Study in China for Myanmar Students 2026: MBBS, Scholarships & Visa Guide

Myanmar sends thousands of students to China every year, and Guangdong is one of the most popular destinations. Direct flights connect Yangon to Guangzhou in under four hours, Guangzhou is home to a large and long-established Burmese community, and tuition at many Guangdong universities is a fraction of what private colleges charge at home. If you are a Myanmar student planning your 2027 intake, this guide covers costs, scholarships, MBBS options, and the visa process.

Reality check: English-taught bachelor's degrees in Guangdong start at ¥26,000–34,000 per year, and Chinese-taught degrees can cost less than ¥6,000 per year. With a CSC or Guangdong Government scholarship, total costs can drop below what you would spend studying in Yangon's private sector.

1. Tuition Costs for Myanmar Students

Tuition depends on the language of instruction and the subject. Verified figures from Greater Bay Area (GBA) universities currently open to international students:

Affordable Chinese-taught degrees (HSK required)

• Zhaoqing University — Education / Chinese Language (Bachelor) — ¥5,050/year + training fee
• Foshan University — Agriculture / Engineering (Bachelor) — ¥5,710/year
• Guangdong University of Technology — Engineering (Bachelor, Chinese) — ¥21,000/year

English-taught bachelor's degrees (no Chinese required)

• Shenzhen University — International Economics and Trade — ¥26,000/year
• Jinan University — International Economics and Trade — ¥28,000/year
• Jinan University — Computer Science and Technology — ¥30,000/year
• Shenzhen University — International Business Administration — ¥30,000/year

Compare every program and tuition on our programs page.

2. MBBS in China for Myanmar Students

Medicine is the single most requested program among Myanmar applicants. These English-taught clinical medicine (MBBS-style) programs are open to international students:

• Jinan University — Clinical Medicine (Bachelor, English) — ¥34,000/year
• Guangzhou Medical University — Clinical Medicine (Bachelor, English) — ¥40,000/year (6 年本科, 英文授课)
• Shantou University — Clinical Medicine - English-taught (Bachelor, 5-year) — ¥40,000/year
• Shantou University — Clinical Medicine - English-taught 6-year track (Bachelor) — ¥40,000/year

Key admission details:

• Jinan University (Guangzhou) — 6-year English track, IELTS 5.5 (5.0+) accepted, application fee ¥800, Phase 2 deadline May 31, 2027.
• Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou) — 6-year English track, IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 80, application fee ¥500, deadline June 30, 2026 for the current cycle.
• Shantou University — 5-year and 6-year English tracks, TOEFL 80 / IELTS 6.0 or a medium-of-instruction certificate, application fee ¥400, deadline June 1, 2027.

Important: before enrolling, confirm the current recognition status of your chosen program with the Myanmar Medical Council (MMC). Our team can help you verify whether a program meets licensing requirements for returning doctors.

3. Scholarships for Myanmar Students

• Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) — full tuition, on-campus accommodation, monthly stipend, and medical insurance.
• Guangdong Government Outstanding International Student Scholarship — ¥10,000/year and up at participating universities.
• University scholarships — for example, Shantou University awards tiered scholarships from half tuition up to full tuition plus housing and a ¥15,000/year living allowance; SUSTech offers full and partial tuition scholarships for English-taught science and engineering students from ¥10,000–30,000/year effective tuition.
• Presidential Scholarships at Jinan University and Shenzhen University for high-achieving applicants.

Read our CSC scholarship guide and Guangdong Government Scholarship guide for requirements and deadlines.

4. Visa Process from Myanmar

1. Receive your admission letter and JW202 form from the university.
2. Book an appointment at the Chinese Embassy in Nay Pyi Taw or the Chinese Consulate in Yangon.
3. Apply for an X1 visa for programs longer than 180 days — bring your passport, admission letter, JW202, health certificate, and photos. See our X1 vs X2 visa explainer.
4. Within 30 days of arrival, convert the X1 visa into a residence permit.

5. Cost of Living and Accommodation

Beyond tuition, plan for these monthly expenses (typical ranges in GBA cities):

• On-campus dormitory: roughly ¥3,000–8,000 per year depending on the university and room type — far cheaper than private housing.
• Food: ¥1,000–1,500 per month. University canteens are the cheapest option, and Guangzhou's Burmese restaurants help with homesickness.
• Transport: ¥100–200 per month. Guangzhou, Foshan, and Shenzhen have extensive metro networks; student cards offer discounts.
• Phone and internet: ¥50–100 per month.

All told, most international students in Guangdong live comfortably on ¥2,500–4,000 per month excluding tuition — noticeably cheaper than Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong.

6. Which City Should You Choose?

• Guangzhou — the biggest international community, the strongest MBBS options (Jinan University and Guangzhou Medical University), and direct flights to Yangon. Best all-round choice for first-year students.
• Shenzhen — China's tech capital, ideal for computer science and business students who want internships at major companies.
• Shantou — a quieter coastal city with a highly regarded English-taught medical school and lower living costs.
• Foshan / Zhaoqing / Jiangmen — the lowest tuition and living costs in the GBA, suited to budget-focused students or those starting with a Chinese language year.

7. Why the Greater Bay Area?

• Proximity and connectivity — direct Yangon–Guangzhou flights and a huge trade relationship make travel home easy during holidays.
• Community — Guangzhou has one of the largest Burmese communities in China, with Burmese restaurants, grocery shops, and student networks.
• Career upside — Chinese-speaking Myanmar graduates are in high demand in border trade, logistics, and manufacturing companies working between the two countries.
• Lower living costs than Beijing or Shanghai — expect roughly ¥2,500–4,000 per month in Guangzhou, Foshan, or Zhaoqing.

Deadlines for the 2027 intake mostly fall between March and June 2027. Applying early — and to several universities through one application — maximises both admission and scholarship chances. Start with our application guide.