University of Science and Technology of China

No.96, JinZhai Road Baohe District, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China

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Overview

The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) is a prominent Chinese University established by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 1958 in Beijing, to serve as a center of excellence in STEM education and research. It is home to 16,718 students, of which 7,426 are undergraduates, with 737 international students (mostly PhD candidates).

Academic and research activities at USTC are organized into 16 Schools, which contain Departments and Centers within them. Most of these (14 out of 16) are related to different fields of science and tech...

University Highlight

Establishment year	1958
Total Students	16,718
International Students	737
QS World University Rankings 2024	=137
Campus Size	N/A
Total Number of Campuses	6
University Website	https://en.ustc.edu.cn/
No. of Schools and Divisions	16 Schools
Nobel Prize Winner Alumni	0
No. of Education Programs	35 (undergraduate), 115 (Master’s), 94 (PhD)
Student to Faculty ratio	8:1

Course Highlight

The University of Science and Technology of China offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses through 16 Schools, which are further subdivided into Departments.

The School of Chemistry and Materials Science provides UG and PG taught and research programmes through six Departments: Applied Chemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, Polymer Science and Engineering, and the Chemical Experimental Teaching Center.
The School of Computer Science and Technology conducts research into cutting-edge disciplines including big data and quantum computing.
The School of Earth and Space Sciences works in the following major fields: Geophysics, Space Physics, Atmospheric Science, and Geochemistry.
The School of Engineering Science provides UG and PG taught and research programmes through four Departments: Safety Science and Engineering, Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, Precision Machinery and Instruments, and Modern Mechanics.
The School of Humanities and Social Science conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through four Departments: Sci-tech Communication and Policy, Marxism, Scientific History and Archaeometry, and Modern Art.
The School of Information Science and Technology provides UG and PG taught and research programmes through five Departments: Electronics Science and Technology, Automation, Electronic Engineering and Information Science, Information and Communication Engineering, and Information Security.
The School of Life Sciences conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through four Departments: Molecular and Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Systems Biology, and Biomedicine and Biotechnology.
The School of Management conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through three Departments: Business Management, Management Science, and Statistics and Finance.
The School of Physical Sciences teaches UG and PG courses, and carries out research via its six Departments: Physics, Modern Physics, Optics and Optical Engineering, Astronomy, Engineering and Applied Physics, and the Physics Experiment Teaching Center.

Other Schools include the School of the Gifted Young, the School of Mathematical Sciences, the School of Public Affairs, the School of Software Engineering, the National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, and the Institute of Metal Research.

Eligibility Criteria

All international applicants to USTC must satisfy the following conditions:

Valid passport holders from a country other than China.
Sound physical and mental health.
Pass certificate from the HSK Level 5 test to prove proficiency in the Chinese language.
English test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or Pearson) in case the candidate is applying to a course that is taught in English and the candidate is not from a country where the native language is English.

Undergraduate international applicants must satisfy the following additional requirements:

Graduation certificate or diploma from high school. If the applicant is currently pursuing studies in the final year of senior high school, an interim notarized certificate can be provided.
One or two Letters of Recommendation (depending on the course).
In case the age of the candidate is less than 18 (as of September in the year of program country), details of a local guardian in mainland China are required.
Additional materials like certificates won in high school competitions (academic, extracurricular, or sports).

Postgraduate entry requirements are similar to those listed above for UG applicants, but the age criteria are different (maximum age of 40 for Master’s applicants and 45 for PhD candidates), and Bachelor’s / Master’s degree completion certificates must be submitted for Master’s and Doctoral courses respectively. Unlike the process in top universities in other countries, postgraduate applicants need not identify or speak to a research supervisor; the University assigns guides after the interview is successfully completed.

Admission

Undergraduate applications to USTC who are not Chinese citizens should complete the following steps:

Creation of account on the online USTC application portal.
Filling the form for Undergraduate International Applicants (Form 2).
The Foreigner Physical Examination Form must be completed.
Attaching all required documents (passport photocopy, high school degree notarized scans, Chinese / English proficiency certificates).
Additional information to be provided (for example, details of a local guardian in case the age of the applicant is below 18, Letter of Recommendation).
If the candidate has excellent performance in a recognized Year 12 examination (IBDP or A-Level) or in both SAT-I and SAT-II tests in relevant subjects, there is no need to appear for an entrance test.
Otherwise, the applicant must appear for the University Entrance Examination, which has three main subjects: Mathematics, Science, and Chinese. This is usually held in the month of April or May every year.
Candidates who pass the test successfully or meet the academic achievement requirements are invited to appear for an online interview.
Based on overall performance in all the stages listed above, the University sends out admission letters and visa application forms to study in China to all the candidates who are selected. Once the form is filled and the fees for the first year have been paid, the student is considered to have joined the chosen program.

Postgraduate applicants to USTC follow a similar process while filling the PG application form on the same online portal. However, degree certificate scans must be uploaded instead of high school completion certificates. A research proposal (for PhD candidates) or study proposal (for Master’s applicants) must also be uploaded as part of the application, along with two Letters of Recommendation from professors or industrial mentors. In case the PG course applicant is currently employed in a company, they should also obtain official documents proving the current employment status.

Fees

Undergraduate international students at USTC pay flat tuition fees of RMB 26,000 (USD 3,785) per year, irrespective of the course. They also have to pay one time application fees of 800 RMB, and medical insurance fees of RMB 800 per year.

Postgraduate international students pay the same application and insurance fees. Tuition fees for Master’s students for all courses are RMB 30,000 (USD 4,362) per year, and RMB 35,000 (USD 5,089) for PhD courses.

Accommodation fees for dormitories located on campus range from RMB 500 to RMB 1,000 (USD 73 to USD 146) per month. For ten months spent on campus, this comes to a maximum of USD 1,460 per year. This does not include other living costs, like food, travel, academic infrastructure, or personal items.

Campus facilities

The University of Science and Technology of China has six campuses in the city of Hefei; these are denoted by directions (e.g. East, North, West, South, Middle). It also has five Institutes in other cities of China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Changchun, and Shenyang.

The campus facilities for food and library usage are significantly better than in many other top universities. There are canteens in every campus location where students can access economical, budget-friendly, and nutritious meals at an average cost of 10 RMB. There are three huge library locations with a total floor area of 35,000 square meters.

Indoor sports facilities are spread across all the main campus locations, with a total of 20 basketball courts, 10 tennis courts, an indoor training venue, 1 badminton complex, 13 volleyball courts and many table tennis rooms. All these have regular opening and closing times, so that students can access sports facilities at any time.

There are also two playgrounds that can be used for track and field events and football (soccer) matches.

There are two large gymnasiums that house the fitness clubs on campus. These have cardio and functional training areas that are open to all students. They also contain halls for group exercise and even dance events, so that students can always find good options to stay active, fit, and healthy. The campus culture encourages walking or riding bicycles to move around, and this is another important component of fitness, though electric scooters and shuttle buses are also allowed.

The Foreign Students’ Association works to provide support to the 700+ international students at USTC. It contains five Departments (Publicity, Culture, Life, Academic Affairs, and Sports), which work together to provide overseas students a voice and to organize cultural activities and events. In addition, there are many student clubs (for example, charity, football, art, debate, and dragon boat) that further improve the quality of extracurricular options at USTC. Student organizations come together to celebrate annual events like the Chinese New Year and the Farewell Party.

Both physical and mental health are given importance at USTC, with the USTC Hospital allowing students to access free medical consultations, and the Mental Health Education and Counseling Center helping students to deal with stress and psychological problems.

Scholarship

The main scholarship for international undergraduate students is the USTC Fellowship. This is awarded at two Levels: Level A provides a full tuition fee waiver, reduced accommodation fees, a yearly stipend of RMB 30,000, and medical insurance. Level B only provides free tuition. Students can apply between November of the year before they wish to enter a UG program at USTC and March of the following year. A detailed application form is to be filled in the scholarship portal. International students can apply for both levels of the USTC Fellowship, though they can only be awarded one.

The USTC Fellowship for Master’s Programs is the main scholarship for international PG students. Level A has the same perks as the undergraduate version, but the yearly stipend is RMB 36,000 instead of RMB 30,000. Level B, in addition to a tuition fee waiver, can also provide a Research Assistance subsidy. The application will need to include two Letters of Recommendation from Professors.

The USTC Fellowship for international PhD students is awarded at three Levels. Level A entails free tuition, accommodation subsidy, and an annual stipend of up to RMB 84,000. Level B is similar to Level A, with a lower annual stipend (RMB 42,000). Level C only awards a tuition fee waiver. The application process is similar to that for Master’s students.