China Academy of Art (CAA, Agency Code: 10355), founded in 1928, is in the process of building towards the national "Double First-Class" initiative. It is adheres to its mission of "building a world-class academy of art that represents the highest level of Chinese cultural, artistic research and education." The university is primarily based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, with four campuses: Nanshan, Xiangshan, Liangzhu, and Xianghu. Undergraduate programs are generally conducted in Chinese on a full-time basis, with a duration of four to five years. Graduates who meet the relevant national and university degree requirements will be awarded a bachelor's degree.
I. Major Direction
Attachment 1:CAA's 2026 International Student Undergraduate Program Majors (Taught in Chinese)
附件1：CAA 2026 Majors of Bachelor's Degree Programs.pdf
II. Application Deadline
March 31, 2026 (Beijing Time, including this day)
III. Application Eligibility
1. Non-Chinese citizens with a valid foreign passport. Applicants who are identified as Chinese nationals by the Chinese Public Security authorities during the application, admission, or after enrollment will have their application, admission, enrollment eligibility, or student status revoked.
2. In accordance with the "Notice on Regulating the Enrollment of International Students by Higher Education Institutions in China" (Document No. 12[2020], issued by the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Education), and based on Article 5 of the "Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China", individuals meeting the following criteria do not possess Chinese nationality: Both or one of the parents is a Chinese citizen who has settled abroad, and the individual was born with a foreign nationality. Starting from 2021, for such individuals to apply for admission to undergraduate or higher vocational programs at higher education institutions in China as international students, in addition to meeting other eligibility criteria set by the institutions, they must also meet the following requirements: hold a valid foreign passport or nationality certificate for four years or more (including four years), and provide proof of actual residence abroad for more than two years between April 30, 2022, and April 30, 2026 (residing abroad for at least nine months in a year may be counted as one year, verified based on entry and exit stamps). Individuals who have emigrated from China's Mainland, Hong Kong SAR (China), Macau SAR (China) and Taiwan Region (China) and acquired foreign citizenship, applying as international students, must meet above requirements. (http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A20/moe_850/202006/t20200609_464159.html)
3. Physical and mental health (free from infectious diseases and any physical or mental conditions that would affect normal studies), law-abiding, excellent in character and academic performance, friendly toward China, with no criminal record.
4. Graduation from high school. Applicants who have not yet graduated at the time of application must provide a pre-graduation certificate, and must obtain their high school diploma no later than September 1, 2026.
5. China Scholastic Competency Assessment for International Students in China (CSCA) Score Requirements: The test is conducted five times a year by the China Scholarship Council, specifically in January, March, April, June, and December. Specific dates and arrangements are announced on the official website (www.csca.cn).
Test Subjects: Professional Chinese (Liberal Arts), Mathematics; Examination Paper Language: Chinese.
6. A valid HSK4 certificate. Applicants whose compulsory curriculum during secondary education (junior and senior high school) was taught in Chinese may submit proof of Chinese-medium instruction and are exempt from submitting an HSK certificate.
IV. Fees and Bank Transfer
When making payments, it is mandatory to indicate the Passport Number and Passport Name. The scanned copy of the payment receipt must be uploaded to the application system.
1. Application Fee: RMB 800 per application. This fee is non-refundable once the application is submitted.
2. Tuition Fee: RMB 52,000 per academic year per student (including comprehensive insurance RMB 1000/person). Fees are charged by academic year. In accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education of China, international students coming to our university must purchase comprehensive medical insurance within mainland China. This is a necessary condition for completing the registration procedures for the new semester. The insurance will be uniformly purchased by the university.
https://caa.at0086.cn/site/cn/student_service_cn/show-5098.html
3. Other Fees (e.g., miscellaneous fees): Payable separately as required.
4. Accommodation Fees and Electricity Fees:
https://caa.at0086.cn/site/cn/student_service_cn/show-5078.html
5. Please submit the related fees to the university's designated bank account:
(1) Payment from within China:
https://caa.at0086.cn/site/cn/admission_cn/show-5197.html
(2) Payment from outside China:
https://caa.at0086.cn/site/admission/show-5198.html
V. Scholarships
Applicants for the Chinese Government Scholarship are generally required to be under 25 years of age. Undergraduate applicants to our university may apply for the following scholarships:
Financial Resource | Application Method |
Chinese Government Scholarship(A): Bilateral Program | Applicants are advised to consult their national scholarship dispatching authorities or the Education Office of the Chinese embassy/consulate in their home country for application procedures and deadlines, as they vary by country. |
Chinese Government Scholarship (B): University Program | |
Self-fund Students | 1.Zhejiang Provincial Government Scholarship for International Students in China (for self-funded enrolled students); http://caa.at0086.cn/site/cn/scholarship_cn/show-5204.html 2. Chinese Academy of Art International Student Scholarship (for self-funded enrolled students). http://caa.at0086.cn/site/cn/scholarship_cn/show-5204.html |
VI. Application Procedure
1. Application materials must be submitted exclusively through the China Academy of Art "International Student Service System"(https://caa.at0086.cn/StuApplication/Login.aspx). Please send the original documents or scanned copies of notarized documents. Paper-based materials or applications sent via email will not be processed.
2. All required documents must be filled in online, and clear, authentic, and valid scanned copies of originals or notarized materials must be uploaded completely. Applicants bear full responsibility for any consequences arising from incomplete, inaccurate, or unclear application materials.
3. Applicants must ensure that all information provided is accurate and error-free. This includes, but is not limited to, passport number, passport name, gender, contact number, email address, and mailing address. The applicant will be solely responsible for any issues during the admission process resulting from inaccuracies.
4. The university reserves the right to request supplementary materials or conduct additional assessments or interviews.
5. Applicants must regularly check their message inbox within the application system and their registered email, and ensure their phone is accessible for communication.
VII. Application Materials
Clear, complete scanned copies of the following original or notarized documents must be uploaded. Documents in languages other than Chinese or English must include a notarized Chinese or English translation. It is recommended to have documents and their translations notarized at the Embassy or Consulate of the People's Republic of China in your home country. Documents comprising more than one page must be bound with a seal across the page edges or have each page stamped.
1. Personal Ordinary Passport Page.
The passport must be valid until after September 30, 2026. Once admitted, the passport information cannot be changed until after enrollment is completed. If a change is necessary due to special circumstances or force majeure, a written application must be submitted to the university.
2. CSCA Score Report.
3. Chinese Language Proficiency.
(1) Valid HSK Level 4 Certificate. A minimum score of 180 is required, with a listening sub-score no less than 70. The certificate must be valid within 2 years and issued after August 31, 2024. Applicants for the Chinese Government Scholarship must submit the certificate by March 31, 2026; all other applicants must submit it by June 30, 2026.
(2) Exemption from HSK (for specific academic backgrounds). If the language of instruction for your previous degree was Chinese, or if you obtained a degree from a Chinese university where Chinese was the medium of instruction, you are exempt from submitting an HSK certificate. Please submit your previous graduation certificate or student status certificate instead.
(3) Exemption from HSK (for secondary education in Chinese). If the language of instruction for compulsory courses during your secondary education (junior high or high school) was Chinese, please provide your junior high or high school graduation certificate and proof of Chinese as the medium of instruction. You are exempt from submitting an HSK certificate.
(4) Students from Malaysian Independent Chinese High Schools should submit their school graduation certificate or student status certificate.
4. Recent ID Photo (Digital). Format: JPG, 2-inch (3.5cm x 5.3cm), white background without borders, head should occupy about 2/3 of the photo, minimum 320*240 pixels, 4:3 aspect ratio, file size between 100-500KB.
5. Documents for Applicants Born Abroad with Chinese Citizen Parents. If you acquired foreign nationality at birth and one or both of your parents are Chinese citizens, you must submit:
(1) Proof that you acquired foreign nationality at birth;
(2) Either proof of cancellation of your Chinese nationality, or proof of permanent residency held by your Chinese citizen parent(s) in a foreign country before your birth;
(3) Hold a valid foreign passport or nationality certificate for four years or more (including four years), and provide proof of actual residence abroad for more than two years between April 30, 2022, and April 30, 2026 (residing abroad for at least nine months in a year may be counted as one year, verified based on entry and exit stamps).
6. Individuals who have emigrated from China’s Mainland, Hong Kong SAR (China), Macau SAR (China) and Taiwan Region (China) and acquired foreign citizenship, applying as international students, must upload the proof of cancellation of Chinese nationality and meet the requirement of 5-(3).
7. "Foreigner Physical Examination Form". (Uniformly printed by Chinese health and quarantine authorities, must be completed in Chinese or English). The examination must strictly follow all required items on the form. Incomplete forms, forms without a photo affixed and stamped across the corner, or without the doctor's and hospital's signatures and stamps are invalid. The form is valid for 6 months from the date of the examination.
8. Certificate of No Criminal Record. A valid certificate issued by the local public security authorities, typically dated within 6 months prior to the application submission date. It must confirm a clear record since birth.
9. Notarized high school graduation certificate (highest academic qualification) and the original copy. Prospective graduates must submit a pre-graduation certificate or study certificate issued by their current school (with the school's official seal). They must obtain their high school diploma no later than September 1, 2026, and must supplement the submission with the original or notarized copy of the graduation certificate before enrollment.
10. Original or notarized academic transcript covering all courses during high school. The transcript must be issued and stamped by the school’s academic affairs office or relevant student administration department. Chinese or English transcripts are acceptable. If the transcript is in a language other than English, a notarized English translation must be provided additionally. Prospective graduates should submit transcripts covering their studies up to the current stage.
11. A-LEVEL standardized test scores or the applicant’s university entrance examination scores (if applicable).
12. Personal Portfolio. For specific requirements, please refer to Attachment 1.
13. Application Fee Payment Receipt with note "Passport Name+Application Fee".
14. "China Academy of Art International Student Application Integrity Commitment Letter".
Applicants must confirm that all information submitted is true and valid, and that all works and papers are their own academic achievements. Any discovery of falsification will result in the corresponding disqualification from application, admission, or even revocation of student status.
15. Applicants who will be under 18 years of age as of September 1, 2026, must submit the following documents:
(1) A notarized power of attorney from the applicant's parents, authorizing the appointed guardian to exercise custody.
(2) A guardian's guarantee letter (see Attachment 4). The appointed guardian must be an adult residing in mainland China.
VIII. Admission
1. The university will conduct an initial review of all applicant materials. Those who pass the initial review will proceed to the online interview stage. The specific schedule and method for the interview will be announced separately on the CAA "International Student Service System".
2. Admission decisions will be made based on a comprehensive evaluation of the applicant's research potential, academic performance, language proficiency, and online interview performance, following a merit-based selection process. In line with the university's "lenient admission, strict graduation" policy for international students, admitted students will be assigned to their respective faculties/departments based on their admitted major and will study alongside Chinese students.
3. Applicants must proactively check the admission results on the service system. The university will not be held responsible for any consequences arising from an applicant's personal negligence. Unsuccessful applicants will not receive individual notifications.
4. A "Pre-admission Notice" will be issued within one month after passing the interview review. Self-funded students must transfer the tuition fee for the first academic year to the university's designated bank account within the specified deadline and email a scanned copy of the remittance receipt to caaic1978@caa.edu.cn. The university will only reserve a study place for self-funded students who have prepaid the first year's tuition. Failure to make the payment within the deadline will result in the revocation of the pre-admission offer. Tuition fees paid by self-funded international students are generally non-refundable. Students who complete the payment will be officially admitted. If an admitted student fails to meet the university's registration requirements upon arrival and consequently has their admission revoked, the prepaid tuition for the first academic year will not be refunded.
5. Around mid-to-late July 2026, officially admitted self-funded students will be able to download the "Admission Notice" from the CAA system. A download link for the "JW201/JW202 Form" will be sent to the student's permanent email address on file. Students should download it from the specified website, as the university will not provide a paper copy.
Students awarded the Chinese Government Scholarship can check and download their "Admission Notice" and "JW201 Form" through their personal account on the official website of the China Scholarship Council (https://studyinchina.csc.edu.cn/#/login).
6. If new national policies regarding the enrollment of international students are issued by higher authorities, the university reserves the right to adjust this admission guide accordingly. The final interpretation rests with the International College of the Chinese Academy of Art. Please stay updated by regularly checking the official website of the International College.
IX. Registration
Admitted new students should register on time in September 2026. The specific date will be indicated on the "Admission Letter". Students must strictly adhere to the registration and enrollment date specified on the Admission Letter. During registration, original documents including the graduation certificate, degree certificate, and language proficiency certificate will be verified. Failure to present the required original certificates will result in the revocation of admission eligibility. If any falsification, fraud, or malpractice is confirmed, the student's status will be canceled.
Applicants must present their passport, the "Admission Letter" and the "Visa Application Form for Study in China" at a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad to apply for an entry study (X1) visa.
Our university does not permit students to hold two or more simultaneous student registrations at Chinese higher education institutions.
Accommodation arrangements will be announced separately on the International College website prior to the start of the semester. Please check for updates accordingly. The full academic year’s accommodation fee must be paid in a single payment at the time of registration upon enrollment.
X. Contacts
Office Add: No.17 Building, International College of China Academy of Art, No. 352 Xiangshan Road, Hangzhou, 310024, P. R. China
Official website of CAA: http://en.caa.edu.cn/
Official website of the International College: http://admission.caa.edu.cn/
E-mail: caaic1978@caa.edu.cn
Tel: 86-571-87164712
Consultation time: 8:30-11:30, 13:00-16:30, Monday to Friday(except official holiday and winter holiday: January 21, 2025 to February 28, 2026)
Contact: Teacher Ren, Teacher Wang
