Tsinghua University Zijing College
Urban Regeneration and Design Program Admission Guide 2026
Zijing College is Tsinghua University’s first undergraduate residential college, offering fully English-taught programs. It is developed to enhance the university’s international outreach and expand horizons in open education. Leveraging Tsinghua’s strengths in engineering, Zijing College creates an eco-system of global readiness that embraces an international cast of faculty, diverse peer-learning experiences, an immersive English-speaking environment, and global exposure opportunities.
Zijing College pioneers a new pathway of STEAM education that integrates AI, Art and Architecture into STEM and emphasises AI fundamentals, design thinking, and aesthetic literacy. By encouraging internships with international organisations and corporations through Tsinghua’s fast-expanding international connections, Zijing College aims to cultivate top engineering talents with strong global competency.
Our cities are increasingly shaped and reshaped by an enormous amount of data that has emerged as a result of technological, social, and institutional innovations. This new situation poses several unprecedented challenges and has a significant impact on how we interact with both the physical and virtual worlds. How do architects and urban professionals respond to this disruptive change? How can we reinvent ourselves, embracing new knowledge and methodologies and harnessing new technologies and tools to stay relevant and regenerate our cities towards a resilient, equitable, and liveable future?
Tsinghua University's Urban Regeneration and Design Program is developed to address these questions. Fully taught in English, this program aims to equip graduates with strategic vision, cutting-edge knowledge, technological competence, innovative creativity, social responsibility, and all necessary skills to become future leaders and create better cities in and beyond Asia.
1. Program Highlights
Students can personalise their learning based on the multi-disciplinary curriculum that integrates information science technology (IST), mechanical engineering (ME), civil engineering (CE) and design science (DS). Through rich cultural experiences and interdisciplinary learning, the program focuses on enhancing students' abilities to solve complex engineering problems. Students will develop exceptional skills in design, communication, teamwork, scientific experimentation, as well as lifelong learning, enabling them to play critical roles in global science and engineering fields.
1.1 Design education augmented by computing.
Architectural and urban design in the new era will have to engage with the opportunities opened by computer science and AI technologies. Understanding and applying the latest technologies and tools through the lens of design thinking is a core ability for students to grasp complex urban problems and generate innovative solutions.
1.2 Multi-disciplinary learning based on personalized projects.
Leveraging Tsinghua University’s comprehensive set of disciplines, the specially crafted curriculum provides students with ample room to customize and pursue multi-disciplinary projects under the collaborative supervision of tutors from different schools and departments.
1.3 Embedded learning in urban regeneration practice.
China’s urbanization provides a fertile soil for innovative ideas of urban regeneration. To study in China is to live and relive China’s urban development experiences, be involved in real-world urban regeneration practice as part of the study, and reflect on how contemporary challenges are dealt with.
1.4 An Asian perspective on urban challenges beyond Asia.
The teaching faculty is drawn from an international cast of experts with rich experiences in Asian cities. This Asia-focused perspective helps students become future-ready urban professionals to deal with urban challenges in and beyond Asian cities.
1.5 Independent thinkers and leaders with excellent career prospects
Tsinghua graduates are always highly sought after by employers. With visionary insights, technological competency, and real-world experiences, graduates from this program are anticipated to excel as designers, consultants, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and civil servants, among many others, in various sectors of urban development around the world.
2. Language of Instruction, Program Structure, and Degree Conferment
2.1 All instructions of this program are in English.
2.2 Those who have completed the required courses and passed all assessments and final thesis defense will be awarded bachelor's degrees by Tsinghua University.
2.3 Students may choose to graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering (Architecture, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture) after four years of study or continue one more year to complete the full training of the program with a professional degree, Bachelor of Architecture.
3. Eligibility
3.1 Foreign citizens, in good physical and mental health, friendly to China, and awarded a certificate of graduation from high school.
3.2 Academic performance
Outstanding academic performance. Proof should be provided through (but not limited to) the following document(s):
3.2.1 High school/University (if applicable) transcripts (in Chinese or English).
3.2.2 Certificate of National/Regional Graduation Examination/Matriculation Examination.
3.2.3 Results of international standard tests (e.g. SAT/ACT/A-Level/AP/IB/CSCA/others).
3.2.4 Other Supporting Materials.
3.3 Language proficiency
Applicants must have a high level of English language proficiency. For those with a native language other than English, a test report of English language proficiency will need to be provided (e.g. TOEFL/IELTS/others).
3.4 Aged 18 or above (by September 1, 2026). For the applicants under 18, please bring the relevant supporting documents to the official registration.
3.5 The conditions set by the Document No. 12 (2020) of the Ministry of Education of the PRC should be met.
4. Application Procedures
4.1 Online Application
4.1.1 Create your account in the Online Application System.
4.1.2 Complete the application form during the application period.
4.1.3 Upload the documents as required (see “List of Uploading Documents in the Online Application System” for more details).
4.1.4 Pay the application fee (800 RMB) online and submit the application.
4.2 Comprehensive Evaluation
4.2.1 Application Review
Applications submitted with all the information correct and completed will be evaluated by Tsinghua University.
4.2.2 Integrative Test
Applicants who have passed the Application Review will be admitted to the integrative test. The method and time of the integrative test will be informed in advance.
4.3 Admission Decision and Offer
The admission decision is based on a comprehensive evaluation of academic performance, language ability, supporting materials as well as integrative tests.
5. Schedule
Online Application Period (Beijing Time): 8:00 AM September 30, 2025 – 5:00 PM February 28, 2026
Results will be issued by: Early May, 2026
NOTE: The method and time of each round’s integrative test will be informed in advance.
6. Fees
6.1 Application Fee, Tuition, and Medical Insurance (RMB)
Tuition Fee (Per Year) |
Application Fee (one time) |
Medical Insurance (Per Year) |
100,000.00 |
800.00 |
800.00 |
Notes:
a. The application fee is not refundable.
b. The medical insurance of Tsinghua University covers basic accidental injury and medical expenses for hospitalization.
6.2 Accommodation
Zijing College is a residential college where students will be accommodated in designated buildings on campus. Online reservations must be made within the designated time (availability of rooms is subject to the booking system). For accommodation fees and other details, please refer to the Tsinghua University International Student and Scholar Center website.
7. Admission
Applicants who are granted admission will receive their admission documents from Tsinghua University in around June 2026.
8. Scholarship
To better support and assist international undergraduate students in their development at Tsinghua, the university actively promotes international exchange and cooperation. In accordance with relevant policies, Tsinghua continuously seeks donations from overseas alumni and corporations to support the academic development and personal growth of international students.
9. Contact Information
Admissions Office, Tsinghua University
Address: Haidian District, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
Tel: +86-10-62783100
Email: admissions@tsinghua.edu.cn
Website: http://international.join-tsinghua.edu.cn/
Zijing College, Tsinghua University:
Main Building of Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing, 100084, P.R.China
Tel: +86-10-62787275
Email: zijsy@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn
Website: https://zijingcollege.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/
