Is College Free In China?

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Introduction

With the drastic increase in prices ranging from the cost of gas all the way to food, it’s become increasingly easy to amass a lot of debt. One way to substantially reduce financial strains and the hurdle that is student debt, which according to Forbes, a whooping 53% of Americans from public institutions currently have, would be acquiring free higher education. China is a technological giant and is also becoming increasingly popular for quality education, with over 5 Chinese universities appearing in the top 100 universities in the world. With all the benefits of studying in China, one can’t help but wonder is college free in China.

Fortunately, China is not just popular for quality education but for their fully funded scholarship schemes which covers tuition, accommodation and living expenses. Let’s have a look at some of the higher institutions that offer free education below:

Is College Free In China?

Universities that Offer International Students Scholarships:

  1. Tsinghua University
  2. Peking University
  3. Zhejiang University
  4. Fudan University
  5. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Tsinghua University:

Scholarships offered by the Tsinghua University are funded by the CSC (China Scholarship Council). The program is available for bachelor degree programs, masters and PhD programs. According to The Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Tsinghua University is the 16th best university in the world.

The degree programs are bilingual, which means you can study in English, enjoy Chinese culture and learn Mandarin at the same time. This is advantageous to students because Mandarin increases your chances of landing a job in the information and technology sector. According to Languages of the World, Chinese is the most spoken native language in the world. 

Peking University:

Funded by the ministry of education, the Peking university is another Chinese higher institution that offers scholarships to international students. The Peking university, otherwise known as the “Harvard of China”, awards scholarships to excellent international students.

Scholarships at this university are offered by the Chinese Government Scholarship, Beijing Government Scholarship, Confucius Institute Scholarship, and by the university itself. Just like the Tsinghua University CSC scholarship, the PKUS comes in two types, full and partial scholarship.

Zhejiang University:

The Zhejiang university is another top Chinese higher institution that offers scholarships to international students. Similar to the other universities, the Zhejiang University scholarship is funded by the CSC.

Fudan University:

Located in Shanghai, the Fudan university is known for its quality education in the discipline of arts and sciences. According to the QS World University Rankings, Fudan university is ranked as the 31st best university in the world.

This top university offers scholarships to international students, the scholarships are supported by the Chinese Government Scholarship, Shanghai Government Scholarship, and the Confucius Institute Scholarship.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University:

The Shanghai Jiao Tong University is a top Chinese university, which has continuously emerged in the top 100 universities in the world according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities, among others. Located in Shanghai, it is one of China’s oldest and most reputable higher institutions.

Just like the Fudan university, the Shanghai Jiao Tong University scholarship is supported by the same institutions.

Scholarship Schemes in China

Below are three of the various scholarship schemes the Chinese government offers:

  1. China scholarship council
  2. Jiangsu government scholarship
  3. Hubei Provincial Scholarship

China Scholarship Council:

This is the heart of scholarships in the Chinese government. Through the CSC, the Chinese government awards scholarships to both Chinese citizens, residents and international students. The CSC funds about sixty-five thousand Chinese students studying abroad in a year, and the same amount of international students in China. CSC provides scholarships to all universities in China, every year giving students the opportunity to go to college for free.

Jiangsu Government Scholarship:

This scholarship scheme was set to improve the perception of studying in Jiangsu and to bring in more international students. The Jiangsu government wishes to make the province a destination for international students. What better way than to set up scholarships for international students? The Jiangsu scholarship accepts non-degree program students, exchange students, and excellent international students who want to study full-time in China. This scholarship scheme has two conditions, the full and partial scholarships.

Hubei Provincial Scholarship:

Similar to the Jiangsu government scholarship, the Hubei provincial government scholarship was made to charm international students into studying at higher institutions in the Hubei province. This scholarship is accessible to international students who intend to apply, or have applied at a higher institution in Hubei province. Undergraduate, masters and doctoral programs are available in Hubei province higher institutions.

How To Get Into a Free College in China

Getting into a free college in China is not difficult as most scholarship schemes in China prioritize international students. The most important step would be to go through the various requirements, courses offered and decide which works best for you. If you’re interested in studying for free in China here are a few of the requirements:

  1. Non-Chinese citizens.
  2. Mentally and physically fit.
  3. Outstanding grades.
  4. Receiving no other scholarship funds.
  5. Proficiency in Chinese if demanded by the department.
  6. English proficiency, if required.
  7. For the master’s degree, applicants must be under the age of 35 and must possess a bachelor’s degree.
  8. Candidates who intend to apply for doctoral programs,  must be below the age of 40 and must possess a master’s degree.
  9. For undergraduate degree programs, applicants must have a high school diploma with good academic performance and be below the age of 30.

While the colleges aren’t free in the literal sense, these scholarship programs can enable applicants to enjoy free higher education in China.

Frequently asked questions:

  1. Why study in China?

Chinese universities are one of the best in the world, the cost of living is affordable and there are various scholarship opportunities for international students.

  1. Is schooling up to high school free in China?

China has a compulsory 9-year education which unfortunately doesn’t cover high school. Therefore, tuition in high school is not free, including public schools.

  1. How much do Chinese students pay for college (university)?

Average tuition costs between 2,500 to 10,000 US dollars a year.

  1. Is there a difference between college and university?

University is a higher institution that offers Bachelor, MSc and PhD programs, for example the Tsinghua University. A college however is a higher institution that offers certificates, such as bachelor’s degree, in a specialized field. An example would be community colleges in the US.