How to apply to Northwestern Polytechnical University as an international student: requirements, tuition and deadlines

Northwestern Polytechnical University (西北工业大学) is a public research university in Xi'an, Shaanxi. China's leading university for aeronautics, astronautics and marine engineering, with the country's strongest aircraft design school.

Northwestern Polytechnical University is one of China's 'Seven Sons of National Defence' universities and the country's premier school for aircraft design, aero engines, materials and underwater vehicles.

Its School of Aeronautics consistently ranks first in China alongside Beihang, and its alumni lead many of China's aircraft and drone programmes. It runs the largest wind tunnel complex in western China.

Why international students choose NPU

• The strongest aeronautical engineering research in western China
• Aerospace research facilities and national laboratory access
• Low living costs in Xi'an with a strong international student office

Programmes open to international students

Language requirements depend on the track: English and Chinese. Confirm the exact requirement with the international office, because some departments within the same university set different thresholds.

Entry requirements in detail

Bachelor: high school diploma with strong physics and mathematics, NPU entrance examination, IELTS 6.0 or HSK 4. Graduate: degree, transcripts, two references, research plan; supervisor contact required for doctoral study.

Deadlines, fees and how to apply

Application deadlines: Bachelor: December – April. Graduate: December – April.. The application fee is CNY 400. Applications are submitted through the university's own international admissions system — see the official international office link at the bottom of this page.

The document set is standard across Chinese universities: passport, notarised diploma and transcripts with certified translations, a study plan or research proposal, two recommendation letters for graduate programmes, the Foreigner Physical Examination Form, a police clearance certificate and, for scholarship applicants, a CSCA score report where required. Start with document authentication eight to ten weeks before the deadline.

Tuition and total cost

CNY 20,000–26,000 per year for bachelor's; CNY 26,000–40,000 for master's.

Xi'an is in the Northwest China region. A realistic student budget including accommodation, food, transport and insurance typically sits between CNY 2,100 and 7,000 per month depending on whether you live in a university dormitory and how far the campus is from the city centre.

Scholarships you can apply for

Chinese Government Scholarship, Confucius Institute Scholarship, Shaanxi Provincial Government Scholarship, NPU President Scholarship.

The Chinese Government Scholarship requires a pre-admission document from a target university, which means the university application has to be completed before the CSC deadline. Apply to the university first, indicate every scholarship you are eligible for in the same form, and submit a separate CSC Type A application through your national embassy if its deadline allows.

Where you will study

NPU teaches across 3 campuses. Several Chinese universities deliver programmes in more than one city, so confirm in writing which campus your programme uses before accepting an offer.

Academic strengths at NPU

Faculty and research environment

The university employs around 3,700 academic staff. 12 national academy members. The School of Aeronautics and the School of Materials Science and Engineering supervise international master's and doctoral students in English.

Notable alumni

• Chen Shilu — Flight dynamics engineer. Pioneer of Chinese aircraft flight-quality research.
• Yang Wei — Aircraft designer. Chief designer of the J-20 stealth fighter; NPU alumnus.
• Tang Changhong — Aircraft designer. Chief designer of the Y-20 strategic transport; NPU graduate.
• Huang Wei — Aircraft designer. Chief designer of the AG600 amphibious aircraft.

How to strengthen your application

• Lead with the disciplines where NPU is genuinely strong: Aeronautical Science & Technology, Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering. A study plan that references specific research groups or courses carries far more weight than a general statement.
• If you are applying for a research degree, contact a prospective supervisor 8–12 months before the deadline with a specific proposal. For Chinese universities this is the single most decisive step.
• Submit the language evidence the programme actually asks for. If you are applying to an English-taught track, ask which language the examination papers are delivered in before you accept.
• Apply to more than one university. Chinese scholarship schemes are assessed by different committees and a rejection from one does not affect the others.

Always verify current requirements on the official Northwestern Polytechnical University international admissions site and on campuschina.org, since deadlines and tuition are revised each cycle.