Zhengzhou University
郑州大学
One of China's largest universities, with English-taught medicine and engineering at modest fees.
- Tuition
- CN¥18,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1956
- QS World Ranking
- #581
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
- 8,500 mu (566.67 ha) across its campuses
About ZZU
Zhengzhou University (ZZU) is the leading university of Henan province in central China and, by its own account, the biggest university in the country by student numbers. The present university was formed on 10 July 2000 by merging the original Zhengzhou University (founded 1956), Zhengzhou University of Technology (1963) and Henan Medical University, whose roots go back to 1928 in Kaifeng. It is part of China's Project 211 and the Double First-Class initiative.
ZZU enrols over 44,000 full-time undergraduates, nearly 30,000 postgraduates and more than 2,300 international students from 88 countries, on a main campus of about 567 hectares in Zhengzhou's high-tech zone plus older city-centre campuses. It covers 13 major disciplines, and chemistry, clinical medicine and materials science and engineering are designated 'World First Class Disciplines'. Medicine is organised under Henan Medical College, backed by nine affiliated hospitals.
For international students, the best-known programme is the six-year English-taught MBBS, but ZZU also teaches software engineering, civil engineering, architecture, pharmacy, international trade and tourism management in English, and dozens of degrees in Chinese. It suits students who want a large, research-heavy Chinese university at modest cost, and who are ready for the new CSCA entrance test.
求是 担当
“Seek truth, take responsibility” — university motto
Why students choose ZZU
ZZU says it was one of the three earliest Chinese universities to teach undergraduate clinical medicine fully in English; MBBS students train across nine affiliated hospitals with more than 15,000 beds.
Tuition is low: English-taught bachelor's degrees cost CNY 23,000 to 35,000 a year, and Chinese-taught ones CNY 18,000 to 30,000.
Scholarship seats are unusually plentiful: in selected English-taught programmes such as Civil Engineering and Architecture, the top 20 admitted students pay no tuition and others pay CNY 5,000 a year.
Foundation programmes in business, science and engineering, and medicine lead into the degree programmes, and most bachelor's places are reserved for students who pass them.
Admissions
September 2027 intake (international undergraduate programmes)
Selectivity
ZZU does not publish an admit rate for international students. Its guide book lists set seat numbers per English-taught programme, for example 120 for MBBS, 80 each for Software Engineering, Pharmacy and Dentistry, 60 each for Civil Engineering, Tourism Management and International Economics and Trade, and 40 each for Architecture and Urban and Rural Planning, and describes scholarship selection as very competitive.
Typical entry requirements
| General | Non-Chinese citizen aged 18 to 30 (18 to 25 for MBBS), in good health with no criminal record, with a high school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| A-levels (UK) | Passes in at least three A-level subjects, or a Cambridge Pre-U Diploma or BTEC Extended Diploma |
| IB / European Baccalaureate | Completion of the IB Diploma or the European Baccalaureate |
| Chinese-taught programmes | HSK level 4 for science and engineering (the 2026 guide book lists HSK 3) and HSK 5 for liberal arts; applicants with lower HSK can first take a one-year or half-year Chinese language programme at ZZU |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 82 For English-taught programmes, applicants from non-English-speaking countries need IELTS 6.0; the entrance requirements page gives TOEFL iBT 82 as the equivalent, while the 2026 guide book's financial-aid table lists IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 70 and also accepts equivalent Duolingo scores. English-taught foundation programmes accept IELTS 5.5, or students can take ZZU's own English Proficiency Test at the end of the foundation year. |
Deadlines
- International undergraduate application (2026 cycle) Non-binding Passed15 May 2026
Past. The online portal opens in January, with two to three selection rounds at the end of April, May and June. Scholarship applications follow their own timelines.
The 15 May deadline and January portal opening come from ZZU's current international application guide book; ZZU had not published separate dates for September 2027 entry. If the pattern holds, apply between January and 15 May 2027, and book a CSCA sitting well before then (the test runs five times a year, in January, March, April, June and December).
How to apply
Apply online at zzu.17gz.org and upload your high school certificate and transcripts, CSCA score report, English or HSK certificate, passport, a Foreigner Physical Examination Form and a police certificate of no criminal record (both valid for six months). An application fee of CNY 800 is charged only if you are admitted, at registration.
What admissions looks for
- A pass in every required CSCA subject (at least 50 out of 100), especially mathematics, which is compulsory for all programmes.
- Solid science preparation for the right programme: chemistry for MBBS, Dentistry and Pharmacy, physics for engineering and architecture.
- English at IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 82 for English-taught programmes, or the required HSK level for Chinese-taught ones.
- Excellent high school records for the scholarship seats in selected English-taught programmes.
Tips for applying to ZZU
- 1 ZZU openly advises that most new international students without a foundation year could not pass the CSCA pilot, so consider its foundation programme if your maths, physics or chemistry is weak.
- 2 Most scholarship seats in programmes such as Architecture, Civil Engineering, International Trade, Software Engineering and Pharmacy go to students coming up from the foundation programme.
- 3 Get your physical exam form and police certificate close to the application date: both are valid for only six months and are needed for the visa too.
- 4 MBBS, Dentistry, Medical Imaging and Anesthesiology carry no scholarships, so budget the full CNY 35,000 a year for MBBS.
- 5 Check the specific country requirements on ZZU's entrance requirements page: for example, US applicants are asked for SAT or ACT scores plus AP or SAT Subject Test results.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CNY
International students can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship, the Henan Government Scholarship (CNY 15,000 a year for strong applicants to selected English-taught programmes), the Zhengzhou University President Scholarship and the International Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship. ZZU says around 500 applicants were sponsored by scholarships in 2025. Medical programmes (MBBS, Dentistry, Medical Imaging, Anesthesiology) have no scholarships.
- Around 500
- Scholarship-supported international applicants (2025)
- CNY 15,000 per year
- Henan Government Scholarship
- Top 20 admitted pay no tuition; others pay CNY 5,000 a year
- Scholarship seats in e.g. Civil Engineering, Architecture, Tourism Management
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters; one September intake for bachelor's programmes
MBBS (Clinical Medicine, English-taught)
Six-year programme with about 940 international medical undergraduates and dedicated clinical skills labs for international students.
Chemistry
A national 'World First Class Discipline'; ZZU reports 17 disciplines in the ESI global top 1% and five in the top 0.1%.
Materials Science and Engineering
One of ZZU's three 'World First Class Disciplines'.
Software Engineering (English-taught)
80 seats in the School of Information Engineering, with scholarship seats for the top 40 admitted students.
Civil Engineering and Architecture (English-taught)
Scholarship seats where the top 20 admitted students pay no tuition.
Research
- ZZU reports 17 disciplines in the global top 1% of the ESI rankings, including chemistry and clinical medicine, and five in the top 0.1%.
- The university cites a Nature Index research-output ranking of 46th in the world in 2025.
- Nine affiliated hospitals, eight of them Grade III Class A, with more than 15,000 beds, support clinical research and training.
Schools & faculties
- Henan Medical College
- School of Chemistry
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- School of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering
- School of Mechanical and Power Engineering
- School of Mathematics and Statistics
- School of Physics
- School of Management
- School of Law
- School of Journalism and Communication
- School of International Studies
Student life
Most students live on the huge main campus in Zhengzhou's high-tech zone, which has a large library, sports fields, a fitness centre, a museum, canteens and campus-wide Wi-Fi, and its own metro stations. International degree students live in dedicated buildings, with medical students moving to the East Campus hostel for their clinical years. The international college runs events every semester, from Mid-Autumn and Christmas parties to photography contests and karaoke nights, and there is an international student association.
- Guaranteed on-campus accommodation for new fee-paying international students, with over 1,200 places.
- Dedicated international residence halls with private bathrooms, air conditioning and shared kitchens.
- Festival events, sports and cultural activities organised for international students each semester.
- Clinical-stage medical students live near the affiliated hospitals on the East Campus.
Housing. International degree students are guaranteed a room in dedicated halls on campus (single or double), costing about CNY 5,000 or 10,000 a year.
Location
Zhengzhou is the capital of Henan province in central China and a large, fast-growing city. The main campus lies in the north-western high-tech zone, with metro stations at its gates connecting it to the city centre, while the older South, North and East campuses sit in the heart of the city. ZZU highlights affordable fees and generous scholarships as reasons for international students to choose it.
Nearest airport: Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO)
Notable alumni
- DK Ding KuilingOrganic chemist, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (from 2023); ZZU chemistry bachelor's and master's
- XZ Xi ZhenfengOrganic chemist at Peking University, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; master's degree (1989) awarded by Zhengzhou University
- ZH Zhang HongjiangComputer scientist, former CTO of Microsoft's China R&D Group and CEO of Kingsoft; BS in radio and electronics (1982)
- HB Hu BaosenChairman of Henan real-estate developer Jianye Group; ZZU English graduate (1976 intake)
- JB Ji BingxuanFormer Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress; ZZU Chinese department graduate
- SZ Sun ZhongxuTranslator of George Orwell, J. D. Salinger and Richard Yates into Chinese; ZZU foreign languages graduate
- WJ Wang JunThoracic surgeon at Peking University People's Hospital, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (listed among ZZU alumni)
Frequently asked questions
How much is MBBS at Zhengzhou University?
Tuition for the six-year English-taught MBBS is CNY 35,000 a year, and no scholarships are offered for it. On-campus housing adds about CNY 5,000 to 10,000 a year.
Do I need the CSCA to apply to Zhengzhou University?
Yes. From 2026-27 all international bachelor's applicants must submit CSCA scores: mathematics for everyone, physics or chemistry depending on the programme, and Professional Chinese for Chinese-taught programmes. ZZU sets a pass mark of 50 out of 100 per subject.
What IELTS score does Zhengzhou University require?
English-taught bachelor's programmes require IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 82. The foundation programmes accept IELTS 5.5, or you can take ZZU's own English test at the end of the foundation year.
Does Zhengzhou University offer scholarships to international students?
Yes: Chinese Government, Henan Government (CNY 15,000 a year), President and Chinese Language Teacher scholarships, and in selected English-taught programmes the top 20 admitted students pay no tuition. Around 500 applicants received scholarships in 2025.
What HSK level do I need for Chinese-taught degrees at ZZU?
HSK 4 for science and engineering (the latest guide book lists HSK 3) and HSK 5 for liberal arts. You can first study Chinese at ZZU for six months or a year if your level is lower.
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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