For international students considering China, the total cost of studying includes more than tuition. Prospective students often compare education quality and affordability, but they must also budget for round-trip airfare, visa-related costs, living expenses, accommodation, health insurance, and other charges. Application fees, when required, add another upfront expense.
An application fee is separate from tuition and is usually paid when an application is submitted. Policies vary by university, program, level of study, scholarship route, and admission cycle, so applicants should check the institution’s current official admissions page before applying.
Applying to several universities can make these fees add up quickly. Avoiding an application fee may reduce the initial cost, but students should not assume that an older fee waiver is still available. Some universities that appeared on previous no-application-fee lists now charge application fees.
The universities below either explicitly state that no application fee is required or publish a fee waiver for a clearly identified program or application route. The exact scope of each policy is explained below. An enrollment deposit, visa charge, financial-aid form fee, document-verification charge, or standardized-test fee is not the same as a university application fee.
Universities in China with No Application Fees
| University | Application-fee-free scope |
|---|
| University of Science and Technology of China | International undergraduate applications |
| Duke Kunshan University | International undergraduate applications |
| University of Nottingham Ningbo China | September undergraduate entry and postgraduate research applications |
| Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University | No application fee is listed in the current international undergraduate instructions |
| Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School | School of Transnational Law international JD/JM program |
| Tsinghua University | Applicants applying only to the TUNEM master’s program |
| China University of Petroleum-Beijing | Chinese Government Scholarship Type A applications |
1. University of Science and Technology of China
The University of Science and Technology of China, commonly known as USTC, is a research university located in Hefei, Anhui Province. It is particularly well known for programs in science, engineering, technology, mathematics, and related research fields.
USTC’s official international undergraduate FAQ explicitly states that there is no application fee. This is one of the clearest current no-application-fee policies published by a Chinese university. Applicants complete the university’s online application and submit the required academic, identification, and language documents.
The absence of an application fee does not mean that studying at USTC is free. The university lists separate tuition, insurance, accommodation, and living costs. International undergraduate applicants may also apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship or the USTC Fellowship. Depending on the fellowship level, funding may cover tuition and may also include insurance, accommodation support, and a monthly stipend.
2. Duke Kunshan University
Duke Kunshan University is a joint-venture university established by Duke University and Wuhan University. It is located in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, near Shanghai and Suzhou, and offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate curriculum taught in English.
International undergraduate applicants apply through the Common Application. Duke Kunshan University explicitly states that it does not charge an application fee. Students are therefore not required to pay the university before their admission application is reviewed.
Students who are admitted and decide to enroll are required to pay a nonrefundable enrollment deposit. This deposit is paid after admission and should not be confused with an application fee. Applicants requesting need-based financial aid may also need to submit the CSS Profile, for which the College Board may charge a separate third-party fee unless the applicant receives a waiver.
Duke Kunshan automatically considers undergraduate applicants for merit-based scholarships. Need-based financial aid is also available, but international applicants seeking it must follow the university’s financial-aid instructions and deadlines.
3. University of Nottingham Ningbo China
The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, commonly abbreviated as UNNC, was established through a partnership involving the University of Nottingham and Zhejiang Wanli Education Group. Its degree programs are taught in English, and graduates receive University of Nottingham degrees.
UNNC’s official undergraduate FAQ states that no application fee is required for September 2026 entry. This policy is tied to a particular admission cycle, so students applying for a later intake should confirm that the university has continued the fee-free policy.
The university also states that there is no application fee for postgraduate research courses. This applies to research-degree applications and should not automatically be assumed to cover every postgraduate taught program.
International students may apply for entry-based scholarships through the university’s online application system. Tuition, accommodation, insurance, and other study-related expenses remain separate from the application-fee policy.
4. Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Founded in 2006, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, or XJTLU, is an international joint-venture university established by Xi’an Jiaotong University in China and the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom.
XJTLU states that its degree programs are taught in English, except for general and basic courses. International undergraduate applications are submitted through the university’s online application system, with supporting documents uploaded electronically.
The current international undergraduate application and fee pages do not list a university application fee. The first university payment described in the application process is a nonrefundable RMB 10,000 deposit required after an applicant receives an unconditional offer. This deposit secures the student’s place and is deducted from tuition after enrollment.
Unlike USTC and Duke Kunshan University, XJTLU’s page does not expressly state that there is “no application fee.” It simply does not include one in the current application process. Applicants should therefore check the payment page in the application portal or contact the international admissions team before submitting an application.
XJTLU offers entry scholarships to academically strong international undergraduate applicants. Scholarship consideration is included in the program application, but students must indicate their interest and complete the relevant scholarship section.
Program-Specific Application Fee Waivers
The following universities normally charge application fees for at least some international applications. However, their official admissions materials publish fee waivers for particular programs or scholarship routes. Applicants should not interpret these waivers as university-wide no-fee policies.
5. Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School
Peking University School of Transnational Law is located at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School. The school offers a combined Juris Doctor and Juris Master program designed to provide instruction in both common law and Chinese law.
The official 2026 international JD/JM admission instructions state that the RMB 800 application fee is waived for students applying to Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School. Therefore, eligible applicants to this particular program do not have to pay the application fee stated for other Peking University international applications.
This waiver should not be applied to Peking University as a whole. Applicants to programs at the university’s main campus or another school must follow the fee instructions published for their chosen program.
6. Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University generally charges an RMB 800 application fee for international graduate applications. However, an exception is published for the Tsinghua University International Master’s Program in Nuclear Engineering and Management, commonly known as TUNEM.
According to the 2026 admission guide, applicants who apply only to TUNEM have their application fee waived because the program pays the fee on their behalf. Applicants who select TUNEM together with another program do not necessarily qualify for the waiver and must follow the payment instructions shown in the application system.
The TUNEM guide also provides information about the associated Chinese Government Scholarship program, which may cover tuition, on-campus accommodation, medical insurance, and a monthly stipend for successful recipients.
7. China University of Petroleum-Beijing
China University of Petroleum-Beijing is a specialist university with programs in petroleum engineering, natural resources, chemical engineering, environmental studies, management, and related subjects.
The university’s Chinese Government Scholarship instructions state that no university application fee is required for CSC Type A applications. Type A generally refers to scholarship applications submitted through an eligible dispatching authority, such as a government department or Chinese embassy, rather than directly through the university’s Type B scholarship route.
Studying abroad involves academic and nonacademic costs, and avoiding an application fee can help reduce the amount paid before receiving an admission decision. Because fee policies can change between admission cycles, always verify the latest requirements on the university’s official website before submitting an application.
We hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested in studying in Asia, check out valuable tips and insights on the Study in China page. If you are interested, browse the latest study programs on the Available Programs for International Students.
