Introduction of TNU

Tianjin is one of the four municipalities directly under the central government of China, along with Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing. It can be reached to Beijing by high-speed rail in just 28 minutes. Tianjin is an open and inclusive city, a strategic gateway to the capitalcity since ancient times. Also, Tianjin has been served as a pioneer in China's reform and opening-up, a national advanced manufacturing research and development base, the Northern International Shipping Core Area, the financial innovation demonstration plot, and the core area of China's major strategy of Coordinated Development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region.

Tianjin Normal University (TNU) possesses profound history and is the inheritor of the century-old tradition of teachers' education in Tianjin. TNU's ecological environment claims a unique charm of vitality. Beyond the vibrant cultural and natural atmosphere, TNU is rich in teaching facilities and culture deposits. It now has 3 faculties and 19 colleges, offers 74 undergraduate programs, 15 doctorate programs of first-level disciplines, 31 master programs of first-level disciplines, and 19 professional master's degree programs, covering 10 disciplinary categories, including economics, law, education, literature, history, science, engineering, management, arts, and interdisciplinary studies.

TNU adheres to open education and conducts extensive international exchanges and cooperation. It has been selected as the first batch of "Demonstration Bases for Studying in China" by national government, and has jointly established the Institute for International Chinese Language Teacher Education co-founded by the Ministry of Education and the Tianjin Municipal Government. It has co-founded the Institute for the Development of International Chinese Language Education with Center for Language Education and Cooperation of Ministry of Education as a practice and research base. It has also been approved as the China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Base and Tianjin International Chinese Language Education Development Center by the China-ASEAN Centre. TNU has established long-term cooperative relations with 220 universities, institutions and local governments in 39 countries and regions.

As a host institution, TNU accepts international students funded by Chinese Government Scholarship, International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship and Tianjin Government Scholarship. It has been providing education for international students for 60 years since 1964, and has trained more than 60,000 students from 86 countries and regions. A large number of Institute for the Development of International Chinese Language Education with Center for Language Education and Cooperation of Ministry of Education as a practice and research base, who understand China have emerged. It now has five Confucius Institutes worldwide, one of which is the first Confucius Institute in Africa and a Model Confucius Institute—Confucius Institute at University of Nairobi, and one independent Confucius classrooms. TNU has been awarded the honorary title of "Advanced Chinese Partner Institution" three times, and its Confucius Institutes have won the title of "Model Confucius Institute" 11 times. It has so far collaborated to establish 4 Chinese Learning and Testing Centers in Tianjin Normal University, Thanh Dong University, Hanoi Pedagogical University 2, and Navamindradhiraj University.

The university places great emphasis on international Chinese language education, prioritizing the fundamental needs of international students as its core mission. It highlights practical teaching as a distinctive feature and upholds professionalization and specialization in international exchanges as its standards. The university has established the "Expression-Driven Pedagogy" for international Chinese language education and developed a comprehensive professional language learning and cultural practice system, achieving an integrated undergraduate, master's, and doctoral training.

Professor Zhong Yinghua, the academic leader in international Chinese language education, serves as the president of the world's most authoritative and influential international academic organization—the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching.

The university has built a 45,600-square-metre International Chinese Education Centre and a comprehensive building for international students, making it the largest and most well-equipped international Chinese language education base in China.

The 17^th and the 18^th Chinese Bridge - Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students and the 4^th and the 5^th Chinese Bridge - Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students have been successfully hosted. The event brought together 800 student contestants and accompanying personnel from 111 countries in Tianjin, creating a grand celebration of Chinese language learning and cultural exchange.

TNU welcomes students from all over the world! May every day at TNU be great for you!

Program

(*Note: Payment for teaching materials will be charged according to actual cost. New standards will be implemented once the competent authority adjusts the above cost standards.)

Curriculum

All freshmen will take the Chinese proficiency test first and be divided into elementary, intermediate and advanced classes according to the test results.

The compulsory course of Chinese course is about 20 class hours per week, including comprehensive Chinese, speaking, listening, reading, Chinese characters, Chinese culture and other courses. At the same time, there are optional courses, and students are free to choose courses. Optional courses include Chinese calligraphy, Tai Chi, paper cutting, etc.

Students who meet the regulations of College of International Education and Exchange of TNU on student status, examination and attendance will be issued official certificate of completion and transcript.

Qualification of Applicants

1. Non-Chinese citizens, and meet the requirements of Ministry of Education of China;

2. Be in good physical and mental condition, with good academic performance and conduct, and abide by Chinese laws and TNU regulations;

3. Between the age of 16 and 45 (as of September 1st, 2026). Valid documents of your legal guardians in China (only required for applicants under the age of 18).

Application Procedure

Applicants should log into the TNU International Student Service Platform within the stipulated time, register an account with personal email, fill in the information and upload required application materials. Login website: https://tnu.at0086.cn/StuApplication/Login.aspx

1. Time of Application

Sep 1st, 2025 - Dec 15th, 2025

2. Application Materials

a) Photocopy of passport within the period of validity;

b) 2-inch electronic photo;

c) Two Recommendation Letters (from two different referrers), written in either Chinese or English;

d) Color scan copy of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. It must be filled in Chinese or English, and the medical examinations must cover all the items listed in the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. Incomplete forms or forms without the signature of the attending physician, the official stamp of the hospital, or a sealed photograph of the applicant are considered invalid. Please determine the appropriate time to have medical examination as the medical results is valid for 6 months;

e) Non-criminal Record Report. Non-criminal Record Report must be issued by the applicant's local public security authority, usually within 6 months before the submission date of application;

f) Applicants under the age of 18 must submit a power of attorney signed by their guardian in China.

International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship

1. Qualifications

a) Between the age of 16 and 35 (as of September 1st, 2025). Applicants currently working as Chinese language teachers shall not be over 45;

b) The application direction is Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL), and provides scholarships of a maximum of 5 months;

c) Applicants shall have a minimum score of 180 on the HSK test (Level 3), and an HSKK test score is also required.

Note: Holder of 2025 International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship Certificate of Chinese Bridge competition shall log onto the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship website and submit documents to relevant host institutions upon presentation of the scholarship certificate.

2. Application Procedure

From September 1st, 2025, applicants should log onto the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship application system (cis.chinese.cn) to apply for scholarships, and inquire about the contents and standards of scholarships, the list of scholarship application materials, scholarship recommendation institutions, etc. (According to 2024 application procedure, TNU HSK Test Center can also recommend and accept international students who want to apply for scholarship.)

3. Time of Application (GMT+8)

Sep 1, 2025 - Oct 31, 2025

4. Application Materials

In addition to the above application materials, scholarship applications require:

a) Scanned copy of HSK and HSKK score report (valid for two years);

b) Letter of recommendation from the head of the recommending organization.

Accommodation

International Student Residence Hall on main campus (single room):

50 Yuan /person/day

Contact Information

A. Office of International Admission of Tianjin Normal University

Address: Center for International Chinese Education, Tianjin Normal University, No.393 Binshui West Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.

Postal code: 300387

Tel: +86-22-23765025 (CIS)

+86-22-23766590 (Self-funded)

Email: tnucis@126.com (CIS)

tjnu_adm@126.com (Self-funded)

Website: http://gjjl.tjnu.edu.cn/

Wechat Official Account: TNU_ISA

Wechat Q&A: studyatTNU

B. HSK Test Centre of Tianjin Normal University

Address: Center for International Chinese Education, Tianjin Normal University, No.393 Binshui West Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.

Tel: +86-22-23541732

Email: tjnuhskbgs@163.com