Haidian District, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
Career Counselling
Tsinghua University is a public research university located in Beijing, China. It is one of the highest ranked institutes of higher education in the country and is home to over 53,000 students. There is an almost equal split within the student body among undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral research candidates. More than 6% of the students are from international backgrounds.
Academic and research activities at the University are divided into 21 Schools (which collectively cover key subjects within Engineering, Science, Medicine, ...
| Establishment year | 1911 |
| Total Students | 53,302 |
| International Students | 3,240 |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | 25 |
| Campus Size | 1093 acres |
| Total Number of Campuses | 1 |
| University Website | https://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/ |
| No. of Schools and Divisions | 21 Schools and 59 Departments |
| Nobel Prize Winner Alumni | 1 |
| No. of Education Programs | 88 (undergraduate major), 40 (UG minor), 29 (postgraduate programs offered in English) |
| Student to Faculty ratio | 14.6:1 |
Tsinghua University offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses through 21 Schools, which are further subdivided into 59 Departments.
Over and above the 21 Schools and 59 Departments, there are also several interdisciplinary Institutes (for example, the Global Innovation Exchange Institute, the Institute for Advanced Study, the Institute for AI Industry Research, and the Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology) and Research Centers of Excellence (e.g. the Yau Mathematical Sciences Center, the Art Center, and the Language Center). The very high endowment of the University (above $4 billion) allows it to invest in world class research facilities and equipment.
The minimum requirements to be satisfied (by international undergraduate applicants to Tsinghua University) are as follows: good health, age of at least 18 by September of the year of course commencement, friendliness to China, and completion of a recognized high school program with a certificate. In addition, there are three qualifying criteria, given that admissions are very competitive. Academic excellence is mandatory, with the grades and transcripts in the Year 12 examination being examined against the minimum requirements that vary by course. Chinese proficiency (at least HSK Level 5, or Level 4 in the first year and Level 5 after that) is also a must. Finally, applicants from countries where the native language is not English must submit either TOEFL or IELTS scores to prove their proficiency in English.
International postgraduate applicants to Tsinghua University must have a valid passport, and have completed an undergraduate degree from a recognized global institution. PhD applicants must have a valid postgraduate degree. All applicants must be in good health, and must commit to abiding by China's laws and Tsinghua's rules and codes of conduct. Every course has a required level of Chinese proficiency as well: details can be found on individual course pages. Some programs (for example, the Master of Business Administration) require applicants to have work experience. Courses that are conducted in English require candidates to demonstrate proficiency in the language by submitting test scores.
Domestic undergraduate applicants to Tsinghua University have to appear for the National College Entrance Examination, also known as the gaokao. The acceptance rate is extremely low, with some courses admitting only 0.01% of candidates who apply.
International undergraduate applicants must first sign up on the Online Application System portal maintained by the University. Based on the course for which they are applying and any additional requirements, the application form must be filled out and supporting documents attached. There is an application fee of 800 RMB, or approximately $116.
The University conducts a comprehensive review of the academic achievements and language proficiency skills of each applicant. Those who pass this rigorous screening process are invited for the final round of selection. This takes the form of an integrative test for most courses, with some programs following different methods of selection e.g. a portfolio review for the Architecture course.
International applicants to postgraduate programs at Tsinghua University must apply through the online application portal for most courses, though a few programs (e.g. the Master of Business Administration) have dedicated application sites that can be accessed via the respective course web pages. The application form, application fee payment, and document upload must be completed: an important component of the application that differs from the UG submission is the personal statement. Degree certificates and transcripts must be validated by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange. Two Letters of Recommendation are also required for most PG courses. Once these are submitted, along with any course-specific portfolio or online interview requirements, the university will get back to you with a decision.
Undergraduate tuition fees at Tsinghua University vary according to the Academic School. Most Engineering and Science Schools charge annual fees of 30,000 RMB (equivalent to approximately 4,344 USD). Schools that teach Humanities, Law, and Social Science subjects are associated with tuition fees of 26,000 RMB (3,765 USD) per year. Finally, UG courses within the Academy of Art and Design have tuition fees of 40,000 RMB (5,792 USD) annually.
Postgraduate tuition fees for Master’s programs vary very widely - for example, the Executive MBA has tuition fees of 680,000 RMB (98,462 USD) for the full program, whereas most Engineering Master’s courses are associated with tuition fees of approximately 40,000 RMB (5,792 USD) per year.
Tuition fees for doctoral programs vary by Academic School: the highest fees of 50,000 RMB per year (7,240 USD) are for PhD courses in Art, while the lowest fees of 28,000 RMB per year (4,054 USD) are associated with PhD programs in Philosophy and History, for example.
The bulk of the living costs are made up of accommodation fees: these are either 40 RMB (for shared rooms) or 80 RMB (for single rooms) per day. For the standard 9 months spent on campus, this comes to either 10,800 RMB (1,564 USD) or 21,600 RMB (3,128 USD) per year. Students should also budget for food costs, travel, and spending on study materials and personal items.
The Tsinghua University campus occupies 1093 acres in the heart of Beijing. In addition to hundreds of academic buildings to serve the education and research needs of the 50,000+ students, there are also several hundred acres dedicated to gardens, outdoor recreational areas, and sports grounds. The architecture is a blend of East and West, ancient and modern, with the most renowned builders from China, Europe, and the USA having designed iconic structures on campus like the Grand Auditorium and the Life Sciences Building.
A unique feature of student life at Tsinghua University is the level of structure that exists in the student clubs. 263 Student Organizations are registered with the University, and these can all be categorized under one of six types: culture, arts, sports, science and technology innovation, public welfare, and quality development. The total enrolment of all these clubs exceeds 60% of the University's student strength, thereby providing a very vibrant extra-curricular landscape.
Some of the most prominent student organizations at the University operate in the fields of sports and physical education. Students are encouraged to improve their skills at individual and team sports and games, and the prestigious Ma Yuehan Cup is organized annually as an intramural competition for members of the Tsinghua University community to come together and display their excellence in outdoor and indoor sporting events.
The facilities for sports and fitness complement the importance that the University places on physical education. There are two large gymnasiums on campus, both of which provide courts for indoor sports like badminton and volleyball, in addition to well-equipped fitness centers. Extensive tennis courts and swimming pools are also available: these can be used both by novices who are receiving coaching in these disciplines, and by elite athletes who represent the University in high level competitions. Finally, there are four huge sports fields that have dedicated areas for track and field events and other outdoor sports like soccer. Different sections of these fields can be used without or with prior reservation.
There are also dedicated areas for student recreational activities. The Student Community Activity Center is used to organize group fitness (e.g. yoga, pilates, and zumba) classes, in addition to music and filmmaking studios, and even dance rooms.
Arts and Cultural Events at the University are supported by grand buildings and well-equipped facilities, from Concert Halls to Orchestra Performance Venues and the Grand Auditorium, that plays host to a wide range of student and staff performances.
The Career Development Center at Tsinghua University has over 35 years of guiding and helping students understand their options after they graduate, and working with employers and students to secure the best possible jobs and research opportunities. It has multiple functions, of which the two most important are the provision of career counseling and guidance functions to all students, and connecting with potential employers to schedule and conduct recruitment fairs and interviews on campus. It is structured and organized so as to ensure smooth implementation of these functions: the Administrative Office, and the Sections of Employer Connections, Career Guidance, and International Organization Affairs ensure that every student has the opportunity to excel in his or her chosen career path.
The flagship scholarship for international postgraduate and undergraduate students at Tsinghua University is the Chinese Government Scholarship. The full version of this scholarship is awarded to candidates based on academic excellence, and entails a complete tuition fee and accommodation cost waiver, in addition to a stipend and free medical insurance. Partial versions of the Chinese Government Scholarship are also available, and involve one or more of the financial aid aspects listed above.
There are three kinds of tuition fee scholarships available for qualifying international students. These have differing eligibility criteria for students from different countries, and entail a partial or complete tuition fee waiver. The three kinds of tuition awards are the Beijing Government Scholarship, the Tsinghua University Tuition Scholarship, and the Belt and Road Scholarship; the last of these is only applicable to certain courses.
The Siemens China Scholarship at the University is awarded to high potential international PhD candidates and provides them full financial support to pursue doctoral studies at Tsinghua. It also guarantees exposure to the most advanced and cutting-edge research projects at the University.
