English-Taught Master's Degrees in the Greater Bay Area 2027: All 18 Programs, Ranked by Cost

If you want a master's degree taught entirely in English in mainland China's Greater Bay Area, your realistic choice is 18 programs at six universities. That is the complete English-taught master's catalogue in our verified 2027 database — not 18 options at one school, but 18 in the entire region.

That scarcity is useful information. It means the decision is tractable: you can compare every English-taught master's program in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Foshan in a single sitting. Below is the full list, ranked by tuition, with durations, language requirements, deadlines and the real total cost of each degree.

The range is wide: ¥5,710 to ¥44,500 per year, and ¥17,130 to ¥165,000 for the whole degree — because a two-year program at ¥34,000 can beat a three-year program at the same annual fee. Duration is a price variable.

All 18 English-taught master's programs, ranked by tuition

University	Program	Tuition / yr	Duration	Total
Foshan University	Agriculture	¥5,710–10,000*	3 years	¥17,130–30,000
Southern University of Science and Technology	Biomedical Engineering	¥10,000–30,000	3 years	¥30,000–90,000
Southern University of Science and Technology	Computer Science	¥10,000–30,000	3 years	¥30,000–90,000
Southern University of Science and Technology	Materials Science	¥10,000–30,000	3 years	¥30,000–90,000
Southern University of Science and Technology	Physics	¥10,000–30,000	3 years	¥30,000–90,000
Sun Yat-sen University	English-taught programs (MPA / MBA / Nuclear / Atmospheric Science)	¥30,000–55,000	2–3 years	¥60,000–165,000
Shenzhen University	Foreign Languages & Literature	¥30,000	2–3 years	¥60,000–90,000
South China University of Technology	Information & Communication Engineering	¥34,000	2 years	¥68,000
South China University of Technology	Information & Communication Engineering (Future Technology)	¥34,000	2 years	¥68,000
South China University of Technology	Control Science & Engineering (Electrical & Computer)	¥34,000	2 years	¥68,000
South China University of Technology	Control Science & Engineering (Intelligent Engineering)	¥34,000	2 years	¥68,000
South China University of Technology	Food Science & Engineering	¥34,000	2 years	¥68,000
Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen	Applied Economics / Business Administration	¥35,000	2 years	¥70,000
Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen	Computer Technology	¥35,000	3 years	¥105,000
Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen	Communication Engineering	¥35,000	3 years	¥105,000
Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen	Mechanical Engineering	¥35,000	3 years	¥105,000
Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen	Civil Engineering	¥35,000	3 years	¥105,000
South China University of Technology	MBA — International Business	¥44,500	2 years	¥89,000

* Foshan University's master's tuition is published as an estimated range in our database and should be confirmed with the admissions office before you budget on it. Totals exclude dormitory and living costs.

1. Foshan University — the cheapest master's in the region

Foshan University's English-taught agriculture master's is the outlier on this list: roughly ¥5,710–10,000 per year for three years. If your field is agricultural science, food systems or plant protection, it is the lowest-cost postgraduate route in the GBA by a wide margin. The catch is breadth — this is one program at one university, in a city better known for manufacturing than for research. Entry is flexible on language: the program accepts either HSK 4 (180+) or IELTS 6.0, which makes it one of the few master's options open to students who have neither a strong English certificate nor fluent Chinese.

2. SUSTech — research intensity at public-university prices

The Southern University of Science and Technology offers four English-taught master's programs — Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Materials Science and Physics — at ¥10,000–30,000 per year over three years. SUSTech is ranked QS #343 and is the most research-focused university in Shenzhen; its English requirement is also the strictest on this list at IELTS 6.5 with no sub-score below 6.0, or TOEFL 90. The tuition range reflects different funding arrangements, so ask which band applies to your program before you apply. Round 1 applications open in November with a Round 2 deadline of 1 April 2027.

3. Sun Yat-sen University — the brand-name option

Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU, QS #276) runs a grouped English-taught master's pathway covering MPA, MBA, nuclear science and atmospheric science at ¥30,000–55,000 per year over two to three years. Language requirements are moderate — TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5 — but the Chinese-taught route requires HSK 5 (180+). Round 2 closes 30 April 2027. For students who want a "Double First-Class" university on their CV and can absorb ¥60,000–165,000 in total tuition, this is the strongest name on the list.

4. Shenzhen University — the lowest English bar

Shenzhen University's English-taught master's in Foreign Languages & Literature admits at IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 80 or Duolingo 100 — the most accessible English threshold in the region for a master's degree. At ¥30,000 per year it is competitively priced, and the campus sits in the middle of Shenzhen's tech and translation industries. If your English scores are borderline but your academic record is solid, this program is worth a serious look before you spend a year retaking tests.

5. SCUT — five engineering programs, flat pricing, fastest completion

South China University of Technology (SCUT, QS #377) prices every English-taught master's at ¥34,000 per year, and five of them run for exactly two years: Information & Communication Engineering (including a Future Technology stream), two Control Science & Engineering tracks, and Food Science & Engineering. At ¥68,000 total, SCUT delivers the lowest fixed full-degree cost on this list — no range to guess at. Entry is TOEFL 80 / IELTS 6.0 / Duolingo 112 — practical rather than punishing — and applications close 15 June 2027, the latest deadline in the region.

6. HIT-Shenzhen — engineering depth, three-year commitment

Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen charges a flat ¥35,000 per year. Its business stream (Applied Economics / Business Administration) runs two years, but all four engineering programs — Computer Technology, Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering — run three years, taking the total to ¥105,000. That is the highest whole-degree cost among self-funded English-taught options here, and it is a deliberate trade: HIT-Shenzhen is a research institute with deep industry placement in Shenzhen's hardware and robotics sectors. Duolingo 115 is accepted alongside IELTS 6.0 (sub-scores ≥ 5.5) and TOEFL 80; the deadline is 20 May 2027.

Language requirements at a glance

University	IELTS	TOEFL	Duolingo	Deadline (2027 entry)
Shenzhen University	5.5	80	100	31 May
South China University of Technology	6.0	80	112	15 June
Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen	6.0 (sub ≥ 5.5)	80	115	20 May
Foshan University	6.0	—	—	30 June (HSK 4 ≥ 180 also accepted)
Sun Yat-sen University	6.5	79	—	30 April (Round 2)
Southern University of Science and Technology	6.5 (sub ≥ 6.0)	90	—	1 April (Round 2)

Some published deadlines in our database still reference the previous admissions cycle — always confirm the current date with the university before applying.

If you are also considering IELTS for a bachelor's degree, our IELTS requirements guide and TOEFL and Duolingo tables cover every GBA university we track.

What a master's really costs beyond tuition

Tuition is roughly 70–80% of the bill. Budget for:

The extras applicants forget

• Dormitory: ¥1,200–1,800 per year at the universities above, so ¥2,400–5,400 across a two- to three-year degree.
• Application fee: ¥400–800 per university. SCUT charges ¥450, SUSTech ¥500, SYSU ¥800.
• Living costs: ¥1,500–2,500 per month in Guangzhou or Shenzhen.
• Thesis and graduation costs: small but real — printing, defense fees, and in some cases a cap-and-gown fee.

Master's vs MBA vs PhD: choosing the right level

The English-taught master's catalogue is small, but the adjacent options are not:

• MBA: SCUT's English-taught International Business MBA at ¥44,500 per year for two years is the premium business option. Our MBA in China guide compares it with Chinese-taught and part-time alternatives.
• AI and data analytics: the fastest-growing master's niche in the GBA, covered separately in our AI & data analytics master's guide.
• PhD: doctoral programs are often cheaper per year than master's programs and come with supervisor funding. See the PhD in China guide and the admission process walkthrough.
• Hong Kong and Macau master's degrees are also taught in English, with different fee structures and one-year formats. Our Hong Kong guide and Macau guide cover those routes.

How to decide in three steps

Filter, then compare totals, then check funding

1. Filter by language requirement first. If your IELTS is 5.5–6.0, SUSTech (6.5) and SYSU (6.5) are out, and SZU, SCUT, HIT-Shenzhen and Foshan (6.0 or below) are in. That single cut removes a third of the list.
2. Then compare the whole-degree cost, not the annual fee. SCUT's ¥68,000 two-year degree beats HIT-Shenzhen's ¥105,000 three-year engineering degree even though both charge a similar fee per year.
3. Then check funding. Guangdong Provincial Scholarships and university-specific awards exist at master's level and change the arithmetic completely. Our scholarship guide lists what is actually available.

Browse every program with filters for degree level, language and budget on our programs page, or start with the application process if you already know your shortlist.