Foundation Program in China for International Students (Tuition from ¥18,000/year)

If your high school record or Chinese level is not yet ready for a full bachelor's degree, a foundation program (called 预科 / "pre-university" in China) is the bridge you need. These one-year programs strengthen your language, fill academic gaps, and put you on a direct path into a university degree — usually without having to re-apply from scratch.

In China's Greater Bay Area (GBA), two top universities offer verified foundation tracks. Below are the real tuition figures, entry requirements, and how each one leads to undergraduate study.

Foundation vs. language course: a language course only teaches Chinese. A foundation program teaches Chinese plus the academic subjects you will need for your target degree, and is designed to feed you directly into bachelor's study.

1. South China University of Technology (SCUT) — International Foundation Program

Tuition: ¥18,000/year (English-taught) or ¥23,000/year (Chinese-taught)

Duration: 1 year

Entry: High school graduate. English-taught track needs TOEFL 68 / IELTS 5.5; the Chinese-taught track targets HSK 4–5.

SCUT is a "Double First-Class" engineering university (QS #377) and a flagship of the GBA. Its International Foundation Program is run by the School of International Education and is available in both English and Chinese, so you can pick the track that matches your current level. On-campus dormitories are available from about ¥1,500/year. See the full details on the SCUT page.

2. Jinan University — Pre-University Program (A & B)

Tuition: ¥19,000/year

Duration: 1 year

Entry: High school graduate with HSK 3 or equivalent.

Jinan University is famous as the "university of overseas Chinese," with one of the largest international student bodies in the country. Its College of Chinese Language and Culture runs two pre-university tracks (Program A and Program B), placing students according to their level before they progress to undergraduate majors. Dormitory costs about ¥1,800/year. Explore the Jinan University page.

Tuition figures above are verified from official university sources (2026 intake) and are per academic year in Chinese yuan (¥). Fees can change — confirm the latest figure before applying.

Who Should Take a Foundation Program?

• Students below the HSK requirement for Chinese-taught bachelor's degrees.
• Students whose high school diploma is not directly recognized for direct degree entry in China.
• Students who want a "soft landing" — a year to adapt to Chinese academic culture before a 4-year degree.
• Students targeting a specific university and wanting a guaranteed internal pathway into it.

How Foundation Leads to a Bachelor's

The typical progression looks like this:

1. Apply and enter the 1-year foundation program (usually September intake).
2. Complete language and academic modules and meet the passing standard.
3. Progress into your chosen bachelor's major, often with priority or automatic placement.
4. Graduate with the same degree as direct-entry students.

If you already meet the language and academic requirements, you may be able to skip the foundation year and apply directly to an English-taught program. Browse all options on our programs directory.

Scholarships That Cover Foundation Study

Foundation students can apply for several awards that reduce costs:

• CSC Scholarship — the Chinese Government Scholarship can cover tuition and living costs.
• Guangdong Government Scholarship — a provincial award (commonly ¥10,000).
• University scholarships — SCUT's Presidential Scholarship and Jinan's College of Chinese Language & Culture Scholarship.

For a complete breakdown, read our CSC Scholarship guide and the Guangdong Government Scholarship guide.

Visa for Foundation Students

A one-year foundation program qualifies you for the X1 visa (long-term study over 180 days), which you convert to a residence permit after arrival. For the full document checklist, see our visa guide and the X1 vs X2 comparison.