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Study at Nanjing Forestry University: Not a 211, Still A+

Universities
Oct 12, 2026
White sculpture of two hands holding a globe topped by a dove on the Nanjing Forestry University campus, framed by autumn plane trees and cedars

To study at Nanjing Forestry University is to pick the only one of China’s three big forestry universities without a 211 badge — and that still came out on top in its own field. NJFU traces its roots to 1902, took shape as Nanjing Forestry College in 1952 and became a university in 1985. In the Ministry of Education’s fourth-round discipline assessment, its forestry engineering and forestry were both graded A+ (Nanjing Forestry University, n.d.-a).

So here is the doubt this guide tries to settle. Applicants who filter by “985 or 211” never see NJFU at all. That filter is blunt, though, and in wood science, forest chemicals or bamboo it points you away from the strongest address. Below: what the Double First-Class listing means here, the 2026 fees, the scholarships that waive them, and the new CSCA step for bachelor’s applicants.

Quick Links Before You Study at Nanjing Forestry University

Why Study at Nanjing Forestry University: Not a 211, Still A+

Double First-Class status, stated plainly

NJFU is neither a 985 nor a 211 school. It is, however, on the national Double First-Class list. Forestry engineering was its listed discipline in the first round in 2017, and it kept that place in the second round announced in February 2022 (Ministry of Education, 2022). The university is co-run by the Jiangsu government, the Ministry of Education and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

That matters more than it sounds. Double First-Class rewards a discipline, not a brand, and a subject-strong school can beat a famous name in the one field you care about. For the full map, see our guides to the top universities in China and China’s 985 and 211 universities.

Wood, bamboo, furniture — the real strengths

Forestry engineering here means something concrete. Think wood science, forest-product chemistry, pulp and paper, and biomass energy. On top of that, the university runs a dedicated Bamboo Research Institute and a College of Furnishings and Industrial Design — an unusual pairing, and one with little English coverage.

Landscape architecture scored A- in the same assessment. Meanwhile engineering, chemistry, agricultural sciences, and plant and animal science sit in the ESI global top 1‰ (Nanjing Forestry University, n.d.-a). Compare that with its two sister schools, Beijing Forestry University and Northeast Forestry University: both are 211s, but neither has quite this materials-and-chemistry tilt.

A campus designed as a forest park

The main Xinzhuang campus sits in the northeast of Nanjing, between Xuanwu Lake and Purple Mountain. The college moved there in 1955, and the architect Yang Tingbao planned it as a “forest park campus” (Nanjing Forestry University, n.d.-b). Seventy years on, the trees have had time to grow, which is honestly the point. A further campus runs in Huai’an, and a new Baima campus is under construction.

The forestry college itself came out of Nanjing University and the old Jinling University. That shared history still shows in the city’s academic network today.

Admissions: How to Apply to Nanjing Forestry University

Programmes open to international students

Everything runs through njfu.17gz.org. For the 2026 intake, the English-taught bachelor’s covered just two majors: forestry, and wood science and engineering (Nanjing Forestry University, 2025a). Master’s and doctoral study is far wider — silviculture, forest protection, chemical processing of forest products, civil and structural engineering, furniture design, food science and more. Most of those majors run in both Chinese and English (Nanjing Forestry University, 2025b).

If your Chinese is a starting point rather than a skill, the non-degree Chinese Language Training Program lasts six months to a year. For 2027, the spring window runs 1 October to 31 December and the autumn window 1 March to 31 May (Nanjing Forestry University, 2026b).

Language, age and the CSCA test

  • Bachelor’s: aged 18–28 with a senior high school diploma, plus a CSCA score. NJFU asks for the English-language CSCA papers in mathematics and chemistry.
  • Master’s: a bachelor’s degree, generally under 35, and two professor references.
  • PhD: a master’s degree, generally under 40, and two professor references.
  • English-taught study: TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 95.
  • Chinese-taught study: HSK 4 at minimum; the freshman scholarship page sets 180+ with no section under 60.

The CSCA is the step most people miss, since it is new for undergraduates. Our explainer on the CSCA exam covers dates and subjects. For the Chinese side, our HSK level for university guide sets out the bands.

Documents and deadlines

For 2026, all degree applications closed on 31 May, with registration in September (Nanjing Forestry University, 2025a). As of October 2026 the 2027 degree notices are not yet posted, so treat late May as a likely, not a confirmed, cut-off.

  • Passport photo page and the online application form
  • Notarised diploma and transcripts, in English or Chinese
  • Study plan of 800 words (the scholarship asks 1,000 for a master’s and 2,000 for a PhD)
  • Foreigner Physical Examination Form with blood test
  • Non-criminal record certificate
  • Bank statement from you or a guardian

Watch the clock on two of these. The medical result and the police certificate are both valid for about six months only.

Scholarships and Tuition at Nanjing Forestry University

What a year costs

The published rates are plain (Nanjing Forestry University, n.d.-c):

  • Bachelor’s: 16,500 CNY a year
  • Master’s: 27,000 CNY a year
  • PhD: 31,000 CNY a year
  • Chinese language programme: 6,500 CNY a semester
  • Dormitory: 360 CNY a month in an undergraduate double room; 450 or 540 CNY for a postgraduate single
  • Insurance 600 CNY a year, residence permit 400 CNY, medical check-up 538 CNY

The application fee is 400 CNY, or 60 US dollars from abroad, and it is not refunded. Water is free in the dorms, and electricity is metered at 0.52 CNY per kWh.

The freshman scholarship

NJFU’s own award is generous for a non-211. Undergraduates get a tuition waiver plus insurance. Master’s students get tuition, a free dorm and 1,000 CNY a month for ten months, and doctoral students 1,500 CNY a month on the same terms (Nanjing Forestry University, 2025c). It lasts one year at most. After that, an academic scholarship depends on your results.

Government and programme routes

NJFU takes Chinese Government Scholarship students under the Type B route, with agency code 10298. Its 2026/27 Silk Road programme, for instance, funded master’s and PhD study in mechanical, materials, civil engineering and computer science for applicants from ten listed countries. It paid 3,000 CNY a month to master’s students and 3,500 to doctoral students (Nanjing Forestry University, 2026a).

The college also lists Jiangsu and Nanjing government scholarships, and it runs a master’s scholarship with the Asia-Pacific forestry network APFNet. Our CSC scholarship application walkthrough explains agency codes, and scholarships in China compares the rest.

Living in Nanjing While You Study at Nanjing Forestry University

Dorms and daily life

Rooms come furnished, with a private bathroom, water heater, air conditioning, internet and a shared kitchen. The university says it receives more than 600 international students a year, so you will not be the only foreigner in the building. That said, it is a smaller community than at the big comprehensives.

Costs and getting around

Nanjing is generally cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai, and a 360 CNY dorm keeps the biggest bill small. The campus has its own stop on Metro Line 3, Nanjing Forestry University–Xinzhuang. That puts the centre and the main railway station within easy reach, and from there high-speed trains reach Shanghai in a little over an hour.

The city on your doorstep

Purple Mountain is close enough for weekend hikes, and the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum sits on its slopes. For everything else — the Ming wall, the museums, the food — our guide to Nanjing is the place to start.

Visiting the Nanjing Forestry University Campus

Come in autumn or spring if you can. The plane trees turn gold in November, and the main avenue usually fills with cherry blossom in late March. Carry your passport, since campus gates in China often register visitors, and check current entry rules with the college before you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nanjing Forestry University a 211 school?

No. It is a Double First-Class university, listed for forestry engineering in 2017 and again in 2022.

Can I study at Nanjing Forestry University in English?

Yes. In 2026 the English-taught bachelor’s covered forestry and wood science, and most master’s and PhD majors ran in English too.

How much is tuition?

16,500 CNY a year for a bachelor’s, 27,000 for a master’s and 31,000 for a PhD.

Do I need the CSCA?

For a bachelor’s, yes — mathematics and chemistry, in English. Postgraduate applicants do not.

When is the deadline?

It was 31 May in 2026, for degrees and the freshman scholarship alike. Check the college site for the 2027 date.

Conclusion: Is Nanjing Forestry University Worth It?

For wood science, forest chemicals, bamboo, furniture or forest engineering, the case to study at Nanjing Forestry University is strong — arguably stronger than at the two 211 forestry schools. The fees are modest, and the freshman scholarship can remove them for a year. If you want a general brand to carry home, a broader university may serve you better, so be honest about which you are shopping for.

Once an offer arrives, the paperwork begins. Our guide to the China student visa covers the X1 route and the JW202 form.

References