Medical Studies in China: Universities, Costs and Recognition

The official MBBS list — and what is not on it

The most recently publicly available version of the list covers 44 universities with a total of 3,048 places for English-language medicine (the predecessor list had 45 universities and 3,037 places). A more recent version is not publicly available. Portals that advertise with a current list generally continue to use the same data.

The listed institutions include, among others, Capital Medical University Beijing, Fudan University Shanghai, Zhejiang University, Wuhan University, Sichuan University, Nanjing University, Southeast University, Jiangsu University, China Medical University in Shenyang, Dalian Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Tianjin Medical University, Chongqing Medical University, and Jinan University.

Frequently marketed but not on the list

This is the most important section of this page. The following universities regularly appear in MBBS offerings without being on the official list: Peking University Health Science Center (clinical medicine is taught there in Chinese, requiring HSK 5), Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sun Yat-sen University, Central South University (Xiangya), Shanxi Medical University, Nanchang University, Guizhou Medical University, and Weifang Medical University.

Check before any application whether the university is named on the Ministry's list. An English-language program offered without this listing is a significant risk for later recognition.

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What does medical study in China cost?

Tuition fees are approximately 30,000 to 53,000 renminbi per year, equivalent to around 4,200 to 7,400 US dollars. Dormitory accommodation adds approximately 5,000 to 12,000 renminbi annually, plus insurance, visa, and living costs.

This places China in the mid-range: significantly above Central Asia, noticeably below private universities in Western Europe. Scholarships from the Chinese government and individual provinces exist, but are limited and highly competitive for MBBS programs.

Language, admission, and program structure

The program lasts five years plus one year of internship. Instruction is in English — but Chinese is indispensable once the clinical phase begins. Most universities require HSK level 4 by the fourth year. Those who underestimate this will encounter problems on the wards at the latest.

Admission is without a numerus clausus, based on transcripts, language certificates, and an internal selection procedure. Because the place quota per university is officially capped, places are genuinely limited — unlike at many other international locations.

A transfer within China is practically impossible

This is the particularity that should be known before the decision is made: MBBS programs in China do not accept transfer students. Those who wish to change location cannot do so within China — the only pathway leads abroad. The choice of university is therefore largely final.

What is the degree worth in Germany?

China is not an EU member state; automatic recognition does not apply. For medical licensure in Germany, the equivalency assessment and in the standard case the knowledge examination under Section 3 of the Federal Medical Licensing Code follow.

On the positive side: the Chinese accreditation agency WCAME has been WFME-recognized since June 2020. This does not mean, however, that every university is automatically accredited — the listing must be checked per university in the World Directory of Medical Schools. Together with the Ministry list, these are two checks you should carry out before any application.

For whom China is suitable

China suits people who genuinely want to engage with the language, who choose a listed location, and who are aware that the choice of location is practically irreversible. Training at the major institutions is structured and well-equipped, and the costs are calculable.

Those who value flexibility and a short pathway to German medical licensure are better served by a European location. All NC-free options can be found in our location overview.