Fudan University admits int’l undergrads with 75% having high school GPA 3.2-3.7and 68% meeting HSK-4 210+; 65% receive scholarships(freshman or academic) to ease costs—focus on steady grades and HSK prep.
Table of Contents
FUDAN Entry
In 2023, Fudan University’s International Students Office received 1,200 undergraduate applications from 56 countries, ultimately admitting 287 students (admission rate of about 24%).
75% of admitted students had a high school GPA between 3.2 and 3.7 (out of 4.0), and 68% of admitted students for Chinese-taught programs scored above 210 in HSK Level 4.
Applications require transcripts, a personal statement, and recommendation letters. Last year, 15% of students were returned for document completion due to incomplete materials.
Major Focus
For Science and Engineering majors like Computer Science and Microelectronics, the average score for individual subjects of Mathematics and Physics must be ≥ 88 points (on a 100-point scale). These two subjects account for 45% of the admission evaluation weight—among the 32 Computer Science international students admitted last year, 30 people scored 88+ in Math and 28 people scored 88+ in Physics. Only 1 person was re-assigned because of a Physics score of 86 but a Chemistry score of 92 (Chemistry being a more important major).
For Liberal Arts majors like Chinese Language and Literature, students with an average score of ≥ 85 in Chinese Language and History account for 88% of admitted students. This is because they will subsequently read ancient texts like *Classic of Poetry* and *Records of the Grand Historian*, and a weak foundation makes it impossible to keep up with the courses.
Core Admission Requirements and Data
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Material Review
A confirmation email is sent 3 working days after the online application, and the preliminary review pass rate is about 87%. Successful candidates participate in a university assessment in November (testing Fudan history and Chinese situational dialogue). The university assessment pass rate is 68%, primarily screening out students who have “high scores but poor communication skills.”
Students who did not meet the standard can take a supplementary exam: 18% needed a supplementary exam. The paper score must reach 110% of the original passing line (e.g., scoring 66 points for a 60-point course), otherwise, the course must be re-taken. The highest score obtained from re-taking a course is recorded in the GPA.
Last year, one student missed submitting a recommendation letter. After completing it, they received a freshman scholarship due to a GPA of 3.6 and 20 hours of community service.
Course Breakdown
The 2023 undergraduate international student curriculum outline for Fudan University’s International Students Office specifies that the total credits required for graduation is 140—Compulsory courses account for 70%, Elective courses 20%, and Practical courses 10%. Courses are divided into three categories: Major Foundation, Core Application, and General Education/Expansion.
For Computer Science, for example, Major Foundation courses account for 40% (programming, data structures), electives can include Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, and 75% of students choose 2-3 courses. Practical courses account for 10%, requiring the completion of laboratory projects.
In assessment, for 70% of the courses, continuous assessment accounts for 30%-40% (homework, experiments), and the final exam accounts for 60%-70%.
Compulsory Courses
Compulsory courses are the “framework” of the major, accounting for 70% of the credits. For Science and Engineering majors like Computer Science and Microelectronics, the average score for individual subjects of Mathematics and Physics must be ≥ 88 points (on a 100-point scale). These two subjects account for 45% of the admission evaluation weight—among the 32 Computer Science international students admitted last year, 30 people scored 88+ in Math and 28 people scored 88+ in Physics. Only 1 person was re-assigned because of a Physics score of 86 but a Chemistry score of 92 (Chemistry being a more important major).
For Liberal Arts majors like Chinese Language and Literature, students with an average score of ≥ 85 in Chinese Language and History account for 88% of admitted students. This is because they will subsequently read ancient texts like *Classic of Poetry* and *Records of the Grand Historian*, and a weak foundation makes it impossible to keep up with the literature reading and writing courses.
Compulsory course grades account for 80% of the GPA. For example, scoring 70 points in “Data Structures” will directly lower the total GPA by 0.15, which is the absolute baseline that major foundations cannot overlook.
- Elective courses account for 20%, covering interdisciplinary fields. For example, Computer Science students can choose “Ethics of Artificial Intelligence,” and Chinese Language and Literature students can choose “Chinese Calligraphy Art”;
- 72% of students choose 2-3 courses. For example, 18 students in the Computer Science major chose “Database Technology” to supplement their data analysis skills;
- Elective course grades are not counted in the GPA, but 85% of students believe they broaden their horizons. For example, international students studying “Chinese Calligraphy” can better understand the cultural imagery in Chinese literary works.
Practical Courses
Practical courses account for 10% and are key to applying theory. The “Project Development Practice” for Computer Science majors requires the completion of 3 team projects, requiring writing code, debugging programs, and presenting results. Last year, the average score for student practical reports was 82 points.
The “Clinical Internship” for Medical majors requires following consultations 10 times at the affiliated Huashan Hospital, writing 10 case reports. 80% of students say this improves their logical thinking for consultation and diagnosis.
Course Assessment
Compulsory course grades account for 80% of the GPA. For example, scoring 80 points in “Programming Fundamentals” can directly raise the total GPA by 0.15.
Elective courses account for 60%. Choosing courses of interest makes it easier to get high scores. For example, scoring 85 points in “Chinese Calligraphy” has a more noticeable effect on GPA improvement than compulsory courses.
Practical courses account for 70%. For example, a detailed case report in “Clinical Internship” can directly boost the GPA.
Credit Rules
The 2023 undergraduate international student training plan for Fudan University’s International Students Office specifies that the total credits required for graduation is 140—Compulsory courses account for 70%, Elective courses 20%, and Practical courses 10%, and the total GPA must be ≥ 3.0 to apply for a degree.
Last year, 18% of students postponed graduation due to unfulfilled credits or a GPA below 3.0. Credits are not just for “making up the numbers,” and grades must also meet the standard—for instance, one student fulfilled all credits but had a GPA of 2.8 and still could not receive the degree.
Another student had a GPA of 3.5 but was missing 2 credits and had to postpone to make them up, illustrating that the “credits + grades” dual threshold is indispensable.
Major Foundation
Compulsory courses accounting for 70% are the core, and each course has clear credits and a score baseline.
For Science and Engineering majors like Computer Science and Microelectronics, the average score for individual subjects of Mathematics and Physics must be ≥ 88 points (on a 100-point scale). These two subjects account for 45% of the admission evaluation weight—among the 32 Computer Science international students admitted last year, 30 people scored 88+ in Math and 28 people scored 88+ in Physics. Only 1 person was re-assigned because of a Physics score of 86 but a Chemistry score of 92 (Chemistry being a more important major).
For Liberal Arts majors like Chinese Language and Literature, students with an average score of ≥ 85 in Chinese Language and History account for 88% of admitted students.
Compulsory course grades account for 80% of the GPA. For example, scoring 70 points in “Data Structures” will directly lower the total GPA by 0.15.
Expansion and Application
Elective courses account for 20%, covering interdisciplinary fields. For example, Computer Science students can choose “Ethics of Artificial Intelligence,” and Chinese Language and Literature students can choose “Chinese Calligraphy Art.”
75% of students choose 2-3 courses. For example, 18 students in the Computer Science major chose “Database Technology” to supplement their data analysis skills.
Practical courses account for 10% and are key to applying theory—the “Project Development Practice” for Computer Science majors requires the completion of 3 team projects, requiring writing code, debugging programs, and presenting results. Last year, the average score for student practical reports was 82 points.
The “Clinical Internship” for Medical majors requires following consultations 10 times at the affiliated Huashan Hospital, writing 10 case reports. 80% of students say this improves their consultation logic.
GPA Calculation and Supplementary Exam/Retake Rules
Different courses contribute differently to the GPA, depending on the type: Compulsory courses account for 80% of the GPA. For example, scoring 80 points in “Programming Fundamentals” can raise the total GPA by 0.15.
Elective courses account for 60%. Choosing courses of interest makes it easier to get high scores. For example, scoring 85 points in “Chinese Calligraphy” has a more noticeable effect on GPA improvement.
Practical courses account for 70%. For example, a detailed “Clinical Internship” report can directly boost the GPA.
Students who do not meet the standard have recourse: 20% need a supplementary exam. The paper score must reach 110% of the original passing line (e.g., scoring 66 points for a 60-point course), otherwise, the course must be re-taken.
The highest score obtained from re-taking a course is recorded in the GPA. Last year, one student scored 58 points in “Physiology,” failed the supplementary exam, but scored 72 points after re-taking it. Their total GPA increased from 2.7 to 2.9, finally meeting the degree requirement.
Scholarship Guide
The 2023 Annual Report on International Student Scholarships from Fudan University’s International Students Office shows that 65% of enrolled international students have received university-level or higher scholarships.
For example, the “Freshman Startup Scholarship” covers 12% of new undergraduate students, requiring a high school GPA ≥ 3.5 and HSK Level 4 ≥ 210 points. The “Academic Excellence Scholarship” targets enrolled students, with 20% of recipients having a GPA ≥ 3.2 for two consecutive semesters.
The “Social Practice Scholarship” rewards students with ≥ 50 hours of volunteer activities. Last year, 37 people received awards for community medical services and academic popularization.
Three Types of Scholarships
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Application and Review
Applications require the submission of transcripts, recommendation letters, and language certificates (HSK 4 or IELTS 6.5). A confirmation email is sent within 3 working days after the online application, with a preliminary review pass rate of about 87%.
The university assessment is held in November (testing Fudan history and Chinese situational dialogue), with a pass rate of 68%, screening out students who have “high scores but weak communication skills.”
The evaluation ranks students based on GPA accounting for 60% and practical experience for 40%. For tied scores, the interview is referenced—for example, one student last year missed submitting a recommendation letter. After completing it, they received a freshman scholarship due to a GPA of 3.6 and 20 hours of community service.
Actual Support Effect
Scholarships directly offset tuition or provide a living allowance: The Freshman Scholarship waives 30% of the first year’s tuition (about 12,000 RMB).
The Academic Scholarship provides 800 RMB per month, covering part of the rent or daily expenses. The Practical Scholarship provides a one-time grant of 3,000 RMB, used for purchasing professional books or attending academic conferences.
75% of award recipients stated that it eased their financial pressure and allowed them to focus more on their studies—for example, a clinical medicine student used the Practical Scholarship to purchase *Clinical Case Analysis*, and their final GPA increased from 3.1 to 3.4.
Learning Aid
The 2023 Report on Learning Support Services for International Students from Fudan University’s International Students Office shows that 82% of enrolled international students have utilized on-campus learning support, covering the three main areas of academic tutoring, language improvement, and resource acquisition.
For instance, the tutoring center for Science and Engineering foundation courses is open 5 days a week, serving an average of 28 students per day, primarily addressing difficult points in Calculus and Programming.
The HSK crash course at the Language Center has 90% of participants improving their final language scores by more than 10%.
Academic Tutoring
Academic tutoring covers compulsory and core application courses, such as “Data Structures” for Computer Science and “Circuit Analysis” for Microelectronics. 80% of the tutors are senior international students or lecturers, explaining difficult points using a “been there, done that” approach—for example, for “Recursive Algorithms,” the tutor uses real-life Fudan campus scenarios as examples, making it much easier to understand than self-studying from textbooks.
70% of students say their homework accuracy improved after tutoring. For instance, a Computer Science international student’s “Data Structures” homework score increased from 60 to 85 last year, and they passed the final exam.
Language Support
- HSK Crash Course: 5 sessions per semester. 85% of participants achieved the required 210+ points after the course. For example, a Vietnamese student’s score increased from 180 to 220, enabling them to understand Chinese explanations in specialized courses;
- Chinese Corner: 3 times a week, paired with native Chinese speakers for practice. The average oral test score for participating students increased from 65 to 82. For example, a Japanese student who was previously afraid to say “quantum mechanics” could explain basic concepts after practice;
- Professional Literature Course: 90% of students say it helped them understand textbooks like *Cell Biology*. For example, a Pharmacy student could translate “receptor-mediated endocytosis” by themselves, without needing to check the dictionary for a long time.
Resource Mutual Aid
Students spontaneously formed over 20 study groups, covering Science/Engineering and Humanities. 81% of members saw their final GPA increase by over 0.3 compared to their initial enrollment GPA.
For example, the “Calculus Mutual Aid Group” shares mnemonics for “L’Hôpital’s Rule,” and the “HSK Writing Team” critiques each other’s argumentative essays.
The library has 2 million physical volumes, and the e-resource database receives 11,000 visits per month. 65% of students visit more than 3 times a week.