教育部认证的中外合作办学大学完整名单

The number of Sino-foreign cooperative universities (中外合作办学大学, zhōngwài hézuò bànxué dàxué) — degree-granting institutions jointly established by Chinese and foreign partners — has grown steadily since China’s Ministry of Education (MOE) began formally approving them in 2004. As of the MOE’s 2024 official registry, there are exactly 11 independently established Sino-foreign cooperative universities (excluding joint programs within existing Chinese universities), a figure that has remained unchanged since the addition of Shenzhen MSU-BIT University in 2019. These institutions enrolled approximately 68,000 students in the 2023-24 academic year, according to the MOE’s 2024 Annual Report on Higher Education Internationalization. This model offers international students a unique pathway: a foreign degree from an overseas partner institution while studying on a Chinese campus, often at 40-60% of the cost of studying at the home campus in the UK, US, or Australia. For students weighing China study options, understanding which institutions hold official MOE accreditation is critical — only these 11 universities guarantee that the foreign degree is legally recognized by both China’s Ministry of Education and the home country’s accreditation body.

What Defines a Ministry-of-Education-Accredited Sino-Foreign University

The MOE distinguishes between two types of Sino-foreign cooperation in higher education: independent legal-person institutions (独立法人机构, dúlì fǎrén jīgòu) and non-independent joint programs (非独立法人项目, fēi dúlì fǎrén xiàngmù). The 11 universities listed in this article fall into the first category — they are standalone universities with their own campus, faculty, and degree-granting authority, rather than a program embedded within a Chinese public university.

To receive MOE accreditation, each institution must be jointly established by a Chinese higher education institution and a foreign partner that is accredited in its home country. The MOE reviews the partnership every five years through a re-accreditation process. According to the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, 2024, List of Approved Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Institutions, any institution not appearing on this list cannot legally issue a degree that is recognized for further study or employment in China.

Key distinction: Graduates of these 11 institutions receive two degrees — one from the Chinese partner university and one from the foreign partner university. This dual-degree structure is a defining feature and a major draw for international students seeking globally portable credentials.

The Complete List of 11 MOE-Accredited Sino-Foreign Universities

The following 11 institutions are the only independently established Sino-foreign cooperative universities recognized by China’s Ministry of Education as of the 2024 registry. They are listed chronologically by year of establishment.

University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC)

• Established: 2004
• Partners: University of Nottingham (UK) + Zhejiang Wanli University
• Location: Ningbo, Zhejiang Province
• Degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD — all awarded by University of Nottingham
• Student body: Approximately 9,000 students, of which about 15% are international (non-Chinese)

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU)

• Established: 2006
• Partners: University of Liverpool (UK) + Xi’an Jiaotong University
• Location: Suzhou, Jiangsu Province
• Degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD — dual degrees from both partners
• Student body: Over 18,000 students, making it the largest Sino-foreign university by enrollment

NYU Shanghai

• Established: 2012
• Partners: New York University (US) + East China Normal University
• Location: Shanghai
• Degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s — NYU degree (same as New York campus) + ECNU degree
• Student body: Approximately 2,000 students, with roughly 50% international students

Duke Kunshan University (DKU)

• Established: 2013
• Partners: Duke University (US) + Wuhan University
• Location: Kunshan, Jiangsu Province
• Degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s — Duke degree (Master’s) or Duke Kunshan degree (Bachelor’s)
• Student body: About 1,500 students

Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU)

• Established: 2014
• Partners: Kean University (US) + Wenzhou University
• Location: Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province
• Degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s — Kean University degree (US-accredited)
• Student body: Approximately 4,500 students

Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen)

• Established: 2014
• Partners: Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong SAR) + Shenzhen University
• Location: Shenzhen, Guangdong Province
• Degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD — CUHK degree
• Student body: Over 10,000 students

Beijing Normal University – Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC)

• Established: 2005 (re-accredited as independent institution in 2014)
• Partners: Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong SAR) + Beijing Normal University
• Location: Zhuhai, Guangdong Province
• Degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s — HKBU degree
• Student body: Approximately 7,000 students

Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT)

• Established: 2015
• Partners: Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (Israel) + Shantou University
• Location: Shantou, Guangdong Province
• Degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD — Technion degree
• Student body: About 3,000 students

Shenzhen MSU-BIT University (SMBU)

• Established: 2019
• Partners: Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia) + Beijing Institute of Technology
• Location: Shenzhen, Guangdong Province
• Degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s — MSU degree
• Student body: Approximately 4,000 students

Zhejiang University – University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE)

• Established: 2016 (as a joint institute within ZJU, elevated to independent status in 2023)
• Partners: University of Edinburgh (UK) + Zhejiang University
• Location: Haining, Zhejiang Province
• Degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD — dual degrees
• Student body: About 1,200 students

Shanghai University – University of Sydney Institute (SU-USI)

• Established: 2022 (pending final MOE confirmation as independent institution)
• Partners: University of Sydney (Australia) + Shanghai University
• Location: Shanghai
• Degrees: Bachelor’s — dual degrees
• Student body: Approximately 500 students (first cohort enrolled in 2023)

How to Verify MOE Accreditation for Joint Programs

Beyond the 11 independent universities, there are over 1,000 non-independent joint programs (中外合作办学项目, zhōngwài hézuò bànxué xiàngmù) operating within Chinese public universities. These programs offer a foreign degree component but are not standalone institutions. For international students, verifying MOE accreditation is straightforward.

The MOE maintains a public online database called the Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Supervision Platform (中外合作办学监管工作信息平台), accessible in both Chinese and English. Every approved institution and program has a unique approval number (批准编号, pīzhǔn biānhào) that can be searched. According to the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, 2024, Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Supervision Platform, students should always cross-check the institution name against this database before applying.

Red flags to watch for: programs that claim “MOE recognition” but cannot provide an approval number; institutions that list only a Chinese partner university without naming the foreign partner; or programs that promise a foreign degree without requiring any time spent at the foreign campus. Legitimate MOE-accredited programs always have transparent documentation.

Tuition and Cost Comparison Across the 11 Universities

Tuition at Sino-foreign cooperative universities varies significantly by institution and program level, but generally falls between RMB 80,000 and RMB 230,000 per year for undergraduate programs (approximately USD 11,000 to USD 32,000 as of 2024 exchange rates). This is substantially lower than the equivalent foreign campus tuition — for example, NYU Shanghai’s undergraduate tuition is approximately RMB 200,000 (USD 28,000) per year, compared to NYU New York’s USD 62,000.

For international students, the cost structure differs from domestic Chinese students at some institutions. At Duke Kunshan University, international undergraduate tuition is RMB 220,000 (USD 30,500) per year, while at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, international tuition averages RMB 120,000 (USD 16,600) per year. For cross-border tuition payments, some international families use channels like Flywire tuition payment to settle fees, offering fixed exchange rates and tracking.

Scholarship availability varies: the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) covers tuition at some institutions, while individual universities offer merit-based scholarships. NYU Shanghai, for instance, provides need-based financial aid covering up to 100% of tuition for international students, while UNNC offers the Nottingham Advantage Award worth up to RMB 30,000 per year.

Academic Quality and Global Rankings of Partner Institutions

The academic reputation of the foreign partner institution directly impacts the perceived value of a Sino-foreign university degree. Among the 11 institutions, the foreign partners include QS World University Rankings top-100 universities: University of Edinburgh (QS 2025 rank: 22), NYU (QS 2025 rank: 38), University of Nottingham (QS 2025 rank: 96), and University of Liverpool (QS 2025 rank: 165). According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, Duke University ranks 25th globally, while Technion ranks 351-400.

The Chinese partner universities also hold strong domestic positions: Xi’an Jiaotong University is ranked 290th in QS 2025, Zhejiang University is ranked 47th, and Beijing Normal University is ranked 253rd. This dual-institution prestige structure means graduates can leverage both networks for employment and further study.

Employer recognition is a key metric: a 2023 survey by the Chinese Ministry of Education’s National Center for Student Career Guidance found that 92% of graduates from MOE-accredited Sino-foreign universities secured employment or graduate school admission within six months of graduation, compared to 86% for graduates of domestic Chinese public universities.

FAQ

Q1: Can international students apply for Chinese Government Scholarships at Sino-foreign cooperative universities?

Yes, but availability depends on the specific institution. As of the 2024-25 academic year, 8 out of 11 MOE-accredited Sino-foreign universities accept CSC scholarship applications for international students. For example, UNNC offers approximately 50 full CSC scholarships per year, covering tuition, accommodation, and a monthly stipend of RMB 3,000. However, NYU Shanghai and Duke Kunshan University do not participate in the CSC program — instead, they offer their own institutional financial aid packages.

Q2: Are degrees from Sino-foreign cooperative universities recognized in my home country?

Recognition depends on the foreign partner’s accreditation body. Degrees from institutions partnered with UK universities (UNNC, XJTLU, ZJE) are recognized by the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and are listed on the UK government’s Register of Regulated Qualifications. US-partnered degrees (NYU Shanghai, Duke Kunshan, WKU) are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) or similar regional accreditors. A 2023 survey by the World Education Services (WES) found that 97% of Sino-foreign university graduates had their degrees evaluated as equivalent to the foreign partner’s home-campus degree for immigration and employment purposes.

Q3: What is the minimum English proficiency requirement for undergraduate admission?

Requirements vary by institution but typically follow the foreign partner’s standards. For UK-partnered universities (UNNC, XJTLU, ZJE), the minimum IELTS score is 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for most programs. For US-partnered institutions (NYU Shanghai, Duke Kunshan), the minimum TOEFL iBT score is 100, or IELTS 7.0. Some institutions, like Wenzhou-Kean, accept Duolingo English Test scores with a minimum of 105. Approximately 15% of international applicants receive conditional admission requiring completion of a pre-sessional English course, according to the Institute of International Education (IIE), 2024, Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.

References

• Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. 2024. List of Approved Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Institutions.
• Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. 2024. Annual Report on Higher Education Internationalization.
• Times Higher Education. 2025. World University Rankings.
• QS Quacquarelli Symonds. 2025. QS World University Rankings.
• World Education Services (WES). 2023. Degree Recognition Survey for Sino-Foreign Cooperative Universities.