Universities in Guangxi
5 universities in Guangxi, China for international students — compare tuition, scholarships and CSCA admission requirements.
What it costs to study in Guangxi
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,180 per month, excluding tuition.
Guangxi (the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region) — capital Nanning, with scenic Guilin to the north — is China's gateway to Southeast Asia: it borders Vietnam, has a coastline, and Nanning is the permanent host of the annual China–ASEAN Expo. Its one university of national standing is Guangxi University, the region's only Project 211; Guangxi Medical University runs the region's only English-taught MBBS. For international students — especially from ASEAN countries, who are eligible for a generous full provincial scholarship — it offers a low-cost, culturally distinctive base (China's largest Zhuang ethnic-minority region) close to home.
Why study in Guangxi?
- Guangxi University is the flagship — the region's ONLY Project 211 and its only Double First-Class university (in Civil Engineering). Honesty note: Guangxi has NO Project 985 university, and Guangxi University is its only nationally-tiered one.
- It's China's ASEAN gateway — Nanning is the permanent host of the China–ASEAN Expo (since 2004), and Guangxi is the only Chinese region that is at once coastal, bordering a foreign country (Vietnam) and a minority autonomous region — ideal for students from Southeast Asia.
- ASEAN students get a generous full provincial scholarship — the Guangxi Government Scholarship for ASEAN Students covers tuition, accommodation, insurance and textbooks plus a monthly stipend of ¥1,000–2,000. (Non-ASEAN students rely on the national CSC and university scholarships.)
- Guangxi Medical University teaches clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students (¥35,000/year) — the only Guangxi school on the MOE list.
- It's among China's cheapest study destinations — non-medical undergraduate tuition runs about ¥15,000–30,000/year, dorms from about ¥6,000/year, and Nanning and Guilin are low-cost cities.
Flagship universities for international students
Guangxi has just one Project 211 university (Guangxi University); the rest are strong regional universities with no national tier label. Be precise — Guangxi University's Double First-Class status is a single discipline (Civil Engineering), not the whole university. Choose for the program.
The region's flagship and only Project 211 — Double First-Class in Civil Engineering (a single national discipline, not a 985; note the discipline was publicly cautioned in the 2022 round). Guangxi's comprehensive university, also strong in engineering, agriculture and light industry.
A provincially-run university (no national 985/211/Double First-Class label) that is Guangxi's leading medical school — and the ONLY Guangxi university authorised to teach clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students (6-year, ¥35,000/year). Read our Study MBBS in China guide first — a Chinese MBBS is a degree, not a licence to practise back home.
Guangxi's second-ranked university (no national tier label), in scenic Guilin — strong in teacher education, humanities and Chinese-language programs.
A provincial TCM university (no national tier label), co-built with the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine — a specialist in traditional Chinese medicine, pharmacy and Zhuang ethnic medicine.
A regional teacher-training university (no national tier label; renamed in 2018 from Guangxi Teachers Education University) — strong in geography, environmental science and education. Note: it is a different school from Guangxi Normal University in Guilin.
Cost of living & tuition
Guangxi is among the cheapest study destinations in China. As reference figures (Guangxi Medical University's official 2026 fees; other universities vary): English-taught MBBS is ¥35,000/year and Chinese-taught clinical medicine ¥28,000/year, while non-medical undergraduate tuition across the region runs roughly ¥15,000–30,000/year. On-campus dorms are cheap — about ¥6,000/year for a double room — and realistic living costs are about ¥1,500–3,000/month (estimate). Nanning, Guilin and Baise are low-cost cities, cheaper than Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou. Always confirm exact fees with each university.
Scholarships in Guangxi
Guangxi's flagship provincial scholarship is the Guangxi Government Scholarship for ASEAN Students (广西政府东盟国家留学生奖学金) — but note it is open to citizens of ASEAN countries ONLY. For eligible ASEAN students it is generous: a full award covering tuition, on-campus accommodation, comprehensive medical insurance and textbooks, plus a monthly living stipend of ¥1,000 (undergraduate), ¥1,500 (master's) or ¥2,000 (doctoral), paid year-round. Non-ASEAN international students are not eligible for a general Guangxi provincial scholarship and rely instead on the national Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), Belt-and-Road and university scholarships. Apply through a participating Guangxi university and confirm current terms on its admissions page.
Admission & the CSCA
Guangxi's Chinese-Government-Scholarship universities — led by Guangxi University — fall within the CSCA's scope: from the 2026/27 intake, international undergraduate applicants to these universities sit the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (expanding to all universities by 2028). It tests Academic Chinese plus Mathematics (compulsory) and optional Physics and Chemistry — and the maths and science papers can be taken in English. Chinese-taught undergraduate programs also typically require HSK 4; English-taught programs differ. Prepare the maths and science papers with CSCA practice.
Practice for the CSCA| University | City | Tuition | Bachelor programs | Scholarship | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guangxi Medical University | Nanning | Check programme evidence | 6 | — | |
| Guangxi Normal University | Guilin | Check programme evidence | 14 | — | |
| Guangxi University | Nanning | Check programme evidence | 23 | — | |
| Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine | Nanning | Check programme evidence | 7 | — | |
| Nanning Normal University | Nanning | Check programme evidence | — | — |
Admission to these universities runs through the CSCA exam
International undergraduate admission to universities in Guangxi generally requires taking the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) exam (Mathematics is compulsory; Physics and Chemistry may be required depending on your university and major). Start preparing for free.
Scholarships in Guangxi
Scholarships available at universities in Guangxi.
All Scholarships (2)
Guilin University of Electronic Science and Technology Presidential Scholarship
Scholarship content and standard: 1. First year tuition fee 8500RMB, corresponding accommodation fee (see Article 1), insurance fee ¥800, registration fee ¥700. visa fee, medical examination fee and other expenses are at your own expense. 2. Abide by the relevant laws and regulations of China and the school rules and discipline of Guilin University of Electronic Science and Technology...
Guangxi's flagship scholarship — ASEAN citizens ONLY; a full award (tuition + accommodation + insurance + textbooks) plus ¥1,000–2,000/month stipend.
Frequently asked questions
How many universities in Guangxi accept international students?
5 universities in Guangxi, China are listed for international undergraduate admission, across 2 cities. Most are admitted through the CSCA exam.
How much does it cost to study a bachelor in Guangxi?
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,180 per month, excluding tuition.
Do I need the CSCA exam to study in Guangxi?
Yes — admission to most universities in Guangxi for international undergraduates runs through the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) exam. Mathematics is compulsory; Physics and Chemistry may be required depending on the university and major.
Which is the best university in Guangxi for international students?
Guangxi University is the flagship — the region's only Project 211 and only Double First-Class university (in Civil Engineering). Guangxi Medical University is the medical choice and the only Guangxi school with English-taught MBBS; Guangxi Normal University in Guilin leads for teacher education and Chinese-language study. Note that Guangxi has NO Project 985 university.
Can I study MBBS in English in Guangxi?
Yes, at one school — Guangxi Medical University is the only Guangxi university on the Ministry of Education's list to teach clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students (6-year, ¥35,000/year). Other Guangxi medical schools (Guilin Medical University, Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities) are not confirmed on the list and generally teach medicine in Chinese. The list is reissued annually — confirm current status, and note a Chinese MBBS is a degree, not a licence to practise back home; read our Study MBBS in China guide.
Is the Guangxi provincial scholarship open to everyone?
No — the Guangxi Government Scholarship is for citizens of ASEAN countries only. For them it is a generous full scholarship (tuition, accommodation, insurance, textbooks and a monthly stipend of ¥1,000–2,000). Non-ASEAN students should look to the national CSC, Belt-and-Road and individual university scholarships instead.
Why study in Guangxi if you're from Southeast Asia?
Guangxi is China's ASEAN gateway — it borders Vietnam, and Nanning is the permanent host of the annual China–ASEAN Expo. ASEAN citizens are eligible for a generous full provincial scholarship, costs are among the lowest in China, and the region is culturally distinctive (China's largest Zhuang ethnic-minority region).
Do I need to take the CSCA to study in Guangxi?
If you're applying for an undergraduate program at a Chinese-Government-Scholarship university like Guangxi University, then from the 2026/27 intake yes — the CSCA is required, expanding to all universities by 2028. It tests Academic Chinese plus Maths (compulsory) and optional Physics/Chemistry, with the science papers available in English.
Sources
- Guangxi University (official)
- Guangxi Medical University — international admissions (official)
- China MOE — Double First-Class (双一流) university list (2022)
- China MOE — English-taught MBBS list & quotas (2023–24 notice)
- Guangxi Government Scholarship for ASEAN Students (Guangxi Education Dept)
- China Scholarship Council (CSC) — campuschina.org