Xiamen University (XMU), founded in 1921 by renowned patriotic overseas Chinese leader Mr. Tan Kah Kee, was the first Chinese university established by an overseas Chinese person. XMU has long been listed among China’s leading universities on the national 211 Project, 985 Project and Double First-Class Initiative, which have been launched by the Chinese government to support selected universities in achieving world-class standing. Nestled snugly between green hills and the blue sea, XMU is renowned as one of the most beautiful universities around the world for its excellent education facilities and beautiful environment.
Xiamen University currently comprises Siming Campus, Zhangzhou Campus, Xiang’an Campus and XMU Malaysia. XMU consists of a graduate school, six academic divisions, 34 schools and 17 research institutes. In 2022, six XMU disciplines –Chemistry, Marine Science, Biology, Ecology, Statistics and Pedagogy – were included in the nation’s list of disciplines for achieving world-class status. XMU ranks among ESI’s global top 1% in 19 disciplines, with chemistry, materials science and engineering in ESI’s global top 1‰. XMU currently has a faculty of nearly 3,000, of whom 74% are full or associate professors. Among them, 35 are the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. XMU currently has an enrollment of more than 46,000 students, including over 21,000 students in bachelor’s degree programs, 19,000 in master’s degree programs, and 5,700 in doctoral degree programs.
XMU implements a comprehensive global outreach strategy. The University has signed cooperation agreements with 270 overseas universities. Actively involved in international Chinese education, XMU has built 14 Confucius Institutes, one Chinese Language and Culture Research Center, 42 Confucius Classrooms in 12 countries on five continents, the highest numbers with the most extensive geographic coverage among Chinese universities on the List of “Double First-Class” Universities. he establishment of XMU Malaysia was approved in September 2013, which makes XMU the first Chinese university to open an international campus.
1. General Requirements
1) Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens generally under the age of 50 (as of September 1, 2025), be mentally and physically healthy, and possess a valid regular passport.
2) Applicants should be a graduating student of a master’s program or hold a Master Degree or above
3) Scholarship applicants should also meet the age limit requirements of respective scholarships.
2. Requirements about Nationalities
Foreign citizens of Chinese origin, including former Chinese citizens who have obtained foreign citizenship, as well as the non-Chinese descendants of present or former Chinese citizens, will have to follow the system instructions to fill in the basic information and upload the supporting documents based on the different citizenship status, and will be subject to a preliminary review of citizenship status by XMU during the admission stage and to verification of citizenship by the entry and exit administration department of China’s public security authorities. Applicants who fail to pass the preliminary review or verification of citizenship will be deemed to have forfeited their eligibility for admission, as well as the subsequent academic registration that they may obtain.
3. Language Proficiency Requirement
1) Chinese proficiency requirements for Chinese-medium programs
Ø Programs in Humanities, Economics, Management, Law, Arts: HSK 5 with a score of 210 or better
Ø Programs in Sciences, Engineering, Medicine and Physical Education: HSK 4 with a score of 210 or better
Ø OR Chinese-as-medium-of-instruction Certificate from previous university where Chinese is the primary language of instruction.
2) English proficiency requirements for English-medium programs
Ø TOEFL iBT Certificate: an overall minimum score of 80 (XMU's DI Code for TOEFL is C310)
Ø OR an IELTS Academic Certificate: an overall minimum score of 6.0
Ø OR English-as-medium-of-instruction Certificate from previous university where English is the primary language of instruction.
Ø OR other equivalent English proficiency certificates recognized by XMU
Ø Applicants from countries where English is the official language are exempt from this requirement.
Scholarship Category | Start Time | Deadline |
Chinese Government Scholarships | Dec. 1, 2024 | Feb. 15, 2025 |
PhD Fellowship under the China Studies Program | ||
Fujian Provincial Government Scholarship | Apr. 10, 2025 | |
Xiamen Tan Kah Kee Scholarship (Suspended) | ||
Sustainable Coastal Development Scholarship of XMU | ||
Xiamen University Scholarship for New students | ||
Self-funded | May 10, 2025 |
Notes: Beijing Time (GMT +08:00); Late applications will not be considered.
Applicants should apply through XMU Online Application System for international students at https://application.xmu.edu.cn and pay the application fee.
1. A scanned copy of the first page of the passport (regular passport, valid at least through October 31, 2025)
2. Birth Certificate
3. Parents’ Identity Documents
4. Degree Certificate and the Academic Transcripts
1) Bachelor Degree Certificate and Master Degree Certificate or above and the complete academic transcripts for both undergraduate and postgraduate studying.
2) Certificate of Expected Graduation for graduating students. Official Degree Certificate should be provided before the registration of the academic year.
3) Degree certificates obtained outside the Chinese Mainland should be notarized by the local notary public office.
4) The originals of the diplomas and certification documents should be made available upon registration for review.
5. Language Proficiency Certificate: marked under the “Application Requirements” section.
6. Two Letters of Recommendation from associate professors or above with information of the recommender’s names, employer, work position and contact information, signed by the recommender or with the stamp of the recommending organization.
7. Personal Statement (minimum 1,000 words), which should include a self-introduction, educational experience, motivations, study plan and career aspirations. It needs to be written in Chinese for Chinese-medium programs, in English for English-medium programs.
Note: Applicants for School of Economics or Wang Yanan Institute for Studies in Economics, please refer to【Writing Guidance】.
8. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
9. Pre-Acceptance Letter (optional). Priority of admission will be given to applicants have acquired the pre-acceptance letter signed by the supervisor and stamped by the college.
Link: https://admissions.xmu.edu.cn/info/1141/1969.htm
10. Physical Examination Record for Inbound Travelers including chest X-ray image, electrocardiogram, laboratory exam results and data sheets of some required items, with the lower part of the applicant’s photo stamped by the hospital. Physical examination results are valid for 6 months.
Link: https://admissions.xmu.edu.cn/info/1141/1745.htm
11. Financial Support Guarantee Statement and its supporting documents. Applicants for scholarships are not exempt from this requirement.
Link: https://admissions.xmu.edu.cn/info/1141/1744.htm
12. No Criminal Record Report. The applicants shall submit a valid No Criminal Record Report issued within 6 months before the date of submission of the application.
13. Personal portfolios such as videos and artworks, are REQUIRED for art applicants. Other supporting documents, such as publications, competition awards, merit certificates, scientific research activities, academic conference attendance, or special skills certificates, could be submitted in the “Other Supporting Materials” section in the application system as well.
Notes:
1. After the application is submitted, the applicant will not be able to modify the application information or application materials. Therefore, before submitting your application, please check carefully to ensure that the information and materials submitted are comprehensive, true and complete. Applications with inaccuracies or omissions will not be accepted by the University. Action for misconduct will be taken according to “Monitoring, complaints and action for misconduct”.
2. Any documents in a language other than Chinese or English should be accompanied by a notarized translation in Chinese or English.
3. In general, there is no need to mail original hard-copy materials through courier service. However, under extraordinary circumstances, the University reserves the rights to require applicants to mail original hard-copy documents for further review and identification. Application materials will not be returned under any circumstances.
1. Chinese-medium Doctoral Programs
https://admissions.xmu.edu.cn/Programs/Chinese_Medium_Doctoral.htm
2. English-medium Doctoral Programs
https://admissions.xmu.edu.cn/Programs/English_Medium_Doctoral.htm
1. Verification of qualification
There will be a holistic review of the applicant’s foreign citizenship, highest degree diploma, academic performance, language proficiency, research plan, recommendations, physical and mental health, etc.
2. Academic assessment
For applicants who pass the verification of qualifications, the relevant colleges or schools will conduct academic assessment, including evaluation of the application documents as well as a remote interview or written examination of the applicant. The academic assessment focuses on the applicant’s academic capabilities, communicative competence, overall merit, etc.
3. The admission decision will be made based on the verification of the applicant’s qualifications and academic assessment results, as well as their program choices. Applicants should log into XMU Online Application System regularly for notifications and the progress of application status, and keep their phones open and check their email accounts regularly. The outcome of application will be published on the application system in June or July.
1. Length of programs: 4 years
2. Maximum duration of study (including suspension and retainment of student status): 8 years
3. Time of enrolment: Autumn, usually in September. Students will be awarded a graduation certificate by XMU after they have completed all the courses prescribed in the academic scheme and have satisfied the graduation requirements within the duration of study prescribed by XMU. Those who have also satisfied the requirements for degree conferral will be conferred a Doctoral Degree by XMU.
Application Fee
RMB 400 (payable upon signing up online; non-refundable)
Tuition Fee
Program Category | Medium of Instruction | Length of Program (year) | Discipline Category (RMB/year) | |
Liberal Arts | Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Economics, Management, Law, Arts | |||
Doctoral Programs | Chinese | 4 | 30000 | 34000 |
English | 4 | 42000 | 55000 | |
Notes: Doctoral students will have the tuition waiver during the 4th academic year. Tuition fees are payable in RMB by academic year and do not include textbook fees. Tuition fees are subject to change without prior notice upon approval by price regulators.
Other Expenses
1. Accommodation
(1) Due to the limited availability of on-campus accommodation, priority will be given to students who are recipients of scholarships that include subsidies for on-campus accommodation. Surplus accommodation will be allotted to students who are recipients of scholarships with no subsidies for accommodation and self-funded students. Students with on-campus accommodation can live in on-campus housing until July 31 of the academic year.
(2) The apartments each have a twin-room on Siming campus. The apartments on Xiang’an campus are in suites, with each suite consisting of four twin-rooms. Each room is equipped with beds, desks and chairs, wardrobes, an air conditioner, a water heater, a bathroom (suites have a different bathroom arrangement), and Internet access (paid by students). Communal self-service washers and dryers and other equipment are also available.
(3) The accommodation fees (electricity and water not included) range from RMB 35 to 65 per person per day on Siming campus, from RMB 1,600 to 4,000 per academic year per person on Xiang’an campus, and from RMB 1,100 to 1,200 per academic year per person on Zhangzhou campus. Please refer to the updated notice.
(4) Students who cannot obtain on-campus accommodation are expected to arrange for their own off-campus accommodation before their arrival. The monthly rental fee for an apartment near Siming campus is around RMB 2,500/month.
(5) Recipients of Chinese Government Scholarships or International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarships that cover on-campus accommodation expenses can apply for an accommodation subsidy if they give up free on-campus accommodation and choose to live off campus. Please refer to the updates.
2. Food: approximately RMB 1,000 to 1,500/month
3. Medical Insurance: For the safety of international students in China, according to the regulations of the Chinese Ministry of Education and Xiamen University, international students are required to purchase medical insurance for an annual fee of RMB 800. Please refer to the enrolment instructions for detailed information of medical insurance.
Note:
1. For more information about accommodation, insurance or scholarship Stipend, please contact Overseas Students Affairs Office (OSAO, Tel:+ 86 (0)592 2183606, Email: osao@xmu.edu.cn).
2. Xiamen University follows tuition policies of the Chinese government strictly. Fee charging shall be carried on in accordance with regulations stipulated in the admission guidance. Do not trust any school fee payment notice other than the admission guidance and the enrollment instructions.
(I) Chinese Government Scholarships (CSC Type A)
1. Chinese Government Scholarships – Bilateral Programs
Applicants who are eligible for the “Chinese Government Scholarship – Country-Specific Bilateral Program” can submit the applications to their home country’s international student dispatching department or the education office of the Chinese embassy (consulate) in their home country. In general, the application period is from January to early April every year. However, application deadlines may vary from country to country. Please follow the updates of the local Chinese embassy (consulate).
2. MOFCOM Scholarship
MOFCOM Scholarship supports English medium graduate programs. Applicants can apply to the Economic and Commercial Counselor's Office (ECCO) of the local Chinese Embassy before May each year.
3. ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship (ACYLS)
This scholarship provides financial support for young professionals with work experience who are from ASEAN member countries and who are studying for a master’s or doctoral degree, receiving short-term advanced training, or participating in short-term group training programs. Applicants can apply to the ACYLS national focal points from early January to early April.
(II) Chinese Government Scholarships (CSC Type B)
Eligible applicants should submit their applications for admission and scholarships through XMU Online Application System for international students (application.xmu.edu.cn) within the application period specified in the prospectus; they should also register on the “Chinese Government Scholarship Information System” (studyinchina.csc.edu.cn). Agency No. XMU: 10384.
1. Chinese Government Scholarship University Programs
Xiamen University, as an enrolling institution under the Chinese Government Scholarship Programs, admits students from around the world who are recipients of such scholarships. XMU will submits information on such students to the China Scholarship Council for approval.
2. Chinese Government Marine Scholarship
This scholarship is open to international students from countries around the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean and on the Pacific Rim and islands, as well as from developing countries in Africa and the Americas, who wish to come to China to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in a marine-related field. Preference will be given to those working in the marine industry or other related industries.
(III) PhD Fellowship under the China Studies Program
This fellowship is intended to support the training of doctoral students in the fields of Sinology and China studies, in relation to training programs in China, cooperation for international academic seminars, promotion of translation and publication of works in related fields, and enhancing exchanges and cooperation among scholars. Within the application period specified in the admissions prospectus, eligible applicants may submit their applications for admission and the fellowship through XMU Online Application System for international students (application.xmu.edu.cn) and China Studies Program PhD fellowship System (ccsp.chinese.cn) with Xiamen University as the institution of choice.
(IV) Fujian Provincial Government Scholarship for International Students
The Scholarship is open to international students who wish to study in degree programs in Fujian Province. It is available only for one academic year and amounts to RMB 30,000 for undergraduates, RMB 40,000 for master’s students and RMB 50,000 for doctoral students. The University will select the best candidates from the pool of students who have passed the annual review. The shortlisted students will be recommended for the renewal of the scholarship in the subsequent year. Applicants should submit their applications for admission and the scholarship through XMU Online Application System for international students (application.xmu.edu.cn) within the application period specified in the admission prospectus.
(V) Xiamen Tan Kah Kee Scholarship (Suspended)
This scholarship was set up by Xiamen Tan Kah Kee Education Foundation in 2017 as part of its efforts to foster the Tan Kah Kee spirit in entrepreneurship and dedication to education. The scholarship is open to international students of Chinese descent from countries along the Maritime Silk Road who wish to study in undergraduate, Master’s or doctoral Programs. Applicants should submit their applications for admission and the scholarship through XMU Online Application System for international students (application.xmu.edu.cn) within the application period specified in the admission prospectus.
(VI) Xiamen University Scholarship for New International Students
XMU offers scholarships to doctoral, master’s and undergraduate candidates. Scholarship recipients will have their tuitions covered. Moreover, monthly living allowances will be provided to outstanding postgraduates in accordance with the standards of Chinese Government Scholarships. Applicants should submit their applications for admission and the scholarship through XMU Online Application System for international students (application.xmu.edu.cn).
Notes:
1. This admission guide may be adjusted according to the latest notice of scholarship authorities and so please refer to the latest version under “Scholarships” section on https://admissions.xmu.edu.cn.
2. According to the XMU’s Guidelines on Selecting Candidates for International Students Scholarships, the University will follow the principle of formality, equality and impartiality and select the best candidates from the pool of qualified and admitted students. The shortlisted candidates will be submitted to the university and the relevant scholarship authorities for final approval. The scholarship recipients will be assessed on an annual basis in accordance with the relevant scholarship regulations and only those meeting the required standards will have their scholarship renewed for the subsequent year. Those who fail in the review will no longer be eligible for the scholarship.
1. Required by the competent department, the information related to application and admission will be published on XMU Admissions Web (https://admissions.xmu.edu.cn) or websites of relevant schools. Beware of any fake news from other sources.
2.Under the guidance of the University’s Student Recruitment Leadership Group, XMU’s international student recruitment is jointly conducted by its Admissions Office and the relevant schools/colleges and is subject to the monitoring of the University’s Supervision Division (Tel: +86 (0)592 2186219).
3. Applicants are responsible for the truthfulness and accuracy of the information and documents they have submitted. Failure to meet the admission regulations for international students or any falsification or misrepresentation, whenever it is confirmed, will result in disqualification of application, enrollment, student status, graduation and degrees awarded in accordance with the regulations of the educational authorities and the University.
Office of Admissions and Examination, Xiamen University (Dealing with the Degree Programs’ applications)
Tel: +86 (0) 592 2184792, 2188375
Fax: +86 (0) 592 2180256
Email: admissions@xmu.edu.cn
Website: https://admissions.xmu.edu.cn
Chinese International Education College/Overseas Education College(Dealing with the Non-degree Chinese Language Programs’ applications)
Tel: +86 (0) 592 2186211
Fax: +86 (0) 592 2093346
Email: oec@xmu.edu.cn
Website: https://oec.xmu.edu.cn
XMU Overseas Students Affairs Office (Dealing with the international students management)
Tel: +86 (0) 592 2183606
Fax: +86 (0) 592 2186589
Email: osao@xmu.edu.cn
Website: https://xsc.xmu.edu.cn
HSK Test – Xiamen University Test Center
Tel: +86 (0) 592 2187478
Fax: +86 (0) 592 2093346
Website: https://www.chinesetest.cn
Office of Admissions and Examination, Xiamen University (Dealing with the Degree Programs’ applications)
Tel: +86 (0) 592 2184792, 2188375
Fax: +86 (0) 592 2180256
Email: admissions@xmu.edu.cn
Website: http://admissions.xmu.edu.cn
Chinese International Education College/Overseas Education College (Dealing with the Non-degree Chinese Language Programs’ applications)
Tel: +86 (0) 592 2186211
Fax: +86 (0) 592 2093346
Email: oec@xmu.edu.cn
Website: http://oec.xmu.edu.cn
XMU Overseas Students Affairs Office (Dealing with the international students management)
Tel: +86 (0) 592 2183606
Fax: +86 (0) 592 2186589
Email: osao@xmu.edu.cn
Website: http://xsc.xmu.edu.cn
HSK Test – Xiamen University Test Center
Tel: +86 (0) 592 2187478
Fax: +86 (0) 592 2093346
Website: http://www.chinesetest.cn
★ The English version of this Guide is provided for reference and as a general guide ONLY. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese versions, the Chinese version shall prevail. The Guide may not be reproduced without authorization.
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