Xiamen University
厦门大学
A seaside Double First-Class university founded by an overseas Chinese philanthropist, with a campus in Malaysia.
- Students
- 47,000
- 21,000 undergraduates
- Tuition
- CN¥24,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1921
- QS World Ranking
- #303
- 2027 edition
About XMU
Xiamen University was founded in 1921 by Tan Kah Kee, a Chinese businessman based in Singapore, making it the first Chinese university established by an overseas Chinese person. It is on China's national 211, 985 and Double First-Class lists, and in 2022 six of its disciplines (chemistry, marine science, biology, ecology, statistics and education) were named on the national list of disciplines targeted for world-class status.
The university enrols more than 47,000 students, including over 21,000 undergraduates, across a graduate school, six academic divisions, 35 schools and 17 research institutes. Teaching is spread over the Siming campus on Xiamen island, the Zhangzhou and Xiang'an campuses, and XMU Malaysia, which made XMU the first Chinese university to open an international campus. It has a faculty of nearly 3,000 and ranks in ESI's global top 1% in 19 disciplines.
For international students, XMU offers 84 Chinese-taught bachelor's majors (2026 list) plus a small group of English-taught degrees: a six-year MBBS and three design majors. Most applicants therefore need solid Chinese (HSK 4 or 5) as well as the new CSCA test. XMU suits students who want a strong science, economics or ocean-studies university in a relaxed coastal city, and who are ready to study in Chinese.
自强不息，止于至善
“Pursue Excellence, Strive for Perfection” — university motto
Why students choose XMU
Chemistry, marine science, biology, ecology, statistics and education are all on China's 2022 list of disciplines targeted for world-class status.
The Siming campus sits between hills and the sea on Xiamen island, next to Furong Lake and the Jiageng-style buildings that are the university's signature.
Tuition for Chinese-taught bachelor's programmes is RMB 24,000 to 26,000 a year, and XMU's own New International Students Scholarship covers full tuition for selected undergraduates.
XMU runs an English-taught six-year MBBS at the Xiang'an campus and English-taught design majors at its Institute of Creativity and Innovation.
Admissions
2027 entry (international undergraduates, September 2027 intake); 2027 admission guide not yet published, figures below are from the 2026 guide
Selectivity
XMU does not publish an acceptance rate for international undergraduates. Applications pass a qualification check (citizenship, diploma, grades, language, health), then the relevant school runs an academic assessment of the file, with a remote interview or written exam where needed. Results are posted in June or July.
Typical entry requirements
| Senior high school diploma | Graduating or graduated senior high school students with a satisfactory academic record, aged 18 to 30 by 1 September of the entry year (under-18s need a guarantee statement); non-Chinese citizens only, with extra residence rules for applicants of Chinese origin |
|---|---|
| HSK (Chinese-taught programmes) | HSK 5 with 210 or more for humanities, economics, management, law and arts; HSK 4 with 210 or more for sciences, engineering, medicine and physical education; or a certificate that Chinese was the high school's language of instruction |
| CSCA | Valid CSCA score report in the subjects required for the programme |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 For English-taught programmes only (MBBS and the three design majors): TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS Academic 6.0, an English-medium high school certificate or equivalent. Applicants from countries where English is the official language are exempt. |
Deadlines
- Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC Type B) applicants, 2026 entry (past, for reference) Non-binding Passed15 February 2026
Application window opened 1 December 2025. Applicants also registered on the CSC scholarship system (XMU agency number 10384).
- Fujian Provincial Government and XMU scholarship applicants, 2026 entry (past, for reference) Non-binding Passed10 April 2026
Covers the Fujian Provincial Government Scholarship and the Xiamen University Scholarship for New Students.
- Self-funded applicants, 2026 entry (past, for reference) Non-binding Passed10 May 2026
Beijing time; late applications not considered. Results published in June or July.
These are the 2026-entry dates from XMU's 2026 undergraduate admission guide (published October 2025). The 2027 guide had not been posted as of September 2026; expect a similar timetable with applications opening around December 2026. Type A (bilateral) CSC scholarships are applied for through your home country's Chinese embassy, usually January to early April.
How to apply
Apply online at application.xmu.edu.cn and pay the RMB 400 application fee. Upload passport, birth certificate, parents' ID documents, high school diploma or expected-graduation certificate and transcripts, HSK or English certificate, CSCA score report, one recommendation letter, a personal statement of at least 800 words (in Chinese for Chinese-taught programmes), a physical examination record, a financial guarantee, a no-criminal-record report, and a portfolio for art programmes. A pre-acceptance letter from a school is optional but gives priority.
What admissions looks for
- Academic ability, communication skills and overall merit, judged by the admitting school through your documents and, if needed, a remote interview or written exam.
- A valid CSCA report in the subjects your programme requires, plus HSK or English results at the stated level.
- A personal statement of at least 800 words covering your education, motivation, study plan and career goals.
- Evidence beyond grades, such as competition awards, community service or special skills, which can be uploaded as supporting material.
Tips for applying to XMU
- 1 Plan your CSCA sitting early: Mathematics is compulsory for every programme and Professional Chinese for all Chinese-taught ones, and the test language must match your programme.
- 2 Ask the admitting school for a pre-acceptance letter: XMU gives priority to applicants who have one.
- 3 Check the HSK level for your field: HSK 5 (210+) for humanities, economics, management, law and arts, but HSK 4 (210+) for sciences, engineering and medicine.
- 4 If you want a scholarship, apply earlier: the CSC Type B deadline was mid-February and the Fujian and XMU scholarship deadline 10 April, weeks before the self-funded deadline.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CNY
International undergraduates can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC Type A via their home country, Type B via XMU), the Fujian Provincial Government Scholarship (RMB 30,000 for undergraduates, renewable after annual review) and the Xiamen University Scholarship for New International Students, which covers tuition. The Xiamen Tan Kah Kee Scholarship was listed as suspended for 2026.
- 5 places, second-class (tuition only)
- Xiamen University Scholarship, bachelor's places (2026)
- RMB 30,000 for one year, renewable after review
- Fujian Provincial Government Scholarship (undergraduates)
- RMB 400 (non-refundable)
- Application fee
- About RMB 1,000 to 1,500 per month
- Meals
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters; autumn intake in September
Chemistry
On China's 2022 world-class discipline list, and chemistry sits in ESI's global top 1 per mille.
Marine science (College of Ocean and Earth Sciences)
A national world-class discipline, with Chinese-taught majors in areas such as physical and geological oceanography.
Economics and Statistics
Statistics is on the 2022 world-class discipline list; the School of Economics offers Chinese-taught Economics and International Economics and Trade.
Clinical Medicine (MBBS, English-taught)
A six-year English-taught degree at the Xiang'an campus, RMB 38,000 a year.
Environmental Design, Visual Communication Design, Digital Media Art (English-taught)
Four-year English-taught majors at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation on the Zhangzhou campus; a portfolio is required.
Chinese Language (Overseas Education College)
Chinese-taught tracks in Chinese Language (Education, Trade, Culture), backed by XMU's network of 14 Confucius Institutes.
Research
- XMU ranks in ESI's global top 1% in 19 disciplines, with chemistry, materials science and engineering in the top 1 per mille.
- Fifteen faculty members belong to the Chinese Academy of Sciences or the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
- Research institutes include the Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology and the Research School for Southeast Asian Studies.
- XMU Malaysia made Xiamen the first Chinese university to open an international branch campus.
Schools & faculties
- College of Humanities
- School of Economics
- School of Management
- School of Law
- School of Journalism and Communication
- School of Mathematical Sciences
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences
- School of Informatics
- School of Medicine
- School of Life Sciences
- Chinese International Education College/Overseas Education College
Student life
Most first-year undergraduates study general courses in broad categories before moving into their admitted major from the second year. International students live in university apartments: twin rooms on the Siming campus, four-person rooms on the Zhangzhou campus and suites of four twin rooms on the Xiang'an campus, each with air conditioning, a bathroom and a water heater. Siming campus rooms are limited and go first to scholarship holders, so self-funded students may need to rent nearby, where a room costs about RMB 2,500 a month. Meals cost roughly RMB 1,000 to 1,500 a month.
- Furong Lake and the Jiageng-style buildings on the Siming campus are the university's best-known landmarks.
- XMU has built 14 Confucius Institutes and dozens of Confucius Classrooms abroad, more than any other Double First-Class university.
- XMU has partnership agreements with 277 overseas universities.
- Campuses on Xiamen island, in Zhangzhou and Xiang'an, and in Malaysia.
Housing. On-campus rooms cost RMB 35 to 65 per person per day on the Siming campus, RMB 1,600 to 4,000 a year on the Xiang'an campus and RMB 1,100 to 1,200 a year on the Zhangzhou campus, with Siming places prioritised for scholarship holders.
Location
Xiamen is a coastal city in Fujian province in south-east China. The main Siming campus sits on Xiamen island between green hills and the sea, close to the city's older districts. The Xiang'an campus is on the mainland side of the bay, and the Zhangzhou campus is in the neighbouring city of Zhangzhou. Off-campus rooms near the Siming campus rent for around RMB 2,500 a month.
Nearest airport: Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN)
Notable alumni
- CJ Chen JingrunMathematician known for Chen's theorem on the Goldbach conjecture; graduated in mathematics in 1953
- XX Xie XidePhysicist and president of Fudan University (1983 to 1989); studied physics and mathematics, graduating in 1946
- ZG Zhang GaoliFormer Vice Premier of China; studied economics from 1965
- YG Yu GuangzhongTaiwanese poet, essayist and critic; transferred to Amoy University before moving to Taiwan
- BC Bei CunAvant-garde novelist; studied at Xiamen University from 1981 to 1985
- WK Wong Ker-leeHong Kong businessman and politician; economics graduate (1935)
Frequently asked questions
Does Xiamen University teach undergraduate degrees in English?
Only a few: the six-year MBBS and three design majors (Environmental Design, Visual Communication Design and Digital Media Art). The other 84 bachelor's majors on the 2026 list are taught in Chinese.
What HSK level do I need for Xiamen University?
HSK 5 with at least 210 for humanities, economics, management, law and arts, and HSK 4 with at least 210 for sciences, engineering, medicine and physical education. A certificate that your high school taught in Chinese is also accepted.
Do I need the CSCA to apply to Xiamen University?
Yes. XMU requires a CSCA score report: Mathematics for every programme, Professional Chinese for Chinese-taught programmes, and Physics and/or Chemistry for science, engineering, agriculture and medicine.
How much is tuition at Xiamen University for international students?
RMB 24,000 a year for Chinese-taught humanities, RMB 26,000 for most other Chinese-taught majors, RMB 38,000 for the English-taught MBBS and RMB 90,000 for the English-taught design majors, plus a RMB 400 application fee.
What is the application deadline for Xiamen University?
For 2026 entry the deadlines were 15 February 2026 for CSC Type B scholarship applicants, 10 April for Fujian and XMU scholarship applicants and 10 May for self-funded applicants. The 2027 guide had not been published as of September 2026.
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.
- Xiamen University: Admission Guide for Undergraduate Programs 2026
- Xiamen University: Study costs
- Xiamen University: 2026 English-Medium Bachelor's Programs
- Xiamen University: 2026 Chinese-Medium Bachelor's Programs
- Xiamen University: New International Students Scholarships for 2026
- Xiamen University: XMU Overview
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