Best fit
A comprehensive 985 option in Changsha, relevant for medicine, engineering, materials, transport, mining and interdisciplinary study at lower living costs than the coast.
Central South University 82.3
中南大学 · Changsha, Hunan
985211Double First-Class
Open official application page ↗
Central South University study in China
Key numbers
| Students | 64,000 |
|---|---|
| Campus area | 317 ha |
Source: https://www.csu.edu.cn/zjzn/xxgk.htm
Figures are as published by the universities and may be outdated or defined differently. Always verify with the university.
Recommendation index
A transparent 0–100 recommendation index. 70 points are the base: a university enters this catalogue only after passing the basic screen (China's Ministry of Education list, a degree CSCSE can verify, programmes open to international students), so all of them are options worth considering. The remaining 30 points are scored from public figures, and the largest part of that is a published overall-strength standing (ShanghaiRanking / 软科, 2025 edition). It is our own composite — not an official ranking and not a measure of teaching quality.
| Index | 82.3 82.3 / 100 |
|---|---|
| In our catalogue (base points) | 70 / 70 |
| Overall strength (public ranking standing) | 8.2 / 24 · #28/812 · 2025 |
| Level (985 / 211 / Double First-Class / C9) | 1.8 / 2.4 · 985 |
| Scale (registered students) | 1.4 / 1.5 · 64000 |
| Faculty intensity (staff per student) | — |
| Internationalisation (international student share) | — |
| Campus size (hectares) | 0.2 / 0.3 · 317 ha |
Based on 4 of 6 indicators (missing ones are excluded, not counted as zero).
Composition: base 70 (in the catalogue) + assessment 30 (published overall-strength standing as the main part, then level, scale, faculty intensity, internationalisation, campus size). Indicators without data are excluded.
University emblems are trademarks of their owners and are shown here for identification only. Rights holders: contact us for removal or correction.
About
Central South University (中南大学) is a comprehensive public university in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province. It is a 985 and 211 Project university and part of the Double First-Class initiative, and our directory records 2000 as its founding year, reflecting a merger of earlier institutions. International students may apply at bachelor's, master's and doctoral level, subject to programme requirements. Changsha is an inland provincial capital with lower living costs than Beijing or Shanghai and several universities in this directory. Tuition, language requirements and application deadlines are set per programme, so confirm current details through the university's official website (csu.edu.cn) before applying.
| Chinese name | 中南大学 |
|---|---|
| City | Changsha |
| Province | Hunan |
| Type | 985, 211, Double First-Class |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Competent authority | 教育部 |
| MOE code | 4143010533 |
Official identifiers from the Ministry of Education: national higher-education list (2026)
Official admissions snapshot
Use the university’s own pages to confirm the route before preparing documents, paying a fee or relying on an agency summary.
Official application route
Use the International Education pages to identify the route for your degree and school. Medicine and engineering can have materially different testing and document requirements.
Check before applying
- The exact school and programme accepting international applications.
- Whether the programme uses Chinese or English and which language proof is accepted.
- Any entrance exam, interview, medical check or programme-specific form.
Official sources: Study in China ↗
· International Education ↗
For international students
What applicants usually need to sort out before applying to Central South University.
- Language route: English-taught programmes usually do not require HSK at entry; Chinese-taught programmes typically expect HSK 4 or 5.
- Documents: transcripts, graduation certificate, recommendation letters, passport pages and a foreigner physical examination form — some need notarisation or translation.
- Scholarships: CSC, provincial and university awards run their own deadlines, usually earlier than the university's own intake deadline.
- Timing: most intakes begin in September, with applications opening in the previous autumn and closing in spring.
Admission requirements
Requirements differ by programme and intake. Check the current details on the university's official admissions page.
Tuition
Requirements differ by programme and intake. Check the current details on the university's official admissions page.
Programs
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
Always verify tuition, deadlines and program details with the university's official admissions office.
Disclaimer
Always verify tuition, deadlines and program details with the university's official admissions office.
Sources
Listed for transparency. Official addresses are shown as plain text so you can copy and check them directly; the site no longer opens third-party pages.
- https://www.csu.edu.cn/
- https://intl.csu.edu.cn/zwb/lhlx.htm
- https://www.csu.edu.cn/zsjy.htm
- https://dii.csu.edu.cn/
- https://intl.csu.edu.cn/zwb.htm
- https://www.csu.edu.cn/zjzn/xxgk.htm
Campus gallery
Campus photos from the university’s official site and public sources; rights belong to their owners.
Common questions
Where is Central South University located?
Central South University (中南大学) is in Changsha, Hunan, China. The campus covers about 317 hectares.
How many international students study at Central South University?
We have not recorded a published figure for this university yet.
Is Central South University part of a national university programme?
It is listed under: 985, 211, Double First-Class.
How do I apply to Central South University?
Applications go through the university's own portal or the CSC online system, and each programme sets its own documents and deadline. If you are not sure which route fits your case, ask our team first.
Student forum
…
Related universities
More answers
- How to check a Chinese university is recognised
- Documents required to study in China
- When to apply: a practical timeline
- How the CSC online application portal works
- Do you need HSK to study in China?
- X1 or X2: which student visa do you need?
- Dormitory or apartment: where do students live?
- Entrance exams and interviews for international applicants