Jilin University (JLU)

Jilin University (吉林大学, JLU) is one of China's largest public universities. Its home is Changchun, Jilin's provincial capital; it reports directly to the Ministry of Education, and belongs to Projects 211 and 985 and the first round of the Double First-Class initiative. Its fees for international students are among the lowest at this level: a Chinese-taught bachelor's degree cost $2,830 (CNY 19,000) a year in the 2026/27 intake. Most programmes require HSK 4 with 180+ and a CSCA result, bachelor's applicants must be 18–30, and the 2026/27 deadline was 30 June 2026.

Jilin University or another "Jilin" institution?

Searches for Jilin University also surface half a dozen other institutions with "Jilin" in their names. Jilin is both a province and a separate city within it, and JLU is in the provincial capital, not in Jilin City.

Applications name Jilin University and 吉林大学 and go only through apply.jlu.edu.cn. JLU's College of International Education also runs a Russian-language version of its website, which helps with a first look, although the full admission rules are published in Chinese and English. Other Chinese universities are listed on our study in China page.

Who JLU suits

Jilin University makes sense when you want a Project 985 university and a broad choice of subjects on a limited budget. Changchun is cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai, and tuition is lower than at most universities of the same tier. Today's JLU was formed in 2000 from a merger that included the Norman Bethune University of Medical Sciences, so alongside chemistry, materials science and engineering it has a substantial medical school with four affiliated hospitals. Changchun itself is one of the centres of China's car industry.

It is a good fit if you:

• are ready to study in Chinese, since almost all bachelor's programmes are Chinese-taught;
• want a Project 985 university for about $2,830 (CNY 19,000) a year;
• are considering medicine, in English (MBBS) or in Chinese, and have the biology and chemistry grades;
• are looking at a master's, where 76 programmes are taught in English.

Consider other options if you are over 30 and need a bachelor's degree, want an English-taught bachelor's outside medicine and pharmacy, or struggle with cold weather: Changchun winters are long and harsh. For comparison in China's northeast, see our guide to universities in Harbin and the Heilongjiang University profile.

Bachelor's degrees: programmes, language, fees

In the 2026/27 intake JLU offered international students 35 Chinese-taught and 2 English-taught bachelor's programmes. The university highlights International Economics and Trade and Chinese Language among the Chinese-taught degrees and both English-taught degrees, Clinical Medicine (MBBS) and Pharmacy. The full list is updated every year in the programme catalogue on cie.jlu.edu.cn.

The application fee is $89 (CNY 600). Students pay for their own insurance; JLU's admission notice does not state the amount.

Language and grade requirements

Applicants must be 18–30; those under 18 need a signed undertaking from a guardian. Our HSK exam guide explains how to prepare, and our guide to studying medicine in China covers English-taught medical degrees and licensing back home.

How to apply for a bachelor's degree

1. Register at apply.jlu.edu.cn and upload by 30 June 2026: passport page, school-leaving certificate, transcripts, language certificate, CSCA score report and the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. Complete applications move to the next round first.
2. Initial screening by the College of International Education: education, language, nationality status and health.
3. Faculty review of grades, language and overall preparation; some applicants are invited to a remote interview or written test.
4. The decision is communicated by the College of International Education and made by Jilin University.

Registration for the 2026 intake was expected on 8–9 September. Documents not in Chinese or English need certified translations; see applying to Chinese universities.

The CSCA and the 2027 timeline

From the 2026/27 academic year, every bachelor's applicant to a Chinese university needs a CSCA result. The 2026/27 cycle has six sittings: 14–15 November and 19–20 December 2026, then 23–24 January, 13–14 March, 24–25 April and 26–27 June 2027. Registration for November runs from 15 to 21 October 2026, and results come out in about 10 working days. The June sitting coincides with last year's JLU deadline, so plan on a sitting no later than April. JLU has not yet published its 2027/28 rules; last cycle's notices appeared in early January. Our CSCA exam guide has the details.

Master's and doctoral programmes

In 2026/27 graduate applicants could choose from 169 Chinese-taught, 76 English-taught and 2 Korean-taught programmes. The university recommends International Chinese Education, World Economy and Environmental Science in Chinese, and International Relations, Bionic Science and Engineering, Surgery and Environmental Science in English.

Master's applicants must be 18–40 and doctoral applicants 18–55. Chinese-taught programmes require HSK 4 with 180+ (HSK 5 with 180+ for International Chinese Education); English-taught programmes assess language themselves. Applications include a study plan and two recommendation letters from associate professors or professors, and the college's website has a section for finding a supervisor. The 2026 deadline was 30 June.

Most master's degrees take three years; the MBA, International Relations and Public Health take two. The first three rows are Chinese-taught programmes; the rates for International Relations, Materials Science and the Bethune Health Science Center are listed in the admission rules for English-taught programmes. Our master's in China guide explains how to write a research plan.

Chinese language and culture courses

JLU runs language courses with spring and autumn intakes. For spring 2026, applications ran from September to 31 December 2025 (registration on 11 March); for autumn, from March to 30 June 2026. Applicants must be 18–60 with a school-leaving certificate.

• A semester lasts about 15 weeks with 20 hours of Chinese a week; students are placed by test.
• Tuition is $1,340 (CNY 9,000) per semester, plus a $89 (CNY 600) application fee and $30–52 (CNY 200–350) for textbooks.
• The course uses the Developing Chinese (发展汉语) series from beginner to advanced; electives include HSK 4, 5 and 6 preparation, tai chi, baduanjin and Chinese culture.

The course works well as a year to reach HSK 4 before a degree, but you then apply for the degree separately. Compare it with other cities in our guide to Chinese language programmes in China.

Housing and budget

JLU has three international residences with 412 rooms and 753 beds. Roommates are matched by programme and interests.

First-year example: a Chinese-taught economics student pays $2,830 (CNY 19,000) tuition, a $89 (CNY 600) application fee and the lowest University Town rate for 365 days, $1,360 (CNY 9,125), about $4,280 (CNY 28,725) in total, plus insurance, food and winter clothing. Our page on the cost of studying in China compares cities, and how to pay for studies abroad from Russia covers legal payment routes.

Scholarships

For Type B, JLU screens in March: documents are checked after 1 March, pre-admission is announced by 10 March and the nomination list goes to the China Scholarship Council on 15 March; the Council makes the final award. Our scholarships abroad 2026 overview explains how CSC awards work.

Visa and degree recognition

After admission JLU issues an admission letter and JW202 form for the X1 study visa, which is converted into a student residence permit in China. See our China student visa guide.

For Russian citizens: Jilin University is not on the Russian government list of foreign universities (Order No. 186-r as amended in 2024, 2025 and 2026), and neither is any other Chinese university. That does not mean the degree goes unrecognised: Chinese education documents fall under the 1995 Russia–China mutual recognition agreement, explained in our guide to studying in China for Russian citizens. Kazakh citizens can read studying in China from Kazakhstan.

Common mistakes

• Confusing JLU with Jilin International Studies University. They are separate universities with different portals and fees.
• Applying for a bachelor's at 31. The upper age limit is 30.
• Assuming HSK 4 is enough everywhere. Diplomacy and Chinese-taught medicine need HSK 5, and diplomacy also needs English.
• Not checking grades for medicine. Chinese-taught Clinical Medicine needs 90/100 in biology and chemistry; the MBBS needs at least 70 in four science subjects.
• Arriving without a room booked. There are 753 beds for all programmes, and prices vary twofold.

FAQ

Can I study at Jilin University in English?

At bachelor's level two programmes are taught in English: the six-year Clinical Medicine (MBBS) degree at $5,370 (CNY 36,000) a year with IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 70, and the four-year Pharmacy degree at $4,180 (CNY 28,000). At graduate level 76 programmes are taught in English. The university decides on admission after a faculty review.

How much does JLU cost?

Under the 2026/27 rules, Chinese-taught bachelor's degrees cost $2,830 (CNY 19,000) a year, arts and sport $3,730 (CNY 25,000) and pharmacy $4,180 (CNY 28,000). Master's degrees cost $3,130–4,920 (CNY 21,000–33,000) depending on the school. Housing starts at $4 (CNY 25) per bed per day.

Which HSK level does JLU require?

HSK 4 with 180+ for most Chinese-taught bachelor's and master's programmes. HSK 5 is required for Chinese-taught Clinical Medicine, Diplomacy and the International Chinese Education master's. The faculty makes the final assessment of language readiness, sometimes in an interview.

Are there age limits?

Yes. Bachelor's applicants must be 18–30 (younger applicants need a guardian's signed undertaking), master's applicants up to 40, PhD applicants up to 55 and language students up to 60. The Chinese Government Scholarship Type B is stricter: under 35 for master's and under 40 for PhD applicants.

Where is Jilin University?

In Changchun, Jilin's provincial capital, not in the city of Jilin. The College of International Education is at the Youyi Guesthouse, 1505 Xiuzheng Road, Changchun, and the university has seven campuses across six districts of the city.

Is a JLU degree recognised in Russia?

JLU does not appear on the Order No. 186-r list; recognition of Chinese degrees rests instead on the 1995 Russia–China agreement. For medicine that is not enough on its own: the right to practise as a doctor is decided by Russian authorities through a separate procedure.

Sources

• JLU: international undergraduate admission, 2026–2027: programmes, deadline, fees, age, procedure, housing
• JLU: international graduate admission, 2026–2027
• JLU: requirements for Chinese- and English-taught programmes and programme catalogue
• JLU: Chinese language and culture courses, 2026
• JLU: Chinese Government Scholarship Type B, 2026–2027 and International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship, 2026
• CSCA: test and registration dates
• Times Higher Education: Jilin University
• Russian Government Order No. 186-r, amended by No. 103-r, No. 126-r and No. 298-r

Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate for 1 October 2026 (EUR 1 = USD 1.1298 = CNY 7.5748), which puts CNY 1 at about $0.149. Sums below $100 are shown to the dollar and larger sums to the nearest $10.

If you want to check whether JLU fits your plans, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.

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