Q1: I’m a Chinese student, can I apply for master's programs in Suzhou?

A: No, you are not eligible. Only non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport are eligible.

Q2: I'm studying in China (or other countries) now and will graduate in July of 2025. Can I apply for this program?

A: If you are currently pursuing master's/bachelor's study and will graduate by July, 2025, you can apply for doctoral/master's programs. You need to provide Pre-graduation Certificate to ensure that you will complete your study and obtain official degree certificate by July of 2025.

Q3: I'm now working in China. Can I apply for this program?

A: You can apply, but you have to submit documents showing your status as an on-post employee and permission of release when applying, and if get admission you need submit demission certificate. International students can not work with student visa and we only recruit full-time students for our graduate programs.

Q4: I don't have a passport yet. Is it necessary for application?

A: It’s OK if you don't have passport yet at the time of application, but you should get one as soon as possible. When you get admission, the passport information will be required as one of the admission documents.

Q5: My passport will expire soon. Can I still use it to apply for this program?

A: The passport used for application should still be valid for one more year, because if you get admission, the passport information will be required for making admission documents and applying for visa in August. 

Q1. Is it compulsory to find a host supervisor before application?

A: There is no need for finding a host supervisor while applying online. All of your materials and documents (only if your online application is complete) will be sent to the schools and departments for their reference. Online interviews will be organized by schools and departments afterwards. For students applying to Master of Software Engineering, there will be no supervisor assigned during the first academic year. For students applying to doctoral programs, professors will select prospective candidates according to application materials and interview performances.

Q2. How will USTC help to find supervisors?    

A: The application documents of applicants whose online application is complete will be sent to relevant schools/departments, which later will select candidates for online interview and organize the online interview. Professors will select prospective students according to application materials and interview performances.

Q3. If I do not have a pre-acceptance from one of USTC professors, how much chance is there for me to get final admission?    

A: The admission decision is based on a comprehensive evaluation of applicants' academic performance, interview performance, qualifications, certificates and other related materials. Schools/departments will help applicants who pass the interview to find host supervisors and rank all applicants based on their comprehensive evaluation. Thus whether you have a host supervisor or not while applying has little to do with the final admission decision.

Q4. Do I need to pay any application fees?

A: No, you don't. We don't charge any application fees for online application to USTC.

Q5. Where can I get information for a specific program, like courses, credits, requirements, etc.?

A: You may refer to USTC Graduate School for such information (in Chinese): 

https://gradschool.ustc.edu.cn/article/2199  

As for information in English, we suggest you to contact professors or departments.

Professors'  profile: http://ic.ustc.edu.cn/en/v7info.php?Nav_x=77

Schools/departments: http://en.ustc.edu.cn/Schools.htm.

Q6. What should I submit for “Photocopy of degree certificate and academic transcript notarized by Ministry of Education or equivalent authority”?

A: You have to get the photocopy of your original degree certificate and transcripts to be notarized by Ministry of Education or equivalent authority, like HEC.

Q7. Where should I get physical examination?

A: Public hospitals would be a good choice. For private hospital, we suggest you to confirm with Chinese Embassy to see whether it is recognized.

Q8. Is there any requirement for the average scores of applicants in previous schools?

A: There is no requirement for the average scores of applicants in previous schools but all applicants should submit the university (if applicable) transcripts (in Chinese or English) and their scores in previous schools will be considered while USTC evaluates each applicant.

Q9. Is there any requirement for Chinese language proficiency?

A: Applicants for programs instructed in Chinese must provide the photocopy of HSK certificate (level 4 or above) or other proof of their Chinese language proficiency. Applicants whose native language is Chinese, or who can provide proof of studying at a high school where the teaching language is Chinese, can apply for HSK test exemption.

Q10. Is there any requirement for English language proficiency?

A: Yes, applicants who apply for programs instructed in English must provide English language proficiency.

Q11. I know English well and want to apply for a program taught in English, but I don't have TOEFL or IELTS result. What should I do?    

A: You have to submit other documents as a proof of your English proficiency.  A letter from your previous university can prove that all the courses were given in English.

Q12. Do applicants need to provide the original documents? When to provide them? 

A: Yes, all the original copies of the documents provided in the Online Application System should be presented at the time of entrance examination and registration. USTC will check all the documents. If any certificate provided proves to be fake, the qualification for entrance examination and admission will be terminated.

Q13. What to do if I cannot find the major that I want to apply in the first/second level discipline?    

A: All the disciplines which can be provided with degrees from USTC are included in the first/second level discipline list on the online application system. If you cannot find your major on the list, you need to select a first/second level discipline that is most closely related to your major.

Q14. Is there any requirement for recommenders/referees?

A: You are suggested to request teachers in your previous university and are familiar with your academic performance to provide you with recommendation/reference letters. Recommendation letters provided by a professor, a researcher, an associate professor, or an assistant professor are all acceptable.

Q15. Does my referee need to send the original reference letter to USTC?    

A: No need. You just need to request the referee to upload the reference letter for you according to the requirement in the email received.

Q16. I fail to submit the online application several times. What should I do?    

A: If your online application can't be made successfully several times, please check whether you open it with the appropriate browser: IE or Google Chrome. If still it fails, please send an email to isa@ustc.edu.cn.

Q17. If my score is not in the form of centesimal system, how can I fill it?    

A: Please provide your overall GPA in centesimal system (eg. 82/100). If you do not know how to convert it, please provide your overall GPA in the following format: 2.61/4 or 3.15/5.

Q18. What to do if I cannot find the major that I want to apply in the first/second level discipline?    

A: All the disciplines which can be provided with degrees from USTC are included in the first/second level discipline list on the online application system. If you cannot find your major on the list, you need to select a first/second level discipline that is most closely related to your major.

Q19. Is there any requirement for recommenders/referees?    

A: You are suggested to request teachers in your previous university and are familiar with your academic performance to provide you with recommendation/reference letters. Recommendation letters provided by a professor, a researcher, an associate professor, or an assistant professor are all acceptable.

Q20. Does my referee need to send the original reference letter to USTC?    

A: No need. You just need to request the referee to upload the reference letter for you according to the requirement in the email received.

Q21. I fail to submit the online application several times. What should I do?    

A: If your online application can't be made successfully several times, please check whether you open it with the appropriate browser: IE or Google Chrome. If still it fails, please send an email to isa@ustc.edu.cn.

Q22. If my score is not in the form of centesimal system, how can I fill it?    

A: Please provide your overall GPA in centesimal system (eg. 82/100). If you do not know how to convert it, please provide your overall GPA in the following format: 2.61/4 or 3.15/5.

Q1. Is there an examination or interview conducted after the submission of application?

A: An online assessment will be held by schools/departments to select a certain number of applicants based on the review of applicants' application documentation. 

Q2. When will the assessment be held? Is it online or in site?

A: The time and arrangement for assessment will be notified later (usually held in February or March). There will be an online assessment. The detailed information will be emailed. Please check the email address that you used for login in the application system of USTC otherwise you may miss important information like assessment notice.

Q3. How will you select applications?

A: 1. All the complete applications will be reviewed by International College of USTC for the first round to check mainly the eligibility. 2. Applications passed in the first round will be reviewed by professors, departments and schools and selected to be assessed online to check mainly academic background, research capability and intended research field. 3. Applicants who pass the school assessment will be reviewed by USTC selection committee to finalize the list of nominated candidates for different programs.

Q4. When and where can I know the result?

A: You can check the status of your application in the online application system. The final list of awardees will be announced on our website in July.

Q5. If I don't get admission with scholarship, can I apply for admission as a self-financed student?

A: Yes, you can apply online for self-financed program if you don't get scholarship admission.

Q6. How much chance is there for someone on waiting list to get scholarship?

A: Candidates on the waiting list will have chance to get scholarship in case someone on the nomination list gives up the scholarship, but we're not able to tell how much chance.

Q7. If I get admission, when can I receive admission documents?

A: We will send to you by post the admission documents usually in late July or August.

Q8. What should I do if I receive admission documents?

A: After receiving admission documents, you should apply for student visa as soon as possible in Chinese Embassy/Consulate and get prepared for coming to USTC.

Q9. If I get admission, when will the semester start?

A: It will start in Sept., 2025.

Q1. Some agency or people say that they have cooperation with USTC on admissions of international students. Should I trust them?

A: USTC does not authorize any agency or individual on the admission affairs. 

Q2. Is there any kind of entrance tutorial class in USTC?

A: No. USTC doesn't hold any kind of entrance tutorial class in any form. USTC never holds or cooperates with any individual, company or institution to organize any form of profitable training activities related to application issues.

Q3. What is the study mode for international graduate students?

A: International graduate students take the classes together with Chinese students. 

Q4. How to apply for scholarships?

A: Graduate applicants can apply for USTC Fellowship, which can be applied via the International Student Application system of USTC. There is no need to create a new account for applying for USTC Fellowship if applicants have finished their online application. Applicants just need to choose the type of programs (self-financed or scholarship program) in the application system.