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Study at South China Agricultural University: Crop Science First

Universities
Oct 26, 2026
Stone archway main gate of South China Agricultural University with green tiled roofs under a blue sky

To study at South China Agricultural University is to join a big Guangzhou campus where crop science is the national calling card. The school traces its roots to an agricultural experiment station of 1909 (South China Agricultural University, n.d.-a). It is not a 985 or a 211 school. Still, in 2022 it made the Double First-Class list, for crop science. Here is the catch, though. More than 37,000 undergraduates study here, but the university counts only about 110 international students (South China Agricultural University, n.d.-b). And bachelor’s degrees are taught in Chinese. So is it worth it? For the right student, probably yes. Below: why, what applying involves, and what a year costs.

Quick Links Before You Study at South China Agricultural University

Why Study at South China Agricultural University: the Rice Lineage

Double First-Class for crop science, without 985 or 211

First, the labels. In 2022 the Ministry of Education named SCAU to the second round of Double First-Class universities, with crop science as its one listed discipline (Ministry of Education et al., 2022). Only five schools hold that crop science listing. The other four are China Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Hainan University and Sichuan Agricultural University. In other words, SCAU sits in a small club. Our guide to China’s 985 and 211 universities explains what each list means, and top universities in China shows the wider field.

Ding Ying and a century of rice

Now the story behind the label. Ding Ying, the school’s first president, is often called the father of crop science in China. As early as the 1920s, he led rice breeding work and used wild rice to breed new varieties (South China Agricultural University, 2022). Later, two of his line, Lu Yonggen and Liu Yaoguang, became academicians too. Liu’s team studies how fertility works in hybrid rice. According to the university, the discipline has also bred 56 crop varieties now grown commercially across South China.

That depth shows up in citation data as well. Plant and animal science and agricultural sciences both sit in the ESI global top 1‰. On top of that, the university reports strong 2025 ShanghaiRanking subject places in veterinary science, agriculture and food science (South China Agricultural University, n.d.-a). Subject tables, not an overall rank — but telling.

A big school with a small international cohort

Don’t let the name fool you. SCAU runs 25 colleges and 95 bachelor’s programmes, from engineering and software to art and economics (South China Agricultural University, n.d.-b). Full-time enrolment tops 50,000. Meanwhile, the international group stays tiny, at around 110. That cuts both ways, honestly. You get more attention, and far more daily Chinese. However, you will find few compatriots and little English-language student life.

Admissions: How to Apply to South China Agricultural University

Bachelor’s degrees: taught in Chinese

The college’s application page sets HSK 4 as the bar for bachelor’s applicants. It also asks for a high-school diploma, a foreign passport and an age under 45 (SCAU College of International Education, n.d.-b). Its scholarship notice is even clearer: every undergraduate major is taught in Chinese (SCAU College of International Education, 2021). So plan for a year of language study first if your Chinese is not there yet.

One more thing to check. For 2026/27, the China Scholarship Council requires the CSCA from undergraduate applicants at its scholarship universities. SCAU’s own pages did not mention the test when we checked in October 2026, so ask the office before you apply. Our CSCA exam guide explains the format.

Master’s and PhD: Chinese or English

Graduate study is more flexible. The 2026 master’s catalogue lists 80 programme entries across 21 colleges, from crop genetics and plant pathology to AI and rural development (SCAU College of International Education, 2026). The catalogue does not mark the teaching language, though. So confirm it, programme by programme, before you apply. As for language rules, they run like this:

  • Chinese-taught programmes: HSK 4.
  • English-taught programmes: TOEFL iBT 80 or IELTS 6.0, unless English is your first language or your last degree was taught in English. The page also lists HSK 3 for this group.
  • Age: under 55 for self-funded applicants.

Documents and the application window

For self-funded students, the posted window runs from 1 March to 30 June. The page carries no year, however, so treat those dates as a guide. A graduate file usually needs:

  • the signed SCAU application form;
  • notarised degree certificates and full transcripts;
  • an 800-word personal statement in Chinese or English;
  • two letters from professors or associate professors;
  • an HSK certificate or English test score, a passport copy and photos.

Scholarships and Tuition at South China Agricultural University

What a year costs

Fees here are low. The college’s fee page, live in October 2026, lists the following (SCAU College of International Education, n.d.-a):

  • Bachelor’s: 15,000 CNY a year (arts majors 22,500 CNY).
  • Master’s: 20,000 CNY a year (arts 30,000 CNY). The English-taught plant protection master’s costs 26,000 CNY.
  • PhD: 28,000 CNY a year.
  • Chinese language study: 8,500 CNY a semester.
  • Application fee 500 CNY; insurance 800 CNY a year; visa or residence permit fee 400–800 CNY.

The page shows no year, though, so check the figures with the office before you pay.

Scholarship options

Three routes exist. First, SCAU can nominate master’s and PhD students for the Chinese Government Scholarship’s university programme. It covers tuition, housing, a living stipend and medical insurance, but not flights (SCAU College of International Education, 2022). That route usually opens early in the year, through the CSC portal, and needs a supervisor’s acceptance letter. Second, the bilateral CSC route runs through embassies at home.

Third, there is the Guangdong Government Scholarship, set up in 2013. It suits students already admitted and paying their own way (SCAU College of International Education, 2021). Award sizes change, so ask. Our guide to scholarships in China compares all three.

Living in Guangzhou as an International Student

Housing on the Wushan campus

International students live in twin rooms with their own bathroom, hot water, a desk and internet. The fee page lists 8,400 CNY per person a year. The campus itself is huge — about 550 hectares, with several lakes — and sits on Wushan Road in Tianhe district (South China Agricultural University, n.d.-a).

Neighbours and the cost of living

Tianhe is the city’s newer heart, and the Wushan area is a student quarter. South China University of Technology and South China Normal University are close by. As for money, canteen meals keep things cheap. A careful student can probably live on 2,000–3,000 CNY a month — a rough guess, not a quote.

City life

Guangzhou is warm, humid and serious about food. The metro is vast, and Hong Kong is a short train ride away. Our Guangzhou city guide covers the districts. To compare SCAU with Sun Yat-sen University and the rest, read our round-up of universities in Guangzhou.

Visiting the South China Agricultural University Campus

The best first stop is the main gate on Wushan Road, a wide stone archway with green-tiled roofs. Inside, the campus feels more like a park than a farm. Look for the statue of Ding Ying and the lakes near the administration building. Campus entry rules can change, so carry your passport and check at the gate.

Practical Tips Before You Commit

  • Find a supervisor early. Graduate files, and CSC files above all, move faster with a professor’s yes.
  • Get the HSK done. HSK 4 opens the bachelor’s route and most master’s programmes.
  • Ask about the CSCA. Bachelor’s applicants should confirm in writing whether it applies.
  • Confirm the language. Ask whether your exact master’s programme runs in English.
  • Compare. Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan is a useful benchmark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is South China Agricultural University a Double First-Class school?

Yes, since 2022, for crop science. It is not a 985 or 211 school.

Can I study at South China Agricultural University in English?

At bachelor’s level, no; those majors are taught in Chinese. Some master’s and PhD programmes run in English, including plant protection.

How much is tuition?

15,000 CNY a year for most bachelor’s majors, 20,000 for master’s and 28,000 for a PhD, per the current fee page.

Which scholarships can I apply for?

The Chinese Government Scholarship (university or bilateral route) and the Guangdong Government Scholarship.

When should I apply?

Self-funded files go in between March and June. CSC files usually close by the end of March.

Conclusion: Is It Worth It to Study at South China Agricultural University?

For a student serious about crops, plants or food, the choice to study at South China Agricultural University makes real sense. The Double First-Class listing, the rice lineage and modest fees all point one way. On the other hand, the international cohort is small and bachelor’s study means Chinese. Weigh those, line up a supervisor or your HSK, then apply. Once the offer arrives, our China student visa guide covers the next step.

References