Central South University: Fees, Admission, Scholarships

Central South University (CSU) is in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province (not Shenyang). It was formed in its current shape in April 2000 by merging three universities, the oldest being Xiangya Medical College (1914). It is a Project 211 and 985 university and a Double First-Class institution, ranked =452 in QS 2027. Bachelor’s tuition in Chinese is 20,000–30,000 CNY per year (about US$2,800–4,200), and master’s tuition in English is 30,000–48,000 CNY. Here are the fees, requirements, deadlines and scholarships from official sources, and the facts about the English-taught medicine programme.

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Central South University at a glance

Item	Details	Official source
Official name	Central South University – 中南大学	Source
Founded	April 2000, by merging Hunan Medical University (originally Xiangya Medical College, 1914), Changsha Railway University (1953) and Central South University of Technology (1952)	Source
Status	Major university under the Ministry of Education; among the first Project 211 and 985 universities, and a Class A Double First-Class university since 2017	Source
International students	More than 2,200 international degree students	Source
Ranking	QS 2027: =452 (QS 2026: =491) – Times Higher Education 2027: =277	Source
Contact	Non-medical majors: admissions@csu.edu.cn – Medical majors: csuglobal@csu.edu.cn	Source

Central South University tuition fees for international students

Programme	Fees (CNY per year)
Bachelor’s in Chinese: arts and humanities	20,000
Bachelor’s in Chinese: science, engineering, economics and law	23,000
Bachelor’s in Chinese: medicine, arts and sports	30,000
Bachelor’s in English (dual degree with the University of Dundee)	69,000
Master’s in Chinese (arts / science and engineering / medicine, arts and sports)	25,000 / 29,000 / 39,000
Master’s in English (arts / science and engineering / medicine, arts and sports)	30,000 / 35,000 / 48,000
PhD in Chinese	32,000 / 38,000 / 49,000
PhD in English	37,000 / 44,000 / 55,000
Chinese language programme	16,500 (10,000 per semester)

Sources: the official fee announcement and the graduate admissions announcement. These are the official fees for the 2026 intake and may be updated every year; the final figure is in your admission letter. To convert them into your own currency, use the study cost calculator.

Other costs and living in Changsha

Graduate application fee: 500 CNY, non-refundable, paid after the initial review.
Comprehensive medical insurance: compulsory; you cannot register without it. Its price and housing rates are in the “CSU fee schedule” attached to the university’s announcements.
Living costs in Changsha: roughly 1,200–2,200 CNY per month excluding rent (food, transport and personal expenses), based on StudyFlowX calculator estimates for cities in this category.
For comparison (calculator estimates for cities in this category): a double room in university housing costs 6,000–10,000 CNY per year, a single room 12,000–16,000, and an off-campus apartment 24,000–36,000 CNY per year.

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Bachelor’s admission requirements

Aged 18–25 (born before 30 May 2008; applicants aged 16–17 need a guardian in China), with a high school diploma.
The CSCA test is mandatory; subjects depend on the major, as listed in the university’s table.
Chinese-taught programmes: HSK 4 with a score of 260 for science and engineering, or HSK 5 with a score of 200 for medicine and other majors.
English-taught programmes: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 85, plus a one-minute introduction video.

Source: the official admissions announcement.

Master’s and PhD requirements

Master’s: a bachelor’s degree and under 35 years old. PhD: a master’s degree and under 40 years old.
Chinese-taught programmes: HSK 4 with a score of 260 for science and engineering, or HSK 5 with a score of 200 for arts, social sciences and medicine. English-taught programmes: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 85, with an exemption for those whose previous degree was taught in Chinese or English.
For the university scholarship: two recommendation letters, a study plan of at least 1,000 words, a one-minute video and an acceptance letter from a supervisor.

Application deadlines

Route	Deadline
Bachelor’s, self-funded (2026 intake)	Until 31 May 2026
Master’s and PhD – self-funded and university scholarship	Until 31 May 2026
Chinese Government Scholarship (Type B and Type A “Outstanding Youth”)	Until 15 February 2026
Chinese language programme	Until 10 June 2026

Source: the official admissions announcement. These are the dates for the September 2026 intake; 2027 dates are usually published in autumn on the same site, so check it before applying.

Scholarships at Central South University

CSU Scholarship: the full scholarship covers tuition, on-campus housing and a monthly stipend; the partial scholarship covers tuition only. Deadline 31 May 2026.
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC): tuition, on-campus housing, insurance and a stipend of 2,500 / 3,000 / 3,500 CNY per month depending on level. Type A goes through the nominating body in your country, roughly from early January to early April.
The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) scholarship is also available for graduate study, according to the university’s announcement.

Source: the official scholarship announcement. The Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) has general terms: tuition, accommodation, comprehensive medical insurance and a monthly stipend of 2,500 CNY for bachelor’s, 3,000 for master’s and 3,500 for PhD students; age limits are under 25 for bachelor’s, 35 for master’s and 40 for PhD; and since the 2026 cycle bachelor’s applicants must take the CSCA test. Airfare is not covered. Read about the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC).

Programmes and language of instruction

At bachelor’s level, the official 2026 guide lists only five English-taught programmes: Civil Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering with Transportation, as a dual degree with the UK’s University of Dundee at 69,000 CNY. The official guide does not include an English-taught medicine (MBBS) programme; the sites that advertise one are agent sites, so ask csuglobal@csu.edu.cn directly before paying anything. The list of English-taught master’s and PhD programmes is in the file “2026 Graduate Programs in CSU”.

Global ranking

CSU ranks =452 in QS 2027 (=491 in QS 2026) and =277 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027.

Visa and residence after admission

After admission you receive your admission documents and the JW202 form (or JW201 for scholarship holders).
Apply for an X1 visa (for study of more than 180 days) at the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country, usually between June and August.
After arrival, register your address with the police within 24 hours (usually through the international students’ office).
Convert your X1 visa into a residence permit within 30 days of arrival.

China joined the Apostille Convention, which took effect on 7 November 2023, so documents from member countries need only an apostille, while those from other countries need full legalisation. Details in student visa steps for China.

Working while studying

Regular employment under a work contract is forbidden for international students. The only thing allowed is university-organised work-study (勤工助学): up to 8 hours a week and 40 hours a month during term, and 16 hours a week and 80 hours a month during holidays, with the university’s approval noted on your residence permit. Off-campus internships require the employer to be added to your residence permit, and violations carry a fine of 5,000–20,000 CNY. So do not count on work in your budget. Source: China’s Ministry of Education.

For Muslim students

We found no information on halal restaurants or prayer rooms on campus in Central South University’s official pages, so we do not state anything we could not verify. Ask the international students’ office before you arrive about halal food and the nearest mosque in Changsha. Read Is China a good fit for Muslim students?

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Frequently asked questions

How much does Central South University cost for international students?

See the fee table above. The figures come from the university’s official announcements for the 2026 intake; the university may update them every year, so the final figure is in your admission letter.

Can I work while studying?

Regular employment is forbidden for international students in China. Only university-organised work-study is allowed: up to 8 hours a week and 40 hours a month during term, and 16 hours a week and 80 hours a month during holidays.

Which student visa do I need?

An X1 visa for study of more than 180 days, with your admission letter and the JW202 form (or JW201 for scholarship holders), then convert it into a residence permit within 30 days of arrival.

Which city is Central South University in?

In Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province; its campuses include Yuelushan and Xinglin (Xiangya).

Does Central South University offer medicine in English?

The official 2026 English-taught bachelor’s guide does not include a medicine programme; it lists only 5 engineering and science programmes. Check directly with csuglobal@csu.edu.cn.

Last updated: October 2026. All figures come from the official announcements and pages listed below for the 2026 intake; living-cost estimates come from StudyFlowX calculator data.

Central South University (CSU) – Study, Admission and Fees