Universities in Liaoning
29 universities in Liaoning, China for international students — compare tuition, scholarships and CSCA admission requirements.
What it costs to study in Liaoning
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,272 per month, excluding tuition.
Liaoning — capital Shenyang, with the port city Dalian on the coast — is a northeastern province with strong universities and low living costs. Dalian University of Technology and Northeastern University (both Project 985) anchor a cluster of Project 211 specialists, and Liaoning is one of China's biggest destinations for English-taught MBBS (China Medical University pioneered it). For international students it offers top-tier engineering, well-known medical schools and coastal Dalian's livability at prices well below Beijing or Shanghai.
Why study in Liaoning?
- Two Project 985 universities anchor the province — Dalian University of Technology (a top engineering university) and Northeastern University in Shenyang (strong in control, automation and metallurgy) — both national top-tier (neither is a C9 member), over a 211 + Double First-Class layer.
- It's one of China's biggest English-taught MBBS destinations — China Medical University pioneered English-medium medical education in China, and Dalian Medical and Jinzhou Medical also teach MBBS in English.
- It's markedly cheaper than the coast's tier-1 cities: study-abroad guides put undergraduate tuition around ¥19,500–30,000/year and student living around ¥1,500–2,500/month (estimates).
- Coastal Dalian is one of northeastern China's most livable cities — mild summers, beaches and a strong international feel.
- It runs its own Liaoning Provincial Government Scholarship alongside the national CSC.
Flagship universities for international students
Liaoning has two Project 985 universities — Dalian University of Technology and Northeastern — over a layer of 211 and strong provincial schools. Be precise about tiers: several well-known medical and finance schools hold NO national 985/211/Double First-Class label. Choose for the program.
One of Liaoning's two Project 985 + 211 + Double First-Class universities — a top engineering university, strong in chemical, mechanical and civil engineering and management, in the coastal city of Dalian.
Liaoning's second Project 985 + 211 + Double First-Class university (in Shenyang, not a C9 member) — strong in control science, automation, computer science and metallurgy.
A strong Shenyang medical university that pioneered English-medium medical education in China — but note it holds NO national 985/211/Double First-Class label. It teaches 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.
Project 211 + Double First-Class in Transportation Engineering (NOT 985) — China's leading maritime and shipping university, in Dalian.
A well-regarded finance and economics university in Dalian — but note it holds NO national 985/211/Double First-Class label (a common inflation point). Strong in accounting, finance and economics.
The province's comprehensive Project 211 + Double First-Class university (NOT 985) — Double First-Class in Applied Economics, also strong across the humanities and sciences.
Cost of living & tuition
Liaoning is markedly cheaper for students than Beijing or Shanghai. As rough planning figures (not official tariffs, varying by university and program): non-medical undergraduate tuition commonly runs about ¥19,500–30,000/year, with English-taught MBBS higher. Living costs run roughly ¥1,500–2,500/month, with coastal Dalian a little higher than Shenyang. Always confirm exact tuition and dormitory fees with each university.
Scholarships in Liaoning
Beyond the national Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), Liaoning runs its own Liaoning Provincial Government Scholarship for International Students (辽宁省政府外国留学生奖学金), awarded through the province's universities. Its full award is reported to average around ¥54,000/person/year (broadly covering tuition and living), with a monthly living allowance of about ¥1,500 per the province's recent measures. Amounts vary by university and year, so confirm the current terms on each university's admissions page.
Admission & the CSCA
Liaoning's Chinese-Government-Scholarship universities — including Dalian University of Technology, Northeastern 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anshan Normal University | Anshan | Check programme evidence | — | — | |
| Bohai University | Jinzhou | Check programme evidence | 8 | — | |
| China Medical University | Shenyang | Check programme evidence | 4 | — | |
| Dalian Jiaotong University | Dalian | Check programme evidence | 4 | — | |
| Dalian Maritime University | Dalian | Check programme evidence | 12 | — | |
| Dalian Medical University | Dalian | Check programme evidence | 2 | — | |
| Dalian Polytechnic University | Dalian | Check programme evidence | 4 | — | |
| Dalian University of Foreign Languages | Dalian | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| Dalian University of Technology | Dalian | Check programme evidence | 12 | — | |
| Dongbei University of Finance and Economics | Dalian | Check programme evidence | 2 | — | |
| Jinzhou Medical University | Jinzhou | Check programme evidence | 8 | Yes | |
| Liaoning Institute of Science and Technology | Benxi | Check programme evidence | 2 | — | |
| Liaoning Normal University | Dalian | Check programme evidence | 17 | — | |
| Liaoning Petrochemical University | Fushun | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| Liaoning Technical University | Fuxin | Check programme evidence | 5 | — | |
| Liaoning University | Shenyang | Check programme evidence | 22 | — | |
| Liaoning University of Technology | Jinzhou | Check programme evidence | 4 | — | |
| Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine | Shenyang | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| Northeastern University | Shenyang | Check programme evidence | 73 | — | |
| Shenyang Aerospace University | Shenyang | Check programme evidence | 3 | — | |
| Shenyang Institute of Engineering | Shenyang | Check programme evidence | 2 | — | |
| Shenyang Jianzhu University | Shenyang | Check programme evidence | 3 | — | |
| Shenyang Ligong University | Shenyang | Check programme evidence | 10 | — | |
| Shenyang Medical College | Shenyang | Check programme evidence | 3 | — | |
| Shenyang Normal University | Shenyang | Check programme evidence | 10 | — | |
| Shenyang University | Shenyang | Check programme evidence | 2 | — | |
| Shenyang University of Chemical Technology | Shenyang | Check programme evidence | 8 | — | |
| Shenyang Urban Construction University | Shenyang | Check programme evidence | 6 | — | |
| University of Science and Technology Liaoning | Anshan | Check programme evidence | 3 | — |
Admission to these universities runs through the CSCA exam
International undergraduate admission to universities in Liaoning 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 Liaoning
Scholarships available at universities in Liaoning.
All Scholarships (3)
Dalian University of Technology International Chinese Teacher Scholarship
In order to meet the growing demand for Chinese language educators in the international community, to promote the development of Chinese language education in countries around the world, and to facilitate the growth of international Chinese language educators, the Center for Sino-Foreign Language Exchanges and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education of China (hereinafter referred to as the Center) has established the International Chinese Language Teacher Scholarships (hereinafter referred to as the Scholarships), which is focused on the cultivation of qualified...
Dalian University of Technology Presidential Scholarship for International Students
Dalian University of Technology (DUT) has established the DUT Presidential Scholarship for International Students to encourage outstanding international students to come to study at DUT. The scholarship is open to international students who intend to come to DUT to study for undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees. Content and Criteria of the Scholarship The types of the scholarship are categorized into full scholarships (free tuition, accommodation...
Liaoning's provincial scholarship — full award reported to average ~¥54,000/year, with a ~¥1,500/month living allowance.
Frequently asked questions
How many universities in Liaoning accept international students?
29 universities in Liaoning, China are listed for international undergraduate admission, across 7 cities. Most are admitted through the CSCA exam.
How much does it cost to study a bachelor in Liaoning?
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,272 per month, excluding tuition.
Do I need the CSCA exam to study in Liaoning?
Yes — admission to most universities in Liaoning 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 Liaoning for international students?
Dalian University of Technology and Northeastern University are the two Project 985 flagships (neither is a C9 member). Below them, Dalian Maritime (211) and Liaoning University (211) are strong, and China Medical University and Dongbei University of Finance and Economics are well-known specialists — though those two hold no national 985/211/Double First-Class label. Choose for your field.
Can I study MBBS in English in Liaoning?
Yes — Liaoning is a major destination. China Medical University (which pioneered English-medium medical education in China), Dalian Medical University and Jinzhou Medical University are all 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 studying in Liaoning cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai?
Yes — study-abroad guides put non-medical undergraduate tuition around ¥19,500–30,000/year and living costs around ¥1,500–2,500/month, well below tier-1 cities. Treat these as estimates and confirm with each university.
Does Liaoning have a provincial scholarship?
Yes — the Liaoning Provincial Government Scholarship for International Students (辽宁省政府外国留学生奖学金), whose full award is reported to average around ¥54,000/year (with a ~¥1,500/month living allowance), alongside the national CSC. Confirm current terms with each university.
Do I need to take the CSCA to study in Liaoning?
If you're applying for an undergraduate program at a Chinese-Government-Scholarship university like Dalian University of Technology or Northeastern, 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.