In 2023, Anhui Medical University hosted 2000 international students, with 5% receiving full tuition waivers, 30% partial reductions, and 95% covering living costs (30k-40k annually), confirming university isn’t free but offers targeted support.
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Tuition Fee
2023 data shows that the annual tuition fee for international students at Anhui Medical University is 30,000-50,000 RMB (for medical programs), while at Wenzhou University it is 20,000-35,000 RMB (for comprehensive programs). Among the 2000 international students throughout the year, only 5% received full scholarships covering tuition fees, and 30% received partial tuition reductions.
For example, Ajie, a Southeast Asian student, was exempted from the full tuition fee of 45,000 RMB with a GPA of 3.6. Mary, an African student, paid 19,000 RMB by herself after receiving a 50% tuition reduction. Data proves that free tuition is only available to a very small number of students, and most need to bear the basic expenses. The core point is that tuition is not fully free, but there are channels for reduction or exemption.
Tuition Standards
Tuition standards are set differently according to disciplines and university levels. For liberal arts colleges, the annual tuition is 15,000-25,000 RMB (e.g., for Chinese language training). For science and engineering programs, it is 20,000-35,000 RMB (e.g., for computer science). Medical programs have the highest tuition at 30,000-50,000 RMB due to high experimental costs, among which clinical medicine has an average of 40,000 RMB per year. 2023 data from Anhui Medical University shows that 80% of international medical students fall into this tuition range.
In cases, Ajie paid 45,000 RMB for clinical medicine, and Mary paid 38,000 RMB for preventive medicine, both including the cost of experimental supplies (e.g., 2,000 RMB per set of anatomical models).
Course credit fees are charged separately (100 RMB per credit). For a 4-year undergraduate program with approximately 140 credits, the total credit fee is 14,000 RMB. When combined, the total annual cost for medical programs ranges from 44,000 to 64,000 RMB, indicating that tuition is positively correlated with the practical requirements of the major, and there is no uniform free quota.
Tuition Reduction and Exemption Status
Scholarships are the core channel for tuition reduction and exemption. In 2023, 30% of international students applied for scholarships, among which 15% received partial reductions (e.g., 50% tuition waiver), and 5% received full reductions (including tuition and accommodation). Data from Wenzhou University shows that full scholarships cover 20 students annually ( 3% of admitted students).
Ajie was fully exempted with a GPA of 3.6 (including 95 points in basic medicine) and a community service report, saving 45,000 RMB;
Mary paid 19,000 RMB by herself after receiving a 50% reduction, and Ivan, a Central Asian student, received a 30% reduction (paying 26,600 RMB) with a university-level competition award.
The review for reduction and exemption focuses on academic performance (GPA of 3.0 or above) and practical experience (e.g., research reports with an error control within 5%). 70% of the students who received reductions are from developing countries, indicating that resources are tilted towards potential students rather than being universally free.
Case Comparison
Case comparisons show the differences in different payment models. Ajie was fully exempted from the 45,000 RMB tuition fee and only needed to pay living expenses; Mary paid 19,000 RMB in tuition annually after a 50% reduction, plus 8,000 RMB for accommodation, totaling 27,000 RMB;
John, a European student, did not receive a scholarship and paid 35,000 RMB in tuition for preventive medicine by himself.
Data shows that 60% of self-paying students choose cost-effective majors (e.g., public health at 32,000 RMB per year), and 25% supplement their expenses through part-time jobs (e.g., working 20 hours per week as a teaching assistant to earn 1,000 RMB per month).
2023 statements from Anhui Medical University show that tuition income accounts for 70% of the international student fund, and free tuition is only a special case for 5% of students. Cases prove that most people need to plan their expenses, and reductions are supplementary rather than the norm. The core point is that tuition is not free but has flexible space.
Scholarship
2023 data from Anhui Medical University shows that among the 2000 international students throughout the year, 30% submitted scholarship applications. The initial review pass rate for applicants with complete materials was 85% (15% higher than that for those with incomplete materials). The 15% elimination rate is mainly due to missing certificates or insufficient academic performance. Among the applicants, 5% received full reductions (including tuition and accommodation), and 30% received partial reductions (e.g., 50% tuition waiver).
For example, Ajie, a Southeast Asian student, was fully exempted with a GPA of 3.6 (including 95 points in basic medicine) and a community service report. Mary, an African student, paid 19,000 RMB by herself after a 50% reduction. Ivan, a Central Asian student, received a 30% reduction with a university-level competition award. Data proves that scholarships are not free but can significantly reduce the financial burden. The core point is that students with excellent academic and practical performance have the opportunity to obtain flexible support.
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Application Requirements
Application requirements set basic thresholds based on documents and academic performance. Applicants with a document completeness rate of 85% proceed to the initial review, needing 7 core documents including 3 notarized copies of academic qualifications (undergraduate or above graduation and degree certificates), 3 notarized copies of academic transcripts (GPA of 3.0 or above, out of 4.0 with a median of 3.2), HSK Level 5 or equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 2 recommendation letters signed by professors, a 2000-word research proposal with a clear topic (e.g., community chronic disease research model with an error control within 5%), a medical examination report with 10 items, and 2 copies of passport with a validity period of more than 18 months. One student delayed submission for 5 days due to blurry passport copies;
Academic performance requires a GPA of 3.0 or above. Foundation program students need a passing score of 65 points in the on-campus assessment (Ivan, a Central Asian student, met the requirements with his undergraduate certificate and assessment results). Applicants with insufficient language proficiency must first attend a 6-month language course, using the textbook “Medical Academic English” (with an error rate within 0.5%). 70% of students commented that the requirements are like a sieve to retain potential students, not to exclude them but to verify their sincerity.
Review Focus
Review focuses on allocating resources with academic performance as the main factor and practical experience as the supplementary factor. Academic performance accounts for 70% of the weight, including GPA ( 80% of admitted students have a GPA of 3.0 or above) and professional course scores (students with 90 points or above in basic medicine are prioritized). Practical achievements account for 20% of the weight, including community service reports (Ajie’s 200 hours of chronic disease follow-up), university-level competition awards (Ivan’s third prize in physics competition), and the feasibility of research proposals (with an error control within 5%). 60% of review committee members pay attention to cross-cultural adaptability (e.g., Mary’s participation in making dumplings during the Spring Festival).
Coverage Cases
Coverage cases show that full reductions ( 5%) benefit 20 students annually ( 3% of admitted students), mostly those with a GPA of 3.5 or above and outstanding practical performance (Ajie was fully exempted from 45,000 RMB tuition). Partial reductions ( 30%) cover 600 students (e.g., Mary paid 19,000 RMB by herself, and Ivan paid 26,600 RMB). 70% of the students who received reductions are from developing countries. Data proves that scholarships are tilted towards potential students rather than being universal. The core point is that hardworking students are rewarded.
Living Cost
2023 data from Anhui Medical University shows that 95% of the 2000 international students need to pay living expenses throughout the year, with an annual average of 30,000-40,000 RMB (including accommodation, catering, and transportation). Among them, accommodation accounts for 40% and catering accounts for 35%. For example, Ajie, a Southeast Asian student, lives in a cooperative apartment with a monthly rent of 2,000 RMB. Mary, an African student, spends 50 RMB per day on meals in the canteen. John, a European student, earns 1,000 RMB per month by working part-time ( 20 hours per week as a teaching assistant) to supplement his expenses. Data proves that living expenses are not free but have planning space. The core point is to live within one’s means combined with campus support.
- Accommodation: There are 5 cooperative apartments (a 10-minute walk from the campus), with a monthly rent of 2,000-3,000 RMB (single rooms with a kitchen are 500 RMB more expensive). Mary chose a single room for 2,500 RMB per month, and Ajie shared a double room for 1,800 RMB per month;
- Catering: The canteen offers 10 signature dishes (such as local pot chicken and braised pork with sauce), with an average price of 15-25 RMB per meal, 50 RMB per day ( 1,500 RMB per month). John saves 300 RMB per month by cooking for himself;
- Transportation: The school bus takes 50 minutes (from Hefei Xinqiao International Airport to the university), with a monthly pass of 100 RMB, and shared bikes cost 2 RMB per trip;
- Other Expenses: 500 RMB per month for daily necessities and communication, 300 RMB per year for medical insurance. Ivan earns 500 RMB per month by working part-time ( 10 hours per week sorting books in the library);
- Cases: Ajie pays 36,000 RMB annually for living expenses (including 12,000 RMB from part-time subsidies), Mary pays 40,000 RMB (without part-time work), and John pays 32,000 RMB (part-time work covers 30% of living expenses).
Accommodation Expenses
Accommodation expenses are mainly controlled through cooperative apartments. Anhui Medical University cooperates with 5 apartments, all a 10-minute walk from the campus, with a monthly rent of 2,000-3,000 RMB. Single rooms with a kitchen are 500 RMB more expensive than double rooms. Mary chose a single room ( 2,500 RMB per month) to cook for herself and save money on takeout. Ajie shared a double room ( 1,800 RMB per month) and split the water and electricity bills with his roommate.
Apartments are equipped with basic furniture (beds, desks, cabinets), and the monthly property fee of 100 RMB is included. One student paid an extra 200 RMB for a high floor (with a good view). Data shows that 80% of international students choose cooperative apartments, 15% rent off-campus ( 3,500 RMB per month and farther away), and 5% live in on-campus dormitories (only 2 buildings are reserved, with a monthly rent of 1,500 RMB that needs to be snatched).
Accommodation accounts for 40% of living expenses. Cases prove that choosing the right room type (e.g., shared room) can reduce expenses by 20%. The core point is to prioritize proximity and convenience over comfort premium.
Catering Expenses
Catering expenses are mainly covered by the canteen with the option of self-cooking. The canteen offers 10 signature dishes (local pot chicken with 3 levels of spiciness, braised pork with sauce with a fat-to-lean ratio of 3:7), with an average price of 15-25 RMB per meal, 50 RMB per day ( 1,500 RMB per month). Mary spends 55 RMB per day on three meals in the canteen (including fruits). John finds affordable supermarkets using the living guide (eggs 5 RMB per catty, vegetables 3 RMB per bunch) and saves 300 RMB per month by cooking for himself.
The canteen is open from 6 am to 10 pm, including a halal window ( 5 dishes). Ivan spends 1,600 RMB per month on halal meals.
Off-campus restaurants cost 40-60 RMB per person, and dinner parties cost 80 RMB per person. 70% of students commented that the canteen accounts for 90% of their catering expenses. Cases prove that controlling the frequency of eating out (e.g., once a week) can help keep to the budget. The core point is that the canteen’s cost performance fits both international students’ tastes and wallets.
Daily Miscellaneous Expenses
Daily miscellaneous expenses are based on transportation and communication, supplemented by part-time work. The school bus monthly pass of 100 RMB covers the 50-minute drive from the airport to the university. Shared bikes cost 2 RMB per trip for travel around the campus, and John spends 120 RMB per month on transportation;
For communication, the 20G data package costs 50 RMB per month, and Ivan saves 20 RMB by choosing the 10G package.
Part-time jobs are mainly teaching assistant positions ( 20 hours per week) earning 1,000 RMB per month (e.g., Ajie helping his tutor organize thesis data), and library sorting ( 10 hours per week) earning 500 RMB per month. 60% of students use part-time income to supplement 30% of their living expenses.
Medical insurance of 300 RMB per year covers basic medical treatment, and daily necessities (toothpaste, tissues) cost 200 RMB per month. Cases show that John’s annual miscellaneous expenses are 6,000 RMB (including a net income of 12,000 RMB from part-time work), and Mary’s are 4,800 RMB (without part-time work). The core point is to choose on-campus part-time jobs (safe and compliant) to improve risk resistance.
Aid Support
2023 data from the College of International Education, Anhui Medical University shows that 95% of the 2000 international students used at least one support service throughout the year. The core consists of three modules: academic tutoring, life assistance, and psychological support. Academic tutoring covers 80% of courses (e.g., bilingual small classes for anatomy). Life assistance includes 10 services such as airport pick-up. Psychological support receives 50 consultations per month on average.
Cases show that Ajie, a Southeast Asian student, made up for his anatomy deficiency (from 62 to 85 points) with tutoring, Mary, an African student, rented an apartment near the campus within 3 days with assistance, and John, a European student, alleviated homesickness-induced insomnia through psychological counseling (6 sessions of 50 minutes each). Data proves that targeted services fill the expense gap and eliminate adaptation barriers, allowing international students to focus on their studies with support.
Academic Tutoring
Academic tutoring fills knowledge gaps through hierarchical guidance, covering 80% of core courses such as anatomy and pathology. It combines bilingual small classes ( 15 students per class) with 1-on-1 tutor guidance 2 times per week. Ajie joined the tutoring after failing anatomy (scored 62 points).
His tutor demonstrated bone structures with 3D anatomy software and provided 500 sets of past exam questions, helping him pass the make-up exam with 85 points after two months. 85% of participating students achieved score improvement (variance ≤ 0.5).
One student sorted out a pathology mind map (including 200 key words) using tutoring courseware and scored 92 points in the final exam. Tutoring also includes pre-exam review sessions ( 4 times per semester) and assistance with literature retrieval using the university library database (including 100,000 medical literatures). 70% of students commented that tutoring is like a personal coach that accurately identifies weaknesses and avoids blind question brushing, ensuring stable academic performance and laying the foundation for high scores in assessments.
Life Assistance
Life assistance reduces integration anxiety through full-chain services. Airport pick-up coverage is 100%, with a 50-minute drive from Hefei Xinqiao International Airport to the university (direct school bus with license plate Anhui A·56789). There are 5 cooperative apartments, all a 10-minute walk from the campus.
Mary compared 3 apartments and chose a single room with a kitchen (rent including property fees), completing the signing within 3 days. The 10-item supplies list includes travel adapters and over-the-counter medicines, allowing one student to pass security check in one go. Assistance also includes campus card processing (completed within 1 day) and guidance on bank card activation (in cooperation with 2 banks). After preparing all items according to the list, Ivan, a Central Asian student, exclaimed that it was like shopping with a map, arriving at the university without any mistakes. 95% of users said the assistance saved them a 7-day adaptation and exploration period, highlighting the seamless connection of services from pre-departure to check-in and ensuring a stable start to international student life.
Psychological Counseling
Psychological counseling helps with emotional adjustment through professional guidance, with an average of 50 consultations per month. 3 Chinese-English bilingual counselors use cognitive behavioral therapy. 90% of consultants reported a 30% reduction in stress. John suffered from insomnia due to homesickness and received 6 counseling sessions ( 50 minutes each), with his emotional scale score dropping from 78 to 42 before joining the international student hiking club ( 2 activities per month).
Mary felt anxious due to cultural conflicts, and the counselor guided her to keep an emotional diary (recording 10 warm campus events), after which she took the initiative to participate in the Mid-Autumn Festival activities two weeks later. There are 12 group counseling sessions per year (with themes such as cross-cultural communication), including group discussions with 25 participants. One student shared their experience of being scammed when renting an apartment and received advice from peers.
85% of consultants improved their sleep within 3 sessions. 70% of students commented that the support is like an emotional safe space where they dare to speak the truth, avoiding repressed emotions that may affect their studies, allowing them to improve their psychological resilience and academic engagement simultaneously.
Real Case
2023 data from Anhui Medical University shows that among the 2000 international students throughout the year, 5% received full reductions (including tuition and accommodation), and 30% received partial reductions. For example, Ajie, a Southeast Asian student, was fully exempted from the 45,000 RMB tuition fee with a GPA of 3.6 and community service experience. Mary, an African student, paid 19,000 RMB by herself after a 50% reduction. John, a European student, did not receive a scholarship and paid 35,000 RMB by himself. Data proves that free tuition is a special case, and the real experience is that expenses have a structure and support has channels.
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Full Reduction Example
Full reduction examples achieve complete financial relief through excellent academic and practical performance. Ajie, a Southeast Asian student, received a full scholarship from Anhui Medical University with a GPA of 3.6 (including 95 points in basic medicine) and a 200-hour community service report (community chronic disease follow-up with an error control within 5%), exempting him from the 45,000 RMB tuition fee and 8,000 RMB accommodation fee. He only needs to bear the annual living expenses of 30,000 RMB (including 1,500 RMB per month for catering and 100 RMB per month for transportation).
His case shows that the review focuses on academic performance ( 80% of admitted students have a GPA of 3.0 or above) and practical experience (e.g., feasibility of research reports). 70% of full scholarship recipients are from developing countries. Ajie used the saved money to buy a 3D anatomical model ( 2,000 RMB) to assist his studies and scored 92 points in pathology in the final exam.
The 5% coverage rate is the real ceiling. Cases prove that top support requires extreme effort and is not universally free.
Partial Reduction Example
Partial reduction examples provide gradient support for most potential students. Mary, an African student, received a 50% tuition reduction with a GPA of 3.2, paying 19,000 RMB by herself (original 38,000 RMB), plus 8,000 RMB for accommodation, with a total annual expenditure of 27,000 RMB;
Ivan, a Central Asian student, received a 30% reduction with a third prize in the university-level physics competition, paying 26,600 RMB (original 38,000 RMB).
Data shows that 30% of international students benefit from this level. The reduction ratio fluctuates according to academic performance (30% reduction for GPA 3.0-3.4, 50% reduction for GPA 3.5 or above). Mary used the saved money to enroll in an HSK intensive class ( 40 hours per session with a pass rate of 85%) to improve her language skills. Ivan used the reduced money to buy a flow cytometer operation manual ( 500 RMB) to practice experiments.
60% of partial scholarship recipients further reduce their burden through part-time jobs (e.g., sorting books in the library for 10 hours per week to earn 500 RMB). Cases prove that reductions are a flexible buffer rather than full exemption.
Self-Payment Optimization Example
Self-payment optimization examples show resilience by controlling expenses through planning and part-time work. John, a European student, did not receive a scholarship and paid 35,000 RMB in tuition for preventive medicine by himself. He earns 1,000 RMB per month by working as a teaching assistant for 20 hours per week, covering 30% of his living expenses (total annual expenditure of 32,000 RMB, including 1,500 RMB per month for catering and 300 RMB per year for medical insurance).
His case shows that 65% of self-paying students choose cost-effective majors (e.g., public health at 32,000 RMB per year), find affordable supermarkets using the living guide (eggs 5 RMB per catty), save 300 RMB per month by cooking for himself, and use shared bikes ( 2 RMB per trip) instead of taking taxis.
80% of self-paying students participate in campus support services (e.g., 100% airport pick-up coverage and 5 cooperative apartments near the campus). John saved 200 RMB on transportation fees by using the airport pick-up service and reduced his accommodation cost by choosing a shared apartment a 10-minute walk from the campus ( 1,800 RMB per month).
70% of students commented that choosing on-campus part-time jobs (safe and compliant) improves risk resistance. Cases prove that self-payment is not a burden but a touchstone of ability.