Summary of Key Points
In 2024, Sino-foreign cooperative education programs, which were still experiencing a wave of closures, suddenly saw a "new surge" in 2025: The Ministry of Education approved 219 new programs in one go (nearly double the number from the previous year). Applications for top-tier programs such as Kunshan Duke and New York University Shanghai were so competitive that American students even chose to study there, with admission rates lower than those at the overseas campuses. The new programs show trends such as a concentration of 985 universities, an emphasis on science and engineering, and diversification of partners. At the same time, the industry has polarized—top-tier programs have seen a significant increase in value, while the lower-quality ones remain mixed, requiring careful selection to avoid pitfalls.
I. How Popular Are the Top-Cooperated Programs?
Top programs like Kunshan Duke and New York University Shanghai have become so competitive that they are even more difficult to get into than their overseas counterparts:
- Kunshan Duke: 6,002 applications from mainland China in 2025 (a 15% increase), with only 385 admissions; 8,006 international student applications (a 36% increase), of which 38% were American students, and the admission rate was just 2%—10 times lower than that of the Duke campus in the United States.
- New York University Shanghai: 24,000 applications from 157 countries last year, with only 500 admissions, and an admission rate of 2%, which is lower than that of Ivy League schools. American students accounted for 53% of the international applicants.
Why do American students choose to study in China?
- The courses and degrees are "authentic": Using the same textbooks and faculty as the overseas campuses, and graduates receive the same degree.
- Cost savings: Tuition and living expenses at American universities cost at least $700,000 per year, while at NYU Shanghai, it's $200,000–$230,000 per year, offering good value for money.
- Diverse educational options: More and more American young people want to experience Asian culture rather than staying in their home countries.
There are three new changes for these top programs:
1. The college entrance exam (Gaokao) is now more important: Kunshan Duke has increased its weight from 50% to 60%, making Gaokao scores a crucial factor, even though a comprehensive evaluation is also used.
2. International students must participate in exchange programs: NYU Shanghai requires one to two semesters at the global campus in New York, and Kunshan Duke plans an exchange program at Duke University in the United States during their junior year—there's no option to complete the four years without going abroad.
3. Tuition has increased, but scholarships are more available: Tuition has risen to $200,000–$230,000 per year, but NYU Shanghai offers a scholarship of up to $1 million (covering both tuition and living expenses), and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) even offers a full scholarship of HK$1.1 million.
II. What Are the New Features of the 219 Newly Added Programs?
The newly added programs are different from previous ones:
- 985 universities are heavily involved: 6 out of the 86 new institutions are 985 universities, such as Beijing Institute of Technology + Politecnico di Torino and Harbin Institute of Technology + Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan. Among the 133 new programs, 10 involve 985 universities—cooperation is no longer a fringe activity but has become standard for top-tier institutions.
- Science and engineering dominate: 65% of the programs focus on science and engineering fields (such as artificial intelligence, data science, intelligent manufacturing). For example, the joint program between Tianjin University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology focuses on cutting-edge areas like intelligent medicine and computer science. Business programs are still present but have shifted from being separate institutions to individual courses within larger programs.
- Partners are more diverse: While the UK remains the most common partner (25%), countries along the Belt and Road (such as Russia and Hungary) and Hong Kong universities are becoming increasingly important players, with the latter establishing centers in Shanghai, expanding enrollment at the Guangzhou campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and making steady progress.
Why do British and American universities participate?
- Financial pressures: These universities are facing reduced international student enrollments and changes in economic policies, so they need to cooperate with China to diversify their revenue sources.
- Countries along the Belt and Road are following policy initiatives to expand educational cooperation.
III. How to Choose a Reputable Cooperative Program?
With hundreds of programs available, use these criteria to make a wise choice:
1. Rankings: Prefer those listed on the Hurun rankings. The top three independent cooperative institutions include the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shanghai New York University, and Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. The top three cooperative colleges are Zhejiang University-Edinburgh, Zhejiang University-UIUC, and Xi'an Jiaotong-Milan University of Technology. These programs have been running for over a decade and enjoy high recognition.
2. Admission requirements: Good programs require high scores; for example, the minimum score for physics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shanghai is 666 (the highest in Guangdong Province), and Zhejiang University-UIUC requires a score of 664 (ranked 1383rd in the province). If a program has low admission requirements and many spots, it may not be reliable.
3. Cost-effectiveness: Although the tuition is higher, it's still cheaper than at overseas campuses. NYU Shanghai costs $200,000 per year, while programs with Hong Kong partners offer full scholarships, allowing high-achieving students to study for free.
4. Graduate outcomes: A good program will have a high rate of further education (57% go on to elite universities like Harvard and Cornell) or employment (31% in firms like Morgan Stanley and McKinsey). For Kunshan Duke, 79% of graduates pursue further studies (80% at Ivy League or Oxford/Cambridge universities), and 19% get jobs in large companies.
IV. Avoid Common Pitfalls
Don't be fooled by promises of "exempting you from the Gaokao for admission to prestigious schools":
- Understand the format: Some programs are independent institutions (like Kunshan Duke) that grant both domestic and international degrees.
- Be cautious of non-independent partnerships: These may offer a dual degree but are affiliated with a Chinese university.
- **Don't believe in "Gaokao-exempt admission": Chinese students must still take the Gaokao or participate in a comprehensive evaluation, while only non-Chinese students can apply through the international route. Claims of "exempting the Gaokao for 985 admissions" are often scams.
- Verify with the Ministry of Education: All legitimate programs should be listed on the "Ministry of Education's Sino-foreign Cooperative Education Supervision Platform." Those not listed should be avoided, as their diplomas may not be recognized.
In Conclusion
Sino-foreign cooperative education programs have become polarized: Top-tier programs are now more competitive than overseas elite institutions and offer high value, while the lower-quality ones are less reliable. Before choosing, determine which category a program falls into.