Sun Yat-sen University

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.

About Sun Yat-sen University

SYSU was founded in 1924 by Sun Yat-sen as National Kwangtung University in Guangzhou (then Canton). It was renamed National Sun Yat-sen University in 1926 and dropped “National” from its name in 1949.^[1] In November 2024 China’s President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter for the university’s centenary.^[2]

The university is co-funded by the Ministry of Education, SASTIND and the Guangdong provincial government and belongs to Project 985, Project 211 and the Double First-Class Construction.^[1] Its five campuses are Guangzhou South (the oldest), Guangzhou North (medicine), Guangzhou East (opened in 2004), Zhuhai (the largest) and Shenzhen (completed in 2023).^[2]

The university’s site speaks of 7 faculties and 67 schools and departments, and elsewhere of 70; it lists 22 academicians, 8 medical schools and 10 affiliated hospitals.^[2] Student numbers vary by source: Times Higher Education lists 67,481 full-time-equivalent students,^[3] while Wikipedia gives 65,638 full-time students for 2018 and an infobox with 34,096 undergraduates and 37,008 postgraduates, no year given.^[1] We use the THE figure because it states its basis.

How is Sun Yat-sen University ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, SYSU is joint 258th, up from =276th in 2026 and 331st in 2025.^[3][4] We found no Chinese press report that names SYSU explicitly, so the figure rests on two ranking-data sites that agree.

Times Higher Education 2027 places SYSU =205th and ShanghaiRanking’s ARWU 2026 62nd.^[3] Rankings use different indicators, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings. See also the China ranking.

What can you study at Sun Yat-sen University?

International students can apply for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, non-degree and pre-university programmes.^[8] The programme catalogue for each level is attached to the enrolment guide: the 2026 bachelor’s catalogue is Attachment 1 of the bachelor’s guide.^[5] Which programmes are taught in Chinese and which in English is listed there; the guides name Chinese-taught and English-taught tracks for master’s and doctoral level.^[6][7]

The university site mentions programmes in the School of Foreign Languages, Lingnan College and the School of Artificial Intelligence, and strengths in marine and environmental science on the Zhuhai campus and emerging engineering and medical fields in Shenzhen.^[2]

How much does Sun Yat-sen University cost for international students?

These are per student per academic year for the 2026 intake. The guides add that tuition is subject to the university’s official annual fee announcement.^[5][6][7] The IMBA costs CNY 109,000.^[6]

Other costs

The application fee is CNY 400 and not refundable; compulsory medical insurance is CNY 800 per year.^[5] For living costs in Guangzhou, see our Study in China guide.

Scholarships

SYSU’s guides list the Chinese Government Scholarship (Bilateral Program, Silk Road Program and, for graduates, the High-Level Graduate and Atomic Energy programmes), the Guangdong Government Outstanding International Student Scholarship (a one-off CNY 10,000 for bachelor’s, 20,000 for master’s and 30,000 for doctoral students) and the SYSU Scholarship for International Students, which needs a recommendation from a home-country agency or a recognised recruitment ambassador.^[5][6][7]

How do you apply to Sun Yat-sen University?

• Bachelor’s: take the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) and obtain a score, register and apply online, upload the signed application information form, pay the CNY 400 fee, take the qualification review and interview, and check the preliminary result about 15 days later.^[5]
• Master’s: you need a bachelor’s degree; apply through the same online system, upload the signed form with a commitment letter and proof of financial support, pay the fee and attend an interview.^[6]
• Doctorate: you need a degree equivalent to a Chinese master’s; the documents include two recommendation letters and a study plan of about 6,000 words.^[7]

Admission letters for the 2026 intake were issued gradually from July 2026.^[5] Application rounds change each year, so we list no deadlines. The 2026 enrolment guide was posted on the International Students Office site on 28 July 2026; check it for the current cycle.^[8]

Which language level do you need?

For Chinese-taught programmes SYSU asks for HSK level 5 with at least 180 points (the Chinese-language programme asks for HSK level 4 with at least 180). The Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages needs HSK 5 with at least 210 plus an intermediate HSKK score of at least 60. A school-issued certificate of Chinese-medium instruction can waive the HSK after SYSU verifies it.^[5][6]

For English-taught master’s and doctoral programmes non-native speakers need a TOEFL iBT total of at least 79 with at least 15 in each section, or IELTS Academic overall 6.5 with no component below 5.5. A verified certificate of English-medium instruction can waive the test, and individual programmes may set their own requirements.^[6][7] The bachelor’s guide does not specify an English test; interviews assess language ability and the programme catalogue states the language of each programme.^[5]

More about studying in China

• China: best universities
• Study in China: complete guide
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

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