ZUEL Admission 2027 for International Students: Programs, Fees, Dates

Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (中南财经政法大学), usually called ZUEL, has released its 2027 admission guide for international students. It covers bachelor's, master's and PhD study in economics, law, finance and management, taught in Chinese or English, plus one-year scholar places and Chinese language classes in Wuhan. Degree applications are open from 15 October 2026 to 1 July 2027.

About ZUEL

ZUEL is a national key university under China's Ministry of Education, built jointly with the Ministry of Finance and Hubei Province, and part of the Double First-Class program. It holds AACSB and AMBA accreditation and has passed China's quality accreditation for teaching international students. Close to 1,000 students from more than 70 countries study there, and the 2026 ShanghaiRanking (ARWU) placed it fourth among Chinese universities of finance and economics.

Programs for 2027

ZUEL lists 16 bachelor's, 30 master's and 19 PhD majors for 2027. The number in brackets shows how many majors each group has.

Level and language	Majors (school)
Bachelor's, Chinese-taught (11)	International Politics (Philosophy); Economics (Economics); International Business, International Economics and Trade (Economics and Trade); Law (Law School); Chinese Language and Literature (Journalism and Culture Communication); Tourism Management, Business Administration, Marketing (Business Administration); Accounting (Accounting); Public Finance (Public Finance and Taxation)
Bachelor's, English-taught (5)	Business Administration (Business Administration); International Law (International Law); International Economics and Trade (Economics and Trade); Artificial Intelligence, Engineering Management (Information Engineering)
Master's, Chinese-taught (19)	International Relations (Philosophy); World Economy (Economics); Public Finance (Public Finance and Taxation); Constitutional and Administrative Law, Civil and Commercial Law, Economic Law, Criminal Law (Law School); International Law (International Law); Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, International Chinese Language Education (Journalism and Culture Communication); Finance (Finance); International Business, Regional Economics (Economics and Trade); Administrative Management, Land Resource Management, Public Organization and Human Resource Management, Public Policy, Social Security, Master of Public Administration (MPA) (Public Administration)
Master's, English-taught (11)	Finance (Finance); Chinese Law, Environmental and Resources Protection Law, Law (Law School); International Law (International Law); Management Science and Engineering, Computer Science and Technology (Information Engineering); Intellectual Property Law (Intellectual Property); Business Administration (Business Administration); International Business (Economics and Trade); Master of Public Administration (MPA) (Public Administration)
PhD, Chinese-taught (9)	Public Finance (Public Finance and Taxation); Civil and Commercial Law, Criminal Law (Law School); International Law (International Law); Finance (Finance); International Trade (Economics and Trade); Administrative Management, Land Resource Management, Public Policy (Public Administration)
PhD, English-taught (10)	Public Finance (Public Finance and Taxation); World Economy (Economics); Finance (Finance); Legal History, Environmental and Resources Protection Law (Law School); International Law (International Law); Enterprise Management (Business Administration); International Trade, Regional Economics (Economics and Trade); Accounting (Accounting)

Two non-degree routes sit alongside these degrees:

• Scholar programs: one year as a general or senior scholar in the same fields as the degree majors.
• Chinese language program: elementary to advanced classes of 15 to 20 students after a placement test, 18 weeks a semester at 20 hours a week, starting in February or September.

Fees for 2027

Program	Length	Tuition per year
Bachelor's, Chinese-taught	4 years	CNY 16,000
Bachelor's, English-taught	4 years	CNY 20,000
Master's, Chinese-taught	2–3 years	CNY 20,000
Master's, English-taught	2 years	CNY 30,000
PhD, Chinese-taught	4 years	CNY 24,000
PhD, English-taught	4 years	CNY 34,000
General scholar (includes Chinese language study)	1 year	CNY 16,000
Senior scholar	1 year	CNY 20,000
"Experience Chinese" online course	2 months	CNY 2,500 for the course

• Application fee: CNY 500 (not charged for the online course).
• Campus housing, per person per month: CNY 400 in a four-person room, CNY 750 in a double, CNY 1,350 in a single.
• Health insurance is compulsory. The plan ZUEL recommends costs CNY 800 a year for students under 45.

For a full budget including food and travel, see our study in China cost guide.

Scholarship options at ZUEL

• CSC High-Level Postgraduate Program (Type B): for master's and PhD applicants. Agency number 10520, ZUEL deadline 28 February 2027. It covers tuition, campus housing, insurance and a stipend of CNY 3,000 (master's) or CNY 3,500 (PhD) a month.
• "Study in ZUEL" Freshman Scholarship: ZUEL's own award for the first year. In the 2026 round, Type B waived tuition and registration, gave a free double room, insurance and CNY 1,500 a month; Type C waived tuition and gave a free four-person room and insurance. From year two, students compete for the Current Students Scholarship (Types A to D). The 2026 round closed on 15 May 2026, and the 2027 notice had not been published when we checked.
• Chinese Government Scholarship, bilateral program (Type A): applied for through your home country's nominating channel, not directly at ZUEL. ZUEL also lists Silk Road, Belt and Road IP Law, Chinalink and Chinese language teacher scholarships.

Our CSC scholarship guide for Bangladesh explains the Type A and Type B routes.

Who can apply

• Citizens of a country other than China holding an ordinary passport valid beyond 1 March 2028.
• Bachelor's applicants: a CSCA (international undergraduate entrance test) score report, taken in the same language as the program. Mathematics is compulsory; the Chinese test is compulsory for Chinese-taught programs (an HSK 4 certificate replaces it for the Chinese language major); science and engineering applicants must also take physics or chemistry.
• Chinese-taught programs: HSK 4 for bachelor's, HSK 5 for master's and PhD.
• English-taught programs: TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.0, or proof that your previous degree was taught entirely in English.
• Master's, PhD and scholar applicants: two recommendation letters from professors.
• Applicants under 18: a guardianship entrustment form signed by a guardian living in China.

Documents you need

1. Online application form in ZUEL's system.
2. Colour scan of your passport information page and the page before it, plus a white-background JPG ID photo (100 to 500 KB).
3. Highest diploma, notarised; final-year students may send a pre-graduation certificate and bring the diploma at enrolment.
4. Transcripts sealed by your school or university, from high school (bachelor's applicants) or from your first degree onward.
5. CSCA score report (bachelor's only).
6. Foreigner Physical Examination Form in English, fully signed and stamped (valid six months).
7. HSK, TOEFL or IELTS report, or proof of an English-taught degree.
8. Two professor recommendation letters (postgraduate and scholar applicants).
9. Study plan of over 1,000 words in Chinese or English, including your plans after graduation.
10. Police clearance (non-criminal record), normally issued within six months.
11. A self-introduction video in the teaching language: under 180 seconds and 50 MB, covering yourself, your view of China and your study plan.
12. Optional extras such as work or internship letters, awards or publications.

Documents in other languages need notarised Chinese or English translations, and scans must be clear. See our China admission requirements guide for how to prepare each one.

How to apply, step by step

1. Register on ZUEL's International Students Online Service System, complete the form and upload your scans. Paper copies are not needed.
2. ZUEL reviews your file and may invite you to an interview. Watch the system and your email for interview, pre-admission and final admission notices.
3. If admitted, follow the admission notice to register. ZUEL re-checks your identity, original diploma, language certificate and conduct; failing this check cancels the admission.

Important dates

Step	Date
Degree applications open	15 October 2026
Spring 2027 non-degree deadline	10 January 2027
CSC High-Level Postgraduate deadline at ZUEL	28 February 2027
Autumn non-degree deadline	30 June 2027
Degree application deadline	1 July 2027
Autumn semester begins	September 2027 (exact date in your admission notice)

Tips for Bangladeshi applicants

• Bachelor's applicants need CSCA results, not just HSC grades. Book an early CSCA sitting so scores are ready well before 1 July 2027.
• For English-taught master's or PhD study, ask your Bangladeshi university for a medium-of-instruction letter. Without one, plan for IELTS 6.0.
• Time your police clearance and medical form so both are under six months old when you upload them.
• ZUEL says it does not appoint any agent; every application goes through its own online system. EduExpress is independent and helps you check eligibility and prepare documents.

Frequently asked questions

Where is ZUEL?

In Wuhan, Hubei Province, on Nanhu Avenue in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone.

Can I study in English?

Yes. For 2027 there are 5 English-taught bachelor's majors, 11 master's majors and 10 PhD majors, including Business Administration, Finance, International Law and Computer Science and Technology.

Do master's applicants need CSCA?

No. The CSCA score report is required only for bachelor's applicants.

Can I apply for a scholarship as well?

Master's and PhD applicants can try the CSC High-Level Postgraduate Program by 28 February 2027. ZUEL had not yet published its 2027 freshman scholarship notice on 7 November 2026.

Compare programmes, tuition and scholarships on the Zhongnan University of Economics and Law profile.

Information checked on 7 November 2026 against the official notice. Scholarship terms, quotas and deadlines can change; always confirm with the university before applying.