China has attracted international students for years. If you are comparing Asian destinations for a nursing degree, China can be worth considering because it combines medical universities, a broad range of nursing programs, and relatively moderate study costs. From living expenses to the cost of tuition, costs are often lower than in many Western destinations, although fees vary by university, city, and program. To reduce expenses, check official scholarship options from the Chinese government, local governments, and individual universities.
Not only can it be affordable, but many Chinese universities also offer structured nursing education at different levels. Basic nursing education in China has historically included diploma, advanced diploma, and bachelor’s routes, while universities may also offer master’s and doctoral nursing programs. Some universities offer English-medium nursing programs for international students, but not every university does; always confirm the language of instruction in the current admission guide. If you want to study nursing in Chinese, you will normally need to meet the university’s HSK requirement.
China can also offer career possibilities after graduation, but employment is not automatic. Upon earning a degree, you may find opportunities in hospitals, clinics, and community health institutions. However, graduates who want to work as nurses in China generally need to meet nurse registration requirements, pass the national nurse practice qualification examination when eligible, obtain nurse practice registration, and hold the proper work authorization and residence status. A university degree, by itself, does not guarantee a nursing job or a 100% employment rate. If you have decided on studying nursing in China, here’s what you need to do:
Steps on How to Apply for a Nursing Program in China
1. Before Studying Nursing in China, Know the Prerequisites to Become a Nurse
As an international student who wishes to study nursing in China, the requirements are generally manageable, but they vary by university, program level, and language of instruction. For bachelor’s nursing programs, universities commonly expect applicants to be non-Chinese citizens with valid foreign passports, in good physical and mental health, and high school graduates or soon-to-graduate students. Age rules differ by institution; recent undergraduate brochures commonly set an 18 to 25 age range for bachelor’s applicants, while some universities or graduate programs have different limits. Science subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology may also be reviewed.
As you know, being a nurse requires you to be physically and mentally healthy, which is why schools often ask for a medical certificate or Foreigner Physical Examination Form. They may also ask for a passport, academic transcripts, a diploma or pre-graduation certificate, language proof, and sometimes a non-criminal record certificate. In China, nursing education can include several routes, including diploma, advanced diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral study, depending on the institution.
The requirements for studying nursing in China mentioned above are only general. It is best to check each nursing school’s current admission guide for its specific criteria. For example, Jilin University publishes updated annual admission guides for international students, so applicants should use the latest guide rather than relying on older admission pages.
If you plan to take a Chinese-medium course, universities commonly require an HSK certificate; some current undergraduate guides require HSK Level 4 with a minimum score of 180 for Chinese-taught programs. For English-medium nursing programs, requirements may include IELTS, TOEFL, previous English-medium study, or an interview. Requirements differ by school, so use the current official admission brochure for the program you choose.
Step 2. Do Your Research on Nursing Schools in China
There are numerous factors you need to take into consideration when choosing where to study nursing in China. The first thing you should check is whether the nursing program is currently open to international students, whether it is taught in English or Chinese, and whether it includes clinical training or an internship. You may also want to look at the school’s hospital affiliations, support for international students, scholarship options, total annual costs, and how the program prepares students for nursing practice requirements.
You want to be in a school where you will feel confident and supported throughout your studies. The next thing to ask yourself is where you want to live in China. Depending on your lifestyle and budget, you can narrow down the most suitable location for you. Once you have chosen the city, it will be easier to find the nursing school that fits your academic goals and financial situation.
Step 3. Fulfill the Chinese and English Requirements
Although some nursing schools in China offer an English-medium nursing curriculum, knowing Chinese is still highly beneficial for everyday life and clinical practice. For example, Xuzhou Medical University’s English-medium Bachelor Program in Nursing lists a four-year duration with a one-year internship and requires non-English-speaking applicants to have IELTS above 6.0 with 5.5 or above in each item, a comparable English certificate, proof of previous English-medium study, or an online interview. At Jinzhou Medical University, the guide lists Nursing as a Chinese-taught undergraduate program; Chinese-taught applicants are expected to hold HSK Level 4 with a score of at least 180, while English-taught undergraduate programs require TOEFL 70+ with section scores of 15+ or IELTS 6.0+ with section scores of 5.0+, unless the applicant qualifies for an English-language exemption.
Step 4. Prepare Financially
Among the many factors to consider is the cost of tuition and your financial capacity. If your budget meets the cost, then you are good to go. One of the reasons international students consider China is that tuition can be lower than in many European countries and the United States. Food, rent, and other personal expenses can also be more affordable, but costs vary widely by city and lifestyle.
The cost of tuition depends on the city, university, program level, and language of instruction. Recent official examples for nursing or medical undergraduate programs range from about RMB 20,000 to RMB 38,000 per academic year, which is roughly USD $2,900 to $5,600 at recent exchange rates. For example, Xuzhou Medical University’s English-medium Bachelor Program in Nursing lists tuition of RMB 30,000 per academic year.
Step 5. Put Together Your Application to Study Nursing in China
Location and school are all checked. Now it is time to prepare the documents needed to submit to the school in order to study nursing in China. Most schools require similar documents, but it is advisable to check the school’s official website and current admission brochure for details.
At Jilin University, applicants should use the latest annual admission PDF linked on the university’s official international undergraduate admissions page. In general, current Chinese university applications may ask for a passport information page, senior high school diploma or pre-graduation certificate, transcripts, language certificates such as HSK, TOEFL, or IELTS when required, a Foreigner Physical Examination Form, a non-criminal record certificate, financial documents or application fee records if required, and any additional materials requested by the program.
Some universities and scholarship routes may also require a China Scholastic Competency Assessment score for bachelor’s programs, so check whether this applies before applying.
When you have prepared all these documents, you can then proceed with your online application.
Step 6. Submit Your Application to the List of Nursing Schools
Head over to your preferred school’s website and use its current application system. To give a summary, here is an example from Guangxi Medical University. The university posts current admission guidelines through its School of International Education and provides an online application link on its official international admissions website. Instead of relying on older mail-or-email instructions, confirm the current application portal, documents, deadline, and payment instructions in the latest handbook.
After submission, the university reviews your documents and may require an interview, entrance examination, fee payment, or additional documents before issuing admission results and visa materials. If you are accepted, the university will send admission information and the documents needed for your student visa application.
Step 7. Put Together Materials for a Student Visa in China
If you have successfully passed the university’s application process, congratulations! You can focus on getting a student visa, which is also an essential part of studying nursing in China. First, check the Chinese embassy, consulate, or China Visa Application Centers serving your country. Visa requirements and fees can vary by location, and the consular officer may request extra materials or an interview. Start early enough to receive your admission notice and JW201 or JW202 form before departure.
For degree study lasting more than 180 days, you generally apply for an X1 visa; short-term study of 180 days or less generally uses an X2 visa. The usual X visa materials include a passport with at least six months of validity and blank visa pages, a completed visa application form with a recent photo, proof of legal stay if applying outside your country of citizenship, the admission notice, and the Visa Application for Study in China form. X1 visa holders must apply for a residence permit within 30 days after entering China. Standard processing commonly takes about four working days after the application is accepted, while express or rush service, where available, can be faster. Fees and expedited-service availability vary by country and visa center, so do not assume a fixed USD $20 charge.
We hope that this article on studying nursing in China was helpful. For more information, make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!
