Computer Science & AI in China

The fastest-growing English-taught offering. Expect programming-heavy coursework, project work in Mandarin-heavy teams, and strong hiring pipelines in Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Beijing.

Why this field

What Computer Science & AI involves, and who it suits

Computer science and AI are the fastest-growing English-taught offerings in China. Programming-heavy coursework, project work and a large international cohort make the degree accessible without strong Chinese, and the hiring pipelines in Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Beijing are real. The catch is the team. Group projects, lab meetings and internship workplaces run in Mandarin, and the students who do best are the ones who can operate in both code and everyday Chinese. The degree is a strong launch pad; the language is what turns it into a domestic career rather than a credential.

Programmes

What you can actually study

Duration, teaching language, annual tuition band and the language certificate each track asks for.

ProgrammeLevelDurationLanguageTuition / yr (CNY)Language requirement
Computer ScienceBachelor / Master4 / 3 yearsEnglish or Chinese20,000–38,000 / yrHSK 4 if Chinese-taught
Artificial IntelligenceMaster2–3 yearsEnglish25,000–45,000 / yrNone for English track
Data ScienceMaster2 yearsEnglish25,000–42,000 / yrNone for English track
Software EngineeringBachelor4 yearsEnglish or Chinese20,000–36,000 / yrHSK 4 if Chinese-taught
Electronic & Information EngineeringBachelor / Master4 / 3 yearsEnglish or Chinese20,000–34,000 / yrHSK 4
Universities that teach Computer Science & AI

17 universities we cover list this field

Each card opens the full profile with tuition, Chinese requirement and scholarship status.

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Harbin Engineering University

Harbin · est. 1953 · Project 211 · Double First-Class

Shipbuilding, marine engineering and nuclear technology — a specialist school with a narrow, deep focus.

Tuition: CNY 18,000–30,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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Hefei University of Technology

Hefei · est. 1945 · Project 211 · Double First-Class

Vehicle engineering, mechanical design and materials, tied to Anhui's car and appliance industries.

Tuition: CNY 18,000–30,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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Harbin Institute of Technology

Harbin · est. 1920 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Aerospace, robotics, civil engineering and materials; unusually generous funding for engineering researchers.

Tuition: CNY 20,000–32,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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Northwestern Polytechnical University

Xi'an · est. 1938 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Aerospace, marine engineering and materials — one of the three pillars of China's aerospace system.

Tuition: CNY 20,000–32,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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Northeastern University

Shenyang · est. 1923 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Metallurgy, materials, automation and computer science, in the centre of the old industrial base.

Tuition: CNY 20,000–32,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Chengdu · est. 1956 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Electronics, communications and integrated circuits, with the industry's recruiters on campus.

Tuition: CNY 20,000–34,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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Beijing Institute of Technology

Beijing · est. 1940 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Vehicle engineering, automation, aerospace and computer science with strong defence-adjacent labs.

Tuition: CNY 22,000–34,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Wuhan · est. 1952 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Mechanical, electrical, optical and clinical programs with close industry ties in central China.

Tuition: CNY 22,000–36,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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Beihang University

Beijing · est. 1952 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Aeronautics, astronautics and software; the strongest aerospace brand outside Harbin and Xi'an.

Tuition: CNY 24,000–36,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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Southern University of Science and Technology

Shenzhen · est. 2011 · Double First-Class (new university)

New research university with an English-heavy faculty, strong in materials, physics and AI.

Tuition: CNY 24,000–36,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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Zhejiang University

Hangzhou · est. 1897 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Very wide discipline coverage on a large modern campus, close to Hangzhou's tech employers.

Tuition: CNY 24,000–40,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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University of Science and Technology of China

Hefei · est. 1958 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Small, intense, research-first campus; a leading choice for physics, chemistry, quantum and AI.

Tuition: CNY 26,000–38,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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Tsinghua University

Beijing · est. 1911 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

China's strongest engineering, computer science and design brand, with a large English-taught graduate portfolio.

Tuition: CNY 26,000–40,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Shanghai · est. 1896 · Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class

Engineering and medicine powerhouse; one of the largest English-taught master's catalogues in China.

Tuition: CNY 28,000–45,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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Shenzhen University

Shenzhen · est. 1983 · Shenzhen municipal key · not 985/211

The city's own university, built next to the tech firms its graduates go to work for.

Tuition: CNY 30,000–45,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught
CSC host: yes — Type B

Full profile →
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Hangzhou Dianzi University

Hangzhou · est. 1956 · Zhejiang provincial key · not 985/211

An electronics and computing school with unusually deep ties to Hangzhou's IT industry.

Tuition: CNY 18,000–28,000 / yr
Chinese: None for English-taught · HSK 4 for Chinese-taught

Full profile →
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Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Suzhou · est. 2006 · Sino-British joint venture · not 985/211

A joint venture with the University of Liverpool: an English-medium degree at UK-level tuition.

Tuition: CNY 88,000–93,000 / yr
Chinese: None — the degree is taught entirely in English

Full profile →
Where it leads

What the degree is actually for

Common next steps for graduates of this field in China and at home.

One thing to check before you commit. Admission to the top CS programmes is competitive and the pace is high. A weak undergraduate record in a numerate subject will not be rescued by enthusiasm. Build the application around concrete projects and grades, not intent.
Questions students actually ask

Straight answers

Not for the degree — most CS and AI master's are English-taught. For internships and team work you will want basic Mandarin, because the workplaces run in Chinese.
Tuition runs about 20,000–45,000 CNY per year depending on level and university, with AI and data science at the upper end. Living costs add 1,200–5,200 CNY a month by city.
Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Beijing lead for software, AI and electronics. Shanghai and the Suzhou–Nanjing belt are strong for hardware and semiconductors. Mandarin is needed for almost all of them.

Not sure Computer Science & AI fits you?

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