Top-Tier Engineering Powerhouse
Among China’s strongest engineering faculties, with global top-50 standing in mechanical, control, optical and civil engineering.
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaQS #47
Zhejiang University
Engineering, technology and enterprise at the heart of China’s innovation belt
Founded in 1897 as Qiushi Academy, Zhejiang University (ZJU) is one of China’s largest and most research-intensive comprehensive universities, spread across seven campuses in Hangzhou with Zijingang as its main international hub. ZJU is exceptionally broad, covering engineering, information technology, agriculture, medicine, management and the humanities in a single institution, and it publishes among the highest research output of any Chinese university. Its position in Hangzhou—home to Alibaba, NetEase and a dense cluster of technology start-ups—gives international students unusually direct access to internships, industry-linked projects and entrepreneurship funding.
C9 LeagueProject 985Project 211Double First-Class
- QS World Ranking
- #47
- Location
- Hangzhou, China
- Founded
- 1897
- International Students
- 6,000+
- Teaching Language
- English / Chinese
- Tuition
- CNY 26,000 - 40,000 / year
- Intake
- September
- Application Deadline
- March 20
Why Choose
Why Choose Zhejiang University
Key reasons international students choose Zhejiang University for their studies in China.
Hangzhou Technology Ecosystem
Situated beside Alibaba, NetEase and Hangzhou’s start-up cluster, giving direct access to internships and industry projects.
Entrepreneurship & Start-Up Culture
ZJU alumni founded more unicorn companies than any other Chinese university, supported by on-campus incubators and venture funding.
Agricultural & Life Sciences Leader
Ranked among the world’s best in agriculture, food science and plant biology, with extensive field research stations.
ZJU–Illinois Joint Institute
A fully English-taught international campus in Haining awarding dual engineering degrees with the University of Illinois.
Broadest Discipline Coverage
Seven campuses and 100+ departments let students combine engineering, medicine, agriculture and management in one institution.
Rankings & Recognition
Academic Reputation
National designations and world rankings that signal academic strength and prestige.
QS World University Ranking#47
China National Ranking#5
National Designations
C9 LeagueProject 985Project 211Double First-Class
Programs
Programs for International Students
Explore the degree programs and academic strengths available to international students at Zhejiang University.
Mechanical Engineering
BachelorLanguage: English
Duration: 4 years
Tuition: CNY 30,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: CSC & Zhejiang Provincial eligible
Computer Science & Technology
BachelorLanguage: English / Chinese
Duration: 4 years
Tuition: CNY 30,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: Merit scholarships available
Clinical Medicine (MBBS)
BachelorLanguage: English
Duration: 6 years
Tuition: CNY 40,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: Partial tuition awards
Business Administration
BachelorLanguage: English
Duration: 4 years
Tuition: CNY 30,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: ZJU Scholarship eligible
Agricultural & Food Sciences
MasterLanguage: English
Duration: 2–3 years
Tuition: CNY 33,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: CSC full scholarship eligible
Chinese Language Program
Non-DegreeLanguage: Chinese
Duration: 1 semester – 2 years
Tuition: CNY 26,000 / year
Intake: September & March
Scholarship: Confucius Institute Scholarship
Admission
Admission Requirements
What you need to apply to Zhejiang University as an international student.
- Academic RequirementsHigh school diploma with strong science results for engineering and medicine; a relevant bachelor’s degree for master’s programs.
- Language RequirementsEnglish-taught: IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90. Chinese-taught: HSK Level 4–5 depending on faculty.
- Required DocumentsPassport, transcripts, graduation certificate, study plan, two academic recommendation letters and a personal statement.
- Application DeadlineScholarship applicants: March 20. Self-funded applicants: May 31.
- Application ProcessApply through the ZJU international admissions portal, upload documents and monitor your status online.
- InterviewEngineering, medicine and management applicants are commonly shortlisted for an online academic interview.
- Medical ExaminationA Foreigner Physical Examination Form must be submitted after admission and before visa issuance.
- Visa DocumentsZJU issues the Admission Notice and JW202 form required for an X1 student visa application.
Tuition & Scholarships
Costs & Funding
Transparent tuition, living costs and scholarship options for international students.
Cost Breakdown
- Annual Tuition
- CNY 26,000 - 40,000 / year
- Accommodation
- CNY 750 – 1,600 / monthOn-campus international dormitory, Zijingang campus
- Registration Fee
- CNY 400 (one-time)
- Medical Insurance
- CNY 800 / yearMandatory for all international students
- Estimated Living Cost
- CNY 2,000 – 3,500 / monthMeals, transport & personal expenses in Hangzhou
Estimated First-Year CostCNY 60,000 – 105,000
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)
Coverage: Full tuition, on-campus accommodation, monthly stipend and comprehensive medical insurance.
Eligibility: Outstanding non-Chinese applicants for bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees.
Deadline: March 20
Zhejiang Provincial Government Scholarship
Coverage: Full or partial tuition support for degree-seeking international students in Zhejiang Province.
Eligibility: Admitted or enrolled international students with strong academic records.
Deadline: March 31
Zhejiang University Scholarship
Coverage: Tuition waiver and living allowance for high-achieving self-funded applicants.
Eligibility: Top-ranked candidates in engineering, science, agriculture and management fields.
Deadline: March 20
Confucius Institute Scholarship
Coverage: Tuition, accommodation and monthly stipend for Chinese language and teaching programs.
Eligibility: International students of Chinese language, literature or Chinese language education.
Deadline: May 10
Campus Life
Life on Campus
What daily student life looks like at Zhejiang University.
Modern Zijingang Campus
Most international students are based at the spacious Zijingang campus, with newly built teaching complexes, lakes and dedicated international residences.
Maker & Start-Up Spaces
Student innovation labs, maker spaces and incubators let you prototype ideas and join Hangzhou’s entrepreneurial competitions.
Extensive Library System
Libraries across seven campuses hold more than 7 million volumes plus major engineering, agricultural and medical digital archives.
Multicultural Student Body
Students from over 140 countries take part in international festivals, language exchanges and buddy programs.
Zhejiang & Global Dining
Dozens of canteens serve Hangzhou cuisine, halal options and international menus at low student prices.
Life in Hangzhou
A subway and high-speed rail hub beside West Lake, with Shanghai reachable in under an hour by train.
Gallery
Campus Gallery
A visual tour of Zhejiang University.
Research & Innovation
Research Strengths
Research capacity and innovation ecosystem at Zhejiang University.
Leading National Research Output
Consistently among China’s top universities for research funding, publications and national science awards.
Agriculture & Food Science
State key laboratories in crop genetics, plant protection and food engineering with extensive experimental farms.
Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
Major national platforms in computer vision, brain-inspired computing, control systems and intelligent manufacturing.
Industry Research Partnerships
Joint laboratories with Alibaba, Huawei, Geely and other firms bring students into applied industrial projects.
International Joint Institutes
The ZJU–Illinois and ZJU–Edinburgh institutes deliver English-taught research training and dual degrees.
Technology Transfer
One of China’s most active universities for patents, spin-off companies and commercialized research.
Career Outcomes
Graduate Outcomes
Where a degree from Zhejiang University can take you after graduation.
Technology Sector Recruitment
Alibaba, NetEase, Hikvision, Huawei and DJI recruit heavily from ZJU’s engineering and computing faculties.
Founders & Entrepreneurs
ZJU produces more start-up founders and unicorn CEOs than any other Chinese university, with alumni investor networks.
Manufacturing & Engineering Careers
Strong placement in automotive, robotics, electronics and energy companies across the Yangtze River Delta.
Graduate Study Abroad
Graduates progress to top engineering and science doctoral programs in North America, Europe and Asia.
Agri-Food & Biotech Pathways
Distinctive career routes into agricultural technology, food safety, biotechnology and rural development agencies.
Alumni Network in Business
An influential alumni community concentrated in Chinese technology, manufacturing and venture capital industries.
Student Support
International Student Support
How Zhejiang University helps international students settle in and succeed.
Accommodation Assistance
Help securing an on-campus dormitory room at Zijingang or approved off-campus housing before arrival.
Residence Permit
Guided processing of your residence permit at the Hangzhou exit-entry bureau after enrollment.
Orientation
An orientation program covering campus systems, safety, banking, transport and academic expectations.
Academic Advising
Faculty tutors and academic advisors support course registration, credit planning and research supervision.
Chinese Language Support
Elective Mandarin courses and language partners help international students adapt to daily life in Hangzhou.
Health Services
Campus hospital access, insurance enrollment and referrals to ZJU-affiliated hospitals in Hangzhou.
Emergency Assistance
A 24-hour contact line and on-call international office staff for urgent situations.
Visa Guidance
Support with JW202 documents, visa renewals, internships permissions and travel paperwork.
Student Community
International student associations, country societies and mentoring schemes build lasting networks.
Timeline
Application Timeline
Key dates and milestones for applying to Zhejiang University.
- December – January
Applications Open
The ZJU international admissions portal opens for the following September intake.
- By March 20
Recommended Submission
Submit by this date to be considered for CSC, Zhejiang Provincial and ZJU scholarships.
- April – May
Admission Review
Faculties assess applications and hold online interviews for shortlisted candidates.
- June – July
Admission Results
Admission and scholarship decisions are released through the online portal.
- July
JW202 & Visa Documents Issued
ZJU dispatches your Admission Notice and JW202 form for the visa application.
- July – August
Apply for X1 Visa
Apply for the X1 student visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country.
- Early September
Arrival in Hangzhou
Arrive on campus, move into your dormitory and join international student orientation.
- Mid September
Registration
Complete registration, medical check and residence permit before classes begin.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions international students ask most about Zhejiang University.
Take the First Step
Ready to Apply to Zhejiang University?
Get a free academic assessment and our admissions team will confirm your eligibility, shortlist the best programs for your profile and guide you through every step of your application to Zhejiang University.