University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
电子科技大学
Chengdu's 'cradle of China's electronics industry', rated A+ nationally in electronic science and in information and communication engineering.
- Students
- 44,000
- International
- 2%
- of students
- Tuition
- CN¥15,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1956
About UESTC
The University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) was founded in Chengdu in 1956 as the Chengdu Institute of Radio Engineering, on Premier Zhou Enlai's instruction, by merging the telecommunications departments of Jiaotong University, Nanjing Institute of Technology and South China Institute of Technology. It was China's first higher-education institute for electronic information, took its current name in 1988, and is a Project 211, Project 985 and Double First-Class university under the Ministry of Education.
UESTC calls itself the 'cradle of China's electronics industry' and still covers almost every branch of electronic information, from materials and components to circuits, communications and computing, alongside management, humanities and medicine. It has more than 44,000 students across three Chengdu campuses (Qingshuihe, Shahe and Jiulidi) totalling over 3,700 mu (about 247 ha), plus a Glasgow College campus in Hainan run with the University of Glasgow. More than 70% of its undergraduates go on to further study.
For international students, UESTC offers 11 bachelor's programmes taught in Chinese and three taught in English (Electronic Information Engineering, Computer Science and Technology, and Software Engineering), with September entry only. A CSCA score report is required. It suits students who want to specialise in electronics, communications or computing at one of China's strongest universities in the field, in a relaxed and affordable city.
求实求真，大气大为
“Seek facts and truth; be noble and ambitious” — university motto
Why students choose UESTC
Electronic Science and Technology and Information and Communication Engineering were rated A+ in China's fourth national subject assessment, and Computer Science is in the ESI global top 0.01%.
English-taught bachelor's tuition is 20,000 CNY a year and most Chinese-taught programmes cost 15,000 CNY, among the lower fees for a Double First-Class university.
The Qingshuihe campus, opened in 2007, covers about 219 ha, and UESTC calls itself the 'most beautiful ginkgo university' for its ginkgo avenues.
UESTC students have won national and international contests such as the IEEE Xtreme, ACM-ICPC and ROBOCON; and its robot team won the 25th national ROBOCON contest.
Admissions
International undergraduates, September 2027 entry
Selectivity
UESTC does not publish an admission rate and says there are no quotas for international applicants. An admissions committee reviews each file, weighing academic record alongside leadership, extracurricular talent and personal qualities, and the academic school may hold an online or in-person interview.
Typical entry requirements
| High school certificate | Senior high school certificate or equivalent (or a school letter confirming expected graduation), age 18 or over |
|---|---|
| CSCA score report | Required for all undergraduate applicants, in the subjects listed for the chosen programme |
| HSK (Chinese-taught programmes) | HSK 5 with at least 180 |
| English (English-taught programmes) | TOEFL 80 or IELTS 5.5; other international tests and school language certificates are considered |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 80 For English-taught programmes. UESTC says it considers other international tests and school-issued proof, and may interview English-taught applicants who have no TOEFL or IELTS score. |
Deadlines
- Fall 2027 undergraduate application Non-binding Next deadline · In ~9 monthsJune 30, 2027
UESTC's standing window for undergraduate applications is December 1 to June 30; for 2026 entry it ran December 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. There is no spring intake for degree programmes.
Based on UESTC's standing December 1 to June 30 window; the specific 2027 notice is expected around October 2026. Scholarship applicants may face earlier deadlines set by the CSC or Chengdu scholarship schemes.
How to apply
Register at admission.uestc.edu.cn (or uestc.17gz.org), choose Self-sponsored then Undergraduate, and upload a passport copy, notarised high school diploma or proof of expected graduation, transcripts, CSCA score report, language certificate, Foreigner Physical Examination Form (if outside China), a personal statement with study plan, financial statement and non-criminal record report. The 420 CNY application fee is paid only after you pass the initial document review.
What admissions looks for
- Academic accomplishment in your previous school, the most important factor.
- Leadership, talent in extracurricular activities and personal qualities; UESTC says it welcomes well-rounded students.
- A background close to the major you apply for.
- Language readiness: HSK 5 at 180+ for Chinese-taught or TOEFL 80 / IELTS 5.5 for English-taught programmes, plus the required CSCA subjects.
Tips for applying to UESTC
- 1 Take the CSCA before you apply: UESTC requires the score report at application, not later.
- 2 Choose the major from UESTC's own list rather than the CSC system's field names; the UESTC major is what appears on your admission letter and diploma.
- 3 Upload sports, arts or competition certificates under 'Others': UESTC says they are 'warmly welcome'.
- 4 If you are eligible for a Chengdu Sister City or Belt and Road scholarship, upload the scholarship form in the 'Others kinds of certificates' section of your self-sponsored application.
- 5 Apply early in the December-June window so there is time for any interview with the academic school.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CNY
Undergraduates can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship Bilateral Program (Chinese-taught programmes only, through their home country), the Chengdu Sister City Scholarship and the Chengdu Belt and Road Initiative Scholarship. UESTC's own new-student scholarship and the CSC Chinese University Program support graduate students only.
- 6,000 CNY a year (double room) or 3,000 CNY a year (four-bed room)
- On-campus dormitory
- 1,000 CNY a year
- Medical insurance
- 400 CNY a year
- Residence permit
- 420 CNY, paid after passing the initial review, non-refundable
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (September entry only for degree programmes)
Electronic Information Engineering
Offered in Chinese or English by the School of Information and Communication Engineering, in a field rated A+ nationally.
Computer Science and Technology
Taught in Chinese or English; UESTC reports Computer Science in the ESI global top 0.01%.
Software Engineering
Taught in Chinese or English by the School of Information and Software Engineering, part of UESTC's national model software school.
Communication Engineering
UESTC lists Communication and Information Systems and Signal and Information Processing among its national key disciplines.
Clinical Medicine
Offered through the School of Medicine; at 45,000 CNY a year it is UESTC's most expensive undergraduate programme for international students.
Research
- 32 national and 93 provincial or ministerial research platforms, including national key laboratories and engineering research centres.
- National key disciplines include electromagnetic fields and microwave technology, microelectronics and solid-state electronics, circuits and systems, and physical electronics.
- UESTC research has supported more than 30 major national engineering projects, and it has led 24 national science and technology awards since 2011.
Schools & faculties
- School of Information and Communication Engineering
- School of Computer Science and Engineering
- School of Information and Software Engineering
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
- School of Materials and Energy
- School of Life Science and Technology
- School of Medicine
- School of International Education
UESTC says more than 70% of its undergraduates go on to further study each year, nearly 20% of undergraduate graduates study abroad, and more than two-thirds of its postgraduates join key national organisations.
Student life
Most undergraduates live on the Qingshuihe campus in Chengdu's West Hi-Tech Zone, a large, green campus with lakes, ginkgo avenues, a stadium and a sundial, where international students can live in double or four-bed dorm rooms. The older Shahe campus in the city has halal and other canteens. UESTC runs flagship cultural series such as the Chengdian Forum and Chengdian Debate, and its student teams compete in electronics design, mathematical modelling, programming and robotics contests. More than 30% of undergraduates study abroad at some point during their degree.
- Ginkgo avenues on the Qingshuihe campus, the basis of UESTC's 'most beautiful ginkgo university' nickname.
- A robot team that won the 25th national ROBOCON contest.
- An Electronic Science and Technology Museum on campus.
- More than 30% of undergraduates gain overseas study experience.
Housing. On-campus rooms cost 6,000 CNY a year (double) or 3,000 CNY a year (four-bed) and can be paid by semester.
Location
Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province in south-west China, is a large, relaxed city known as the 'land of abundance', famous for Sichuan food, teahouses and giant pandas. UESTC's main Qingshuihe campus is in the West Hi-Tech Zone on the city's western edge, while the Shahe campus in Chenghua district and the Jiulidi campus are closer to the centre.
Nearest airport: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU); Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU)
Notable alumni
- DL Ding Lei (William Ding)Founder and CEO of NetEase; graduated from the Chengdu Institute of Radio Engineering
- SY Sun YafangChairwoman of Huawei from 1999 to 2018; bachelor's degree from UESTC
- LX Li XiaowenScientist, CAS academician (2001) and professor at Beijing Normal University; UESTC graduate
- GG Guang GongCryptographer and professor at the University of Waterloo; PhD (1990)
- XC Xiaodong ChenProfessor of microwave engineering at Queen Mary University of London and IEEE Fellow; PhD in microwave electronics
- ZA Zhao AimingFormer deputy director of China's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission
Frequently asked questions
Does UESTC offer bachelor's degrees in English?
Yes, three: Electronic Information Engineering, Computer Science and Technology, and Software Engineering, at 20,000 CNY a year, with TOEFL 80 or IELTS 5.5 required. UESTC's other 11 undergraduate programmes are taught in Chinese.
Do I need the CSCA to apply to UESTC?
Yes. All undergraduate applicants must take the CSCA and have the score report before applying; required subjects depend on the programme.
When is the UESTC application deadline?
Undergraduate applications run from December 1 to June 30 for September entry, so June 30, 2027 for fall 2027. There is no spring intake.
How much does it cost to study at UESTC?
Tuition is 15,000 CNY a year for most Chinese-taught programmes (33,000 for nursing, 45,000 for clinical medicine) and 20,000 CNY for English-taught programmes; dorms cost 3,000 to 6,000 CNY a year.
Does UESTC interview applicants?
Sometimes. Once your file enters academic review, the school may contact you for an online or in-person interview.
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.
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