Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), one of China's leading research universities, has opened applications for international students for the 2026 academic year, offering a total of 278 degree programs across undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels.

Founded in 1924 by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a pioneer of China's democratic revolution, SYSU is located in Guangdong Province in southern China. In 2025, the university ranked seventh in China and 65th globally in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), and eighth in China and 85th worldwide in the 2025-2026 U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings.

Undergraduate program application 

For undergraduate applicants, SYSU is offering 56 majors, all taught in Chinese. International students applying for bachelor's programs are required to take the China Study Abroad Undergraduate Admission Academic Proficiency Test (CSCA), administered by the China Scholarship Council under China's Ministry of Education. Applicants must select Chinese as the examination language, with subject requirements varying by major.

Undergraduate applications will be accepted in two rounds: from January 1 to February 28, 2026, and from March 1 to April 30, 2026.

Master program application 

At the postgraduate level, the university has opened 119 master's programs. Several programs are taught in English, including Public Administration, Business Administration, Nuclear Science and Technology, Atmospheric Sciences, and Physics. 

Applications for master's programs are open from January 1 to February 15, 2026, for the first round, and from February 16 to April 30, 2026, for the second round.

Doctoral program application 

SYSU is also offering 103 doctoral programs for international students in 2026. English-taught doctoral programs include Nuclear Science and Technology, Atmospheric Sciences, Space Physics, and Physics. 

The application schedule for doctoral programs follows the same timeline as the master's programs.

The online application system opened on January 1, 2026. Applicants can submit required documents between January and April. Interview assessments are expected to take place from March to May, with preliminary admission results available 15 days after interviews. Official admission letters will be issued between June and July 2026.

SYSU noted that specific procedures and requirements may vary by program, and applicants should follow the latest guidelines published on the Sun Yat-sen University International Student Application System. Detailed application instructions are available through the university's Office of International Students' Affairs.