985, 211 and Double First-Class Universities for MBBS China

The 985 211 Double First-Class universities MBBS China shortlist in our directory has 21 MOE-listed universities. Yearly fees run from USD 5,050 at Shihezi University to USD 12,200 at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. These labels describe a university's research standing. They do not measure its MBBS teaching, and they do not decide whether PMDC accepts the degree.

Agents in Pakistan often use these labels to justify a higher fee. This guide explains what each label means, which universities in our directory carry them, and how to judge whether a label is worth paying for. Fees below are per our directory, so confirm the current fee with the university before you pay anything.

What do 985, 211, Double First-Class and C9 mean?

These are Chinese government labels for research universities. They were not designed for foreign medical applicants, and none of them is a medical accreditation.

• Project 211 started in 1995. It aimed to build about 100 key universities and disciplines for the 21st century.
• Project 985 followed in 1998, after a speech at Peking University. It began with 9 universities and grew to 39.
• C9 League is the group of nine universities first funded under Project 985: Fudan, Shanghai Jiao Tong, Harbin Institute of Technology, Nanjing, Peking, Tsinghua, USTC, Xi'an Jiaotong and Zhejiang.
• Double First-Class replaced both 211 and 985 in 2016. The first list came in 2017. A second list in February 2022 covers 147 universities.

See the Project 985 overview and the Times Higher Education report on the 2022 Double First-Class list for background. Sources differ on small details such as start years, so treat the dates as approximate.

Why do the old labels still appear?

Projects 211 and 985 were officially replaced, but universities keep quoting them because families and employers in China still recognise them. A university page that says "211" is describing its history, not a current government rank.

Is Double First-Class a university label or a subject label?

Both. The list covers universities and the disciplines inside them, and some universities are on it for a few subjects only. Those subjects may not include medicine. Our directory describes Ningbo University as "Double First-Class Discipline" and Fujian Medical University as a "Double First-Class Construction University". Always ask which discipline carries the label.

Which 985, 211 and Double First-Class universities offer MBBS?

We filtered our China directory for universities that are MOE-listed and carry a 985, 211, C9 or Double First-Class label in their stored text. That gives 21 universities. The table shows the label as stored, the city, and the recurring yearly fee from year 2 (tuition, hostel, visa extension and insurance, per our directory). Year 1 costs more because of one-time charges. Fudan, for example, lists RMB 100,100 in year 1 against RMB 84,700 from year 2. The table is sorted from lowest fee to highest.

Fees are per our directory. Confirm the current fee with the university, because tuition and hostel rates change between intakes. For year 1 charges and the full picture, see our guide to the total cost of MBBS in China for Pakistani students. You can also browse the full university directory.

All 21 are listed as MOE-listed in our directory. Nineteen are also listed as PMDC-approved in our directory. The two exceptions are Soochow University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Which Double First-Class universities have the lowest MBBS fee?

Shihezi University (USD 5,050), Harbin Medical University (USD 5,140), Jilin University (USD 5,640) and Fujian Medical University (USD 5,650) are the four cheapest in the table. Several MOE-listed universities with no label charge less. Beihua University and Dali University are both USD 3,700 in our directory, so the label does not move you down the fee list.

Which C9 League universities offer MBBS in English?

Four C9 members appear in our directory as MOE-listed English-medium MBBS options: Xi'an Jiaotong University (USD 7,100 a year), Zhejiang University (USD 7,420), Fudan University (USD 11,750) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (USD 12,200). That puts C9 MBBS fees at about USD 7,100 to 12,200 a year.

Zhejiang's MBBS is based at its Yiwu campus. A 2025 local government report says the International School of Medicine admitted 150 students in September 2025, with applications up 110 percent on 2024. That tells you entry is competitive. Fudan's page in our directory lists IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90 as mandatory.

Is Sun Yat-sen University a C9 university?

No. Our directory describes Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou as "C9 Calibre", which is a description, not membership. It is not one of the nine members. For MBBS applicants the bigger point is that our directory lists its clinical medicine as Chinese-medium, not English MBBS, with HSK Level 5 (minimum 180) required at admission. It is also non-MOE in our directory, so it is not in the table. Check its international student office for the current programme before treating it as an English MBBS option.

Do 985 universities charge higher MBBS fees?

Somewhat, but not as sharply as agents suggest. Twelve of the 21 universities carry a 985 label in their stored text. Their median yearly fee in our directory is USD 7,100, against USD 6,100 for the other nine. That is a gap of about USD 1,000 a year. Ten of the twelve sit between USD 5,640 and USD 7,970. The real jump is at Fudan and Shanghai Jiao Tong, which charge close to double the cheapest labelled university.

If you are choosing mainly on cost, the unlabelled MOE-listed universities are cheaper still. Our complete MOE-listed universities list shows them all.

Does PMDC care whether a university is 985 or 211?

No. PMDC recognition depends on the institution being a recognised medical institution, not on a Chinese prestige label. A 985 university that is not recognised does not help you. A university with no label that is recognised does.

Directory flags are a starting point only. Verify each university on pmdc.pk and on search.wdoms.org, the World Directory of Medical Schools. Our guide on how to verify PMDC-recognised universities in China shows the steps.

What about MDCAT?

Since PM&DC public notice No. Exam-59/2026/350 (5 October 2026), MDCAT is not required for Pakistani students seeking admission to foreign medical institutions. MDCAT is still required for medical colleges inside Pakistan. You must still graduate from a PM&DC-recognised institution and pass the National Registration Exam (NRE) to practise in Pakistan. Other conditions reported in May 2026, such as FSc marks and registration steps, are unconfirmed after the notice, so check pmdc.pk. Read our post on the PM&DC notice for detail.

Does a Double First-Class label make the MBBS better?

Not automatically. A label tells you about research funding and national status. For an MBBS student, other things matter more day to day:

• The size and quality of the teaching hospitals that take international students.
• Whether the English-taught programme is run by the medical school with its own staff.
• How much Chinese you need before the internship year. Most universities in the table ask for HSK-4. Our directory lists HUST (Tongji Medical College) at HSK-5 before the final year.
• Your entry chances. Fudan and Shanghai Jiao Tong are selective, and some universities ask for IELTS or TOEFL scores.
• Your chances at the NRE afterwards. The News reported that 333 of 2,154 China graduates passed the December 2025 session, about 15.5 percent. The university name on your degree does not change the exam.

Some medical-only universities without a 985 label have large teaching hospitals. The label is one data point, not the decision. Read our guides on whether MBBS in China is worth it and the Chinese language requirement before you decide.

Which labelled universities have a long medical school history?

Per our directory, Tongji University dates its medical school to 1907 (Tongji German Medical School), HUST carries Tongji Medical College from 1907, Southeast University dates its medical school to 1935, and Shandong University traces Cheeloo School of Medicine back to 1911. If history matters to you, read their university pages.

Are all 985 universities MOE-listed for MBBS?

No. MOE-listed means the Ministry of Education has approved the university to enrol international students in English-taught MBBS. A university can carry a 985 label and still not be on that list. Sun Yat-sen University is the clearest example in our directory.

The reverse also happens. Several universities in our directory carry 211 or Double First-Class labels but are not MOE-listed: Nanchang University, Henan University, Hubei University of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, North China University of Science and Technology and Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine. Their yearly fees run from USD 2,730 to USD 3,690 per our directory. They are outside the table because an unlisted university carries extra risk, however good the label sounds.

How to decide if the label is worth the extra fee

1. Start with eligibility. Check your marks, age and English score against each university's rules. See MBBS in China eligibility for Pakistani students.
2. Shortlist only MOE-listed universities, then verify PMDC status on pmdc.pk and search.wdoms.org.
3. Compare year 1 and recurring fees in the same currency. Ask for the fee sheet in writing.
4. Ask about the hospital: how many beds, how many international students per class, and where clinical rotations happen.
5. Ask about the CSCA exam and HSK timing. Our CSCA guide explains the test several universities now ask for.
6. Put a number on the label. If it costs USD 3,000 more a year, that is USD 18,000 over six years. Ask whether the hospital and city justify it.

Titans Abroad does not charge a consultation fee, and we only recommend universities that are PMDC-approved and MOE-listed for China. If you want a shortlist built around your marks and budget, you can apply here. For a wider view across countries, read our guide to the best country for MBBS abroad.

The bottom line on 985 211 Double First-Class universities for MBBS in China: use the labels to understand what an agent is selling, then choose on MOE listing, PMDC verification, hospital quality and total cost.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 985 and 211 universities?

Project 211 began in 1995 and aimed at about 100 key universities. Project 985 began in 1998 and backed a smaller group, eventually 39, for top-tier status. Most 985 universities are also 211 universities. Both projects were officially replaced by Double First-Class in 2016, though universities still quote the old labels.

Which C9 League universities offer MBBS in English?

In our directory, four C9 members list English-medium MBBS: Xi'an Jiaotong University, Zhejiang University, Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Yearly fees run from about USD 7,100 to USD 12,200 per our directory. Confirm the current fee, entry test and language rules with each university.

Is a Double First-Class university better for MBBS?

Not necessarily. The label reflects research funding and national status, and it often covers certain subjects only. For MBBS, check the affiliated hospitals, the quality of English teaching, MOE listing and PMDC recognition. A university without a label can suit you better than one with it.

Do 985 universities charge higher MBBS fees?

A little. In our directory the median yearly fee for 985-labelled universities is USD 7,100, against USD 6,100 for the other labelled ones. Fudan and Shanghai Jiao Tong are the real outliers. Fees are per our directory, so confirm the current fee with the university.

Does PMDC care whether a university is 985 or 211?

No. PMDC looks at whether the institution is a recognised medical institution, not at Chinese prestige labels. Our directory lists most labelled universities as PMDC-approved, but verify each one on pmdc.pk and search.wdoms.org before you pay a deposit.

Which Double First-Class universities have the lowest MBBS fee?

In our directory, Shihezi University is lowest at USD 5,050 a year, then Harbin Medical University at USD 5,140, Jilin University at USD 5,640 and Fujian Medical University at USD 5,650. These are recurring yearly fees from year 2. Year 1 costs more.

Are all 985 universities MOE-listed for MBBS?

No. MOE listing is a separate approval for English-taught MBBS for international students. Sun Yat-sen University carries 985 and Double First-Class labels, but our directory lists it as non-MOE with Chinese-medium clinical medicine. Check the university's own international admissions page for the current programme.