Universities in Henan
12 universities in Henan, China for international students — compare tuition, scholarships and CSCA admission requirements.
What it costs to study in Henan
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,150 per month, excluding tuition.
Henan — capital Zhengzhou, with the ancient capitals Kaifeng and Luoyang nearby — is China's third-most-populous province (about 99 million people) and one of its most affordable study destinations. Its university apex is Zhengzhou University, the province's only Project 211 and its only school authorised to teach MBBS in English; Henan University, a Double First-Class university in biology, is the historic second. It's a heartland-China province — the crossroads of the national high-speed-rail network, home to four of China's eight great ancient capitals and the Shaolin Temple — with tuition and living costs well below the coast.
Why study in Henan?
- Zhengzhou University is the flagship — Henan's ONLY Project 211, and Double First-Class in three disciplines (chemistry, materials science & engineering, clinical medicine). Honesty note: Henan, despite ~99 million people, has NO Project 985 university.
- It's one of China's most affordable study destinations — Henan University undergraduate tuition runs about ¥16,000/year and dorms from ¥3,000/year; realistic living costs are about ¥1,500–2,500/month (estimates).
- Zhengzhou University teaches clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students — the only Henan school on the MOE list, with a small 20-seat quota, so it is very competitive.
- It's the crossroads of China: Zhengzhou is the country's first eight-direction (米-shaped) high-speed-rail hub, at the crossing of the Beijing–Guangzhou and east–west Longhai corridors.
- It runs its own Henan Provincial Government Scholarship (undergraduate ¥15,000/year, up to ¥40,000 for doctoral students).
Flagship universities for international students
Henan has exactly one Project 211 (Zhengzhou University) and one Double First-Class university (Henan University) — everything else is provincial or private. Be precise: several schools carry Henan's PROVINCIAL 'double first-class' aspiration label, which is not the national scheme. Choose for the program.
Henan's flagship and only Project 211 — Double First-Class in chemistry, materials science & engineering and clinical medicine (not a 985; co-built by the province and the Ministry of Education). One of China's largest universities (~73,000 full-time students), and the ONLY Henan school authorised to teach clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students.
A century-old comprehensive university (founded 1912) — Double First-Class in Biology, but NOT a 211 or 985. Its historic Minglun campus in Kaifeng sits on the compound where China's last imperial examinations were held; it now also runs a large newer campus in Zhengzhou.
A provincial key university (no national 985/211/Double First-Class label) with China's most complete grain, oil and food-science discipline cluster — a distinctive niche — plus superhard materials. Its 'double first-class' label is Henan's PROVINCIAL scheme, not the national list.
A provincial public university (no national tier label) focused on economics, management and law, which gained doctoral-granting status only in 2024. It participates in the Henan provincial scholarship for international students.
A provincial TCM university (no national tier label) rooted in the scholarship of Zhang Zhongjing, one of Chinese medicine's founding figures — a solid pick if Chinese medicine is your field.
A PRIVATE non-profit university (formerly Zhengzhou University's Sias International College, which separated in 2018), founded as a Sino-US venture with Fort Hays State University in Kansas. Known for its English-immersion campus culture — but note it is not a national-tier university, and its degrees are SIAS degrees (Fort Hays State degrees only within specific joint programs).
Cost of living & tuition
Henan is among the most affordable study destinations in China. Official tuition (per year, varying by university and program): Zhengzhou University runs ¥18,000–30,000 for Chinese-taught undergraduate programs and ¥23,000–35,000 for English-taught (MBBS ¥35,000); Henan University runs about ¥16,000–17,600. University dorms are published per YEAR — roughly ¥3,000–12,000 depending on room type — and realistic living costs are about ¥1,500–2,500/month (estimate). Always confirm exact fees with each university.
Scholarships in Henan
Beyond the national Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), Henan runs its own Henan Provincial Government Scholarship for Foreign Students (河南省外国留学生政府奖学金): published per-year amounts are ¥15,000 for undergraduates, ¥30,000 for master's students and ¥40,000 for doctoral students (with a ¥10,000 associate-degree tier and ¥5,000/semester for non-degree students). It is applied for through the host university, which selects recipients; combined with the scholarship, Zhengzhou University says an undergraduate's annual cost can fall to around ¥5,000. Confirm current amounts and quotas on each university's admissions page.
Admission & the CSCA
Henan's Chinese-Government-Scholarship universities — led by Zhengzhou 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henan Polytechnic University | Jiaozuo | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| Henan University | Kaifeng | Check programme evidence | 31 | — | |
| Henan University of Chinese Medicine | Zhengzhou | Check programme evidence | 5 | — | |
| Henan University of Economics and Law | Zhengzhou | Check programme evidence | 25 | — | |
| Henan University of Science & Technology | Luoyang | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| Henan University of Technology | Zhengzhou | Check programme evidence | 23 | — | |
| North Henan Medical University | Xinxiang | Check programme evidence | 2 | — | |
| SIAS University | Zhengzhou | Check programme evidence | 24 | Yes | |
| Xinyang Normal University | Xinyang | Check programme evidence | 13 | — | |
| Yinchuan University of Energy | Xinyang | Check programme evidence | 4 | — | |
| Zhengzhou University | Zhengzhou | Check programme evidence | 20 | Yes | |
| Zhongyuan University of Technology | Zhengzhou | Check programme evidence | 1 | — |
Admission to these universities runs through the CSCA exam
International undergraduate admission to universities in Henan 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 Henan
Scholarships available at universities in Henan.
All Scholarships (4)
Scholarship for Outstanding International Students at Zhengzhou University
In order to attract more outstanding international students to come to our university for further study and degree, to encourage and support the international students who have both good character and good academic performance, to mobilize the international students to study actively, to set up a model, to commend the advanced students, to actively participate in the activities organized by the university, and to exemplarily abide by the laws of China and the rules and regulations of the university, it is hereby established that the Zhengzhou University...
Zhengzhou University Presidential Scholarship
In order to further strengthen international exchanges and cooperation, attract and encourage international students from different countries and regions of the world to come to study at the University, and strive to build the international brand of "Study in Zhengzhou University", the University hereby establishes the "Presidential Scholarship of Zhengzhou University" (referred to as the scholarship). I. Types and Duration of Funding Types of Funding Specialization ...
Zhengzhou University Henan Provincial Government Scholarship
Henan Provincial Government Scholarships are local scholarships provided by the Henan Provincial Government to some provincial universities for the direct selection and admission of outstanding foreign students and scholars to study in Henan for academic and non-academic programs. I. Funding Categories, Criteria and Duration Funding Categories Funding Criteria Funding Duration...
Henan's provincial scholarship — ¥15,000 (bachelor) / ¥30,000 (master) / ¥40,000 (doctoral) per year, applied through your university.
Frequently asked questions
How many universities in Henan accept international students?
12 universities in Henan, China are listed for international undergraduate admission, across 6 cities. Most are admitted through the CSCA exam.
How much does it cost to study a bachelor in Henan?
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,150 per month, excluding tuition.
Do I need the CSCA exam to study in Henan?
Yes — admission to most universities in Henan 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 Henan for international students?
Zhengzhou University is the flagship — Henan's only Project 211, Double First-Class in three disciplines, and the province's only English-taught MBBS school. Henan University (Double First-Class in biology, founded 1912) is the historic second. Note that Henan, despite being China's third-most-populous province, has NO Project 985 university.
Can I study MBBS in English in Henan?
Yes, but at one school only — Zhengzhou University is the sole Henan university on the Ministry of Education's list to teach clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students, and its quota is small (20 seats on the most recent published list), so it is very competitive. Any 'English MBBS' pitch for other Henan schools (for example Xinxiang Medical) contradicts the MOE list. 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 Henan cheap?
Among the most affordable in China: Henan University undergraduate tuition runs about ¥16,000/year and dorms from ¥3,000/year, with realistic living costs around ¥1,500–2,500/month. Treat living figures as estimates and confirm fees with each university.
Is SIAS University a public university?
No — SIAS University is a private non-profit university (it separated from Zhengzhou University in 2018), founded as a Sino-US venture with Fort Hays State University in Kansas. It is known for English-immersion campus life, but it is not a national-tier university, and its degrees are SIAS degrees (Fort Hays State degrees only within specific joint programs).
Do I need to take the CSCA to study in Henan?
If you're applying for an undergraduate program at a Chinese-Government-Scholarship university like Zhengzhou 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.