Lanzhou University is a prestigious Class A university situated in Gansu Province, China. Lanzhou University is a member of Projects 985 and 211. As a participant in two elite national education initiatives, Lanzhou University offers advanced facilities and a long, distinguished heritage. Lanzhou University offers full-time undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

The Gansu School of Law and Politics, an early forerunner of Lanzhou University, was established in 1909.

After a series of changes, the Lanzhou university was established as one of China’s 14 key universities in 1949.

Currently, the university offers 99 undergraduate majors and 16 national characteristic majors, as well as various postgraduate programs.

Lanzhou University ranks in China’s top ten for Ph.D. programs in physics, chemistry, atmospheric science, and geography. It also places within the top 1% on the Essential Science Indicators (ESI) index.

The university is famous for developing the gamma shutdown sensor for China’s Chang’e 4 lunar calendar.

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

• Non-Chinese citizens in good physical and mental health.
• Age Requirement: Under 25 years old.
• Notarized high school diploma (with notarized Chinese/English translation)
• Language Proficiency:
• HSK Level 4 with score 210 or above (HSK requirements depend on chosen program)
• Applicants who do not have the required HSK certificate must take 1 to 2 years of Chinese preparatory courses.
• Academic Performance: An average score of at least 3.0/4.0, 3.75/5.0, or 75% for the highest degree obtained.
• Scanned copy of valid passport information page (valid until after March 1, 2027).
• Notarized academic transcripts (with notarized Chinese/English translation)
• Original score report of the “China Scholastic Competency Assessment” (CSCA Test).
• Non-criminal record certificate (issued within 6 months before application) or a signed Non-criminal Record Commitment Letter.
• Proof of financial support (e.g., bank statement). Scholarship applicants can upload the scholarship application form.
• “Foreigner Physical Examination Form” (in Chinese or English).

Postgraduate Admission Requirements

• Depends on the program – please contact us to learn more.

Lanzhou University often ranks within China’s top ten for the following programs: chemistry, physics, atmospheric sciences, geography, ecology, biology, mathematics.

Global Rankings:

• SH Global rank: #201-300 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities
• Edurank: #466 in the global 2025 rating
• U.S. News & World Report: #460 in Best Global Universities

Undergraduate Programs:

• Tuition Fees: 20000-35000 RMB/year depending on the program.
• Postgraduate Programs:
• Tuition Fees: For master’s programs, the annual tuition fee varies depending on the course. Contact us to learn more

LZU available scholarships:

• Chinese Government Scholarship (Type A) – full coverage scholarship from the Chinese government.
• International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship – offers comprehensive coverage for teachers of Chinese language.
• Lanzhou University Scholarship – contact us for more details.

Do take note of the application deadline when applying for the scholarship program. At Apply For China, you can consult us if you require further assistance.

• Dining Services: Many different types of canteens are available on campus. Students can enjoy a variety of foods: local cuisine, halal food, fast food, and many others. Besides canteens on campus, numerous restaurants and food trucks are available in the immediate area around the campus.
• Student Accommodation: Depends on campus, from 900/month to 3000/semester (annual/semester basis). Double Room and Quad Room are available. Each room includes necessary facilities, like private bathroom, bedding, furniture. Shared kitchens and laundry rooms are available in the dormitory.
• Library: Libraries are available on every campus along with online library systems. LZU also provides self-study spaces on campus.
• Sports Facilities: On every Lanzhou University campus there are many sports facilities available, including football, basketball, volleyball fields, gyms, tracks, and others.

Lanzhou University is renowned nationwide for it’s laboratories, among them are:

• Laboratory of Arid Agroecology
• Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry
• Laboratory of Applied Magnetism, and it’s Analytical Testing Center
• Radiochemistry Laboratory
• Center for Evidence-based Social Science

Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province, ranks as a second-tier city. The city is a key logistics and industrial hub with a growing economy.

As a developing city, living expenses in Lanzhou city are much less than those in Tier-1 cities.

Lanzhou is the second most important center for scientific research and education in Northwestern China. The industry in Lanzhou city focuses on the heavy industry and petrochemical industry, along with textile mills, rubber processing, fertilizer plants, metallurgy and machinery. Additionally, Lanzhou is home to the International Solar Energy center, along with the Lanzhou uranium enrichment plant.

Lanzhou is a city with hundreds of years of history. Previously, a major location in the Silk Road trade route and a center for Buddhist study. Lanzhou is a city with a rich cultural and ethnic background, and is home to many significant cultural items of China, for example:

• The Gansu style opera
• The Lanzhou Guzi (a type of opera, recognised as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of China)
• The extremely popular Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup
• The San Pao Tai tea

Visitors can enjoy several tourist locations, for example:

• Five Spring Mountain park
• Zhongshan Bridge
• Lanzhou Botanical Garden
• Lutusi ancient governmental buildings

In addition, several museums in Lanzhou display items important to the history of the Silk Road and Gansu Province. Lanzhou also contains sections of the Great Wall of China.

The city has a semi-arid climate, characterized by extreme temperatures both during summer and winter. The average temperature is -4.1°C in January and 23.4 °C in July.

Lanzhou may not be comfortable for students with respiratory issues due to air pollution. In 2018, Lanzhou ranked at the 158th highest level of PM 2.5 pollution out of 2700 towns listed. While the environmental situation is improving, students with possible health issues should consider Lanzhou’s environment. Because of it’s location, Lanzhou also regularly experiences low-intensity earthquakes.