Universities in Shandong
19 universities in Shandong, China for international students — compare tuition, scholarships and CSCA admission requirements.
What it costs to study in Shandong
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,405 per month, excluding tuition.
Shandong — a populous coastal province between Beijing and Shanghai, with its capital at Jinan and its best-known city, Qingdao, on the coast — is China's third-largest provincial economy (GDP passed ¥10 trillion in 2025, the first northern province to do so). Its university apex is two Project 985 flagships: Shandong University (with its historic Cheeloo College of Medicine) and Ocean University of China, the country's flagship for marine science. For international students it offers 985-level academics, English-taught MBBS at two universities and coastal quality of life at below-tier-1 costs — in the home province of Confucius.
Why study in Shandong?
- Two Project 985 universities anchor the province — Shandong University (the comprehensive flagship, spanning Jinan, Qingdao and Weihai) and Ocean University of China in Qingdao (China's flagship for marine science and fisheries) — neither is a C9 member, and both sit above a 211 layer led by China University of Petroleum (East China).
- It's an economic heavyweight: China's No. 3 provincial economy, and in 2025 the first northern province to pass ¥10 trillion GDP, with a population of about 100 million.
- Qingdao is one of northern China's most livable coastal cities — German colonial heritage, home of Tsingtao Brewery, host of the 2008 Olympic sailing events and one of the world's top-five container ports.
- Two universities teach clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students: Shandong University (Cheeloo Medicine) and Qingdao University.
- It's culturally deep and affordable: the birthplace of Confucius (the Qufu complex is a UNESCO site, as is Mount Tai), with student living costs well below Beijing or Shanghai.
Flagship universities for international students
Shandong has exactly two Project 985 universities and three Project 211s — everything else is provincial. Be precise about tiers, and don't confuse Qingdao University with Ocean University of China (the Qingdao 985). Choose for the program.
The province's comprehensive Project 985 + 211 + Double First-Class flagship (not a C9 member), spanning Jinan, Qingdao and Weihai — Double First-Class in mathematics, chemistry, Chinese language and clinical medicine, with the historic Cheeloo College of Medicine. It teaches clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students.
A full Project 985 + 211 + Double First-Class university in Qingdao (not C9) — China's flagship for marine science and fisheries (its two Double First-Class disciplines).
Project 211 + Double First-Class in petroleum & natural gas engineering and geological engineering, but NOT a 985 (a common inflation) — China's leading petroleum and energy university, in Qingdao. Note it is a separate university from China University of Petroleum (Beijing).
A large provincial comprehensive university — no national 985/211/Double First-Class label, and NOT the same school as Ocean University of China — but one of only two Shandong universities authorised to 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.
Not a 985/211 or Double First-Class school, but the province's leading teacher-training university (lineage to 1902) — a solid choice for education, humanities and Chinese-language study in Jinan.
Not a 985/211 or Double First-Class school, but one of China's earliest TCM universities (1958) with three national key disciplines — a strong pick if Chinese medicine is your field.
Cost of living & tuition
Shandong is markedly cheaper for students than Beijing or Shanghai, mainly on living costs and provincial-university tuition. As rough planning figures from official brochures (varying by university and program): non-medical undergraduate tuition runs about ¥15,000–30,000/year (provincial universities at the low end; Shandong University's English-taught programs at the top), and English-taught MBBS ¥30,000/year at Qingdao University to ¥45,000/year at Shandong University. University dorms run roughly ¥700–1,600/month and overall living costs about ¥1,500–3,000/month (estimates). Always confirm exact tuition and dormitory fees with each university.
Scholarships in Shandong
Beyond the national Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), Shandong runs a Shandong Provincial Government Scholarship for international students (山东省政府外国留学生奖学金) — but unlike most provinces it publishes no single universal amount: the award is administered through participating universities and the package varies by school and year (typically full tuition plus basic on-campus accommodation and medical insurance; some universities, such as the University of Jinan, add a monthly stipend of about ¥1,000–1,200). Its sister-city strand has a published standard of ¥30,000/year paid to the host university. Treat availability as per-university and confirm on each university's admissions page.
Admission & the CSCA
Shandong's Chinese-Government-Scholarship universities — including Shandong University and Ocean University of China — 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binzhou University | Binzhou | Check programme evidence | 1 | — | |
| China University of Petroleum (East China) | Qingdao | Check programme evidence | 17 | — | |
| Ludong University | Yantai | Check programme evidence | 14 | — | |
| Ocean University of China | Qingdao | Check programme evidence | 22 | Yes | |
| Qingdao Binhai University | Qingdao | Check programme evidence | 16 | — | |
| Qingdao Technological University | Qingdao | Check programme evidence | 16 | — | |
| Qingdao University | Qingdao | Check programme evidence | 3 | — | Math-only |
| Qingdao University of Science and Technology | Qingdao | Check programme evidence | 16 | — | |
| Shandong First Medical University(Shandong Academy Of Medical Sciences) | Tai'an | Check programme evidence | 2 | — | |
| Shandong Jianzhu University | Jinan | Check programme evidence | 13 | — | |
| Shandong Normal University | Jinan | Check programme evidence | 18 | Yes | |
| Shandong Second Medical University | Weifang | Check programme evidence | 2 | — | |
| Shandong University | Jinan | Check programme evidence | 20 | — | |
| Shandong University of Finance and Economics | Jinan | Check programme evidence | 16 | — | |
| Shandong University of Science & Technology | Qingdao | Check programme evidence | 21 | — | |
| Shandong University of Technology | Zibo | Check programme evidence | 20 | Yes | |
| Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine | Jinan | Check programme evidence | 5 | — | |
| University of Jinan | Jinan | Check programme evidence | 8 | — | |
| Yantai University | Yantai | Check programme evidence | 14 | — |
Admission to these universities runs through the CSCA exam
International undergraduate admission to universities in Shandong 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 Shandong
Scholarships available at universities in Shandong.
All Scholarships (2)
Qingdao University "Presidential Scholarship"
The Rector's Scholarship of Qingdao University is a governmental scholarship established to promote the development of foreign students' education, attract outstanding foreign students to study in Qingdao University, and enhance the international influence of Qingdao University. The evaluation of the Rector's Scholarship is based on the principles of "openness, fairness and impartiality". I. Award...
Shandong's provincial scholarship — packages vary by university (typically tuition + accommodation + insurance; some add a stipend); the sister-city strand has a published ¥30,000/yr standard.
Frequently asked questions
How many universities in Shandong accept international students?
19 universities in Shandong, 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 Shandong?
Tuition requires programme and intake verification; catalogue amounts do not establish an annual fee. City living reference: about CNY 1,405 per month, excluding tuition.
Do I need the CSCA exam to study in Shandong?
Yes — admission to most universities in Shandong 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 Shandong for international students?
Shandong University is the comprehensive Project 985 flagship (with the historic Cheeloo College of Medicine), and Ocean University of China in Qingdao is the second 985 — the national leader for marine science. China University of Petroleum (East China) is the strongest 211 specialist. None of them is a C9 member. Choose for your field.
Can I study MBBS in English in Shandong?
Yes — exactly two Shandong universities are on the Ministry of Education's list to teach clinical medicine (MBBS) in English to international students: Shandong University (78 seats on the most recent published list) and Qingdao University (60 seats). Shandong First and Second Medical Universities are NOT authorised for English MBBS. The list is reissued annually — confirm current status with the university, and remember a Chinese MBBS is a degree, not a licence to practise back home; read our Study MBBS in China guide.
Is Qingdao University the same as Ocean University of China?
No — they are different universities, both in Qingdao. Ocean University of China is the Project 985 marine-science flagship; Qingdao University is a large provincial university with no national tier label, but it IS one of the province's two authorised English-MBBS schools.
Does Shandong have a provincial scholarship?
Yes — the Shandong Provincial Government Scholarship for international students, administered through participating universities. There is no single province-wide amount: packages typically cover tuition, basic accommodation and insurance (some universities add a stipend), and the sister-city strand has a published ¥30,000/year standard. Confirm the current package with each university.
Do I need to take the CSCA to study in Shandong?
If you're applying for an undergraduate program at a Chinese-Government-Scholarship university like Shandong University or Ocean University of China, 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.
Sources
- Shandong University — International Students (official)
- Ocean University of China (official)
- China MOE — Double First-Class (双一流) university list (2022)
- China MOE — English-taught MBBS list & quotas (2023–24 notice)
- Qingdao University — English-MBBS admission (official)
- China Scholarship Council (CSC) — campuschina.org