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Study at Nanjing Medical University: Double First-Class MBBS

Universities
Sep 29, 2026
Gate of Nanjing Medical University with its name in gold calligraphy under a blue sky

To study at Nanjing Medical University is to pick a medical school on price and track record, not on a famous name. The school dates back to 1934 (Nanjing Medical University, 2025). It is not a Project 211 school. It is, however, on the Double First-Class list — a rarer badge for a stand-alone medical university than most applicants realise. And its English-taught MBBS costs 34,000 CNY a year, well below several Beijing and Shanghai rivals. So the doubt this guide answers is a simple one: is the cheaper option actually the weaker one? Short answer: probably not. Here is why, plus the 2026 entry rules, the CSCA exam and the real costs.

Quick Links Before You Study at Nanjing Medical University

Why Study at Nanjing Medical University: a Specialist With a Badge

Double First-Class, without 211

First, the labels. Nanjing Medical University never joined Project 211. Yet it sits on the national Double First-Class list, for public health and preventive medicine (Ministry of Education et al., 2022). That discipline is no side line here. On research, 14 of its subjects sit in the ESI global top 1%, and three — clinical medicine, pharmacology and toxicology, and molecular biology and genetics — reach the top 0.1% (Nanjing Medical University, 2025). ESI is a citation signal, not a ranking, but a real one. Our guide to China’s 985 and 211 universities explains what these lists measure, and what they miss.

Put simply, a sponsor that reads only the 211 list will skip it. A sponsor that reads the newer list will not. Meanwhile, our overview of top universities in China puts both in context.

An early MBBS school, with a long foreign track record

Timing matters in Chinese medical education. In 2007 the Ministry of Education approved a first group of universities to teach clinical medicine to foreigners in English. Nanjing Medical University was in that group (NMU School of International Education, 2017). In fact, it had taught international students since 1975. By 2017 it had enrolled more than 1,200 of them, from over 40 countries — India, Thailand, Mauritius and Sri Lanka among them.

Hospitals behind the classroom

Clinical years happen on wards, so the hospitals count. Here, the flagship is Jiangsu Province Hospital, which doubles as the First Affiliated Hospital. The school lists 24 affiliated hospitals and more than 50 teaching hospitals (NMU School of International Education, 2017). Also worth noting: it claims to be the first school in China to use English-speaking standardised patients in teaching. That is a small detail, but a useful one for a student who has to practise history-taking in English.

Admissions: How to Apply to Nanjing Medical University

Who can apply

The 2026 MBBS notice sets out the basics (NMU School of International Education, 2026):

  • Programme: six years in English, including a one-year internship.
  • Age: under 25, with a foreign passport and no criminal record.
  • School subjects: physics or maths, plus biology and chemistry.
  • Grades: a GPA of 3.0/4.0, or C and above at A-level. Indian applicants need 85% on a state board or 70% on CBSE, plus a NEET score of 300 or more.
  • English: IELTS 6 (no band under 5), TOEFL 85 or Duolingo 115, unless English is your native or official language.

The CSCA is now compulsory

This is the new part. Every undergraduate applicant must now sit the China Scholastic Competency Assessment. For the MBBS, maths and chemistry are compulsory subjects. So book the test early; a missing score report means an incomplete file. Our CSCA exam guide covers dates and format.

Documents and deadline

Applications for 2026 ran from 1 January to 30 June, through the online system, with interviews before the window closed. Expect a similar window for 2027 — but check the new notice when it appears. You will need:

  • passport copy and photo;
  • high-school diploma and transcripts;
  • a police certificate and a health check;
  • English proof;
  • a personal statement of 500+ words;
  • the CSCA score report.

Scholarships and Tuition at Nanjing Medical University

What a year costs

  • Tuition: 34,000 CNY a year.
  • Accommodation: 6,000–8,000 CNY a year, by campus and room type.
  • Insurance: 600 CNY a year.
  • Registration: 500 CNY, once.
  • Pre-admission deposit: 13,000 CNY.

For comparison, Capital Medical University charges 50,000 CNY for its English-taught MBBS. That gap adds up to roughly 96,000 CNY over six years. Of course, fees change, so confirm them on the current notice.

University scholarships, by ranking

Nanjing Medical University ranks its admitted MBBS students and splits awards by share. The top 5% get full tuition. The next 10% get half. Another 15% get a quarter. Most of the rest — 70% — receive a general entrance award of 5,000 CNY. Government scholarships also exist; the notice leaves their numbers open. Our guide to scholarships in China covers the CSC route.

Living in Nanjing as an International Student

Two campuses

Teaching splits between the large Jiangning campus in the southern suburbs and the older Wutai campus in the city centre. Dorm prices differ between them, which explains the fee range above. Jiangning is quieter and greener. Wutai, by contrast, puts you minutes from the old city.

Cost of living

Nanjing is cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai, though not a bargain city either. A student eating in canteens and living on campus can probably manage on 2,000–3,000 CNY a month. Eating out often, or renting off campus, pushes that up fast. Treat those figures as rough — prices vary.

Getting around and city life

The metro links both campuses to the centre, and high-speed trains reach Shanghai in about 1.5 hours. Nanjing was China’s capital several times, so weekends fill easily: the Ming city wall, the Confucius Temple area, Purple Mountain. Our Nanjing city guide and the Jiangsu travel guide go further.

Before You Commit: Licensing Back Home

One more thing. A Chinese MBBS only helps if your home country licenses you afterwards. The school reports passing accreditation in seven countries, including India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Still, rules for foreign graduates change, and sometimes quickly. So check your own medical council’s current rules before paying the deposit. Our pages on the Tianjin Medical University MBBS and Wenzhou Medical University cover the same question from other schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nanjing Medical University a 211 or Double First-Class school?

Double First-Class, yes, for public health and preventive medicine. Project 211, no.

How much is the MBBS at Nanjing Medical University?

34,000 CNY a year in tuition, plus 6,000–8,000 CNY for a dorm.

Do I need the CSCA to study at Nanjing Medical University?

Yes. Maths and chemistry are compulsory for MBBS applicants.

When is the application deadline?

For 2026 it was 30 June. Check the 2027 notice for the new dates.

Is there an age limit?

Yes — applicants must be under 25.

Conclusion: Is It Worth It to Study at Nanjing Medical University?

For a cost-conscious future doctor, the choice to study at Nanjing Medical University looks like a strong pick. The Double First-Class listing, the early MBBS approval and a big provincial hospital behind it all point the same way. The fee is the bonus. The catches are practical: the new CSCA, an age limit and your own country’s licensing rules. Sort those out first. Then, once the offer comes, our China student visa guide covers the next step.

References