Northwestern Polytechnical University (China): Complete Guide

Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) is an engineering and Science course-centric university in Xi’an, China. The university attained state–key university status in 1960 and is home to various innovations. Students coming from different countries can take admissions here at NPU China, and get all admission-related details in the article. 

While shortlisting technical universities to study abroad, international students can also consider studying at Northwestern Poly China. There are around 17 colleges of study which offer over 50+ courses. There are options for scholarships also and admissions are selective at Northwestern Poly China. Check out the article if you wish to study in China and at NPU China about its courses, top reasons to study, fees, scholarships and admission requirements with the process. 

Top Reasons to Study at NPU China

Some of the top reasons to study at Northwestern Polytechnical University in China for international students are as follows:

• Northwestern Polytechnical University is one of the top public universities in China, and it is known for its technical programs.
• Northwestern Polytechnical University ranks between #547 and 630 globally based on QS - WUR 2025.
• There are various scholarships for international students pursuing different courses at NPU China, which is a plus. These scholarships cover tuition, accommodation, or stipends.
• Northwestern Poly China's acceptance rate is selective, and it can admit 70-80% of students. 
• Northwestern Polytechnical University partners with over 100+ universities abroad for exchange and research programs. 

Thus, international students who are planning to study at NPU China can apply for scholarships, participate in exchange programs, participate in innovations, and get quality education.

Check: List of Top Universities and Colleges in China

Popular Courses at NPU in English

Northwestern Poly China offers over 30+ courses to international students. The following sections will highlight courses offered level-wise for international students in the English language.

Undergraduate Courses in English at NPU China

The following are some of the popular courses offered at Northwestern Poly China to international students in English:

Colleges at Northwestern Poly China	Majors Available for Undergrads in English
School of Aeronautics	Aerospace Engineering
School of Astronautics	Aerospace Engineering
School of Marine Science and Technology	Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
School of Materials Science and Engineering	Materials Science and Engineering
School of Mechanical Engineering	Mechanical Engineering
School of Mechanics, Civil Engineering and Architecture	Civil Engineering
School of Electronics and Information	Electronics and Information Engineering
School of Automation	Electrical Engineering and Automation
School of Computer Science	Computer Science and Technology
	E-Commerce New
School of Management	Business Administration
School of Life Sciences	Biotechnology
School of Foreign Studies	English

As given above, most of the courses offered are in Science and Technology and Engineering fields. NPU also offers a foreign language course for international students taught in English to undergrads from different countries.

Postgraduate Courses at NPU in English

Following is a list of master’s courses offered in English at Northwestern Poly China:

Colleges at Northwestern Poly China	Majors Available for Postgraduates in English
School of Aeronautics	Flight Vehicle Design Aircraft Structures and Airworthiness Technology Fluid Mechanics
School of Astronautics	Aeronautical and Astronautical Science and Technology Control Science and Engineering
School of Marine Science and Technology	Electronics and Information Engineering Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering Information and Communication Engineering
School of Matierials Science and Engineering	Materials Processing Engineering Materials Science
School of Mechanical Engineering	Mechanical Engineering Design Science
School of Mechanics, Civil Engineering and Architecture	Mechanics Civil Engineering Architecture
School of Power and Energy	Aeronautical and Astronautical Science and Technology Power Engineering and Engineering Thermal physics
School of Electronics and Information	Electronics Science and Technology Information and Communication Engineering
School of Automation	Electrical Engineering Control Science and Engineering
School of Computer Science and Technology	Computer Science and Technology
School of Mathematics and Statistics	Operations Research and Cybernetics Applied Mathematics Computational Mathematics

Students can check out the complete list of courses on the official website for more details on master’s courses offered in English at NPU China. 

NPU Common Admission Requirements

Northwestern Poly China's undergraduate courses are four years long, and admission rounds are conducted four times for its September intake. In contrast, NPU China's master’s programs are 2.5 years long and can be taken up in the Fall intake only. 

The following are the common admission requirements for international students applying to NPU. 

Eligibility Criteria for Northwestern Poly China

The following minimum criteria must be met before applying for Northwestern Polytechnical University admissions for undergraduate programs taught in English:

• Students must be in sound physical and mental health.
• Applicants should be under the age of 25 on or before September 1, 2024 (for UG) and should be 30 years (for PG).
• Whenever applying, applicants should hold a high school diploma by September 1, 2025.
• Also, applicants should be competent in performing scientific research and maintain a good academic grade level. 
• Previously attended academic institutions should have an average 75% or above. 
• Applicants may provide additional certificates to prove their academic performance.

Documents Required for NPU Admissions

The following are the documents required based on NPU’s admission requirements for international students:

• A copy of your high school diploma (or graduation certificate) and all transcripts. These documents should be the originals or notarized.
• Self-introduction (based on the template given and accessible on the university website).
• Non-criminal record (valid for 5 months).
• Officially certified awards and scientific research achievements (if any).
• Copy of "Physical Examination Form for Foreigners" (valid for 6 months)
• As of September 1, 2025, applicants must be:
• For UG admissions, children under 18 must provide a Guardian’s Commitment Letter and Guardian Guarantee Letter (based on the given template).
• Must have attained the age of 30 years as on September 1, 2025, for postgraduate admissions. 
• Bank statement (financial documents)
• Other supplementary materials if required.
• NPU accepts international standardized tests such as: 
• UG: SAT or ACT or A-Level/AP/IB/IGCSE/WAEC/GED.
• PG: GRE or GMAT scores
• English language certificate with scores in either of the following given tests:

English Language Tests Required for NPU Admissions	Minimum Score Requirements for UG & PG Admissions
IELTS Academic Test	6.0 or above (no less than 5.5 in each element)
TOEFL iBT	80 or above
Duolingo English Test	115 or above

Apart from the language test scores above, the following exams are also accepted at NPU for admissions: Cambridge Main Suite Examinations and FCE≥169 or CAE≥180 or CPE.

Also, PG aspirants at NPU China must have at least 75% scores in their previous academic institution. 

Read more about:

Student Life in China	Living in China as International Students
Top 10 Universities in China	Learn Chinese / Mandarin

Expenses to Study at Northwestern Poly China

For the year 2025, the following expenses are covered if planning to study at Northwestern Polytechnical University as an international student:

UG Tuition Fee for International Students at NPU China

Northwestern Polytechnical University tuition fees for undergraduates is as follows: 

• Tuition fee for courses taught in English: 22,000 RMB/Year
• Non-refundable NPU application fee: 600 RMB
• Insurance: 800 RMB/Year
• Accommodation charges: 7,200 RMB/Year for a double room 

PG Tuition Fee for International Students at NPU China

Northwestern Polytechnical University tuition fees for postgraduates is as follows:

• Tuition fee for courses taught in English: 30,000 RMB/Year
• Non-refundable NPU application fee: 600 RMB
• Insurance: 800 RMB/Year
• Accommodation charges: 7,200 RMB/Year for a double room

Also check out: Cost of Living in China for International Students

Scholarships for International Students at NPU

There are a couple of scholarships available for international freshmen or graduates at Northwestern Polytechnical University. Some of these are as follows:

NPU China Scholarships for Freshmen	Expenses Covered in Scholarship
Chinese Government Scholarship	Tuition, insurance, accommodation and stipend offered worth 2500 RMB/month
Xi’an Belt and Road International Students Scholarship	First Prize:  100% tuition fee waived Campus accommodation Stipend worth 1,500 RMB / annum
	Second Prize: 100% tuition fee waived A stipend worth 1,500 RMB for 10 months
	Third Prize:  50% tuition fee waived A stipend worth 1,500 RMB for 10 months
NPU Presidential Scholarship	First Prize:  100% tuition fee waived Campus accommodation Stipend worth 1,500 RMB / annum
	Second Prize: 100% tuition fee waived
	Third Prize:  50% tuition fee waived

Apart from the above-given scholarships, there is also a Special Scholarship for the “Five Central Asian Countries” International Student Education and Training Program Scholarship in Xi’an. Under this scholarship, the applicants are offered the following benefits:

• 100% tuition waiver
• Campus accommodation
• Offered a stipend
• Cover international travelling expenses 

Check out some of the popular scholarships for Indian students going to study abroad in detail.

How to Apply for NPU Admissions?

International students can submit Northwestern Polytechnical University’s admission application via the official website - http://admission.nwpu.edu.cn/ and no other source.

The step-by-step NPU admission application submission is as follows:

• Create an account and register. Sign up and access the application.
• Submit all the necessary documents and important personal and academic details.
• The documents submitted are assessed within 10 working days; if anything is needed, the applicants will be informed.
• Once the applicants qualify for scrutiny, they will be called for an exam and an interview, details of which will be shared via email with the applicants.
• Once the exam and interview are completed, applicants can get their results within a week.

Student Visa to Study at Northwestern Poly China

After the interview and exam, international students who qualify for admission to Northwestern Polytechnical University can apply for a student visa in China. The applicants can go to the nearest Chinese Embassy with their admission letter and passport to submit a study (X1) visa application. The following documents will also be required:

• Passport
• JW Form
• Admission Notice
• High school diploma
• Language proficiency test scores
• High school transcripts
• Standardised test scores copy

International students, aiming for admission to Northwestern Polytechnical University in China, can check out the latest deadlines based on the course and level. Students who’ll graduate from NPU China will have exposure to innovations, quality education and experience of exchange programs as well. Thus, studying across technical courses at Northwestern Poly China can be a good learning experience.