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English-taught degrees in China: finding a scholarship

Find bachelor's programmes and funding, then check the details with the university. Includes examples from the 2026 intake.

Search for an English-taught bachelor’s degree and its funding in two steps. First find a suitable programme, then check the scholarships available specifically for it. One university may run different competitions for different degree levels and teaching languages.

The examples below cover the 2026 intake. For a new application, confirm the year, eligible nationalities, funding coverage and examinations. Teaching in English alone does not determine those conditions.

Where programmes actually exist

Official 2026 lists show a growing range of options.

Tsinghua publishes separate English-taught degrees in science, engineering, urban development, economics and social sciences, including a dual-degree economics programme with the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Fudan’s 2026 list includes:

  • International Organizations and Global Governance;
  • an international undergraduate programme in Economics;
  • Global Bachelor of Fintech;
  • Data Science and Big Data Technology;
  • MBBS.

The existence of a programme does not mean it automatically accepts CSC applicants or receives the same scholarship coverage as another degree.

Tuition may be the surprise

Fudan’s published 2026 reference fees include:

ProgrammeTuition
Economics, Fintech, Data Science80,000 ¥ per year
MBBS75,000 ¥ per year
International Organizations and Global Governance100,000 ¥ per year

Fudan notes that the final amount is confirmed at registration and the list may be adjusted.

Tsinghua’s general page lists 26,000–40,000 ¥ per year for a number of Chinese-English programmes. Special English-taught degrees have separate guides and fees.

Sometimes “study in English” means paying considerably more for a branded international track, not merely selecting the language of lectures.

Which scholarships to check

Chinese Government Scholarship

Verify whether the exact programme accepts CSC applicants and through which type. Tsinghua directs international freshmen to the Chinese Government Scholarship through Type A and also mentions institutional scholarships.

Provincial and municipal scholarships

Shanghai universities, for example, may participate in the Shanghai Government Scholarship. Coverage and eligible programmes depend on the current notice.

University scholarships

They may cover:

  • full tuition;
  • part of tuition;
  • only the first year;
  • a fixed amount;
  • only the strongest admitted students.

The word “scholarship” means very little without an exact coverage table.

What about CSCA?

English-medium study does not automatically remove entrance subjects.

Fudan’s 2026 list requires:

  • Mathematics for Economics, Fintech and International Organizations and Global Governance;
  • Mathematics and Physics for Data Science;
  • Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry for MBBS.

Donghua University’s 2026 English-taught bachelor’s programmes specify CSCA Mathematics in English.

For CSC applicants, the general CSCA rules make Mathematics and Professional Chinese mandatory, while Physics and Chemistry depend on the programme. Read the scholarship-route and university rules together.

Do you need IELTS or TOEFL?

Usually, unless your school can confirm complete English-medium education and the university grants an exemption. Donghua’s 2026 guide, for example, lists IELTS Academic 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 72 and provides separate exemption conditions.

Do not transfer those scores to another university. Each institution sets its own minimum, validity period and accepted tests.

A ten-minute programme check

Find these items on the official website:

  1. the programme in the current year’s list;
  2. teaching language;
  3. tuition;
  4. scholarship eligibility and coverage;
  5. required CSCA subjects;
  6. IELTS or TOEFL requirements;
  7. whether changing majors is permitted;
  8. programme length;
  9. refund policy;
  10. the degree awarded.

If a programme appears only on an agent’s website and not in the official catalogue, do not pay.

Who this route suits

  • students academically stronger in English;
  • applicants choosing a genuinely distinctive programme;
  • students ready to learn Chinese for daily life and internships;
  • applicants with funding confirmed in writing;
  • students who have checked professional and degree recognition at home.

Who should reconsider

  • applicants choosing English only from fear of HSK;
  • anyone whose budget depends on an unverified “100% scholarship”;
  • applicants to a new programme with no published curriculum;
  • students entering a practical field without plans to learn Chinese;
  • anyone who could attend a strong joint university for the same price with clearer financial aid.

Compare our China study budget and CSC scholarship guide.

Comparing programmes you have found

Give each programme a row: degree, compulsory teaching languages, fee, available scholarship and CSCA requirements. Mark whether the funding is clearly confirmed for your intake.

If the scholarship page is only general, send the programme link to the university and ask whether that degree is eligible. Then compare what you would still need to pay yourself.