China · Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Zhejiang University
A large comprehensive university in Hangzhou, taught mostly in Chinese
Photo: Zhangzhugang · CC BY-SA 4.0
- QS World Ranking 2027
- #47
- Founded
- 1897
- Students
- 68,000
- Bachelor's degree
- 4 years
- Acceptance rate
- Not published; competitive selection on school record, language and a video interview
- Typical IB offer
- 34 points with 6,5,5 at HL incl. Biology and Chemistry (ZJU-UoE dual-degree programmes only)
- Typical A-level offer
- AAB in one year incl. Biology and Chemistry at B (ZJU-UoE dual-degree programmes only)
- How admission works
- All undergraduates need a CSCA report and must be under 25. Chinese-taught programmes need an HSK score of 180 to 220 depending on the programme and HSK level, unless secondary school was taught in Chinese. The English-taught programmes ask for IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo, for example IELTS 6.5 for Global Communication and Management and IELTS 6.0 for MBBS.
- Language of instruction
- Mostly Chinese (HSK 180 to 220 depending on the programme); English-taught: MBBS, Global Communication and Management, ZJU-UoE dual degrees
The IB and A-level figures come from the ZJU-UoE Institute entry page, which is undated, and apply only to its dual-degree programmes. The university-wide guide lists no IB or A-level requirement and the 2027 guide is not yet published.
Worth knowing
The university was founded in 1897 and now has seven campuses. The ZJU-UoE Institute on the Haining International Campus runs dual-degree programmes with the University of Edinburgh, and its entry page lists the Scottish SQA Highers alongside the A-level and IB bars.
How hard is it to get in, and why
The university publishes no admission rate. Applications are reviewed on documents, and those who pass take a video interview arranged by the academic school; admission is by competitive selection on high-school performance, language proficiency and the interview. Every undergraduate applicant needs a CSCA report, and Chinese-taught programmes ask for an HSK score of 180 to 220 depending on the programme. By mechanism it is closest to HKUST: documents plus an interview, with no published cut-off.
What it costs
Tuition
$3k–30k per year
The 2026 catalogues give RMB 19,800, 24,800 or 29,800 a year for Chinese-taught programmes depending on the field, RMB 42,800 for MBBS (six years), RMB 65,000 for Global Communication and Management and RMB 200,000 for the ZJU-UoE dual degrees; 2027 figures are not yet published. Insurance is RMB 800 a year. Living: the dormitory page gives single rooms at RMB 24,000 to 30,000 per room per academic year (fees effective from January 2023); twin rooms are RMB 36,000 to 48,000 per room, and the range shown is single rooms, accommodation only.
Living costs
$4k–5k per year
Scholarships and financial aid
The Chinese Government Scholarship (Bilateral Program, Type A) and the Zhejiang Government Scholarship are open only to Chinese-taught programmes. The ZJU-UoE dual degrees, Global Communication and Management and MBBS each have their own scholarships, and ZJU-UoE applicants for a scholarship are interviewed. The guide gives no amounts for any of them.
How to apply
Apply in the Online Application System for International Students (intlstudent.zju.edu.cn) and pay the RMB 800 application fee. The 2026 cycle ran from 1 December 2025 to 28 February 2026, with 31 May 2026 for some majors and the English-taught programmes; dates for 2027 entry are not yet published. Documents include transcripts, a CSCA report, an 800-word personal statement and two recommendation letters. Pre-admitted applicants pay the first year's tuition through the system to be formally admitted, and the prepaid tuition is not refunded if they later give up the place.
Official websiteWhat makes it special
- Clinical Medicine (MBBS) is a six-year English-taught programme at the International School of Medicine in Yiwu; applicants need 70% or above in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology at school.
- The ZJU-UoE dual degrees in Integrative Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Informatics take four years on the Haining International Campus and require no Chinese.
- Global Communication and Management is a four-year English-taught programme at the International Business School on the Haining campus.
- Dormitories for international students stand on the Zijingang, Yuquan and Huajiachi campuses in Hangzhou, booked online, and a student who fails to reserve is not assigned a room.
About studying in China
Four-year degrees, taught mainly in Chinese; tuition and English-taught options differ by university and programme. Peking University takes international applicants through its own online system, or through the Chinese Government Scholarship, and its route without a written exam asks for HSK 6 (score 210 or more), or a 6 or above in IB Chinese HL, so the language bar at the top is high. Check each university's own page for tuition and for any English-taught bachelor's programmes. The honest caveat is that for most students the language, not the grades, decides whether China is realistic.
Teaching staff
The dossier on teaching staff for this university is still being written.
The campus in photographs
Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are shown on each image.
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