Tsinghua University

Campus life and the Beijing experience

Tsinghua's main campus is located in Beijing's Haidian District, in the north-west of the city, an area traditionally known as the capital's university cluster (neighbouring Peking University and dozens of other institutions). The campus covers more than 400 hectares and is a unique blend of early-twentieth-century architecture, modern teaching buildings, and green spaces: there is a lake, tree-lined avenues, Olympic-standard sports complexes, and multiple libraries, including the main university library, which holds over five million volumes. The campus is equipped with all the infrastructure needed for daily life — canteens (where meals cost 15–30 RMB per day), gyms, medical centres, shops, and ATMs; students live in on-campus dormitories (double rooms cost around 40 RMB per day, triple rooms 30 RMB).

Beijing as a city offers students access to extraordinary cultural heritage — from the Forbidden City and the Great Wall to contemporary art galleries and tech hubs such as Zhongguancun, often dubbed "China's Silicon Valley." The city is well connected by metro (Lines 13 and 4 run near the Tsinghua campus), making it easy to travel to internships, events, and excursions. Beijing has a continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters, which is worth bearing in mind when preparing to relocate. For international students, the university organises orientation programmes, including Chinese-language courses, cultural excursions, and a buddy-mentor system pairing newcomers with Chinese students.

In addition to the main Beijing campus, Tsinghua operates the Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), which offers master's and doctoral programmes in engineering, business, and interdisciplinary technologies. The Shenzhen campus is particularly attractive for those seeking proximity to industrial partners in electronics, biotech, and fintech. Living costs and campus facilities in Shenzhen differ from Beijing, so when selecting a programme it is worth checking which campus hosts it.

Competition and admission requirements

Admission to Tsinghua is among the most competitive in China. For domestic applicants, gaokao scores typically fall within the top 0.1 per cent nationwide; for international students, the university uses a Comprehensive Evaluation system that considers high-school and university grades, standardised test results (SAT, ACT, A-Level, AP, IB, and others), language certificates, recommendation letters, a personal statement, a portfolio (for creative disciplines), and — in some cases — results from an interview or test administered by the university itself.

For the 2026 intake, Tsinghua does not require applicants to submit CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) scores for undergraduate programmes: this is confirmed on the university's official FAQ page. Nonetheless, if an applicant has taken the CSCA and achieved high scores, it is recommended to include them, especially in mathematics and physics. Regarding other Chinese universities, the requirement for CSCA, the list of subjects, and the exam language depend on the target university, programme, and admission year; applicants should verify official university and CSCA requirements before registering. For Chinese-English Taught programmes, applicants need HSK Level 5 or higher (with scores above 60 in each section: listening, reading, writing); HSK Level 4 is also acceptable, provided the student reaches Level 5 within the first academic year, failing which enrolment will be terminated. For fully English-taught programmes, HSK is not required, but a high level of English (TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent) is necessary for non-native speakers.

Application deadlines for undergraduate entry in September 2026 are divided into several rounds: the first round (including design and fine-arts programmes) runs from 30 September to 28 November 2025 (results in January 2026); the second round from 29 November 2025 to 28 February 2026 (results in early May 2026); English-taught programmes accept applications from 30 September 2025 to 28 February 2026. For master's and doctoral programmes, deadlines are set by individual departments; key deadlines typically fall in December–January before the academic year begins. A crucial point: Tsinghua often organises an integrative test for shortlisted candidates, so submitting an application is only the first step — it may be followed by an in-person or online interview or examination session.

Scholarships and funding

Tsinghua actively attracts talented international students through a range of scholarships, the most significant of which are Chinese Government Scholarships (CGS), administered by the China Scholarship Council (CSC). A full CGS covers tuition, accommodation (or a housing subsidy), a monthly living stipend, and comprehensive medical insurance; partial scholarships include one or several of these components. For master's and doctoral students, scholarship duration is typically one to three years for master's and four to five years for doctoral candidates. Competition for CGS through Tsinghua is extremely fierce: the university selects candidates who have already received preliminary approval from a department, then nominates them to the CSC for final review.

To be considered for CGS Type B (programmes coordinated by the university), applicants must first apply to a master's or doctoral programme through Tsinghua's system (https://yzbm.tsinghua.edu.cn/intlLogin), secure preliminary admission from a department, then complete the CSC online application and submit all required documents (diploma, transcripts, recommendation letters, language certificates). For Chinese-taught programmes, HSK Level 4 or above is required; those who previously studied in Chinese and earned a degree in China may substitute the HSK with a certificate from their previous institution. Age limits are 35 for master's applicants and 40 for doctoral applicants. A key detail: the university recommends submitting admission applications by mid-December 2025 to meet CGS Type B programme deadlines.

Beyond CGS, Tsinghua offers its own university scholarships for international postgraduate students — mainly partial grants covering tuition (tuition scholarships). Competition for these is also intense, and decisions are made by departments based on academic achievements, recommendations, and research potential. It is important to understand that scholarships are not automatically guaranteed upon admission: students who receive CGS or university grants undergo strict annual review (Annual Review), which assesses academic performance, attendance, conduct, and research progress; unsatisfactory results may lead to suspension or termination of the scholarship.

How we help you apply

Admission to top-tier universities like Tsinghua demands not only outstanding academic results but also a strategically crafted application, meticulously prepared documents, and a deep understanding of selection criteria. UNIPROFI specialises in supporting Russian and Russian-speaking applicants to China's leading universities and knows the process inside out. We offer the Admission to China's Top-10 Universities package, which includes developing a personalised admission strategy, matching programmes to your profile, preparing a complete document set (including CV, motivation letters, and recommendations), submitting applications through the university system, assistance with scholarship forms, and interview or test preparation for candidates shortlisted by Tsinghua. For those seeking insights from a Tsinghua graduate or staff member, we arrange a Consultation with a Tsinghua University expert, where you will gain insider understanding of selection criteria, strengths and weaknesses of your application, and concrete recommendations to enhance your competitiveness.

If you are just beginning to plan your application and want to assess whether Tsinghua is the right fit, we recommend starting with our Admission strategy for China's top universities or Matching up to 5 universities to your profile services: our experts will analyse your grades, language certificates, extracurricular achievements, and academic interests, then propose a realistic roadmap — from selecting target programmes to deadlines and scholarship strategies. For those applying to Chinese-taught programmes who need HSK 5 or higher, we provide language preparation; for those wishing to take the CSCA (even though Tsinghua does not require it, but you want to strengthen your application), we offer CSCA prep: foundation course and CSCA prep: intensive course. We also assist with Chinese student visa support and advise on Grants for studying in China. Our years of experience and direct contacts with admissions committees at Chinese universities enable us not only to prepare formally correct application packages but to structure your application so it stands out among hundreds of other candidates and convincingly demonstrates your potential to become part of Tsinghua's academic community.