C9 League Universities for International Students
Find your application route across all nine universities. Compare exam and language requirements, then explore tuition by teaching language. Reference years and official sources are shown below.
What does C9 mean for your application?
The C9 League is an alliance of nine Chinese universities: Peking, Tsinghua, Fudan, Shanghai Jiao Tong, Zhejiang, Nanjing, USTC, Harbin Institute of Technology and Xi’an Jiaotong.
C9 membership does not create a shared admissions system or a common CSCA cutoff. Compare the specific degree, teaching language and application route; some routes require CSCA, while others use different academic evidence and university assessments.
Choose the right intake year
Admissions summaries below describe the 2026 intake. Tuition is from the 2026 reference catalog. Neither is confirmation that applications are open.
Admissions sources checked:
Planning for 2027 entry?
The 2027 guides below are now available here. The comparison on this page still uses 2026 requirements; check the linked guides for the new intake.
- Fudan University — View admissions guide (Nov 3, 2026)Selected programs only
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University — View admissions guide (Admissions sources checked: Oct 3, 2026)Publication date not statedSelected programs only
- Nanjing University — View admissions guide (Admissions sources checked: Oct 3, 2026)Publication date not stated
- Zhejiang University — View admissions guide (Admissions sources checked: Nov 11, 2026)Publication date not statedSelected programs only
- Harbin Institute of Technology — View admissions guide (Admissions sources checked: Nov 11, 2026)Publication date not stated
- Tsinghua University — View admissions guide (Sep 24, 2026)
Other C9 guides have not been added yet. Check the universities’ official websites for updates.
Guide list last checked: · Check admissions updates
Already taking A-levels, IB or the SAT?
Check your CSCA requirements before adding a Chinese university to your shortlist. An accepted academic qualification or a university entrance-test waiver does not automatically waive CSCA.
Check your exact application route
Match the university, program, teaching language and scholarship route. Confirm whether CSCA is required and when the result is due.
Compare the nine universitiesConfirm subjects and paper language
Use the program guide to choose your CSCA subjects and paper language, then review the exam format. English-medium teaching alone does not settle every exam requirement.
Read the CSCA exam guideCheck what you still need to practise
Try questions in your required subjects to check topic coverage and exam terminology. Your existing qualification does not predict a CSCA score.
Explore CSCA practice by subject
Why the application route matters — 2026 examples
For SJTU’s English-taught Engineering Cluster, SAT, A-level or IB results could be used to apply before CSCA results were available, but did not replace the required CSCA Mathematics result.
English Engineering Cluster guideTsinghua’s FAQ made CSCA optional for this intake. SAT, A-level and IB results were accepted academic evidence; holding them was not the reason CSCA was optional.
Official admissions FAQCompare application requirements
Requirements apply to the stated route, not automatically to every major. Check the linked guide and its program attachments before registering for an exam.
On small screens, scroll horizontally to compare every column.
| University | CSCA & application route | Subjects & university assessment | Language requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fudan University Shanghai | Required for the route below Verified for Chinese-taught undergraduate programs and the English-taught Data Science program (UIPDB). Check other English programs separately. Chinese-taught CSCA subjects (PDF)English-taught UIPDB guide (PDF) | Chinese-taught subjects vary by major and use Chinese papers. UIPDB requires Mathematics and Physics in English. UIPDB includes an interview for eligible applicants. Confirm selection arrangements for other programs in their guides. | HSK may waive a CSCA Chinese paper HSK Level 4 at 180 or above waives Humanities Chinese only for Chinese Language (International Language and Culture / International Business Chinese) at the International Cultural Exchange School. Mathematics remains required. |
| Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai | Required for the route below Verified for Chinese-taught programs and the English Engineering Cluster. The School of Medicine admits separately. Chinese-taught admission guideEnglish Engineering Cluster guide | Chinese-taught CSCA subjects depend on the program catalog. The English Engineering Cluster requires CSCA Mathematics. The Chinese regular round also requires SJTU's entrance exam; shortlisted applicants attend an interview. Other test scores do not replace CSCA for the English cluster. | Chinese-taught route only: HSK 5 (200, writing 60) or HSK 6 (180, writing 60). English Engineering Cluster: non-native English speakers need TOEFL iBT 90 or IELTS 6.0, unless an exemption in that guide applies. |
| Nanjing University Nanjing | Required for the route below The self-funded Chinese-taught guide states that all international undergraduate applicants must submit CSCA results. Self-funded undergraduate guideUndergraduate subject catalog (PDF) | Follow the major-specific CSCA subjects in the undergraduate catalog and use Chinese test papers. Document review; selected schools also conduct written tests and interviews, as listed in the guide. | HSK may waive a CSCA Chinese paper HSK 4 (180+) waives the arts Chinese paper for Chinese Language majors; other majors sit the Chinese paper. |
| Zhejiang University Hangzhou | Required for the route below All international undergraduate applicants, including Chinese- and English-taught programs. Undergraduate application guide | Select the subjects and test-paper language specified for your major in the program catalog. Applicants who pass the preliminary review attend a video interview arranged by the academic school. | HSK required for the stated route Chinese-taught: HSK 4–6 by major; English-taught: TOEFL 80 / IELTS 6.5 and no Chinese paper (Math, or Math plus Physics or Chemistry). |
| Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an | Required for the route below International undergraduate applicants, including Chinese- and English-taught programs. Undergraduate admission guide (PDF) | Required CSCA subjects depend on the major; consult the official undergraduate program list. Admission considers application materials, CSCA results and an interview. | HSK may waive a CSCA Chinese paper HSK 4 (180) waives the liberal-arts Chinese paper for Business Chinese and Chinese Literature majors; English-taught programs need no Chinese test. |
| University of Science and Technology of China Hefei | Required for the route below International undergraduate applicants must provide CSCA results with the online application. Undergraduate application guideline | STEM Chinese and Mathematics, plus either Physics or Chemistry. USTC uses documents and CSCA results to select applicants for further tests and interviews. | Check the official program guide for language requirements; no detailed policy is recorded here. |
| Peking University Beijing | Depends on application route The entrance-exam guide requires CSCA for Chinese Government Scholarship applicants. Other routes need separate confirmation. Entrance-exam admission guide | For that scholarship: Chinese and Mathematics; science, information technology and engineering also require Physics or Chemistry. Use Chinese papers. The entrance-exam route includes PKU written and secondary examinations. Recommended CSC candidates undergo qualification review and interview. | Check the official program guide for language requirements; no detailed policy is recorded here. |
| Harbin Institute of Technology Harbin | Required for the route below All applicants covered by the international undergraduate guide must take CSCA and submit the report. Bachelor admission guide | Confirm the required subjects for your major in the guide's attached program and CSCA subject list. Confirm any additional tests or interviews in your program's admission instructions. | HSK required for the stated routeNo HSK for the stated route Chinese-taught: HSK 4 (210, within two years); English-taught: IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 80 with no Chinese requirement (Math plus Physics or Chemistry, or Math only, by field). |
| Tsinghua University Beijing | Optional International undergraduate admission: the FAQ explicitly makes CSCA optional for the reference intake. Official admissions FAQ | If submitting CSCA voluntarily, the FAQ recommends at least Mathematics and Physics. Application review and an integrative test where applicable; confirm any additional program requirements. | Check the official program guide for language requirements; no detailed policy is recorded here. |
Language notes are recorded policy summaries. An HSK certificate waiving a CSCA Chinese paper does not waive HSK for admission. Always check the scope and official guide.
Understand HSK and CSCA Chinese exemptionsTuition by teaching language
2026 reference prices from recorded undergraduate programs, not a complete or fully verified catalog. Language groups can include joint programs with very different fees. Check the individual program for the final price.
On small screens, scroll horizontally to compare every column.
| University | Earlier catalogue amount | City living-cost estimate (CNY / month) |
|---|---|---|
| Fudan UniversityProgram details |
| ¥2,500 |
| Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityProgram details |
| ¥2,500 |
| Nanjing UniversityProgram details |
| ¥1,800 |
| Zhejiang UniversityProgram details |
| ¥2,000 |
| Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityProgram details |
| ¥1,500 |
| University of Science and Technology of ChinaProgram details |
| ¥1,300 |
| Peking UniversityProgram details |
| ¥2,500 |
| Harbin Institute of TechnologyProgram details |
| ¥1,200 |
| Tsinghua UniversityProgram details |
| ¥2,500 |
City estimates are not university quotes. Their accommodation coverage is not itemized; confirm housing separately before adding it to a budget. Insurance, travel and application fees also need checking. No scholarship deduction is assumed.
Explore the study-cost calculatorBuild your application checklist
Choose the major and teaching language
Confirm the campus, degree duration and program-specific tuition in the official catalog.
Check exams and language evidence
Separate CSCA from university tests, interviews and HSK or English-language certificates.
Record three separate deadlines
Application, scholarship and score-submission dates can differ. Use the new intake guide, not a date copied from last year.
Check scholarship coverage and restrictions
A tuition waiver is not necessarily full funding. Check whether applications or awards are mutually exclusive.
For the 2026 intake, HIT prohibits applying for CSC and HIT scholarships simultaneously. Do not assume scholarships can be combined. HIT scholarship rules
Check your program, then plan your preparation
Confirm the CSCA subjects, paper language and any separate university assessment for your chosen program before choosing practice. A test score alone does not guarantee admission.
Frequently asked questions
Do all C9 applicants have to take CSCA?
No single rule covers every route. For the 2026 intake, Tsinghua does not require CSCA. Peking University’s entrance-examination guide requires CSCA for Chinese Government Scholarship applicants. Other universities and programs have their own requirements; use the official sources in the comparison above.
Does an HSK exemption also waive the CSCA Chinese paper?
These are separate requirements. Some English-taught routes do not require Chinese-language evidence; some Chinese-language majors instead require an HSK certificate to waive a CSCA Chinese paper. Check the exact major and condition, not a university-wide exemption label.
Which C9 university has the lowest CSCA cutoff?
This guide does not have comparable official cutoff data across the nine universities. Do not infer an admission probability from a university label or a practice score. Compare published eligibility, required subjects and the full assessment process for your program.
Can I combine government and university scholarships?
Check both the application rules and the award conditions. Scholarships can be mutually exclusive: HIT’s 2026 guide prohibits applying for CSC and HIT scholarships simultaneously. Also check whether funding covers only tuition or includes accommodation and living expenses.
Can I use these dates and fees for the next intake?
The application summaries and prices are reference information for the years explicitly shown. A new intake may change fees, deadlines, subjects or eligibility. Follow the next-intake guide links and confirm the specific program before applying.