Northeastern University 2025 Undergraduate Admissions Guide for International Students

1. Introduction to the University

Founded in 1923, Northeastern University (NEU) is located in Shenyang, the central city of Northeast China’s Liaoning Province. The university also has a branch campus in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province. NEU has 4,348 faculty and staff members, including 2,882 full-time teachers. Among them are 5 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, 165 recipients of national-level leading talent programs, 105 recipients of national-level youth talent programs, and 4 innovation research groups supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The university has over 50,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.

NEU is a key university directly under the Ministry of Education of China. It was among the first batch of universities in the national "211 Project" and "985 Project." In September 2017, NEU was selected as one of the first 42 "Double First-Class" universities and was listed again in the second round of the national “Double First-Class” initiative in 2022. The university has a graduate school and 24 colleges/departments, forming a disciplinary system that is engineering-oriented and covers philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, science, engineering, management, art, and interdisciplinary studies. NEU offers 80 undergraduate majors, including 15 national-level featured programs and 39 national-level first-class undergraduate program development sites. Its engineering, computer science, and materials science disciplines rank in the top 1‰ globally in ESI. According to the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), NEU ranks between 201–300 globally.

The university embraces global cooperation and has established partnerships with 264 universities and research institutions across 40 countries and regions. NEU has 5 “Innovation and Intelligence Introduction Bases for Higher Education Disciplines,” 2 international cooperative laboratories, and founded the world’s first Science and Technology Confucius Institute in Belarus. The university has 1 Sino-foreign cooperative education institution and 4 joint education programs. It has also been approved for 10 international cooperation projects by the China Scholarship Council (CSC). Over 1,000 international students from nearly 100 countries and regions study at NEU each year.

Undergraduate Programs List: https://a.17gz.org/files/110145/2025UndergraduateProgramListsNEU.pdf

2. Application Requirements

3. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens in good physical health.

   If both or one parent is a Chinese citizen residing abroad and the applicant was born with foreign nationality, they must have a record of residing outside of China for at least two years (nine months per year) within the past four years (by April 30, 2025), based on entry and exit stamps.

   If the applicant is a former Chinese citizen who has acquired foreign nationality, they must have held a valid foreign passport or nationality certificate for at least four years and have lived outside of China for at least two years within the past four years (by April 30, 2025).

4. High school diploma or above.

5. Must be at least 17 years old.

6. For Chinese-taught programs, applicants must have a new HSK Level 5 score of 180 or above. Those who do not meet this requirement should first apply for Chinese language studies at their own expense. For English-taught programs or English majors, applicants must either be native/official English speakers or provide valid TOEFL/IELTS scores.

7. Chinese Government Scholarship Application

Chinese Government Scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, insurance, and a monthly living stipend of 2,500 RMB. You must apply through the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country to study at NEU under the scholarship. If you would like a Pre-admission Letter from NEU, please email lxsh@mail.neu.edu.cn. For application dates, please consult the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country.

4. Self-funded Program Application

5. Application Period: December 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025
   (Note: The deadline may be adjusted depending on the unified entrance examination date and may close earlier.)

6. Application Method:
   Register an official account through E-Square. Each email can only register one account. Follow the online instructions to complete the application. No need to mail hard copies.

7. Required Documents:

1. Original high school diploma and its Chinese translation

2. Original high school transcripts and their Chinese translation

3. Study plan in China (minimum 800 words in Chinese or English, stating the intended major or research direction at NEU)

4. Passport information page

5. Blank pages of the passport

6. Foreigner Physical Examination Form

7. Language proficiency certificate

8. Non-criminal record certificate

9. Guardian Guarantee Letter for International Students in China (required for applicants under 18)

10. If currently in China, also submit: passport visa and entry stamp pages (ensure visa continuity), and temporary residence registration form

4. Fees

1. Application fee: 500 RMB

2. Tuition: 18,000 – 21,000 RMB per year
   Tuition details: https://a.17gz.org/files/110145/2025UndergraduateProgramListsNEU.pdf

3. Accommodation: 32 – 60 RMB per person/day depending on room type

4. Insurance: Starting from 800 RMB/year as required by the university

5. Payment methods: On-site card payment, bank transfer, etc.

6. Payment time: Students will receive a payment notice after being admitted. Please pay on time.

7. Refund policy: https://a.17gz.org/files/110145/refundpolicy2023.pdf

5. Entrance Examination and Admission Review

NEU will organize entrance exams according to national regulations. Applicants should closely follow upcoming exam registration information and participate accordingly. Each college will assess applicants’ academic abilities through interviews and document reviews. Please ensure your contact information is up to date.

6. Common Forms Download

7. Foreigner Physical Examination Form: https://a.17gz.org/files/110145/FPEF.pdf

8. Non-criminal Record Commitment Letter (If you cannot provide a non-criminal record certificate from your local authority, please fill out and sign this form): https://a.17gz.org/files/110145/NCRC.docx

9. Guardian Guarantee Letter for International Students in China (Required for students under 18): https://a.17gz.org/files/110145/guardian-guarantee.docx

10. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I apply for the undergraduate scholarship program directly through NEU?
A1: No. You must apply through the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country. If you want a Pre-admission Letter from NEU, please email lxsh@mail.neu.edu.cn. Please follow the embassy/consulate’s instructions and list “Northeastern University” as your preferred university.

Q2: What does the Chinese Government Scholarship cover?
A2: It may include all or part of tuition, accommodation, insurance, and living expenses.

Q3: What is the website for online application?
A3: For self-funded studies, please apply on NEU’s official website. For the scholarship, apply through the Chinese embassy in your country.

Q4: Can I fill out a paper application form and mail it instead of applying online?
A4: No, you must apply online.

Q5: Do I need to submit hard copies in addition to the online application?
A5: No hard copies are required during the application stage. After being accepted, you must bring the original diploma and transcripts for verification at registration. Failure to pass the verification will result in denied enrollment, and you must leave China at your own expense within the visa validity period.

Q6: What if I don’t have a passport yet?
A6: You cannot apply without a passport. Please obtain one as soon as possible.

Q7: Do my translated diploma and transcript need to be notarized?
A7: It is recommended to submit notarized translations.

Q8: When will I know the result of my application?
A8: Please check the application system regularly for status updates. We will also notify you by email.

Q9: I am a self-funded student with personal insurance. Do I still need to buy another insurance?
A9: Yes. According to the "Interim Provisions on the Administration of Insurance for International Students in Higher Education Institutions," personal insurance cannot be used for enrollment or residence permits. The university will inform you of the designated insurance purchase process after admission.