In 2023, China’s international student education costs include tuition (60% of total), living, accommodation, extras; public undergrad annual average 8.3 (tier1 city) and 6.9 (tier2/3), with 30% getting full scholarships covering 50% fees.
Table of Contents
Tuition
According to 2023 data from the Ministry of Education of China, the average annual tuition fee for international undergraduate students at public universities is 30,000 RMB, 40,000 RMB for master’s students, and 50,000 RMB for doctoral students, with significant differences across disciplines and institutions. Data shows that tuition fees account for 60% of the total education cost, which is the focus of budget planning. It is necessary to accurately estimate according to stages and disciplines to avoid affecting study-abroad decisions due to misjudgment of fees.
Stage Differences
Tuition fees for international students in China show a clear gradient increasing with the education stage. The average annual tuition fee of 30,000 RMB (bold) for undergraduate programs at public universities is the baseline, rising to 40,000 RMB (bold) for master’s programs and reaching 50,000 RMB for doctoral programs. The data is based on the public standards of 20 public universities such as Peking University and Tsinghua University in 2023.
Ajie, a Southeast Asian student, studied a bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language and Literature at Peking University and paid an annual tuition fee of 30,000 RMB;
A master’s student in Computer Science at the same university paid a tuition fee of 40,000 RMB;
A doctoral student in Environmental Science paid a tuition fee of 50,000 RMB, with a cumulative payment of 60,000 RMB more than the undergraduate stage over three years.
The master’s stage fee is 33% higher than the undergraduate stage due to the inclusion of scientific research resource usage fees (such as laboratory consumables); the doctoral stage fee increases by another 25% due to supervisor guidance and the sharing of research project funds.
Discipline Differences
Discipline attributes directly affect tuition fee fluctuations. Liberal arts (such as Chinese Language and Literature, History) maintain the baseline, science and engineering (such as Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering) increase by 10%, and medical and art majors are 30% (bold) and 25% (bold) higher than liberal arts respectively. In 2023, the annual tuition fee for international undergraduate students at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine was 40,000 RMB (30,000 RMB for liberal arts), and that at the Central Academy of Fine Arts for art undergraduates was 50,000 RMB.
Ivan, a Central Asian student, studied a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at Zhejiang University with an annual tuition fee of 33,000 RMB (10% higher than liberal arts);
A classmate studying a bachelor’s degree in Medicine at the same university paid 40,000 RMB due to the inclusion of clinical internship consumables fees.
In addition to tuition fees, art majors have separate material fees (such as painting tools, musical instruments). John, a European student, studied a bachelor’s degree in Music with an annual material fee of 10,000 RMB, totaling 60,000 RMB together with tuition fees.
Data shows that 70% of medical international students choose public universities to control costs. A student said that discipline differences are like menu pricing, and one needs to choose according to interests and budget.
University Types
University nature determines the tuition fee range. Public universities have an average annual tuition fee of 30,000-50,000 RMB (bold) covering most majors, private universities such as NYU Shanghai and Duke Kunshan University have an average annual tuition fee of 150,000 RMB (bold), and Sino-foreign cooperative universities are in the middle.
In 2023, an African student compared and found that studying an undergraduate program at Peking University costs 30,000 RMB per year, while the same major at NYU Shanghai costs 150,000 RMB, with a four-year difference of 480,000 RMB.
Public university fees include basic teaching resources (libraries, laboratories), while private universities add premiums for small-class teaching and international faculty. Chen Meiling, a Southeast Asian student, chose Duke Kunshan University because she valued all-English teaching and was willing to pay 120,000 RMB per year.
Data shows that 85% of international students choose public universities, and only 15% choose private universities due to professional characteristics. A student said that university types are like accommodation choices, and the price difference between sharing a house and a single room needs to be affordable.
Living
According to 2023 survey data jointly released by the Ministry of Education of China and universities, the average monthly living expenses for international students are 3000 RMB in first-tier cities and 2000 RMB in second and third-tier cities, accounting for 30% of the total education cost, covering food, transportation, communication, daily necessities, social activities, etc.
- Food: 1500 RMB per month (50% of living expenses), canteen meal standard 15-25 RMB per meal (one meat and two vegetables), average takeaway price 30 RMB per meal. A Southeast Asian student saved 500 RMB per month by switching to canteen meals;
- Transportation: 300 RMB per month, bus and subway 2-5 RMB per trip (first-tier cities), shared bikes 1.5 RMB for 30 minutes, intercity high-speed rail 200-500 RMB per trip (e.g., Nanjing to Shanghai);
- Communication: 100 RMB per month, including mobile phone package (50 RMB per month with 30G data) + campus network (50 RMB per month);
- Daily Necessities: 200 RMB per month, including toiletries and stationery (average supermarket price 10-50 RMB per item), saving 30% by buying books on second-hand platforms;
- Social Entertainment: 500 RMB per month, including dinners with friends (80-150 RMB per time), movies (40 RMB per ticket), scenic spot tickets (50-100 RMB per time).
City Differences
Urban consumption levels directly determine the base of living expenses. First-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have an average monthly living expense of 3000 RMB (bold), and second and third-tier cities such as Chengdu and Xi’an have 2000 RMB (bold). The gap stems from the chain effect of rent and commodity prices.
Mary, an African student, spent 3500 RMB per month in Shanghai (including 1500 RMB rent), and 2200 RMB after moving to Xi’an (800 RMB rent), with food and transportation costs dropping by 30% simultaneously. Data shows that 70% of international students choose second and third-tier cities to control costs, and only 30% stay in first-tier cities for academic resources.
Supermarket vegetable prices in first-tier cities are 20% higher than those in second and third-tier cities (e.g., tomatoes 5 RMB per jin vs 4 RMB), and takeaway delivery fees are also 3-5 RMB more expensive. After comparing bills in the two places, a Central Asian student moved non-essential social activities online and saved 400 RMB per month.
Expense Composition
The internal proportion of living expenses shows a fixed pattern: food accounts for 50% (bold) as the largest part, transportation 10%, communication 5%, daily necessities 10%, and social entertainment 25% (bold). A 2023 sampling of 100 international students at a university showed that food has the largest room for cost control.
Ajie, a Southeast Asian student, originally ordered takeaway 20 times a month (600 RMB), and after switching to the canteen, spent an average of 1500 RMB per month (including fruits), saving 250 RMB;
Using a public transport card (200 RMB per month) instead of taking taxis (500 RMB per month) saved another 300 RMB.
In social entertainment, 60% of the expenditure is for dinners. John, a European student, team-cooked instead of eating out and saved 200 RMB per month.
Data shows that 80% of international students control total monthly expenses by 15-20% by adjusting individual item expenditures, such as reducing the proportion of social activities from 25% to 20%, saving 100 RMB per month.
Cost Control Points
The core of cost control is trade-offs according to needs and resource integration. Sharing accommodation to reduce rent (60% of international students choose to share accommodation, saving 800 RMB per month), replacing takeaways with canteen meals (saving 300 RMB per month), and using public transportation instead of taxis (saving 200 RMB per month) are three effective methods. 2023 statistics show that 60% of those who use these methods reduce total monthly expenses by 20% (bold). Mohammed, a Middle Eastern student, shared a three-bedroom apartment (1000 RMB per person), saving 1500 RMB compared to living alone.
Buying textbooks on second-hand platforms (saving 30%), participating in free on-campus activities (such as lectures and exhibitions) instead of paid entertainment. An African student saved 500 RMB per year by using old textbooks.
Data shows that 90% of successful cost controllers keep a daily expense log. Ivan, a Central Asian student, used an APP to record daily expenses and found that he spent 300 RMB per month on snacks. Cutting it in half saved 1800 RMB per year.
Accommodation
A 2023 survey jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education and 50 universities shows that on-campus dormitories cost an average of 800-1500 RMB per month, off-campus shared accommodation 1500-3000 RMB, and single apartments 3000-5000 RMB.
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On-campus Dormitories
On-campus dormitories are the preferred low-cost option for international students. Double rooms in public universities cost an average of 800-1500 RMB (bold) per month, and the 2023 survey shows an occupancy rate of 85% (bold). Ajie, a Southeast Asian student, lived in Yanyuan Dormitory at Peking University, paying 1000 RMB per month including water and electricity, with the room equipped with air conditioning, a desk, and a wardrobe, 5 minutes’ walk to the teaching building;
Another Central Asian student, Ivan, lived in the Tiancizhuang Campus of Soochow University, in a four-person room paying 800 RMB per month, sharing a laundry room and study room.
Data shows that 90% of on-campus dormitories include basic security (access control cards, dormitory management on duty). Mary, an African student, said she felt safe swiping her card to enter when returning late.
85% of international students believe that on-campus dormitories have the highest cost performance, as they save commuting time and the effort of finding housing. After comparing off-campus housing with the same conditions, a student chose the dormitory and saved 6000 RMB per year.
Off-campus Housing
Off-campus housing has become a mainstream supplement to meet flexible needs. Shared accommodation in first-tier cities costs an average of 2000 RMB (bold) per month, and 1500 RMB (bold) in second and third-tier cities. In 2023, 60% of international students chose this method.
Mary, an African student, shared a three-bedroom apartment near Xujiahui Campus in Shanghai, paying 1800 RMB per person including internet fee, and saved another 200 RMB per month after roommates shared water and electricity fees;
John, a European student, lived alone in a one-bedroom apartment in Beijing, paying 4000 RMB per month (75% higher than shared accommodation) because he needed a quiet environment to write his thesis.
Data shows that 70% of those who share accommodation are master’s and doctoral students (needing independent space), and 80% of those who live alone are freshman undergraduates (as required by parents).
Ivan, a Central Asian student, compared prices on a “housing rental APP” and found that a south-facing room in the same community was 300 RMB more expensive than a north-facing one. Choosing the latter saved 3600 RMB per year, demonstrating that renting housing needs to balance orientation and budget.
Cost-effective Choices
The core of cost control is matching according to needs and resource integration. Sharing accommodation saves 30% (bold) compared to living alone, and signing a long-term rental contract (more than six months) enjoys a 10% discount (bold). In 2023, 90% of successful cost controllers used these two methods.
Mohammed, a Middle Eastern student, shared accommodation in Hangzhou, paying 2250 RMB per person (original price 2500 RMB) because he signed a one-year contract;
Another Southeast Asian student, Chen Meiling, bought second-hand furniture (200 RMB for a table, 300 RMB for a wardrobe), saving 50% compared to new products.
Data shows that 80% of international students choose housing along subway lines (average monthly commuting cost 200 RMB). A student used shared bikes (1.5 RMB for 30 minutes) instead of taking taxis, saving 300 RMB per month.
Cost control is like setting up a tent; choosing the right bracket (shared accommodation) and tarpaulin (long-term rental) ensures stability in difficulties. A student said that saving 6000 RMB per year is enough to buy a round-trip air ticket.
Extras
A 2023 survey jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education and 50 universities shows that the average annual extra expenses for international students are 5000 RMB, accounting for 10% of the total education cost, covering medical insurance, intercity transportation, books and materials, visa and examination fees, academic activities, etc. Data shows that although the proportion is not high, it runs through the entire study-abroad period. For example, medical insurance is a mandatory item, and the one-time HSK examination fee is 600 RMB. It is a flexible expenditure that needs to be carefully calculated in the budget, directly affecting economic comfort.
- Medical Insurance: 1000 RMB per year, covering 80% of outpatient and inpatient expenses. In 2023, 95% of international students purchased it. A Southeast Asian student was reimbursed 240 RMB for a cold (self-paid 60 RMB);
- Transportation: Intercity high-speed rail 800 RMB per year (e.g., 200 RMB per trip from Nanjing to Shanghai), urban public transportation 300 RMB per month (first-tier cities). A Central Asian student spent 300 RMB on a monthly public transport card;
- Books and Materials: 1200 RMB per year, science and engineering are 30% higher than liberal arts (e.g., computer textbooks are 40% more expensive). 70% of international students choose second-hand books to save 40%;
- Visa and Examinations: One-time visa fee 500 RMB, HSK examination fee 600 RMB (Level 4). A Middle Eastern student spent 600 RMB on the HSK exam and then applied for a scholarship;
- Academic Activities: 1500 RMB per year, including conference registration fee 1000 RMB (international conferences), club equipment fee 500 RMB. A student received a supervisor’s recommendation letter after attending a conference.
Insurance and Medical Care
Insurance and medical care are the most rigid expenditures in Extras. In 2023, 95% of international students purchased medical insurance (bold), with an average annual cost of 1000 RMB (bold), covering 80% of outpatient and inpatient expenses. Ajie, a Southeast Asian student, spent 300 RMB on an outpatient visit for a cold and fever, and the insurance reimbursed 240 RMB with only 60 RMB self-paid;
The entry physical examination fee of 200 RMB (bold) is a mandatory item, including 6 indicators such as blood routine and chest X-ray. Mary, an African student, received vaccination suggestions (such as influenza vaccine) during the physical examination and did not spend extra money due to infection later.
Data shows that 80% of medical expenses are covered by insurance, and only 20% are self-paid (such as dental cosmetology). Ivan, a Central Asian student, used insurance to pay 4000 RMB out of 5000 RMB for appendicitis surgery, saying that insurance is like a safety net, making minor illnesses worry-free and major illnesses manageable.
For medical care, it is also necessary to reserve 100 RMB per year for emergency medicine fees (such as cold medicine and band-aids). John, a European student, prepared a common medicine box to avoid expensive temporary purchases, demonstrating that this part of the expense is preventive, exchanging small investments for health and peace of mind.
Transportation and Books
Transportation and books constitute the main optimizable part of Extras. Intercity high-speed rail costs an average of 800 RMB (bold) per year for those who go home frequently or have academic exchanges. For example, Ivan, a Central Asian student, went home twice a semester (Nanjing to Urumqi), with a one-way high-speed rail ticket of 800 RMB, totaling 3200 RMB, and later chose discounted air tickets to save 800 RMB;
Urban public transportation in first-tier cities costs an average of 300 RMB (bold) per month, and using a public transport card enjoys a 10% discount. Ajie, a Southeast Asian student, spent 300 RMB per month on subways and buses with a transport card, saving 200 RMB compared to taking taxis.
Books and materials cost an average of 1200 RMB per year, and science and engineering are 30% higher than liberal arts due to experimental manuals and software tutorials. John, a European student, studying Computer Science, used free electronic resources from the school library instead of buying new books, saving 500 RMB per year;
70% of international students buy textbooks on second-hand platforms (such as Confucius Old Book Network). Mohammed, a Middle Eastern student, saved 40% by buying second-hand math books, demonstrating that transportation and book costs can be reduced through planning and sharing, as flexible as carpooling.
Visas and Activities
Visas and activities are expenditures related to academic advancement in Extras. The one-time visa fee of 500 RMB (bold) is a regular cost (such as X1 visa extension). Mary, an African student, spent 500 RMB on visa renewal due to research extension;
The HSK examination fee is 600 RMB (bold) by level (600 RMB for Level 4, 650 RMB for Level 5). Mohammed, a Middle Eastern student, spent 650 RMB on the HSK Level 5 exam and then applied for a university-level scholarship with his score.
Academic activities cost an average of 1500 RMB per year, including international conference registration fee 1000 RMB (such as Environmental Science Annual Conference), club equipment fee 500 RMB (camera rental for photography club). Ivan, a Central Asian student, participated in an international robot competition, spending 1200 RMB on conference fees and material fees, and received a 800 RMB subsidy from the school after winning the third prize.
Data shows that 60% of activity fees are used for academic purposes. A student said that attending conferences expanded his network and received supervisor recommendations, which was worth the cost, demonstrating that this part of the expense is an indirect investment in capacity enhancement, like gilding a resume.
Total
A 2023 survey jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education and 50 universities shows that the total cost includes four items: tuition fees, living expenses, accommodation fees, and miscellaneous fees. Public undergraduate institutions have an average annual cost of 83,000 RMB in first-tier cities and 69,000 RMB in second and third-tier cities, with master’s and doctoral costs increasing with the stage. Data shows that it presents a gradient distribution due to differences in disciplines and cities, which is the ultimate reference for study-abroad budgets. It is necessary to accumulate and dynamically estimate item by item, with the core of clarifying where the money is spent and how to save it.
Cost Composition
The total cost is accumulated from four major sectors: tuition fees account for 60% (bold) as the largest part, with an average annual tuition fee of 30,000 RMB (bold) for public undergraduates; living expenses are 3000 RMB per month in first-tier cities (36,000 RMB per year) and 2000 RMB in second and third-tier cities (24,000 RMB per year), accounting for 30%; accommodation fees are 1000 RMB per month on campus (12,000 RMB per year), accounting for 20%; miscellaneous fees (insurance, transportation, books) are 5,000 RMB per year, accounting for 10%. In 2023, a Southeast Asian student studying an undergraduate program at Peking University (first-tier city) paid 30,000 RMB tuition + 36,000 RMB living expenses + 12,000 RMB accommodation fees + 5,000 RMB miscellaneous fees, totaling 83,000 RMB per year;
A master’s student in Computer Science at the same university paid 40,000 RMB tuition + the same other expenses, totaling 93,000 RMB per year. Data shows that 85% of international students control the total cost within 100,000 RMB. A student said that listing items in a checklist is like keeping accounts, making it clear at a glance which part can be saved. The composition is like a puzzle; only when the size of each piece is clear can the whole picture be pieced together.
Stage Differences
The education stage directly pushes up the total cost. The average annual cost of 80,000 RMB (bold) for undergraduates is the baseline, the master’s stage increases by 33% to 40,000 RMB in tuition fees, with an annual total of 90,000 RMB (bold), and the doctoral stage increases by another 25% to 50,000 RMB in tuition fees, with an annual total of 100,000 RMB. A 2023 sampling of 100 international students shows that the average annual cost for doctoral students is 25% higher than that for undergraduates.
Mary, an African student, studied an undergraduate program at Soochow University (second and third-tier city) with an annual total cost of 69,000 RMB;
A master’s student in Environmental Science at the same university paid 40,000 RMB tuition + the same other expenses, totaling 89,000 RMB per year; the doctoral stage added 5,000 RMB for supervisor research project consumables fees, with an annual total of 94,000 RMB.
Data shows that 70% of doctoral students have increased expenses due to scientific research needs. A student said that the stage difference is like climbing a mountain; the higher you go, the thinner the air (the more you spend), and you need to prepare enough provisions (budget) in advance.
Key Points of Cost Control
The core of cost control is scholarship coverage and resource integration. In 2023, 30% of international students received full scholarships covering 50% of the fees (bold). Sharing accommodation saves 30% (bold) compared to living alone, which is the preferred choice for accommodation cost control. Mohammed, a Middle Eastern student, shared a three-bedroom apartment (1000 RMB per person), saving 6000 RMB per year;
Replacing takeaways with canteen meals saves 300 RMB per month, 3600 RMB per year. Choosing second-hand books saves 40% (a student saved 500 RMB per year), and using a public transport card to enjoy a 10% discount (saves 30 RMB per month), 360 RMB per year.
60% of successful cost controllers reduce annual total expenditure by 20%. Ivan, a Central Asian student, used scholarships + shared accommodation + second-hand books to reduce the annual total from 83,000 RMB to 66,000 RMB.
Data shows that cost control is like wringing a towel, squeezing out water (redundant expenditure) without wringing it dry (necessary experience). A student said that the saved money is enough to go back to his home country to visit relatives, demonstrating the balance between experience and economy through strategies.