrooms and communal kitchens; freshmen must live on campus in the first year. Beibei district has a CNY 1 flat bus fare, and bus 502 goes from Beibei bus station into central Chongqing. The International College also runs summer camps and Chinese-language and short-term programmes.
- Three international dormitory buildings with communal kitchens, laundries and fitness rooms.
- Freshmen must live in the dormitories; seniors may apply to live off campus.
- Hanhong College runs an honours track including the Yuan Longping Class, named after the hybrid-rice scientist who graduated from a predecessor institution.
- Bus 502 links Beibei with urban Chongqing.
Housing. Freshmen must live in the international student dormitories (quad, double or single rooms); seniors can apply to live off campus with approval and police registration.
Location
The main Beibei campus is at 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, Chongqing, a mountainous city at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers that SWU says is one of China's four directly administered municipalities. Some majors, such as Animal Science, are taught at the Rongchang campus (160 Xueyuan Road). The university also has a Liangjiang campus.
Notable alumni
- YL Yuan LongpingAgronomist known as the father of hybrid rice; graduated from Southwest Agricultural College (a predecessor of SWU) in 1953
- WM Wu MingzhuAgricultural scientist; studied horticulture at what is now Southwest University from 1949 to 1953, alongside Yuan Longping
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the CSCA to apply to Southwest University?
Yes. SWU requires a China Scholastic Competency Assessment transcript from all undergraduate applicants; details and registration are on csca.cn.
How much is tuition at Southwest University for international undergraduates?
For 2026-27, CNY 18,000 to 22,000 a year for Chinese-taught majors and CNY 22,000 to 25,000 for English-taught majors, depending on the field.
What language level do I need for SWU?
HSK Level 4 (200 points) for 21 of the 47 Chinese-taught undergraduate majors, HSK 5 (180 to 210) for the other 26, or TOEFL iBT 80 / IELTS 6.0 for the 5 English-taught majors.
What is the application deadline for SWU?
Degree applications are accepted from 1 January to 15 June each year, with reviews running from early April to late June and offers sent before 15 July.
Are there scholarships for undergraduates at SWU?
Yes: the SWU President and New Silk Road scholarships (Type A covers tuition and CNY 1,100 a month), and the Chongqing Mayor Scholarship (CNY 10,000 or 25,000 a year). The Chinese Government Scholarship at SWU is for graduate study.
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.
- SWU International Student Admissions: About SWU
- SWU International College: Bachelor Programs (Chinese/English)
- SWU: 2026-27 Chinese-taught undergraduate majors and tuition (XLSX)
- SWU: 2026-27 English-taught undergraduate majors and tuition (XLSX)
- SWU International Student Admissions: General Requirements
- SWU International Student Admissions: Application Period
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to SWU in the QS World University Rankings 2027.