Universities in Jiangsu
30 universities in Jiangsu, China for international students — compare tuition, scholarships and CSCA admission requirements.
What it costs to study in Jiangsu
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,560 per month, excluding tuition.
Jiangsu — a wealthy Yangtze-delta coastal province with its capital at Nanjing — is one of China's true education powerhouses, second only to Beijing for top universities and second only to Guangdong for provincial GDP (about ¥13.7 trillion in 2024). It has the most Double First-Class universities of any province, two Project 985 flagships (Nanjing University and Southeast University) and a deep bench of specialist Project 211 universities across Nanjing, Suzhou and Wuxi. For international students it pairs elite academics and strong industry ties with costs well below Beijing and Shanghai.
Why study in Jiangsu?
- It's a top-tier education province — second only to Beijing for elite universities, with the most Double First-Class universities of any province and two Project 985 flagships in Nanjing University (a C9 League member) and Southeast University.
- It's an economic heavyweight: China's No. 2 provincial economy (GDP about ¥13.7 trillion in 2024) and one of the country's leading manufacturing and high-tech hubs — strong industry ties for engineering, science and business students.
- It's noticeably cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai: study-abroad guides put non-medical undergraduate tuition around ¥18,000–35,000/year and student living costs around ¥2,500–5,000/month, lower still in smaller cities like Xuzhou, Zhenjiang and Nantong (these are estimates).
- It runs its own well-known provincial scholarship — the Jiangsu Jasmine Scholarship (江苏茉莉花奖学金) — alongside the national CSC, and several of its universities teach MBBS in English.
- Its cities are historic and livable: Nanjing and Suzhou are green Yangtze-delta cities about an hour from Shanghai by high-speed rail.
Flagship universities for international students
Jiangsu has just two Project 985 universities — Nanjing University (its C9 flagship) and Southeast University — and a deep layer of strong 211 and Double First-Class specialists. Be precise about tiers: several excellent medical and specialist schools are Double First-Class but not 211, and a "985 discipline platform" is not full 985 status. Choose for the program.
Jiangsu's flagship and a C9 League member — full Project 985 + 211 + Double First-Class. One of China's oldest and most prestigious comprehensive universities (founded 1902), elite across the sciences, humanities and computer science.
Jiangsu's second Project 985 + 211 + Double First-Class university and an engineering powerhouse — architecture, civil engineering, electronics and information, biomedical engineering and transportation.
China's leading dedicated pharmacy university — Project 211 + Double First-Class in Pharmacy, but NOT a 985. The standout if pharmaceutical science, pharmacology or drug discovery is your field.
In Wuxi — Project 211 + Double First-Class in Food Science and Light Industry (both rated A+), with food science ranked among the best in the world. NOT a 985, but world-class in its specialism.
A large comprehensive university in Suzhou — Project 211 + Double First-Class in Materials Science (NOT 985) — strong in materials, chemistry, nanotechnology and medicine.
Double First-Class in Public Health (ranked No. 1 nationally) — but note it is Double First-Class only, NEITHER 985 NOR 211 (a common inflation point). It is among the Jiangsu universities that teach clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students; read our Study MBBS in China guide first — a Chinese MBBS is a degree, not a licence to practise back home.
A Sino-foreign university in Suzhou (Xi'an Jiaotong University + University of Liverpool) — the 985/211/Double First-Class labels don't apply to joint ventures. All programs are taught in English and undergraduates earn dual XJTLU + University of Liverpool degrees — a strong option if you want an English-medium education in China.
Cost of living & tuition
Jiangsu is markedly cheaper for students than Beijing or Shanghai. As rough planning figures from study-abroad guides (not official tariffs, and varying by university and city): non-medical undergraduate tuition commonly runs about ¥18,000–35,000/year (elite flagship programs higher), with English-taught MBBS quoted per program (e.g. around ¥34,000/year at Nanjing Medical University). Living costs run roughly ¥2,500–5,000/month all-in, lower in smaller cities like Xuzhou, Zhenjiang and Nantong than in Nanjing or Suzhou. Always confirm exact tuition and dormitory fees with each university.
Scholarships in Jiangsu
Beyond the national Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), Jiangsu runs its own Jiangsu Jasmine Scholarship (江苏茉莉花奖学金) for international students, funded by the province and administered through its universities. It comes in full and partial forms — a full award typically covers tuition plus an accommodation waiver, a living allowance (commonly cited near ¥1,500/month) and medical insurance, while partial awards are smaller one-time grants. Amounts and eligibility vary by university and year, so confirm the current terms on each university's admissions page. Many Jiangsu universities also run their own institutional scholarships.
Admission & the CSCA
Jiangsu's Chinese-Government-Scholarship universities — including Nanjing University, Southeast University 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Changzhou Institute of Technology | Changzhou | Check programme evidence | 7 | — | |
| China Pharmaceutical University | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | 18 | Yes | |
| China University of Mining and Technology | Xuzhou | Check programme evidence | 48 | — | |
| Duke Kunshan University | Kunshan | Check programme evidence | 13 | — | |
| Hohai University | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | — | — | |
| Huaiyin Institute of Technology | Huai'an | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| Jiangnan University | Wuxi | Check programme evidence | 8 | — | |
| Jiangsu Normal University | Xuzhou | Check programme evidence | — | — | |
| Jiangsu Ocean University | Lianyungang | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| Jiangsu University | Zhenjiang | Check programme evidence | 35 | Yes | |
| Nanjing Agricultural University | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | — | — | |
| Nanjing Forestry University | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | — | — | |
| Nanjing Medical University | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| Nanjing Normal University | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | 4 | — | |
| Nanjing University | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | 19 | — | |
| Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | 2 | — | |
| Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | 17 | — | |
| Nanjing University of Finance & Economics | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | 8 | Yes | |
| Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | 4 | Yes | |
| Nanjing University of Science and Technology | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | 12 | Yes | |
| Nanjing Vocational University of Industry Technology | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| Nanjing Xiaozhuang University | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | 13 | — | |
| Nantong University | Nantong | Check programme evidence | 18 | Yes | |
| Soochow University | Suzhou | Check programme evidence | 7 | — | |
| Southeast University | Nanjing | Check programme evidence | 69 | — | |
| Xi an Jiaotong-Liverpool University | Suzhou | Check programme evidence | 15 | Yes | |
| Xuzhou Medical University | Xuzhou | Check programme evidence | 2 | — | |
| Xuzhou University of Technology | Xuzhou | Check programme evidence | 9 | — | |
| Yangzhou University | Yangzhou | Check programme evidence | — | — |
Admission to these universities runs through the CSCA exam
International undergraduate admission to universities in Jiangsu 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 Jiangsu
Scholarships available at universities in Jiangsu.
All Scholarships (2)
Nanjing Municipal Government-South Polytechnic Joint Scholarship
1. Scholarship Content and Criteria Nanjing University of Science and Technology (NUST) has set up the Nanjing Municipal Government-NUST Joint Scholarship Program since 2014, and provides 220 scholarships in 2018 for encouraging and financing outstanding international students coming to China to pursue degree and pre-Chinese language studies at NUST. The scholarship categories are divided into ...
Jiangsu province's government scholarship for international students, in full and partial forms.
Frequently asked questions
How many universities in Jiangsu accept international students?
30 universities in Jiangsu, China are listed for international undergraduate admission, across 11 cities. Most are admitted through the CSCA exam.
How much does it cost to study a bachelor in Jiangsu?
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,560 per month, excluding tuition.
Do I need the CSCA exam to study in Jiangsu?
Yes — admission to most universities in Jiangsu 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 Jiangsu for international students?
Nanjing University is the apex — a C9 League member and full 985 + 211 + Double First-Class — followed by Southeast University, the province's engineering-focused second 985. Jiangsu also has one of China's deepest benches of 211 + Double First-Class specialists: China Pharmaceutical (pharmacy), Jiangnan (food science), Soochow (materials), NUAA (aerospace), Nanjing University of Science and Technology and China University of Mining and Technology. Choose for your field.
Is studying in Jiangsu cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai?
Generally yes — study-abroad guides put non-medical undergraduate tuition around ¥18,000–35,000/year and living costs around ¥2,500–5,000/month, lower in smaller Jiangsu cities. Treat these as estimates and confirm with each university.
Can I study MBBS in English in Jiangsu?
Yes — several Jiangsu universities (including Nanjing Medical University and Soochow University) are authorised by the Ministry of Education to teach clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students. The MOE list is reissued each year, so confirm current-year 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.
What is the Jiangsu Jasmine Scholarship?
It's Jiangsu's provincial government scholarship for international students (江苏茉莉花奖学金), offered in full and partial forms through the province's universities alongside the national CSC. A full award typically covers tuition, an accommodation waiver, a living allowance and insurance. Confirm current amounts and eligibility on each university's admissions page.
Do I need to take the CSCA to study in Jiangsu?
If you're applying for an undergraduate program at a Chinese-Government-Scholarship university like Nanjing University or Southeast 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.