Universities in Hebei
11 universities in Hebei, China for international students — compare tuition, scholarships and CSCA admission requirements.
What it costs to study in Hebei
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,127 per month, excluding tuition.
Hebei — the large northern province that wraps around both Beijing and Tianjin, with its capital at Shijiazhuang and its port city at Qinhuangdao — is an economic heavyweight (2023 GDP about ¥4.39 trillion) whose university profile is unusually modest for its size. Its best-known school, Yanshan University, is genuinely strong in engineering but carries no national tier label, and — a quirk worth knowing — Hebei's only Project 211 university is physically located in Tianjin. For international students it offers proximity to Beijing, English-taught MBBS at Hebei Medical University, and some of the lowest costs in northern China.
Why study in Hebei?
- It wraps around Beijing and Tianjin — you can study at a much lower cost while staying within easy reach of the capital's academic and job networks.
- Yanshan University is a genuinely strong engineering school — its mechanical engineering is nationally top-rated (grade A) — even though it holds no national 985/211/Double First-Class label. Honesty note: within Hebei's own borders there is arguably NO 985 and NO 211 university (Hebei's only 211, Hebei University of Technology, sits in Tianjin).
- You can study for a 985-affiliated degree inside Hebei at Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao — a branch campus of the 985 Northeastern University, on the coast.
- Hebei Medical University teaches clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students.
- It's among the most affordable places to study in northern China — non-medical undergraduate tuition runs roughly ¥15,700–20,000/year and living costs about ¥1,000–3,000/month (estimates).
Flagship universities for international students
Hebei is the honest case where reputation outruns the tier label: its strongest schools carry NO national 985/211/Double First-Class status, and its only 211 is in Tianjin. Choose for the program, and don't trust agent-site 'Double First-Class' claims here.
Hebei's strongest university by reputation — nationally top-rated (grade A) in mechanical engineering, strong in materials — but note it holds NO national 985/211/Double First-Class label (a clear case where reputation exceeds the tier). In the coastal city of Qinhuangdao.
The province's largest comprehensive university (in Baoding) — a Hebei provincial 'first-class' construction school, but NOT a national 985/211/Double First-Class university. Broad choice of humanities and science programs.
A branch campus of the 985 + 211 Northeastern University (whose main campus is in Shenyang) — so you study in Hebei for a degree conferred through a 985 institution. Strong in engineering, economics and management. It is a branch, not an independent 985.
Hebei's leading medical university (no national tier label; its clinical medicine is a Hebei PROVINCIAL first-class discipline) — and the province's English-taught MBBS school for international students. Read our Study MBBS in China guide first — a Chinese MBBS is a degree, not a licence to practise back home.
The province's leading teacher-training university (no national tier label) — a solid choice for education, humanities and Chinese-language study in Shijiazhuang.
A provincial university (no national tier label) focused on finance, economics, business and law — a practical pick for business-track international students in Shijiazhuang.
Cost of living & tuition
Hebei is among the most affordable places to study in northern China. As rough planning figures (varying by university and program): non-medical undergraduate tuition runs roughly ¥15,700–20,000/year, with medicine (including English-taught MBBS) higher. Living costs run about ¥1,000–3,000/month depending on lifestyle and city (Shijiazhuang and Baoding are cheap; coastal Qinhuangdao a little higher). These are estimates — always confirm exact tuition and dormitory fees with each university.
Scholarships in Hebei
Beyond the national Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), Hebei runs a modest provincial award — the Hebei Outstanding International Student Scholarship (河北省优秀来华留学生奖学金) — commonly cited at around ¥5,000 per student per academic year, awarded through the province's universities (some of which add their own institution-funded incentive awards). It is a partial, merit-style award rather than a full scholarship. Confirm current amounts and eligibility on each university's admissions page.
Admission & the CSCA
Hebei's Chinese-Government-Scholarship universities 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hebei Academy of Fine Arts | Shijiazhuang | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| Hebei Finance University | Baoding | Check programme evidence | 11 | — | |
| Hebei GEO University | Shijiazhuang | Check programme evidence | 12 | — | |
| Hebei Medical University | Shijiazhuang | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| Hebei Normal University | Shijiazhuang | Check programme evidence | 2 | — | |
| Hebei University | Baoding | Check programme evidence | 13 | — | |
| Hebei University of Economics and Business | Shijiazhuang | Check programme evidence | 13 | — | |
| Hebei University of Science and Technology | Shijiazhuang | Check programme evidence | 2 | — | |
| Langfang Normal University | Langfang | Check programme evidence | 2 | — | |
| Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao | Qinhuangdao | Check programme evidence | 9 | — | |
| Yanshan University | Qinhuangdao | Check programme evidence | 13 | Yes |
Admission to these universities runs through the CSCA exam
International undergraduate admission to universities in Hebei 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 Hebei
Scholarships available at universities in Hebei.
All Scholarships (3)
Yanshan University Doctoral Scholarship for Foreign Students
I. Types of Funding, Duration and Language of Instruction 1. This program is only for doctoral students. The duration of the program is 4 years (1 year in Chinese). 2. The language of instruction is Chinese or English. Qualifications of Applicants 1. Applicants must be in good health, have a foreign nationality and hold a foreign passport. 2. To come to China to study...
Yanshan University Master's Scholarship for Foreign Students
I. Types of funding, duration and language of instruction 1. This program is only for master's degree students. The duration of the program is 3 years (1 year can be applied for a supplemental year in Chinese). 2. The language of instruction is Chinese or English. Qualifications of Applicants 1. Applicants must be in good health, have foreign nationality and hold foreign passports. 2. To come to China to study...
Hebei's provincial award — a modest merit scholarship commonly cited at around ¥5,000 per academic year.
Frequently asked questions
How many universities in Hebei accept international students?
11 universities in Hebei, China are listed for international undergraduate admission, across 4 cities. Most are admitted through the CSCA exam.
How much does it cost to study a bachelor in Hebei?
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,127 per month, excluding tuition.
Do I need the CSCA exam to study in Hebei?
Yes — admission to most universities in Hebei 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 Hebei for international students?
By reputation, Yanshan University (strong engineering) — but be aware it holds no national 985/211/Double First-Class label. If a nationally-tiered degree matters to you, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao is a branch campus of the 985 Northeastern University, physically in Hebei. Hebei Medical University is the medical/MBBS choice. Note: Hebei's only Project 211, Hebei University of Technology, is actually located in Tianjin.
Does Hebei have a 985 or 211 university?
Not within its own borders, in practice. Hebei's only Project 211 university — Hebei University of Technology — has its main campus in Tianjin, not Hebei. The strongest schools physically in Hebei (Yanshan, Hebei University) carry no national tier label. You can, however, study inside Hebei at Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, a branch campus of the 985 Northeastern University.
Can I study MBBS in English in Hebei?
Yes — Hebei Medical University is on the Ministry of Education's list to teach clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students. (Be skeptical of agent sites advertising English MBBS at other Hebei schools and labelling them 'Double First-Class' — that label is false for Hebei's schools.) The list is reissued annually; confirm current status with the university, and note a Chinese MBBS is a degree, not a licence to practise back home — read our Study MBBS in China guide.
Is studying in Hebei cheap?
Yes — among the cheapest in northern China: non-medical undergraduate tuition runs roughly ¥15,700–20,000/year and living costs about ¥1,000–3,000/month. Treat these as estimates and confirm with each university.
Do I need to take the CSCA to study in Hebei?
If you're applying for an undergraduate program at a Chinese-Government-Scholarship 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.