Universities in Heilongjiang
10 universities in Heilongjiang, China for international students — compare tuition, scholarships and CSCA admission requirements.
What it costs to study in Heilongjiang
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,140 per month, excluding tuition.
Heilongjiang — China's northernmost province, bordering Russia, with its capital at Harbin — packs an unusually strong set of universities for a border region. Its apex is the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), a C9 League member and one of China's top engineering universities, over a rare cluster of three more Project 211 universities (Harbin Engineering, Northeast Forestry, Northeast Agricultural). Harbin is famous for its Russian-influenced architecture and its Ice-and-Snow Festival, and the province is one of China's great breadbaskets. For international students it offers C9-level engineering, English-taught MBBS and low costs.
Why study in Heilongjiang?
- It has a C9 university: the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) — a full Project 985 + 211 + Double First-Class member of China's elite C9 League, and one of the country's very top universities for engineering, aerospace and computing.
- It has an unusually deep 211 bench for a border province — Harbin Engineering (defence, naval and nuclear engineering), Northeast Forestry, and Northeast Agricultural are all Project 211 + Double First-Class universities.
- Harbin Medical University teaches clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students.
- It's culturally distinctive and affordable — Harbin's Russian heritage and its world-famous Ice-and-Snow Festival, with living costs around ¥1,500–2,500/month and low tuition (estimates).
- It runs its own Heilongjiang Provincial Government Scholarship (undergraduate ¥30,000/year, up to ¥50,000 for doctoral students).
Flagship universities for international students
Heilongjiang is led by a C9 university (HIT) over three more Project 211s — a strong lineup. Be precise about tiers: the 211s are not 985s, and the medical/comprehensive schools carry no national label. Choose for the program.
A C9 League member and full Project 985 + 211 + Double First-Class — one of China's very top universities for engineering, aerospace, materials and computer science. (Its Weihai and Shenzhen campuses are separate; this is the Harbin flagship.)
A Project 211 + Double First-Class university (NOT a 985) — China's leading university for shipbuilding, marine/ocean engineering, nuclear and defence technology, descended from the historic PLA Military Engineering Institute.
A Project 211 + Double First-Class university (NOT a 985) — China's leading forestry university, strong in forestry, wildlife conservation and wood science.
A Project 211 + Double First-Class university (NOT a 985) — a leading agricultural university, strong in animal science, agronomy and food science, in China's breadbasket province.
The province's comprehensive university (no national 985/211/Double First-Class label) — with a well-known heritage in Russian-language and other foreign-language studies, fitting for a province bordering Russia.
A provincial university (no national tier label) built around the Daqing oilfield — a specialist choice for petroleum, chemical and energy engineering.
Cost of living & tuition
Heilongjiang is affordable by national standards. As rough planning figures (varying by university and program): international undergraduate tuition runs roughly ¥16,000–26,000/year, with medicine (including English-taught MBBS) higher. Living costs run about ¥1,500–2,500/month — Harbin is cheaper than the coast, though heating and winter clothing are a real northern-winter cost to budget for. These are estimates — always confirm exact tuition and dormitory fees with each university.
Scholarships in Heilongjiang
Beyond the national Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), Heilongjiang runs its own Heilongjiang Provincial Government Scholarship for International Students (来华留学黑龙江省政府奖学金): commonly cited per-year amounts are around ¥30,000 for undergraduates, ¥40,000 for master's students and ¥50,000 for doctoral students, awarded through the province's universities. Amounts vary by university and year, so confirm current terms on each university's admissions page.
Admission & the CSCA
Heilongjiang's Chinese-Government-Scholarship universities — including Harbin Institute of Technology and others — 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harbin Engineering University | Harbin | Check programme evidence | 9 | — | |
| Harbin Institute of Technology | Harbin | Check programme evidence | 97 | — | HSK-exempt |
| Harbin Normal University | Harbin | Check programme evidence | 6 | — | |
| Harbin University of Science and Technology | Harbin | Check programme evidence | 5 | — | |
| Heilongjiang University | Harbin | Check programme evidence | 13 | — | |
| Jiamusi University | Jiamusi | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| Mudanjiang Normal University | Mudanjiang | Check programme evidence | 6 | — | |
| Northeast Agricultural University | Harbin | Check programme evidence | 11 | — | |
| Northeast Forestry University | Harbin | Check programme evidence | 11 | — | |
| Northeast Petroleum University | Daqing | Check programme evidence | 13 | Yes |
Admission to these universities runs through the CSCA exam
International undergraduate admission to universities in Heilongjiang 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 Heilongjiang
Scholarships available at universities in Heilongjiang.
All Scholarships (4)
Harbin Institute of Technology Outstanding Foreign Students Scholarship
In order to encourage outstanding international students from all over the world to apply for Harbin Institute of Technology, "Harbin Institute of Technology Scholarship for Outstanding Foreign Students" is established. In order to do a good job in assessing this scholarship, the implementation measures are hereby formulated. Types of Scholarship, Scope of Award and Award Period 1...
Harbin Institute of Technology Qingrui Scholarship for Foreign Students
I. Purpose of the Scholarship In order to encourage and attract outstanding international students at school and outstanding foreign students preparing to come to China, and to vigorously develop the English-medium programs of the University, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) has established the HIT Qingrui Scholarship for Foreign Students (hereinafter referred to as the Qingrui Scholarship) in conjunction with Daqing Zhongyang Qingrui Petroleum Science and Technology Co.
Harbin Engineering University Scholarship for Foreign Students
In order to promote the development of international student education in HEU and attract more outstanding international students to study in HEU, the scholarships are selected and rewarded according to the principles of "fairness, impartiality and openness". In order to encourage foreign students with good character and good academic performance to study diligently and strive for improvement, the "Harbin Engineering University Scholarship for Foreign Students" (...
Heilongjiang's provincial scholarship — ¥30,000 (bachelor) / ¥40,000 (master) / ¥50,000 (doctoral) per year.
Frequently asked questions
How many universities in Heilongjiang accept international students?
10 universities in Heilongjiang, 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 Heilongjiang?
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,140 per month, excluding tuition.
Do I need the CSCA exam to study in Heilongjiang?
Yes — admission to most universities in Heilongjiang 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 Heilongjiang for international students?
Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) is the apex — a C9 League member and full 985, one of China's top engineering universities. Below it, Harbin Engineering (naval/defence engineering), Northeast Forestry and Northeast Agricultural are all strong Project 211 universities. Choose for your field.
Can I study MBBS in English in Heilongjiang?
Yes — Harbin Medical University is on the Ministry of Education's list to teach clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students. The list is reissued annually, so confirm current status and seats 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 Harbin Institute of Technology really C9?
Yes — HIT is one of the nine members of the C9 League (China's equivalent of an Ivy/Russell group), alongside Tsinghua, Peking, Fudan, Shanghai Jiao Tong, Nanjing, Zhejiang, USTC and Xi'an Jiaotong. Its main campus is in Harbin; its Weihai and Shenzhen campuses are separate operations.
Does Heilongjiang have a provincial scholarship?
Yes — the Heilongjiang Provincial Government Scholarship for International Students, commonly cited at around ¥30,000/year (undergraduate), ¥40,000 (master's) and ¥50,000 (doctoral), alongside the national CSC. Confirm current terms with each university.
Do I need to take the CSCA to study in Heilongjiang?
If you're applying for an undergraduate program at a Chinese-Government-Scholarship university like Harbin Institute of Technology, 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.