2025 Enrollment Guidelines for SYSU International Students(Bachelor’s Degree)

2025 Enrollment Guidelines for SYSU International Students(Bachelor’s Degree)

　　Founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a famous Chinese revolutionist, Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) has an educational tradition spanning over 100 years. As a university directly affiliated with the Ministry of Education of China and with the strong support of the Ministry of Education of China and Guangdong Province, SYSU has become a first-class modern comprehensive university, renowned both in China and in the world. Composed of five campuses located in the three cities of Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Shenzhen, and ten affiliated hospitals, SYSU is marching towards a world-class university and striving to become a global academic center.

　　SYSU promotes a culture of academic excellence and encourages students to “study at SYSU, strive for excellence”. It implements a management framework and provides services for international students akin to those provided for Chinese students, including regular national conditions education lectures, field trips, social practice activities, and exchange activities for international students in Guangdong to develop outstanding international talents with integrated knowledge.

　　I. Eligibility

　　1. Applicants shall be of non-Chinese nationality and hold a valid foreign passport. They are required to fulfill the requirements outlined in the Notice on the Regulations of Chinese Universities’ Acceptance of International Students ([2020] No.12):

　　Applicants whose parents are both Chinese nationals or one parent is a Chinese national, both or one of whom have settled abroad, and who obtained foreign nationality at birth without holding Chinese nationality shall meet the following requirements to apply as international students: (1) possess a valid foreign passport or proof of nationality for at least four years (inclusive) by April 30, 2025; (2) have a documented history of residing in a foreign country for at least two cumulative years between May 1, 2021, and April 30, 2025. A stay of nine months within a year in the foreign country qualifies as one full year, based on entry and exit records.

　　Applicants from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan, who intend to apply as international students after immigrating and acquiring foreign nationality, shall have obtained their foreign nationality before May 1, 2021. They shall also provide proof of residing abroad for at least two years between May 1, 2021, and April 30, 2025. A stay of nine months within a year in the foreign country qualifies as one full year, based on entry and exit records.

　　2. Applicants shall maintain good health and satisfy the physical standards necessary for applying for a student visa or residence permit.

　　3. Applicants shall possess a high school diploma or its equivalent qualification as a minimum academic requirement.

　　4. Applicants shall demonstrate friendliness toward China, diligence in their studies, excellent academic performance, good moral character, and compliance with laws and regulations. They must have no record of school disciplinary violations, security penalties, or criminal offenses.

　　5. Language proficiency

　　Applicants shall possess an HSK (Level V) certificate with a score of 180 points or above). Those applying for a bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language are required to hold an HSK (Level IV) certificate with a score of 180 points or above. Applicants who have completed their previous degree in Chinese as the language of instruction may submit a Chinese language proficiency certificate issued by their former institution. Upon verification by SYSU, these applicants may be exempted from submitting HSK certificates.

　　6. Applicants under the age of 18 as of September 1, 2025, are required to submit a guardian’s letter of assurance. Applicants of scholarships should meet the age requirement of the scholarship.

　　II. Application Deadline

　　April 25, 2025

　　Please refer to the scholarship application guides at the website of International Students’ Affairs of SYSU (https://iso.sysu.edu.cn/cn/jxjxm/index.htm) for the deadline of scholarships application.

　　III. Application Procedure

　　Applicants shall visit the website of the Office of International Students’ Affairs of Sun Yat-sen University (http://iso.sysu.edu.cn), click on “APPLY ONLINE” to access the “International Student Management System”, and then select “Account Registration” to create an individual account. After registration, applicants can log in via “Account Login” to re-enter the “International Student Management System”. They shall then choose the “Belt and Road” Scholarship Program for International Students (Bachelor’s Degree), and upload the following application documents accurately and completely as required:

　　1. Valid ordinary passport and personal profile photo

　　Passports must remain valid beyond December 1, 2025. Applicants who do not meet the requirements shall renew their passports promptly. Applicants residing in China during the application process shall provide a scanned copy of passport pages showing the Chinese visa or residence permit, as well as the entry seal.

　　2. High school graduation certificate

　　Applicants in their final year of high school shall submit a pre-graduation certificate issued by their school as part of the application process. After obtaining their high school graduation certificate, they are required to resubmit it. Failure to provide the high school graduation certificate before enrolling at SYSU will result in the cancellation of their admission qualifications.

　　3. Proof of financial status

　　The applicant shall submit proof of deposit balance issued by a bank, amounting to RMB 100,000 or more. If the bank account is not owned by the applicant, proof of relationship with the financial guarantor (such as birth certificate, household registration booklet, and notarized documents) must be submitted at the same time.

　　4. Two Recommendation Letters

　　The recommendation letters shall, in principle, be written respectively by the headmaster and a teacher of the applicant’s high school (template provided in Attachment 1). Applicants for the “Belt and Road” Scholarship are also required to submit a recommendation letter issued by the designated institution in their country of origin.

　　5. Transcripts: Applicants shall submit standardized test transcripts and complete academic transcripts issued by the institution granting their highest level of education.

　　Standardized test transcripts include standard high school graduation test transcripts, college entrance exam transcripts, and transcripts from international standardized tests such as SAT/ ACT/ A-Level/ IB, etc.

　　Applicants in their final year of high school may submit their most recent transcript issued by their high school and resubmit a complete high school transcript after graduating. Failure to provide the complete high school transcript before enrolling at SYSU will result in the cancellation of their admission qualifications.

　　6. Chinese language proficiency certificate

　　Applicants shall submit a valid certificate of Chinese language proficiency (HSK) or proof of completing courses instructed in Chinese language.

　　7. Plan of Study and Research in China

　　The Plan of Study and Research in China shall include self-introduction, academic background, interests, study goals, reasons for applying, and career plans after graduation (template provided in Attachment 2).

　　8. Physical examination and blood test results

　　Applicants shall submit scanned copies of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form, chest X-ray, ECG, and laboratory test reports for specific items, all stamped by the issuing hospital and within six months prior to the date of submission (template provided in Attachment 3).

　　Applicants over 18 years old currently residing in the Chinese mainland with a valid foreigner’s residence permit or permanent residence ID card may substitute either of these documents for the Foreigner Physical Examination Form.

　　9. Birth Certificate

　　10. Documents certifying the nationality or household registration of the applicant and his/her parents

　　11.1 Applicants who were residents of Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region, or Taiwan before acquiring foreign citizenship shall provide the following documentation:

　　(1) Proof of household registration cancellation or withdrawal of Chinese nationality, or an official certificate of non-Chinese nationality issued by the Chinese diplomatic representation and consular authorities, as well as the Statement of Integrity Regarding Household Registration Status (template provided in Attachment 4);

　　(2) Proof of acquiring foreign nationality;

　　(3) Entry and exit records spanning from May 1, 2021, to April 30, 2025.

　　11.2 Applicants who obtained foreign nationality at birth in a foreign country, whose one or both parents are Chinese citizens, shall submit the following documents:

　　(1) Birth certificate or family register to prove the family relationship;

　　(2) Proof of acquisition of foreign citizenship at birth and the Statement of Integrity Regarding Household Registration Status (see Attachment 4);

　　(3) Documentation verifying the Chinese parent’s permanent residence status in the foreign country before the applicant’s birth; for those applicant’s parents who haven’t obtained the permanent residence status in the foreign country, a certificate showing the withdrawal of the applicant of Chinese nationality shall be provided.

　　(4) Entry and exit records from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2025.

　　12. Certificate of Non-criminal Record

　　Applicants shall submit a valid non-criminal record issued by local authorities; the document shall be issued within six months before the date of application submission.

　　13. Guardianship guarantee and notarized certificate

　　For applicants under 18 by September 1, 2025, a guardian’s guarantee and notarized certificate are required. The designated guardian shall be an adult residing in Guangdong, China.

　　14. Scholarship application form

　　Applicants who have achieved grades categorized as “good” level or above grades in all high school courses are eligible to apply for other scholarships after being admitted.

　　15. Supporting documents

　　Applicants can submit award certificates or proof of experience as additional supporting documents.

　　16. Letter of Commitment

　　Applicants must certify that all application information provided is true, legal and valid. They shall print, sign, and upload the signed Letter of Commitment to the system. (template provided in Attachment 5).

　　17. Personal Information Form

　　The Personal Information Form will be automatically generated by the International Student Management System. Applicants shall print, sign, and upload the signed form to the system.

　　Note:

　　Application documents shall be original and in either Chinese or English. For documents in other languages, both the original documents and their notarized Chinese or English translations shall be provided. Translations must be authenticated by either the Hague Apostille Convention or a Chinese embassy or consulate.

　　Applicants shall ensure the accuracy of the email address, WeChat account number, and contact phone number entered in the application system.

　　Notification regarding supplementary materials will be issued via the application system(https://apply.sysu.edu.cn).

　　Failure to submit the scanned copies of supplementary materials, translations, or translation notarized certificates in a timely manner, submission of materials that do not meet the requirements, or incorrect contact information may result in an unsuccessful application, for which the applicant shall assume full responsibility.

　　IV. Majors and Divisions for International Students and Degree Granting

　　1. Please refer to the Table 1 for the divisions and majors available for International Students (Bachelor’s Degree). Any updates or changes to the major names or categories in the admissions list will be announced on the website of the Office of Foreign Students of Sun Yat-sen University(http://iso.sysu.edu.cn).

　　Applicants may select up to six majors in order of preference and shall indicate whether they agree to accept a reassignment to other majors if necessary. The number of written test subjects will correspond to the major with the highest number of required written test subjects among the selected options.

　　In the first year of study, students will participant in comprehensive training. For students admitted to a disciplinary category, their specific major will be finalized after an internal selection process conducted by the respective school or department.

Table 1: SYSU Majors Catalog for Undergraduate International Students 

 

School & Department	Majors / Disciplinary categories	Major requirements	Years of study	Instructing Language	Campus
Department of Chinese	Chinese Language	Arts or science	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
	Chinese Language and Literature	Arts or science	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
Department of History	History	Arts or science	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
Department of Philosophy	Philosophy	Arts or science	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Sociology & Anthropology	Sociology	Arts or science	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
Lingnan (University) College	Economics	Arts or science*	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Foreign Languages	Foreign Language and literature	Arts or science	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Law	Law	Arts or science	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Government	Administration	Arts or science*	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Business	Business Administration	Arts or science*	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
Department of Psychology	Psychology	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Journalism and Communication	Journalism and Communication	Arts or science	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Information Management	Library and Information Science	Arts or science*	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Mathematics	Mathematics	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Physics	Physics	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Chemistry	Chemistry	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Geography and Planning	Geographical Science	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Life Science	Biological Science	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Materials Science and Engineering	Materials	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Electronics and Information Technology (School of Microelectronics)	Electronic Information	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Computer Science and Engineering	Computer Science	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Environmental Science and Engineering	Environmental Science and Engineering	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
Zhongshan School of Medicine	Clinical Medicine	Science or engineering *	5 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
	Basic Medicine	Science or engineering *	5 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
Guanghua School of Stomatology	Stomatology	Science or engineering *	5 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Nursing	Nursing	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences	Pharmacy	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Guangzhou Campus
Department of Chinese(Zhuhai)	Chinese Language and Literature	Arts or science	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
Department of History (Zhuhai)	History	Arts or science	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
Department of Philosophy (Zhuhai)	Philosophy	Arts or science	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
International School of Business & Finance	Economics	Arts or science*	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of International Studies	Foreign Language and literature	Arts or science	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of International Relations	International Politics	Arts or science*	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Tourism Management	Tourism Management	Arts or science*	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Mathematics (Zhuhai)	Mathematics	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Physics and Astronomy	Physics	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Atmospheric Sciences	Atmospheric Sciences	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Marine Sciences	Marine Science	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Marine Engineering and Technology	Marine Engineering and Technology	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Earth Science and Engineering	Geology	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Chemical Engineering and Technology	Chemical Engineering and Technology	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Civil Engineering	Civil, Water and Ocean Engineering	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Microelectronic Science and Technology	Microelectronics Science and Engineering	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Geospatial Engineering and Science	Remote Sensing Science and Technology	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Artificial Intelligence	Artificial Intelligence	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Software Engineering	Software Engineering	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Zhuhai Campus
School of Medicine	Clinical Medicine	Science or engineering *	5 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen)	Pharmacy	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Materials	Materials Science and Engineering	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Biomedical Engineering	Biomedical Engineering	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Electronics and Information Technology	Electronic Information	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Intelligent Systems Engineering	Computer Science	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Aeronautics and Astronautics	Aerospace	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Agriculture	Agronomy	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
	Biotechnology	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Ecology	Ecology	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
Business School (School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation)	Business Administration	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
	Economics	Arts or science*	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Science	Physics	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
	Mathematics and Applied Mathematics	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Integrated Circuits	Microelectronics Science and Engineering	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Advanced Manufacturing	Mechanical Engineering	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Advanced Energy	Energy and Power Engineering	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Cyber Science and Technology	Cyber Science and Technology	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus
School of Flexible Electronics	Electronic Information Science and Technology	Science or engineering *	4 years	Chinese	Shenzhen Campus

       Note: An asterisk (*) in the “Major Requirements” column indicates that the major has a high demand for mathematical skills.

　　2. Please visit https://www.sysu.edu.cn/yxsz.htm for further information about departments or divisions for international students.

　　3. Students admitted to SYSU who complete the coursework, acquire the necessary credits within the designated study duration, and meet the graduation prerequisites will be granted a graduation certificate from SYSU. Those who meet the requirements for degree conferral will also receive a bachelor’s degree and a degree certificate from SYSU.

　　V. Selection Procedures

　　1. Qualification review

　　SYSU will review the applicant’s foreign status, highest academic qualifications, recommendations, academic performance, Chinese language proficiency and other supporting documents to finalize the assessment shortlist.

　　2. Assessment

　　Applications who pass the qualification review shall log into the SYSU application system (https://apply.sysu.edu.cn) to check the notice about the assessment method, location, and schedule and participate in the assessment as instructed in the notice. Normally, one of the following methods will be used in the assessment: (1) Interview; (2) Interview and written examination.

　　3. Admission

　　(1) SYSU will select applicants based on their qualification review and results of interview and examination. Outstanding students among the new enrollees will be recommended to apply for the Guangdong Government Outstanding International Student Scholarship. The list of scholarship winners will be announced by the scholarship management administration.

　　(2) SYSU will release the conditional admission results, electronic Admission Letter, and the Confirmation Form for Study in China through its application system (https://apply.sysu.edu.cn). Applicants shall ensure that the email address and phone number provided in the application system are accurate and valid.

　　(3) Admitted applicants shall apply for an X1 visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate using the Admission Letter and Confirmation Form for Study in China. Upon arrival in China, they shall convert the X1 visa into a student residence permit within 30 days. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from admission. Students with non-student visas shall not be allowed to register. International students holding expired visas or residence permits shall not be allowed to reside on campus or participate in activities.

　　VI. Fees (Unit: RMB Yuan)

　　1. Tuition Fee and Registration Fee (including necessary admission assessment fees) (see Table 2)

      Table 2 SYSU Tuition Fee Schedule for Undergraduate International Students　

Majors	Liberal Arts	Natural Science, Engineering and Agricultural Science	Medical Science
Bachelor	¥26000	¥33800	¥48000
Registration Fee (including necessary admission assessment fees): 400 RMB/person
Note: Tuition standards in SYSU Education Fees Standards released in that year shall prevail.

　　2．Comprehensive insurance for international students (including accidental and illness medical treatment, hospitalization medical insurance, accidental disability, and loss of life insurance): RMB 800/person/academic year.

　　VII. Scholarship

　　Outstanding undergraduate international students will have access to various scholarships. For details on the scholarship programs, please visit the “SCHOLARSHIP” section at the website of the Office of International Students’ Affairs of SYSU (http://iso.sysu.edu.cn).

　　1. Chinese Government Scholarship—Bilateral Program (Full or Partial Scholarship)

　　The Chinese Government Scholarship is provided by the Chinese government. Applicants who have met the application requirements can apply directly to the dispatching department of their home country, or the Education Office of the Chinese Embassy (Consulate General) in the host country according to the program type. The time of application usually falls between January and early April, and deadlines vary from country to country. Please check in advance. Please refer to the application guide of Chinese Government Scholarship—Bilateral Program for the year 2025 at SYSU for detailed information concerning application and assessment. Please visit the Chinese Government Scholarship (https://campuschina.org) to register, select the type of projects (Type A_Ph.D), and submit materials as required. Applicants should also register in the SYSU’s application system (https://apply.sysu.edu.cn/login). After registration, please select “Chinese Government Scholarship—Bilateral Program in 2025”, and submit materials as required.

　　2. Sun Yat-sen University ‘Belt and Road’ Scholarship Program

　　The “Belt and Road” Scholarship was established by Sun Yat-sen University in 2017 to provide financial support for outstanding high school graduates from the 10 ASEAN countries and South Africa to pursue bachelor’s degrees at SYSU. Applicants shall consult the designated recommendation institutions in their home countries and meet the recommendation criteria set by SYSU. They shall receive an official recommendation from the designated institutions in their home countries. Applicants shall also create an individual account on SYSU’s application website (https://apply.sysu.edu.cn/login), select the “Belt and Road” Scholarship Program for International Students (Bachelor’s Degree) after registration , and submit the required documents as instructed.

　　3. Guangdong Government Outstanding International Student Scholarship

　　New students who have not received any government scholarship at SYSU can apply for the Guangdong Government Outstanding International Student Scholarship. Qualified graduate students can receive a grant for the first academic year. The scholarship for graduate students will be granted in a lump sum of RMB 10,000 per person.

　　Note: After enrollment, applicants of the above scholarship should pass the scholarship review of their performance according to regulations before they can continue to apply for or receive funding of the scholarship.　　

　　VIII. Regulations about Accommodation and Insurance

　　1. Due to the limited number of student dormitories on campus, self-funded students should handle accommodation by themselves. Recipients of the Chinese Government Scholarship or Sun Yat-sen University “Belt and Road” Scholarship will be provided with on-campus accommodation according to relevant regulations.

　　2. SYSU implements an insurance system covering all international students. International students must insure themselves in accordance with the relevant regulations of China and SYSU. Students who have no insurance after the time limit has expired will not be allowed to register or will be forced to drop out if they have already begun studying at SYSU.　　

　　IX. International Student Management

　　1. Registration: Admitted students shall register on the specified date and location as indicated in the Admission Letter. Early registration is not permitted. Failure to register on time without prior approval will result in disqualification from admission and scholarship eligibility.

　　2. Responsibility for Submitted Materials: Applicants are responsible for the authenticity of their submitted materials. According to national regulations and university rules, those found to have submitted falsified materials will have their admission, enrollment, and student status revoked, and the incident will be reported to relevant authorities.

　　3. Post-Admission Physical Examination and Eligibility Review: Sun Yat-sen University will conduct a physical examination and admission eligibility review for all enrolled students. Those who fail to meet the requirements or are found to have falsified materials will have their admission and enrollment canceled.

　　4. Supervision: The Admissions Office (Office of International Students’ Affairs) of Sun Yat-sen University shall oversee the admissions process, while the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Department shall perform dedicated supervisory duties.　　

　　X. Supplementary Provisions

　　1. This guide applies to the admission process for International Students (Bachelor’s Degree). It shall become effective upon publication.

　　2. The SYSU Office of International Students’ Affairs, under the authorization of the SYSU Undergraduate Admission Leading Group, is responsible for interpreting this guide.

　　3. In case of policy adjustments by the Ministry of Education or other relevant departments, the updated regulations will prevail.

 

　　Website of the Office of International Students’ Affairs: http://iso.sysu.edu.cn

　　Online Application Website: https://apply.sysu.edu.cn

　　Email: [email protected]

　　Inquiry Tel: 0086（20）84110819

　　Supervision Department Tel: 0086（20）84115582

　　Address: Office of International Students’ Affairs, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou, P.R.China

　　Zip code: 510275

Source: https://iso.sysu.edu.cn/en/application/selffunded/1417776.htm

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