Hubei Institute of Fine Arts

Admission Guide for International Students（2026）

Hubei Institute of Fine Arts (HIFA), founded in 1920, is a public higher education institution authorized by the Ministry of Education to recruit students for higher education diplomas. It is the only higher fine arts academy in Central China.

Located in Wuhan, a major thoroughfare connecting nine provinces, HIFA has two campuses: Canglongdao and Tanhualin. HIFA offers a comprehensive range of disciplines and consists of 15 teaching units, including the School of Chinese Painting, School of Painting, School of Sculpture and Public Art, School of Fashion, and School of Innovation, etc. It recruits international students for 28 undergraduate programs and 35 postgraduate research directions.

HIFA maintains regular and multi-level international exchanges and cooperation, including lectures by distinguished scholars, visits by young and mid-career faculty, artist residencies, workshop teaching, and international exhibitions. It has signed cooperation agreements with 70 institutions and organizations in 22 countries, as well as Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions. HIFA is actively developing a distinctive higher fine arts talent cultivation system that aligns with both global trends in higher arts education and national and regional socio-economic development.

Adhering to its motto of “Uphold virtue, dedicate to learning, act with agility, strive for excellence,” HIFA cordially welcomes young people from around the world to study and engage in cultural exchange.

I. Admission Type

(I) Undergraduate Programs (full-time)

HIFA currently offers 28 undergraduate programs for international students. The standard program duration is 4 years (5 years for the Sculpture program), with instruction mainly delivered in Chinese (The courses at the School of Innovation and School of Experimental Art are taught in English). Students who complete the prescribed curriculum, pass all required examinations, and successfully defend their graduation project (thesis) will be awarded a graduation certificate and a Bachelor’s degree. 

1. Admission Requirements

(1) Be in good health and aged between 18-30 years old (inclusive);

(2) Hold foreign citizenship with an educational background equivalent to a Chinese senior high school diploma; 

(3) Certificate of HSK Level 4 or above (Applicants to relevant programs at the School of Innovation and School of Experimental Art are exempt from this requirement).

2. Application Documents 

(1) Completed Application Form for International Students of Hubei Institute of Fine Arts;

(2) Scanned copy of passport bio-page;

(3) Digital portfolio (see specific artwork requirements);

(4) Official transcripts covering all senior high school courses, requiring scanned copies of original documents in Chinese or foreign languages, stamped by the issuing school or notarized;

(5) Senior high school diploma (prospective graduates may submit an expected graduation certificate), requiring scanned copies of original documents in Chinese or foreign languages;

(6) Scanned copies of HSK Level 4 (or above) certificate and score report (Applicants to relevant programs at the School of Innovation and School of Experimental Art are exempt from this requirement);

(7) The score report of the China Scholarship Council Undergraduate Entrance Academic Proficiency Test (CSCA), the test language is Chinese (non-essential);

(8) Digital 2-inch ID photo with blue background;

(9) For naturalized citizens:

- Valid foreign passport/nationality certificate held for ≥4 years (inclusive) 

- Proof of ≥2 years’ actual overseas residence within the last 4 years (calculated as of May 30 of the enrollment year). Residence duration is calculated as 9 months per calendar year = 1 year, as verified by entry and exit stamps.

 (II) Postgraduate Programs (full-time)

HIFA offers 35 specialized research directions for international graduate students. The standard duration for master’s programs is 3 years, with courses mainly taught in Chinese (The courses at the School of Innovation and School of Experimental Art are taught in English). Postgraduates who meet the basic requirements for master’s degree conferment, pass the thesis defense, and satisfy the relevant criteria specified in the Implementation Rules for Master’s Degree Conferment of Hubei Institute of Fine Arts shall be conferred the Master’s Degree upon approval by the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of Hubei Institute of Fine Arts.

1. Admission Requirements

(1) Hold a bachelor’s degree equivalent to Chinese university standards;

(2) Certificate of HSK Level 4 or above (Applicants to relevant programs at the School of Innovation and School of Experimental Art are exempt from this requirement).

2. Required Documents

(1) Completed Application Form for International Students of Hubei Institute of Fine Arts;

(2) Scanned copy of passport bio-page;

(3) Digital portfolio (see specific requirements);

(4) Official transcripts covering undergraduate courses, requiring scanned copies of original documents in Chinese or foreign languages, stamped by the issuing school or notarized;

(5) Bachelor’s diploma and degree certificate (provisional graduation certificate for current students);

(6) Two recommendation letters from associate professors or higher (with Chinese translation if original is in another language);

(7) Scanned copies of HSK Level 4 (or above) certificate and score report (Applicants to relevant programs at the School of Innovation and School of Experimental Art are exempt from this requirement);

(8) Digital 2-inch ID photo with blue background.

(III) Short-term Exchange Programs

HIFA welcomes short-term exchange international students for specialized coursework or collaborative research. Program duration ranges from one semester to one academic year. Participants completing requirements receive Course Completion Certificates.

1. Admission Requirements

Non-Chinese citizens aged above 16 in good health

2. Required Documents

(1) Passport information page and visa copy;

(2) Digital 2-inch blue background ID photo;

(3) Highest academic qualification certificate;

II. Fee Structure

(I) Tuition Fees

Undergraduate: CNY 26,000/person/academic year

Master’s: CNY 30,000/person/academic year

Regular Visiting Students: CNY 26,000/person/academic year

Short-term Study (<3 months): CNY 3,000/person/month

(II) Accommodation

Standard Student Dormitory: CNY 1,000-1,320/person/academic year

(III) Insurance

Mandatory: Comprehensive Insurance for International Students in China (≈CNY 800/person/academic year)

Optional: National College Student Medical Insurance (≈CNY 400/person/academic year)

III. Application

(I) Application Period

1. Degree Programs

From January 31, 2026 to June 30, 2026 (inclusive)

2.None-degree Programs

For Fall Semester: from March 1 to June 30, 2026 (inclusive)

For Spring Semester: from October 1 2026 to January 15, 2027 (inclusive)

(II) Procedure

Submit all materials via email to international@hifa.edu.cn before deadline. Maximum attachment size: 20MB.

IV. Scholarship Opportunities

-Provincial: Hubei Provincial Government Scholarship for International Students

-Institutional: HIFA International Freshman Scholarship

V. Portfolio Specifications

Program Category	Submission Requirements
Fine Arts / Education (Undergraduate) / Fine Arts and Calligraphy (Postgraduate)	1.Digital submissions (PDF format): 3 Drawing Works and 3 Color Works 2.Dimensions: Minimum 296mm×210mm (A4) 3.Medium Specifications: Both disciplines require works on paper. Drawing: Only black pencil, charcoal pencil, charcoal sticks, conte crayon, and eraser permitted. Painting: Gouache, acrylic, or oil paints required.
Calligraphy (Undergraduate) / Calligraphy & Seal Engraving (Postgraduate)	1.Submit two separate works: ▪ Master copy ▪ Original creation 2.Paper: Raw Xuan paper (46cm×70cm) 3.Submit digital images in PDF format
Design / Media Arts / Mechanical Engineering / Architecture (Undergraduate) / Design / Design Studies (Postgraduate)	Digital portfolio (PDF ≤50MB) containing: ▪ 6-8 complete works ▪ Chinese descriptions per work (100-150 characters) ▪ Process sketches (20% of total content)
Theory / Business Administration (Undergraduate) / Art Studies / Cultural Relics (Postgraduate)	Submit original academic paper (Chinese, 1000+ characters) demonstrating: ▪ Critical analysis skills ▪ Discipline-specific methodology ▪ Academic citation proficiency (APA/MLA format)

VI. Admission Process

The International Office, under the guidance of the HIFA’s Admission Committee, oversees the unified management of international student recruitment and admission. The specific procedures are as follows:

Stage 1: Application Review & Material Screening

International Office is responsible for collecting and reviewing the applicants’ materials, backgrounds, identities, and other information. After the preliminary review, experts are organized under the guidance of the Admission Committee to review and grade the works.

Stage 2: Virtual Interview Assessment

For those who have passed the preliminary review, the International Office will organize experts to conduct interviews under the guidance of the Admission Committee (the interviews will be conducted through the Internet in a unified way by online assessment, mainly examining the applicants’ Chinese proficiency and professional abilities.

Stage 3: Merit-Based Ranking & Provisional Admission

The International Office will conduct a statistical analysis of the preliminary test and interview scores, compile a list of proposed admissions, and submit it to the Admission Committee Group for review and confirmation.

Stage 4: Public Notification of Results

The International Office will announce the result of proposed admissions.

Stage 5: Documentation & Visa Processing

The International Office will prepare relevant forms and issue the Admission Notice. Degree-seeking students will be notified of their admission results via email before late August 2026. For non-degree students, notifications will be sent via email by March 15, 2027 (for the Spring Semester) or September 15, 2026 (for the Fall Semester). Subsequently, admitted students will receive the official Admission Letter and the JW202 Form from HIFA.

VII. Contact Information

Address: International Office of Hubei Institute of Fine Arts, 5 Limiao Rd., Canglongdao Science & Technology Park, Jiangxia, Wuhan, Hubei 430205, P.R. China

Contact: Ms. Liao

Tel: +86-(0)27-81317963；13971442682

Fax: +86-(0)27-81317011

Email: international@hifa.edu.cn

VIII. Visa

1. If you are accepted, please hold your passport, the Admission Letter, the Application Form for International Students of Hubei Institute of Fine Arts, and other materials required by the embassy of the People’s Republic of China in your host country to apply for a visa for studying in China (X visa). You need to apply for an X1 visa to study for more than 180 days and an X2 visa to study for less than 180 days.

2. After registration and paying required fees according to the regulations of the institute, an international student must go through the residence formalities in China with their passport, Admission Letter, Application Form for International Students of Hubei Institute of Fine Arts (JW202), and Physical Examination Records of Foreigners within 30 days from the date of entry.

IX. Other Information

(I) About Registration

Registration time is subject to the final notice in the official Admission Letter.

(II) Notes

1. The office hours are form 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM. and 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM on weekdays, Beijing time.

2. Any student who fails to complete the registration by the stipulated deadline is required to submit a formal written explanation within two weeks. Failure to do so will result in the student being considered as having voluntarily relinquished their admission offer, and their enrollment eligibility will be canceled; if the student need to require a registration postponement, please provide written application materials, and the registration can be appropriately postponed after approval. If the extension deadline is reached, the entry-exit visa (X) will be canceled;

3. Those who do not submit all required materials by the deadline for online registration will be deemed to have abandoned their application for the institute;

4. Students should leave the campus in time after completing all the courses. The institute will not handle visa extension procedures for them.

5. Tuition fees will not be refunded for those who drop out of HIFA or are expelled from HIFA in violation of Chinese laws or regulations of HIFA.

Attachments:

1.Undergraduate Programs of Hubei Institute of Fine Arts for International Students in 2026

2.Postgraduate Programs of Hubei Institute of Fine Arts for International Students in 2026

 

Attachment 1

Undergraduate Programs of Hubei Institute of Fine Arts for International Students (2026)

 

Attachment 2

Postgraduate Programs of Hubei Institute of Fine Arts for International Students (2026)