Study in China: Costs, Visa, Universities and Scholarships for Pakistani Students

China is one of the most popular destinations for Pakistani students. It is close to home, flights are short, fees are low by international standards, and the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) is one of the largest fully funded schemes in the world. Thousands of Pakistanis study engineering, computer science, medicine (MBBS), agriculture and business in Chinese universities, and CPEC has created real demand for graduates who understand both countries.

All money figures use CNY 1 ≈ PKR 39 and US$1 ≈ PKR 278 (open market, October 2026). Rates move, so treat conversions as approx.

Quick facts	China
Language of teaching	Chinese for most degrees; many English-taught master's, PhD and MBBS programmes
Academic year / intakes	Main intake September; a few programmes start in March
Typical tuition (per year)	Public: approx. CNY 18,000 to 40,000 (PKR 0.7m to 1.56m). Top universities and MBBS: up to CNY 60,000+ (PKR 2.34m+)
Monthly living cost	approx. CNY 2,000 to 6,500 (PKR 78,000 to 253,500), depending on city
Part-time work	Only with university approval and a residence permit endorsement; capped hours
Post-study work	No dedicated post-study visa; graduates with a job offer can apply for a work permit

Budget options: what you can do on every budget

Budget	Route	What it looks like
Fully funded (zero cost)	CSC Type A (nominated by HEC), CSC Type B (nominated by a Chinese university), CSC Silk Road Programme, MOFCOM master's scholarships, full provincial awards (for example Beijing or Shanghai Government Scholarship Type A), Schwarzman Scholars (Tsinghua), Yenching Academy (Peking University)	Tuition, free campus housing, medical insurance and a monthly stipend of CNY 2,500 (bachelor's), 3,000 (master's) or 3,500 (PhD). That is roughly PKR 97,500 to 136,500 a month. You pay flights and visa costs.
Low fee with a partial grant	Provincial and city scholarships (Jiangsu Jasmine, Zhejiang Provincial, Shanghai Government Scholarship Type B, Hubei and others), university "freshman" scholarships, International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship (for Chinese language study)	Tuition partly or fully waived, sometimes with a small stipend. Your own cost is often approx. CNY 20,000 to 40,000 a year (PKR 0.78m to 1.56m) including living.
Self-funded, mid-range	A provincial university in a cheaper city (Wuhan, Xi'an, Chengdu, Nanjing outside the top names), English-taught degree	approx. CNY 45,000 to 70,000 a year all-in (PKR 1.76m to 2.73m).
Self-funded, premium	C9 universities in Beijing or Shanghai, top English-taught MBA or MBBS programmes	approx. CNY 80,000 to 130,000+ a year all-in (PKR 3.1m to 5.1m+).

Many students start on a university scholarship in year one and move to a better award (for example a city or university excellence scholarship) once they have good grades. Ask each university what renewal looks like before you accept.

University costs

Chinese universities set their own fees for international students, so prices vary a lot. As a rough guide:

• Bachelor's (Chinese-taught): approx. CNY 18,000 to 30,000 a year (PKR 0.7m to 1.17m).
• Bachelor's or MBBS (English-taught): approx. CNY 30,000 to 60,000 a year (PKR 1.17m to 2.34m).
• Master's: approx. CNY 25,000 to 50,000 a year for most programmes. Top universities charge more. Peking University lists total master's fees mostly between CNY 80,000 and 200,000 for the whole programme, with some executive programmes far higher.
• PhD: approx. CNY 30,000 to 60,000 a year; Peking University lists totals of CNY 150,000 to 250,000 for a full PhD.
• Application fee: usually CNY 400 to 800 (PKR 15,600 to 31,200), often non-refundable.
• Campus housing: approx. CNY 700 to 2,000 a month (PKR 27,300 to 78,000), shared or single.
• Medical insurance: compulsory; the standard student policy is about CNY 800 a year (PKR 31,200). CSC scholars have this paid.

MBBS warning: if you plan to practise in Pakistan, choose only Chinese medical universities recognised by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) and listed by China's Ministry of Education for English-taught MBBS. Check this before paying anything.

Living costs

Monthly estimates for a single student (approx., 2026). Dorms are cheaper than the rent ranges shown.

City	Rent (dorm or shared flat)	Food	Transport	Total per month
Beijing	CNY 1,000 to 3,500	CNY 1,500 to 2,000	CNY 150 to 250	CNY 3,500 to 6,000 (PKR 136,500 to 234,000)
Shanghai	CNY 1,200 to 3,800	CNY 1,500 to 2,200	CNY 150 to 250	CNY 3,800 to 6,500 (PKR 148,200 to 253,500)
Wuhan	CNY 800 to 1,800	CNY 1,000 to 1,500	CNY 100 to 150	CNY 2,200 to 3,800 (PKR 85,800 to 148,200)
Xi'an	CNY 700 to 1,600	CNY 1,000 to 1,400	CNY 100 to 150	CNY 2,000 to 3,500 (PKR 78,000 to 136,500)

Halal food is easy to find in most cities, especially in Xi'an, Lanzhou and university canteens with Muslim windows. Mobile payment (WeChat Pay, Alipay) is essential, so set it up in your first week.

Scholarships and need-based funding

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC). Run by the China Scholarship Council. It covers tuition, housing, medical insurance and a monthly stipend (CNY 2,500 bachelor's, 3,000 master's, 3,500 PhD). There are two main doors for Pakistanis:

• Type A (bilateral, via HEC). HEC nominates candidates to the Chinese side. For 2026-27, HEC offered 75 seats (35 bachelor's, 25 master's, 15 PhD) with a deadline of 5 January 2026 on the HEC portal. Expect the 2027-28 call around November to December 2026 (changes yearly). You also complete the online form on the CSC portal and list preferred universities.
• Type B (Chinese University Programme). You apply directly to a Chinese university that has CSC quota. The university nominates you to CSC. Deadlines usually fall between December and March. HEC is not involved and states it is not responsible for Type B applications.

New in 2026: the CSCA test. China introduced the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA), an academic test covering subjects such as mathematics, physics and chemistry. HEC says it is mandatory for undergraduate CSC applicants, including Type A. It will extend to all international undergraduate applicants by 2028. Check the current test dates early.

Other routes:

• Provincial and city scholarships: Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei, Tianjin and others. Usually applied for through the university at the same time as admission.
• University scholarships: many universities offer first-year awards from partial to full tuition waivers, plus excellence awards for continuing students.
• MOFCOM scholarships: master's programmes for developing-country candidates, often aimed at public-sector professionals.
• Silk Road Programme (CSC): selected universities, focus on Belt and Road countries.
• Schwarzman Scholars and Yenching Academy: highly competitive one-year master's programmes, fully funded.

There is no national need-based grant for international students in China. Funding is merit-based, so strong grades, a clear study plan and a supervisor's acceptance letter (for master's and PhD) matter most. See current listings at /scholarships?country=China.

Student visa: steps, documents and fees

For study longer than 180 days you need an X1 visa, which you convert into a residence permit after arrival.

1. Get admission. The university (or CSC) sends your admission letter and the JW202 form (for scholarship students) or JW201 (for self-funded students). The JW form is the key document; without it there is no X1 visa.
2. Medical check. Complete the Foreigner Physical Examination Form (needed for CSC and for long stays).
3. Attestation. Get your degrees and transcripts attested by HEC (and IBCC for school certificates), then apostilled by MOFA. See our HEC degree attestation guide.
4. Book and apply. Apply at the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi. X1 applicants must attend in person.
5. Documents: passport valid more than six months with a blank page, CNIC copy (front and back), photo, online application form, original JW201/JW202 plus admission letter copy, police clearance certificate, and proof of funds or scholarship letter.
6. Proof of funds: the Karachi centre asks for about US$2,500 per academic year (≈ PKR 695,000) for self-funded students, shown in a bank statement.
7. Fees: the visa fee for Pakistani citizens is currently zero, but the centre's service fee is PKR 13,200 (regular) or PKR 19,800 (express), including GST (approx., changes; confirm on the centre's fee page).
8. Processing: usually about a week after submission (approx.), longer in July and August.
9. After arrival: apply for your residence permit at the local Exit-Entry Administration within 30 days of entry.

Use our document checklist and the visa and pre-departure checklist.

Working while studying and after graduating

During studies. You may work part-time or intern only with your university's approval and an endorsement added to your residence permit by the local Exit-Entry office. Local rules (for example Chongqing's) commonly allow up to 8 hours a week (40 a month) in term and 16 hours a week (80 a month) in vacations, only in the city where you study, and usually only after a year of study with good grades. Working without the endorsement is illegal and can lead to fines, cancellation of your permit or deportation. Do not plan your budget around part-time income.

After graduating. China has no general post-study work visa. Graduates with a master's or higher degree from a Chinese university can apply for a work permit with a job offer without the usual two years of experience. Some cities, including Shanghai and Beijing, allow short residence permits for job-hunting or start-ups. China also introduced a K visa in October 2025 for young science and technology talent; check whether you qualify.

Month-by-month timeline (September 2027 intake)

When	What to do
October to November 2026	Shortlist universities, contact supervisors (master's and PhD), prepare study plan, HEC attestation and apostille, passport. Check CSCA dates if applying for a bachelor's.
November 2026 to January 2027	HEC Type A call (watch the HEC portal). Start Type B applications on university portals and the CSC portal.
January to March 2027	Type B and provincial scholarship deadlines. Medical form, recommendation letters, IELTS or HSK if required.
April to June 2027	Interviews and pre-admission. CSC results usually announced in June or July.
July 2027	Receive admission letter and JW202 or JW201 by courier.
August 2027	Apply for the X1 visa, book flights, arrange PKR to CNY transfer.
September 2027	Arrive, register, medical check, residence permit within 30 days.

Common mistakes Pakistani applicants make

• Paying agents who promise a "guaranteed CSC". There is no guarantee; CSC applications are free on official portals. Read our guide on avoiding scholarship scams.
• Choosing an MBBS university without checking PM&DC recognition and the Ministry of Education's English-taught MBBS list.
• Sending a generic study plan. Write a specific plan linked to a named supervisor and programme. Our motivation letter sample helps.
• Applying for Type A and ignoring Type B. Type B through a university with CSC quota is often the more realistic route.
• Working part-time without a residence permit endorsement, or missing the 30-day residence permit deadline.
• Leaving attestation and the medical form until the last week.

Official links

• HEC Chinese Government Scholarship: https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/scholarshipsgrants/lao/CGSP/Pages/default.aspx
• CSC application portal (Study in China): https://www.campuschina.org
• Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (Pakistan): https://www.visaforchina.cn
• Islamabad centre fees: https://visaforchina.cn/ISB2_EN/generalinformation/visaknowledge/283427.shtml
• Example CSC coverage (UCAS): https://ic-en.ucas.ac.cn/page/chinese-government-scholarship
• Peking University graduate fees: https://isd.pku.edu.cn
• Chongqing work-study rules for international students: https://english.cq.gov.cn/services/studyinchongqing/202606/t20260609_15739572.html
• PM&DC: https://pmdc.pk

Figures checked on 10 October 2026. Always confirm on the official sites before applying.