Zhejiang University (ZJU) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) publish English-taught undergraduate options for international applicants, but the offerings are not interchangeable. One concrete health-focused comparison is ZJU’s Biomedical Engineering bachelor in Yiwu against SJTU’s Health Science and Technology (HST) bachelor in Shanghai. SJTU’s page presents Sustainable Energy and HST as two separate programmes; HST is the closer subject match. Read the course pages closely and confirm whether the course’s subject balance matches what you want to study.
Zhejiang: Biomedical Engineering
ZJU’s 2026 English-taught programme catalog lists Biomedical Engineering as a four-year degree, RMB 42,800 annual tuition, taught at its International School of Medicine in Yiwu. The catalogue sets a 70% high-school threshold in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, plus English-test options. For the 2026/27 undergraduate cycle, ZJU’s application guide requires a valid CSCA score; its English-programme catalogue lists Mathematics and Chemistry as test subjects. Ask for the current curriculum and laboratory details because the admissions catalogue does not publish a full module sequence.
SJTU: Health Science and Technology
SJTU’s 2026 page describes HST as a four-year interdisciplinary undergraduate programme through the Global Institute of Future Technology and awards a bachelor’s degree in engineering. It lists annual tuition of RMB 120,000 and insurance of RMB 800 per academic year. The page specifies an English-language route and a CSCA Mathematics score; it gives 2026 application rounds ending 31 March, 31 May and 30 June. Those dates have passed. The 2026 tuition and admissions criteria are cycle-specific; confirm the next guide before applying.
Make the comparison concrete
Both examples are four-year engineering bachelor’s degrees, but their curricula and fee levels differ. ZJU lists biomedical engineering at RMB 42,800/year; SJTU lists HST at RMB 120,000/year and frames the curriculum around AI and active health across engineering, biology and medicine. Before choosing, compare first-year courses, mathematics/science prerequisites, design and research projects, English-language requirements, campus location, accommodation, and internship access. ZJU is in Yiwu for these programmes; SJTU’s course is based in Shanghai. Living costs can therefore differ from the tuition comparison.
For either offer, verify the current international-student application guide, the relevant CSCA test subject requirements, insurance rules and residence formalities. Check the qualification’s recognition in your destination career market, especially for regulated clinical work.
Questions students often ask
Which has lower listed tuition? ZJU’s Biomedical Engineering listing is RMB 42,800/year; SJTU’s Health Science and Technology page lists RMB 120,000/year, before living and other costs.
Are both medical degrees? No. Biomedical Engineering and Health Science and Technology is an interdisciplinary engineering route, not physician qualifications.
Compare the actual course rather than the institution name
The examples differ in both curriculum and cost. Zhejiang’s Biomedical Engineering bachelor is listed at the International School of Medicine in Yiwu. SJTU’s Health Science and Technology programme is described as an interdisciplinary engineering degree in Shanghai, with an AI and health emphasis. Neither is a medical degree. Before choosing, compare core subjects, mathematics expectations, laboratory access, design projects, research supervision and the final-year work. Ask each university for the current curriculum and which electives are guaranteed to be available to international students.
A student interested in medical devices might ask how much each course covers instrumentation, materials, signal processing and product design. A student interested in health data might compare programming, statistics, machine learning and clinical-data ethics. These are suggested comparison questions; the programme pages do not guarantee a specific project or career. Confirm exact offerings with the faculty and check that any desired laboratory or supervisor accepts undergraduate students.
Understand the different fees and admission clocks
The 2026 Zhejiang catalog lists annual tuition of RMB 42,800, while SJTU’s 2026 page lists RMB 120,000 for HST and annual insurance of RMB 800. These are cycle-specific published amounts and do not include the full cost of living. The 2026 application rounds have passed, so use them as historical references and request the next cycle’s fee and deadlines. A nominal annual rate does not reveal payment dates, scholarship coverage, housing charges or refund conditions.
Compare each admission route separately. Zhejiang’s guide describes undergraduate CSCA requirements, while SJTU specifies its own application schedule and score criteria. Confirm accepted English tests, subject requirements, age or qualification conditions, document authentication and how the university evaluates foreign transcripts. An applicant’s eligibility cannot be inferred from meeting one published score threshold. Ask the international admissions office to review your exact credentials and intended intake.
Compare the city and student support
Yiwu and Shanghai create different cost and travel patterns. Ask the host institution for current dormitory rates, whether rooms are guaranteed, how to apply and what alternatives exist. Include local transport and likely travel to laboratories or partner hospitals. Confirm orientation, insurance, physical examination and residence procedures. The Beijing Municipal guide can explain some city-specific student procedures, but it should not be treated as the rule for Zhejiang or Shanghai; verify local requirements with each university and authority.
Ask how international students access academic advising, language support, mental-health services and internships. Check which office handles visa documents and whether it provides reminders for residence formalities. If you plan to work on a project or internship, confirm the university’s approval process and any applicable immigration rules. A city’s reputation for technology or medicine does not ensure that a particular student can access an internship or lab.
Make the decision with a complete comparison
Create two columns for the specific programmes and compare credential, curriculum, course language, application requirements, annual tuition, scholarship conditions, housing, location, support and next-step recognition. Mark every item as confirmed, estimated or unresolved. Ask the unresolved questions before paying a non-refundable application fee. If you are aiming at regulated healthcare work, send the exact programme details to the relevant regulator. The result should be a choice based on fit and verified costs, not an institutional ranking or headline tuition alone.
Primary sources
Editorial note
Requirements can change and may differ by institution, programme and applicant. Recheck current university and government guidance before paying or travelling.
For comparisons, we assess the stated student brief, current route availability, discovery breadth, application ownership, progress visibility, support, costs and duplicate-application risk. Univs publishes this page and may have commercial relationships with institutions; those relationships do not determine admission decisions. Read our editorial standards.
