There’s a new policy for studying in China in 2026! You must take the CSCA exam to apply for the following universities! What is the CSCA? How to prepare for and register for the CSCA? SICAS has written a CSCA International Undergraduate Admission Guide to answer these questions for you~
The China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) is a pivotal evaluation tool designed for international students applying for undergraduate programs in China. Its core mission is to establish a unified, scientific, and authoritative admission assessment standard, focusing on evaluating students' academic proficiency and learning abilities through Professional Chinese and knowledge of Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry—ultimately laying a solid foundation for their future specialized studies.
The CSCA comprises 5 subjects, divided into two major categories: Professional Chinese and Foundation Subjects, following a "compulsory + optional" model.
Professional Chinese: It includes Liberal Arts and Science Chinese (selected based on major requirements for Chinese-medium programs). Both are conducted in Chinese, with a 90-minute duration and 100 objective multiple-choice questions.
Foundation Subjects: Mathematics is compulsory for all, while Physics and Chemistry are optional based on major requirements. All three subjects offer Chinese or English as the exam language, each lasting 60 minutes with 48 objective multiple-choice questions.
！Note: Specific subject requirements are subject to the university’s latest admission brochure
CSCA Universities List
A
Anshan（鞍山）：Anshan Normal University
B
Beijing（北京）：
Peking University、Tsinghua University、Renmin University of China、Beijing Normal University、China Agricultural University、Beijing Foreign Studies University、Beijing Language and Culture University、University of Science and Technology Beijing、Beijing University of Chemical Technology、Beijing Jiaotong University、Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications、China University of Geosciences, Beijing、China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing、China University of Petroleum, Beijing、Beijing Forestry University、Communication University of China、Central University of Finance and Economics、China University of Political Science and Law、Central Conservatory of Music、The Central Academy of Drama、Central Academy of Fine Arts、Beijing University of Chinese Medicine、University of International Business and Economics、North China Electric Power University、North China University of Technology、Beijing International Studies University、Beijing Film Academy、Beijing Technology and Business University、Beijing University of Technology、Beihang University、Beijing Institute of Technology、Beijing Sport University、Peking Union Medical College、Capital University of Economics and Business、Capital Normal University、Capital University of Physical Education and Sports、Capital Medical University、China Foreign Affairs University、Minzu University of China、China Youth University of Political Studies、People's Public Security University of China、China Conservatory of Music、University of Chinese Academy of Sciences、Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences、National Police University of China
C
Changchun（长春）：
Changchun University、Changchun University of Science and Technology、Changchun University of Chinese Medicine、Jilin Agricultural University、Jilin Normal University、Jilin International Studies University
Changsha（长沙）：
Central South University、Hunan University、Changsha University of Science & Technology、Hunan Normal University、Xiangtan University
Chengdu（成都）：
Sichuan University、Southwest University of Finance and Economics、Southwest Jiaotong University、University of Electronic Science and Technology of China、Chengdu University of Technology、Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine、Sichuan Agricultural University、Sichuan International Studies University、Southwest Petroleum University
Chongqing（重庆）：
Chongqing University、Southwest University、Chongqing Jiaotong University、Chongqing Normal University、Chongqing Medical University、Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications、Southwest University of Political Science and Law
D
Dalian（大连）：Dalian University of Technology、Dalian Polytechnic University、Dalian Maritime University、Dalian Jiaotong University、Dalian University of Foreign Languages、Dalian Medical University
Dali（大理）：Dali University
F
Fuzhou（福州）：
Fujian Police College、Fujian University of Technology、Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University、Fujian Normal University、Fujian Medical University、Fuzhou University、Huaqiao University
G
Guangzhou（广州）：
Sun Yat-sen University、South China University of Technology、Guangdong University of Foreign Languages、Guangzhou Medical University、Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine、South China Agricultural University、South China Normal University、Jinan University、Southern Medical University
Guiyang（贵阳）：
Guizhou University、Guizhou Minzu University、Guizhou Normal University
Guilin（桂林）：
Guilin University of Electronic Technology、Guangxi Normal University
Gannan (Ganzhou)（赣州）：Gannan Normal University
H
Haikou（海口）：Hainan University、Hainan Normal University
Hangzhou（杭州）：
Zhejiang University、Hangzhou Normal University、Westlake University、Zhejiang Gongshang University、Zhejiang University of Technology、Zhejiang Ocean University、Zhejiang Police College、Zhejiang University of Science and Technology、Zhejiang Sci-Tech University、Zhejiang Normal University、China Academy of Art
Harbin（哈尔滨）：
Harbin Engineering University、Harbin Institute of Technology、Harbin University of Science and Technology、Harbin Normal University、Harbin Medical University、Northeast Agricultural University、Heilongjiang University、Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine、Qiqihar University、Heihe University
Hefei（合肥）：
Hefei University of Technology、Anhui University、Anhui Agricultural University、Anhui Normal University、Anhui Medical University、Hefei University、University of Science and Technology of China
Hohhot（呼和浩特）：
Inner Mongolia University、Inner Mongolia University of Technology、Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities、Inner Mongolia Agricultural University、Inner Mongolia Normal University
Huangshan（黄山）：Huangshan University
J
Jinan（济南）：
Shandong University、University of Jinan、Shandong University of Science and Technology、Shandong University of Technology、Shandong Normal University、Ludong University
Jiamusi（佳木斯）：Jiamusi University
Jinzhou（锦州）：Jinzhou Medical University、Bohai University
Jingdezhen（景德镇）：Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute
Jilin City（吉林市）：Beihua University、Northeast Electric Power University
K
Kunming（昆明）：
Kunming University of Science and Technology、Kunming Medical University、Yunnan University of Finance and Economics、Yunnan University、Yunnan Minzu University、Yunnan Agricultural University、Yunnan Normal University
L
Lanzhou（兰州）：
Lanzhou University、Lanzhou Jiaotong University、Lanzhou University of Technology、Gansu University of Chinese Medicine
Lhasa（拉萨）：Tibet University
M
Mudanjiang（牡丹江）：Mudanjiang Normal University
N
Nanchang（南昌）：
Nanchang University、Nanchang Hangkong University、Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics、Jiangxi Agricultural University、Jiangxi Normal University、Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine
Nanjing（南京）：
Nanjing University、Southeast University、China University of Mining and Technology、Hohai University、Jiangnan University、Nanjing Agricultural University、China Pharmaceutical University、Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics、Nanjing University of Science and Technology、Nanjing Forestry University、Nanjing Audit University、Nanjing Normal University、Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology、Nanjing Medical University、Nanjing University of the Arts、Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications、Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine、Nantong University、Jiangsu University、Jiangsu Police Institute、Jiangsu Normal University
Ningbo（宁波）：
Ningbo University、Ningbo University of Technology、The University of Nottingham Ningbo China
Nanning（南宁）：
Guangxi University、Guangxi University for Nationalities、Guangxi Medical University、Nanning Normal University
Yinchuan（银川）：Ningxia University、Ningxia Medical University
Q
Qingdao（青岛）：
Qingdao University、Qingdao University of Science and Technology、Ocean University of China、China University of Petroleum (East China)
S
Shanghai（上海）：
Fudan University、Shanghai Jiao Tong University、Tongji University、East China University of Science and Technology、Donghua University、East China Normal University、Shanghai International Studies University、Shanghai University of Finance and Economics、Shanghai University、Shanghai University of International Business and Economics、Shanghai Maritime University、Shanghai Ocean University、ShanghaiTech University、University of Shanghai for Science and Technology、Shanghai Normal University、Shanghai University of Sport、Shanghai Conservatory of Music、Shanghai University of Political Science and Law、Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine、East China University of Political Science and Law
Shenyang（沈阳）：
Northeastern University、Shenyang University of Technology、Shenyang Aerospace University、Shenyang Jianzhu University、Shenyang Ligong University、Shenyang Normal University、Liaoning University、Liaoning Technical University、Liaoning University of Technology、University of Science and Technology Liaoning、Liaoning Normal University、Liaoning Petrochemical University、Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine、China Medical University
Shijiazhuang（石家庄）：
Hebei University、Hebei University of Technology、Hebei University of Economics and Business、Hebei Normal University、Hebei Medical University、Yanshan University
Shantou（汕头）：Shantou University
Shenzhen（深圳）：Southern University of Science and Technology
Suzhou（苏州）：Soochow University
Shihezi（石河子）：Shihezi University
T
Taiyuan（太原）：
Shanxi University、Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine、Taiyuan University of Technology
Tianjin（天津）：
Nankai University、Tianjin University、Tianjin University of Finance and Economics、Tiangong University、Tiangong University (formerly Tianjin University of Science & Technology)、Tianjin University of Technology、Tianjin Normal University、Tianjin Foreign Studies University、Tianjin Medical University、Tianjin University of Technology and Education、Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
U
Ürümqi（乌鲁木齐）：
Xinjiang University、Xinjiang Normal University、Xinjiang Medical University
W
Wuhan（武汉）：
Wuhan University、Huazhong University of Science and Technology、China University of Geosciences, Wuhan、Wuhan University of Technology、Central China Normal University、Huazhong Agricultural University、Zhongnan University of Economics and Law、Hubei University、Hubei University of Chinese Medicine、Wuhan Textile University、Wuhan Sports University、China Three Gorges University、Yangtze University
Wenzhou（温州）：Wenzhou University、Wenzhou Medical University
Wuyi (Nanping)（南平）：Wuyi University
X
Xiamen（厦门）：Xiamen University、Xiamen University of Technology
Xining（西宁）：Qinghai University、Qinghai Nationalities University
Xi'an（西安）：
Xi'an Jiaotong University、Northwest A&F University、Shaanxi Normal University、Xidian University、Chang'an University、Northwest University、Northwestern Polytechnical University、Xi'an Shiyou University、Xi'an International Studies University、Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine
Xuzhou（徐州）：China University of Mining and Technology (main campus)
Y
Yangling（杨凌）：Northwest A&F University
Yangzhou（扬州）：Yangzhou University
Yantai（烟台）：Yantai University
Yanbian (Yanji)（延吉）：Yanbian University
Z
Zhengzhou（郑州）：
Zhengzhou University、Henan University、Henan University of Technology、Henan University of Chinese Medicine
Key Logistics
Test Dates: The global inaugural CSCA will take place on December 21, 2025. Starting from 2026, the exam will be held 5 times a year, in January, March, April, June, and December.
Test Format: Primarily home-based online tests; offline test centers (offering computer-based or paper-based exams) will be set up in some countries.
Test Fees: 450 RMB for a single subject; 700 RMB for two or more subjects. Payment methods include Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay, VISA, and MasterCard.
Registration: Registration for the inaugural exam opens in November 2025. For other sessions, registration periods are announced on the official CSCA website (www.csca.cn). Registration must be completed online via the website, which supports both Chinese and English operations.
Score Release: All subjects are scored on a 100-point scale. Scores for home-based online tests and offline computer-based tests are released within 7 working days after the exam, while paper-based test scores are released within 14 working days.
Pre-Exam Preparation Tips
Document Verification: Prepare a valid passport or national ID (as used during registration) in advance—online exams require real-time ID verification, and offline exams need physical documents for check-in.
Equipment & Environment Check: For home-based online tests, confirm that your computer (with a functional camera and microphone) meets the official system requirements. Test the internet speed (ensure a stable connection of at least 10 Mbps) and clear the exam area of books, notes, or other prohibited items.
Exam Language Confirmation: Double-check the selected exam language (Chinese/English) in your registration account 3 days before the test—language adjustments are not allowed after the deadline.
Mock Test Participation: Complete the official mock test (released 1 week before the exam on www.csca.cn) to familiarize yourself with the test interface, question types, and submission process.
If you have any other questions about CSCA, please feel free to contact SICAS via the official website or the following contact information. We welcome your inquiries！
Email：service@sicas.cn
Tel/ Wechat/ Whatsapp: + 86-15318861816/ +86-18561616618