What is the relationship between CUHK and CUHK-Shenzhen?

The relationship is called “One Brand, Two Campuses”. The two campuses are on par in academic-related standards and quality assurance, including but not limited to faculty recruitment standards, program design, assessment, and grading etc. Upon graduation, CUHK-Shenzhen students receive a degree conferred by CUHK.

Where is Shenzhen? How far is it from Hong Kong?

Shenzhen is located on the southeast coast of China, bordering Hong Kong to the south. It takes 14 minutes by high-speed train to travel between West Kowloon of Hong Kong and the CBD area of downtown Shenzhen.

Why Shenzhen? How is it different from Hong Kong or other big cities in China, such as Beijing and Shanghai?

Shenzhen is the third largest city by both population and GDP (surpassing Hong Kong since 2017). It is a high-tech city and incubates many top Chinese high-tech companies, such as Huawei, DJI, BYD, etc.

Is your university taught in English? Is there any Chinese language program available?

Yes, CUHK-Shenzhen is a fully English-taught university. No, we do not have a Chinese language degree program, but we do offer Chinese language courses to international students. And at least one of the courses has to be taken to fulfill the degree requirement.

Is CUHK-Shenzhen a private university?

CUHK-Shenzhen is a joint-venture university. It was founded in accordance with the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Chinese-foreign Cooperation in Running Schools, upon approval by the Ministry of Education. Other joint-venture universities in China include New York University-Shanghai, University of Nottingham Ningbo, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, etc.

Where is CUHK-Shenzhen located? Is it far away from the city downtown?

Longgang District, in the northeast part of the city. The campus is 30-40 minutes by taxi from the closest CBD area.

What is the percentage of your international students? Where are they from?

About 10% of the UG total population. Mostly from Southeast, Central, and South Asia, such as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, India, etc.

How much is the tuition? Accommodation? Living expenses?

Tuition: $19,000/year, Accommodation: $320/year, living expenses: $4200/year ($350/month). The total expense of one year is quoted at $24,000. See fees and expenses: https://intladmissions.cuhk.edu.cn/en/page/54

If I want to attend CUHK-Shenzhen, can I be sponsored by CSC?

No. For other government scholarships, see here: https://intladmissions.cuhk.edu.cn/en/page/18

What scholarships can I apply for?

See here: https://intladmissions.cuhk.edu.cn/en/page/18

How should I apply for an Entry Scholarship? Do I need to make an application separately? If so, when should I apply?

There is no need to make a separate application for entry scholarships. Need to apply during the Early Bird Round and Regular Round before early March, 2026.

Can I apply for any form of financial aid?

Small financial awards (under CNY 10,000) are available at the university or the college levels after enrollment.

How is the admission process? How long does it take for me to receive an admission result after I apply?

See here:https://intladmissions.cuhk.edu.cn/en/page/197

It depends on when you apply. Minimum two weeks (i.e., in Late Round), maximum three months.

How am I assessed for a scholarship? Is it a holistic review, or is my paper grade (SAT, ACT, AP, IB, A-Levels, High school transcript) the only one that matters for scholarship consideration?

It is a holistic review. International standardized examinations such as the SAT provide a consistent benchmark for assessing the academic ability of students from different educational systems. While these scores are helpful to our evaluation process, they are not the primary determinant for scholarship awards. Our scholarship selection will be based on your comprehensive profile, including but not limited to previous academic performance, curricular and extracurricular activities, leadership, language ability, cultural awareness, character, etc. If you are invited for an interview, your performance in the interview will also be considered.

Will I be granted an interview? If so, who will interview me?

Some of the applicants, yes, by the faculty members from the school of your choice. However, you cannot request for an interview.

My friend received an interview invitation, but I still haven’t received it.

Not all students will be invited to an interview. Please wait for further notification.

I am rejected, or I am not satisfied with my scholarship offer. Can I appeal?

A rejection and a scholarship offer are both FINAL. There are other types of scholarships that students can apply for after enrollment. For details, please check here: https://intladmissions.cuhk.edu.cn/en/page/18.

Can I apply again in the next round to obtain a better offer?

No. You can only apply once per academic year.

Do I need to pay a deposit if I am admitted? How much is the deposit? Is it refundable if I choose not to go?

Yes. The deposit is CNY19,000 and constitutes part of your tuition once you enroll. Deposit is mostly NOT refundable.

What is a Financial Statement? What is it for?

A financial statement with a balance of CNY 60,000 or the equivalent amount of your local currency is requested to show evidence of adequate financial support to cover the costs of study and living expenses at CUHK-Shenzhen. The statement should be issued and stamped by your or your sponsor’s bank. You are asked to upload the Financial Statement via the application system.

Can I change the major?

The major you selected on the application system is just an intention. CUHK-Shenzhen students will declare their majors at the end of Year 1. It is also possible if you would like to change to a major at another school. Certain conditions apply.

How can I pay the deposit?

Along with your offers, we have attached detailed instructions on how to pay the deposit. Please refer to the information there. Currently, you can only pay the deposit by bank transfer.

I received my offer a long time ago and paid the deposit as well. I haven’t heard anything since then. Should I be worried? What is the next step?

There is no need to be worried. If you have already paid the deposit and received confirmation from us that the deposit has been received, we will reach out to you by the time the next step needs to be taken. 

For a more detailed process, you can refer to here: https://intladmissions.cuhk.edu.cn/en/page/197

JW202, Visa & Residence Permit 

Please check here to learn details: https://intladmissions.cuhk.edu.cn/en/page/193

I am currently living and studying in China. Do I need JW202? Do I need a visa? Do I need a Residence Permit?  

If you are currently living and studying in China, you are still required to apply for a JW202 and a Student Residence Permit to remain legal status. However, since you do not need to enter the country, you do not need a visa.

Do I need to do a health check before entering China and attending CUHK-Shenzhen?

Although it is not required to present any official document to prove your health condition at Immigration or the university registration, we highly recommend taking a comprehensive health check in your home country before coming. This is to make sure you do not suffer from serious mental disorders, contagious tuberculosis, or any other mental or infectious diseases that are likely to cause harm or pose major hazards to public safety and hygiene.

While applying for a Residence Permit after arrival, you will be taken to the designated hospital for a health check. If you are diagnosed with the above diseases at the health check, you will be declined for the Permit, and consequently, be suspended by the University. You can return to China, reapply for a Residence Permit, and resume your studies at the University after a full recovery.

What is your definition of “Underage”? Do I need a guardian if I am underage?

You are considered “underage” if you are under 18 years old by the time of applying for JW202 (usually in May or June of the year of entry). Extra steps are needed for underage students to apply for JW202, including but not limited to having a guardian. 

For the details, please check: https://intladmissions.cuhk.edu.cn/en/page/196

My birthday is on July 1, which means by the time of applying for JW202, I am underage, but I will be over 18 years old by September 1. What do I need to do?

You will need to approve the appointment of a guardian or nominate a guardian and complete the relevant documents to be approved for JW202. However, you do not need to notarize the appointment or nomination.

I want to book my flight to China early so the price is lower. Can I do that before having a visa?

We do not recommend booking a flight before securing a visa.

I want to book my flight to China early so the price is lower. When will the new student registration be? If I arrive earlier, can I check into my college early?

The Registration for international UG freshmen is usually two weeks before the term starts. The accurate dates will be announced usually in July.

We do not recommend booking a flight before knowing the exact dates. If you arrive early, you can NOT check into your college until completing the registration, and will need to look for off-campus accommodation by yourself.

How do I know which college I belong to and which dorm room I am assigned to?

You will be informed of your student ID in early July, with which you can log into your student system and confirm your college assignment. The dorm room assignment will be announced by the time you check in.

Whom should I contact if I have any questions?

Before application: intladmissions@cuhk.edu.cn

After application: intlugapply@cuhk.edu.cn

Who are the applicants of Chinese heritage?

Applicants whose at least one of their parents is a Chinese citizen by birth. They are possibly holding dual citizenship, whether with or without knowing.

I am an applicant of Chinese heritage. Why should I care?

To enroll at CUHK-Shenzhen, an international undergraduate student is required to enter the Chinese Mainland with an X1 Study Visa, and subsequently to legally remain in China as a foreign citizen by acquiring a Student Residence Permit with the X1 visa. You may be unable to acquire a Chinese study visa because you are not considered a foreign citizen by your local Chinese embassy and consulate general due to your Chinese heritage. In that case, you are NOT eligible to apply to CUHK-Shenzhen as an international UG applicant via International UG Admissions.

I am an applicant of Chinese heritage. Am I eligible to apply?

It depends. To be eligible, you need to meet all of the following three conditions: a. Do NOT have Chinese citizenship; b. have obtained foreign citizenship for more than 4 years; and c. have resided outside of China (mainland, HK, Macao, Taiwan) for at least 2 years in the last 4 years.

How do I know if I have a Chinese citizenship or not?

Please consult your local Chinese embassy and consulate general if you are eligible to apply for an X1 Study visa. If yes, then you do not have a Chinese citizenship and successfully meet the citizenship condition; if not, you do have a Chinese citizenship and fail the citizenship condition, and hence, are not eligible.

I know I have a Chinese citizenship. What can I do to be eligible?

You need to officially renounce your Chinese citizenship via the authorized channel. Once the renunciation is completed, and you do meet other conditions as well, you are eligible to apply.

If I find out I am not eligible to apply by the time of enrollment or upon arrival, what will happen to me? What should I do?

We implement multiple layers of due diligence to ensure you are aware of your eligibility, provided you are honest with our inquiries and submit truthful documents. If this scenario does happen, unfortunately, there is nothing we can do but revoke your admission offer and scholarship offer (if any), as it is illegal for the university to admit you. If this happens after arrival, you are dismissed instantly. The University bears no responsibility, and the deposit, if paid, is not refundable. Therefore, we urge applicants of Chinese heritage to act with integrity and honesty during the application and enrollment.