Xiamen University (XMU) is a public university in Fujian province, founded in 1921 by the overseas Chinese leader Tan Kah Kee. It has more than 48,000 students.[1] It is ranked joint 303rd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 341st in 2026, according to a ranking aggregator that republishes QS tables.[2]
Annual tuition for international students is RMB 24,000 to 26,000 for Chinese-taught bachelor’s programmes and RMB 26,000 to 30,000 for Chinese-taught master’s programmes. English-taught master’s programmes cost RMB 39,000 to 45,000 and English-taught PhDs RMB 42,000 to 55,000.[3] Chinese-taught programmes need HSK 4 or 5 with at least 210 points; English-taught programmes need TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.0.[1]
Key facts
| Official name | Xiamen University (厦门大学), abbreviated XMU |
| Location | Xiamen, Fujian, China; campuses at Siming, Zhangzhou and Xiang’an, plus a separate Malaysia campus[1] |
| Type | Public comprehensive research university, affiliated with the Ministry of Education; Project 211, Project 985 and Double First-Class[4] |
| Founded | 6 April 1921, by Tan Kah Kee[4] |
| Students | More than 48,000: over 21,700 bachelor’s, 20,000 master’s and 6,800 doctoral students[1] |
| Faculty | Nearly 3,000, of whom 73% are full or associate professors[1] |
| Structure | A graduate school, six academic divisions, 36 schools and 18 research institutes[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | =303 (341st in 2026)[2] |
| Tuition, Chinese-taught bachelor’s | RMB 24,000 (humanities) · RMB 26,000 (all other fields) per year[3] |
| Tuition, Chinese-taught master’s and PhD | Master’s RMB 26,000–30,000 · PhD RMB 30,000–34,000 per year[3] |
| Tuition, English-taught | Master’s RMB 39,000–45,000 · PhD RMB 42,000–55,000 · MBBS RMB 38,000 · design programmes RMB 90,000 per year[3] |
| Application fee | RMB 400, non-refundable[3] |
| Medical insurance | RMB 800 per year, compulsory for international students[1] |
| Official website | admissions.xmu.edu.cn |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Xiamen University
Xiamen University was founded on 6 April 1921 by Tan Kah Kee, a Chinese businessman based in Singapore.[4] Its admissions office calls it the first Chinese university established by an overseas Chinese person.[1] It belongs to Project 211, Project 985 and the Double First-Class programme, the Chinese government schemes that fund selected universities.[1]
The university has three campuses in China (Siming in Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Xiang’an) and a Malaysian campus.[1] It reports 36 schools, 18 research institutes and 19 disciplines in the top 1% of the Essential Science Indicators (ESI) database, with chemistry and materials science and engineering in the top 1‰.[1]
How is Xiamen University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, Xiamen University is joint 303rd in the world. In 2026 it was 341st, so it rose by 38 places.[2] We could not read the QS table itself (topuniversities.com blocks automated access), so the figure comes from a ranking aggregator that republishes it. Wikipedia’s ranking table shows 303 but labels it “2026” while its text says 341st, so its labelling is inconsistent.[4][2]
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Xiamen University?
XMU offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes to international students in Chinese or English. The undergraduate guide describes a large-category model: students take general courses in the lower years and begin their major in the second year.[1]
- English-medium bachelor’s: only four programmes are listed: Clinical Medicine (MBBS, six years, Xiang’an campus) and, at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation on the Zhangzhou campus, Environmental Design, Visual Communication Design and Digital Media Art (four years).[5]
- English-medium master’s (two years): for example Applied Economics, Theoretical Economics, Fiscal and Tax Law, International Law, Finance, Accounting, International Relations, Chemical Engineering and Technology and Chemistry.[6]
- English-medium PhD (four years): for example Applied Economics, Theoretical Economics, Finance, Accounting, International Law, Marine Affairs, Electronics Science and Technology, Marine Geology and Marine Chemistry.[7]
- Chinese-medium programmes: a much wider list across materials, film, electronic engineering, law, public affairs, public health, management and more; bachelor’s programmes last 4 to 5 years.[1]
How much does Xiamen University cost for international students?
| Programme | Language | Length | Tuition per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s, common programmes | Chinese | 4–5 years | RMB 24,000 (liberal arts) · RMB 26,000 (other fields) |
| Bachelor’s, Chinese Language (Overseas Education College) | Chinese | 3–4 years | RMB 26,000 |
| Bachelor’s, Clinical Medicine (MBBS) | English | 6 years | RMB 38,000 |
| Bachelor’s, Visual Communication, Environmental Design, Digital Media Art | English | 4 years | RMB 90,000 |
| Master’s, common programmes | Chinese | 3 years | RMB 26,000 (liberal arts) · RMB 30,000 (other fields) |
| Master’s, international programmes | English | 2 years | RMB 39,000 (liberal arts) · RMB 45,000 (other fields) |
| Master of International Chinese Language Education | Chinese | 2 years | RMB 30,000 |
| PhD, common programmes | Chinese | 4 years | RMB 30,000 (liberal arts) · RMB 34,000 (other fields) |
| PhD, international programmes | English | 4 years | RMB 42,000 · RMB 55,000 |
These are the study-cost tables of the XMU admissions office for the 2027 intake guides; they give no academic year and say fees may change with the approval of the price regulators. Doctoral students are exempt from tuition in the fourth year. Textbooks cost about RMB 400 to 700 a year.[3][1]
Other costs and scholarships
The application fee is RMB 400 and non-refundable. Medical insurance is compulsory at RMB 800 a year, and food is about RMB 1,000 to 1,500 a month.[1] On-campus rooms are limited and go first to scholarship holders: on the Siming campus twin rooms cost RMB 35 to 65 per person per day, on the Xiang’an campus RMB 1,200 to 4,000 per person per academic year and on the Zhangzhou campus RMB 1,100 to 1,200.[1] The admissions office lists the Chinese Government Scholarship (Type B), the Fujian Provincial Government Scholarship and the Xiamen University Scholarship for New Students among its scholarship categories.[1] For rent and living costs, see our Study in China guide.
How do you apply to Xiamen University?
Apply through the XMU online application system for international students at application.xmu.edu.cn and pay the application fee.[1]
- Bachelor’s: applicants must be non-Chinese citizens aged 18 to 30 (on 1 September 2027), healthy, and hold a senior-high-school diploma or be about to graduate. You upload passport, diploma and transcripts, a minimum 800-word personal statement, a recommendation letter, a medical record, a financial guarantee and a CSCA score report. The CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) is a standardised test for international applicants.[1]
- Master’s: non-Chinese citizens, generally under 45, who hold or are about to earn a bachelor’s degree.[8]
- PhD: non-Chinese citizens, generally under 50, who hold or are about to earn a master’s degree.[9]
After a qualification check, the relevant college assesses your documents and, if necessary, holds a remote interview or written examination.[1] We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by scholarship category; the guides list a separate window for each. Check the current guide before you start.[1]
Which language level do you need?
HSK is the Chinese proficiency test; its levels run from 1 to 6. For Chinese-medium programmes XMU asks for HSK 5 with at least 210 points in humanities, economics, management, law and arts, and HSK 4 with at least 210 points in sciences, engineering, medicine and physical education. A certificate that Chinese was the main language of instruction at your previous school can replace the HSK.[1]
For English-medium programmes you need a TOEFL iBT score of at least 80 or an IELTS Academic score of at least 6.0, or an English-as-medium-of-instruction certificate from your previous school. Applicants from countries where English is an official language are exempt. The same thresholds apply at master’s and doctoral level.[1][8][9]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is tuition at Xiamen University for international students?
Chinese-taught bachelor’s programmes cost RMB 24,000 to 26,000 a year and master’s programmes RMB 26,000 to 30,000. English-taught master’s programmes cost RMB 39,000 to 45,000 a year and English-taught PhDs RMB 42,000 to 55,000.[3]
Can I study in English at Xiamen University?
What HSK level does Xiamen University require?
HSK 5 with at least 210 points for humanities, economics, management, law and arts, and HSK 4 with at least 210 points for sciences, engineering, medicine and physical education.[1]
How is Xiamen University ranked?
Joint 303rd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 341st in 2026.[2]
Is Xiamen University the same as Xiamen University Malaysia?
No. XMU lists XMU Malaysia as a separate campus of the university; this page covers the China admissions only.[1]
More about studying in China
- China: best universities
- Study in China: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in China
- Beijing Institute of Technology
- Beijing Normal University
- Fudan University
- Harbin Institute of Technology
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology
- Nanjing University
- Nankai University
- Peking University
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Sichuan University
- Southeast University
- Sun Yat-sen University
- Tianjin University
- Tongji University
- Tsinghua University
- University of Science and Technology of China
- Wuhan University
- Xi’an Jiaotong University
- Zhejiang University
Sources
[1] Xiamen University Admissions Office: Undergraduate Students (2027 Admission Guide) (page without a date; guide for entry in 2027)
[2] Xuanxiao: Xiamen University (QS rank by edition; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (data fetched 3 Nov 2026; QS 2027 edition released 18 Jun 2026)
[3] Xiamen University Admissions Office: Costs (page without a date; tuition per academic year in RMB)
[4] Wikipedia: Xiamen University (founding date, affiliation and campuses)
[5] Xiamen University Admissions Office: English-Medium Bachelor’s programmes (page without a date)
[6] Xiamen University Admissions Office: English-Medium Master’s programmes (page without a date)
[7] Xiamen University Admissions Office: English-Medium Doctoral programmes (page without a date)
[8] Xiamen University Admissions Office: Master’s Students (2027 Admission Guide) (page without a date; guide for entry in 2027)
[9] Xiamen University Admissions Office: Doctoral Students (2027 Admission Guide) (page without a date; guide for entry in 2027)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.