2026 Enrollment Guidelines for International Students at Sun Yat-sen University (Bachelor's Degree)

　　Sun Yat-sen University (hereinafter referred to as “SYSU”) was founded in 1924 by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a great national hero, patriot, and pioneer of China's democratic revolution. It is a comprehensive, research-driven, and internationally-oriented university. Rooted in the three core cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, i.e., Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Shenzhen, the University has developed a coordinated structure of three campuses across five cities and operates ten well-established affiliated hospitals.

　　SYSU offers a comprehensive range of disciplines and majors, and has developed an integrated academic structure covering humanities, sciences, medicine, engineering, agriculture, and the arts. Eleven disciplines of SYSU have been selected for China's second round of the “Double First-Class” initiative, twenty-one disciplines rank among the global top 1% in the Essential Science Indicators (ESI), and thirteen are listed in the global top 0.1%.

　　The University currently hosts 43 national-level research and innovation platforms and 270 provincial or ministerial-level platforms. It is home to 23 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as over 600 national-level high-caliber talents, placing it among China’s leading universities in terms of talent strength.

 

I. Eligibility

　　1. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens who hold a valid foreign passport and meet the requirements set out in the Ministry of Education's Notice on Regulating the Work of Higher Education Institutions in Enrolling International Students (Jiao Wai Han〔2020〕 No.12).

　　2. Applicants must be in good physical and mental health and meet the physical examination requirements for obtaining a student visa or residence permit for study in China.

　　3. Applicants must have completed senior high school or higher education, or an equivalent level of education.

　　4. Applicants must demonstrate friendliness toward China, diligence in their studies, excellent academic performance, good moral character, and compliance with laws and regulations. They must have no record of school disciplinary violations, security penalties, or criminal offenses.

　　5. Applicants who are under 18 years old before September 1, 2026 must submit a Guardian Commitment Letter. Applicants for scholarship programs must also meet the respective age requirements of those programs.

 

II. Application Time

　　First Round: January 1-February 28, 2026

　　Second Round: March 1-April 30, 2026

　　The application deadlines for scholarship programs are provided in the scholarship application guidelines on the website of the Office of International Students' Affairs, Sun Yat-sen University, at the following link: https://iso.sysu.edu.cn/cn/jxjxm/index.htm. 

 

III. Programs Offered

　　Please refer to the SYSU Majors Catalog for Undergraduate International Students in 2026 (Attachment 1). 

 

IV. Application and Admission Procedures

　　Step 1: Take the “China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA)” for Undergraduate Admission

　　Applicants must participate in the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (hereinafter referred to as the “CSCA Test”) for undergraduate admission, organized by the China Scholarship Council under the Ministry of Education of China, and obtain a test score. For details on the test schedule and content, please visit the CSCA official website: https://csca.cn/home.

　　Note: For first-round applications, SYSU accepts scores from all test sessions held on or before March 1, 2026; for second-round applications, scores from all test sessions held on or before May 1, 2026, are accepted.

　　For the required test subjects and the language of the test papers for each major or program, please refer to the SYSU Majors Catalog for Undergraduate International Students in 2026.

　　Step 2: Complete and Submit the Online Application

　　Applicants should register an account on the International Student Application System (hereinafter referred to as the “Application System”) at http://apply.sysu.edu.cn.

　　After completing the registration, applicants can log in to the system to fill in their personal information and submit the required application materials (see Article V for details).

　　Step 3: Upload Signed Documents

　　Applicants should download the automatically generated Application Information Form (including the Commitment Letter and Proof of Financial Support or Financial Guarantee) from the Application System, print it out, sign it by hand, and then upload the signed copies back to the system.

　　Step 4: Pay the Application Fee Online

　　The application fee is RMB 400. Once paid, it is non-refundable. Applications without payment of the fee will be considered invalid.

　　Step 5: Qualification Review and Interview

　　SYSU will review the submitted application documents, and qualified applicants will be invited to attend an interview. 

　　The interview will assess the applicant’s overall competence and language proficiency. The interview schedule and form will be notified through the Application System or via email.

　　Step 6: Check the Preliminary Admission Results

　　SYSU will determine the preliminary admission list based on a comprehensive evaluation. Applicants can log in to the Application System to check their preliminary admission results 15 days after the interview.

　　Step 7: Download the Admission Letter

　　Starting from July of 2026, admission letters will be issued gradually. Applicants may log in to the Application System to download their admission letter.

 

V. Application Materials

　　1. A valid ordinary passport and a personal profile photo

　　Applicants' passports must remain valid until at least December 1, 2026. Please renew your passport if necessary. Applicants currently residing in the Chinese mainland should provide a scanned copy of their valid Chinese visa or residence permit page, as well as the entry stamp page.　

　　2. Proof of senior high school graduation or higher education, or of an equivalent level of education

　　For current-year graduates, a pre-graduation certificate issued by the applicant’s school may be submitted during the application process; however, proof of senior high school graduation or higher education, or of an equivalent level of education must be provided before enrollment. If the applicants fail to provide the official proof of graduation before enrollment, their admission offer will be considered invalid. 

　　3. Complete academic transcripts of senior high school or higher education, or of an equivalent education

　　4. Transcript of the CSCA test for undergraduate admission, organized by the China Scholarship Council under the Ministry of Education of China.

　　5. Proof of Chinese language proficiency

　　Applicants must submit a valid HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) certificate with a minimum score of 180 at Level 5 or above. 

　　Applicants applying for undergraduate programs taught in Chinese Language must have a minimum score of 180 at HSK Level 4 or above.

　　Applicants who have completed senior high school or higher education, or an equivalent level of education that is taught in Chinese may submit a Certificate of Chinese-Medium Instruction issued by their school. Upon verification by SYSU, submission of the HSK certificate may be waived.

　　6. Physical examination report and test results

　　Applicants must submit the Foreigner Physical Examination Form along with scanned copies of the original reports for a chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), and laboratory tests for specified items (see template in Attachment 2). All documents must bear the official seal of the hospital and must be issued within the past six months.

　　Applicants currently residing in the Chinese mainland who are 18 years old or above and hold a valid Foreigner Residence Permit or Permanent Residence ID Card for Foreigners may submit either of these documents in place of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form.

　　7. Birth certificate

　　8. Documents verifying the nationality or household registration of the applicant's parents

　　(1) For applicants who were originally residents of the Chinese mainland, the Hong Kong SAR, the Macao SAR, or Taiwan, and later acquired foreign nationality, the following documents must be additionally submitted:

　　a. Proof of the cancellation of household registration, or proof of renunciation of Chinese nationality, or an official certificate issued by a Chinese diplomatic or consular mission confirming that the applicant does not hold Chinese nationality;

　　b. Proof of acquisition of foreign nationality;

　　c. Records of entry into and exit from the Chinese mainland from 1 May, 2022 to the date of application submission.

　　(2) For applicants who acquired foreign nationality at birth in a foreign country, if one or both parents are Chinese citizens, the following documents must be additionally submitted:

　　a. Proof of the applicant's foreign nationality acquired at birth;

　　b. Proof of the Chinese parent's permanent residence status in the foreign country prior to the applicant's birth. If the parent did not obtain permanent residence abroad, proof of the applicant's renunciation of Chinese nationality must be provided;

　　c. Records of entry into and exit from the Chinese mainland from 1 May, 2022 to the date of application submission.

　　(3) For applicants who do not fall under the above circumstances, no documents regarding the nationality or household registration of their parents are required.

　　9. Certificate of Non-Criminal Record

　　The Certificate of Non-Criminal Record must be issued within six months before the date of application submission.

　　10. Guardian commitment letter and notarized documents

　　Applicants who are under 18 years old before 1 September, 2026 must submit a Guardian Commitment Letter along with its notarized documents. The guardian must be an adult residing in Guangdong Province, China.

　　11. Supplementary supporting documents

　　Applicants may submit certificates of awards or documents verifying relevant experience to support their application.

　　Note: All application materials must be original documents in Chinese or English. For documents in other languages, a notarized Chinese or English translation must be provided.

 

VI. Application Fee and Tuition

　　1. Application Fee (including required entrance assessment fees): RMB 400 per person. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable. 

　　Applications without payment of the application fee will be considered invalid.

　　2. Tuition: See Table 1 for details.

Table 1: Tuition for 2026 SYSU Undergraduate Programs for International Students　

Category	Humanities and Liberal Arts	Natural Science, Engineering and Agricultural Science	Medical Science
Undergraduate	RMB 26,000	RMB 33,800	RMB 48,000
Note: (1) The tuition and fees are subject to the official Sun Yat-sen University Education Fee Announcement for the respective year. (2) The fee is denominated in RMB. (3) The unit is RMB per student per academic year.

 

VII. Scholarship Programs

　　For details on the scholarship programs, please visit the “SCHOLARSHIP” section at the website of the Office of International Students' Affairs of SYSU (http://iso.sysu.edu.cn). See Table 2 for the basic information of scholarship programs.

Table 2: 2026 Scholarship Programs for SYSU International Undergraduate Students　

Scholarship Programs		Application Website	Notes
National Scholarship	Chinese Government Scholarship -Bilateral Program (Type A)	Chinese Government Scholarship application system:  https://campuschina.org  Sun Yat-sen University International Student Application System: http://apply.sysu.edu.cn	Applicants should submit their application directly to the international student dispatch office in their home country or the Education Section of the Chinese Embassy (or Consulate) in their country, and obtain a processing agency code.
	Silk Road - Chinese Government Scholarship Program（Type B）	Chinese Government Scholarship application system: https://campuschina.org  Sun Yat-sen  University International Student Application System: http://apply.sysu.edu.cn	Institution code of Sun Yat-sen University in the Chinese Government Scholarship System: 10558.
Provincial Scholarship	Guangdong Government Outstanding International Student Scholarship	SYSU will select outstanding newly admitted non-government scholarship students who have registered and enrolled, based on a comprehensive evaluation of their academic performance, to recommend for this scholarship.	The undergraduate scholarship is RMB 10,000 per student and is awarded as a one-time payment.
SYSU Scholarship	Sun Yat-sen University Scholarship for International Students	Sun Yat-sen University International Student Application System:  http://apply.sysu.edu.cn	The scholarship will be awarded to applicants who have obtained a recommendation from an agency in their home country or an international student recruitment ambassador recognized by Sun Yat-sen University.

　　Note: Applicants awarded any of the above scholarship programs must, after enrollment, undergo annual scholarship reviews based on relevant regulations and academic performance in order to continue receiving or renewing the scholarship each year.

 

VIII. Enrollment and Registration

　　The enrollment period is at the end of August or the beginning of September, 2026, with the specific dates indicated on the SYSU Admission Letter.

　　Admitted students should finish the following three steps to finalize their registration: 

　　Step 1: Use the Admission Letter and the Confirmation Form for Study in China to apply for an X1 visa at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate. 

　　Step 2: Complete registration at SYSU in person according to the registration date and location specified in the Admission Letter.

　　Step 3: Convert the X1 visa to a student residence permit within 30 days after entering China. 

　　Failure to complete the required procedures on time will result in the cancellation of admission.

　　SYSU does not accept students holding non-student visas for enrollment. International students with expired visas or residence permits are not allowed to live on campus or participate in campus activities.

 

IX. Accommodation and Insurance Regulations

　　1. Accommodation: Due to the limited number of on-campus dormitories, self-funded students are responsible for arranging their own housing. Students awarded the Chinese Government Scholarship or the Sun Yat-sen University Scholarship for International Students will be provided with on-campus accommodation according to relevant regulations.

　　2. Insurance: SYSU requires all international students to be covered by a broad insurance plan. In accordance with Chinese national regulations and the university's requirements, international students must purchase the Comprehensive Insurance for International Students Studying in China (covering accidental and illness medical treatment, hospitalization, accidental disability, and death) at a cost of RMB 800 per student per academic year.

　　Students who fail to purchase insurance as required will be given a deadline to obtain coverage; failure to do so will result in ineligibility for registration. For students already enrolled, failure to comply with this requirement will result in dismissal from SYSU.

 

X. Supervision

　　1. Responsibility for Submitted Materials. Applicants are responsible for the authenticity of all materials they submit. In accordance with Chinese national regulations and SYSU's rules, any applicant found to have submitted falsified materials will have their admission, enrollment, and student status revoked, and the matter will be reported to the relevant authorities.

　　2. Registration: Admitted students must complete registration on the date and at the location specified in the Admission Letter. Early registration is not permitted. Failure to register on time without prior approval will be considered a withdrawal of admission, and scholarship recipients will also lose their scholarship eligibility. 

　　3. Post-Admission Physical Examination and Eligibility Review. SYSU will conduct a physical examination and review of admission eligibility for all enrolled students in accordance with regulations and requirements of the Ministry of Education of China. Students who fail to meet the admission requirements or are found to have submitted falsified materials will have their admission and enrollment revoked.　

 

XI. Supplementary Provisions

　　1. These Enrollment Guidelines apply to the 2026 undergraduate admissions for international students at Sun Yat-sen University and take effect from the date of their publication.

　　2. The Office of International Students' Affairs, under the authorization of the SYSU Undergraduate Admissions Leading Group, is responsible for the interpretation of these Guidelines.

　　3. In case of any adjustments to the policies of the Ministry of Education or other relevant authorities, the new regulations shall prevail.

　　

　　Office of International Students' Affairs, Sun Yat-sen University

　　Website: http://iso.sysu.edu.cn

　　Online Application Website: https://apply.sysu.edu.cn

　　Email: admissions@mail.sysu.edu.cn

　　Inquiry Tel: 0086（20）84110819

　　Supervision Department Tel: 0086（20）84115582

　　Address: Office of International Students' Affairs, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou, P.R.China

　　Zip Code: 510275