A Brief Introduction

Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts (TAFA) traces its origins back to the Beiyang Women’s Normal School founded in 1906 by the renowned modern educator Mr. Fu Zengxiang. In 1959, it evolved into an independent institution named Hebei Academy of Fine Arts, and was officially renamed Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts in 1980. It is one of China’s eight independently established fine arts academies.

TAFA currently operates in two campuses—Tianwei Road campus and Zhicheng Road campus—covering a total area of 129,000 square meters with a built-up area of 177,000 square meters. It comprises 11 secondary colleges and offers 22 undergraduate programs, serving a total enrollment of 4,781 full-time students, including 3,635 undergraduates and approximately 1,137 postgraduates.

TAFA has achieved a remarkable success in discipline and program development. It holds master’s degree authorization in two academic disciplines—Art Theory and Design, and two professional master’s degree programs—Fine Arts & Calligraphy and Design. It boasts 12 national “First-Class Undergraduate Programs,” and its Fine Arts discipline has been selected for Tianjin’s Top-Tier Discipline Cultivation Program for Higher Education Institutions. Notably, TAFA pioneered China’s first School of Artificial Intelligence Art and has developed a distinctive general education system, setting a precedent for integrating AI literacy into higher art education nationwide.

TAFA maintains a strong faculty team of 580 staff members, including 430 full-time teachers. Among those educators are 120 PhD holders, 67 professors and 136 associate professors. The faculty includes high-caliber experts such as those honored under the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee’s “Cultural Masters and the ‘Four Batches’ Talent Program”. Its robust team of doctoral and master’s supervisors provides solid support for talent cultivation. Emphasizing practical innovation, TAFA students have won over 100 provincial and ministerial awards and above in domestic and international competitions.

TAFA places great importance on international collaboration, partnering with 56 universities across 21 countries and regions. It consistently engages distinguished international scholars through foreign expert recruitment initiatives and offers diverse developmental platforms for international students.

(Data current as of October 2025)

1.Eligibility

(1) A non-Chinese citizen with a high school degree or above; in good and healthy mental and physical state and with no criminal record;

(2) The age of undergraduate applicants shall not exceed 30, and the age of graduate applicants shall not exceed 35;

(3) Refer to document No. 12 of the Ministry of Education 2020，all candidates who do not meet the requirements will not be admitted; 

2. Educational System

3. Major

(1) Undergraduate Program

(2) Postgraduate Program

4.Course-instruction Method

Full-time teaching in Chinese.

5.Application Date

(1) Application Deadline: June 1, 2026

(2)Application Method:

Applications must be submitted online. Applicants are required to send all application materials via email to 

wcstafa@163.com  no later than June 1, 2026.

6.Expenses

(1) Tuition fees: Postgraduate Students 30,000 RMB/person·year

Undergraduate Students 28,000 RMB/person·year

Students in Advanced Studies 3,000 RMB/person·month

(2) Textbook and material fees: students shall pay their own fees on painting materials and tools;

(3) Dormitory fee: 1,200 RMB/month (single room)

6, 00 RMB/month (double room)

Note: In each academic year, students are required to purchase the Comprehensive Insurance in China. The coverage must include hospitalization, accident and injury insurance at a standard of 800 RMB per year.

7.Scholarships (degree students)

(1) Tianjin Municipal People’s Government Scholarship

1) Undergraduates: full scholarship 34,800 RMB

part scholarship 20,000 RMB (under the age of 30 )

2) Postgraduates: full scholarship 47,800 RMB

part scholarship 30,000 RMB (under the age of 35 )（2)TAFA International Student Scholarship

(1) First-class scholarship: full tuition fees, accommodation fees for 10 months on campus, and comprehensive medical insurance premiums.

(2) Second-class scholarship: half of the tuition fees, accommodation fees for 5 months on campus, and comprehensive medical insurance premiums.

(3) Third-class scholarship: half of the tuition fees and comprehensive medical insurance premiums.

(Undergraduates should be under the age of 30: Postgraduates should be under the age of 35)

8.Application Required Materials

(1) Application Form for International Students of TAFA.

(2) Photocopy of passport (ordinary passport and must be valid until April 1st , 2027 or later).

(3) Proof of Highest Academic Qualification and Transcripts

Applicants must submit scanned copies of the original documents in either Chinese or English.(If the applicant is a current graduating student, a provisional graduation certificate issued by their home institution must be provided.Documents in languages other than Chinese or English must be accompanied by officially certified translations into Chinese or English.)

(4) Personal portfolio (E-copy).

1) Three subjects of art works (JPG or PDF form): color painting , sketch, quick sketch, at least 5 pieces for each subject;

2) Sketch and color painting works must contain at least one figure painting and one still life painting in each subject;

3) Painting or design portfolio can be attached;

4) Letter of Commitment ( the attachment).

(5) A personal statement in Chinese including study and research plan, family economic status, personal awards and speciality (video within 2 minutes).

(6) Applicants should submit a HSK certificate

1) Copy of valid transcripts of HSK Level 5 score report with a minimum score of 180 points or above are required to apply for "Art Design", "Fine Arts (Art History)" and "Art Management"; (The test result must be within its 2-year validity period.)

2) 2)Copy of valid transcripts of HSK level 4 score report with a minimum score of 180 points or above is required to apply for other majors in our school; (The test result must be within its 2-year validity period.)

3) No language certificate is required for Malaysian independent high school graduates.

(7) Recent passport photo with white background (E-copy).

(8) Applicants for undergraduate students need one school recommendation letter; applicants for postgraduate students need two associate professors or the corresponding title above scholars' recommendation letters. (If the recommendation letter is written in a foreign language, a Chinese translation must also be submitted.)

(9) Certificate of Non-Criminal Record issued by the relevant local authority.

(10) Foreigner Physical Examination Form

Supplementary Materials:

(11) Applicants under the age of 18 should submit the notarized certificate of the guardian in China.

(12) Applicants for undergraduate programs Chinese citizens who apply for TAFA as international students after immigrating abroad must also submit:

Applicants for undergraduate programs who meet either of the following conditions are not eligible to apply as international students:

Both or one of their parents is a Chinese citizen and has settled abroad, and the applicant was born with foreign nationality (i.e., acquired foreign citizenship at birth);

a. Certificate of naturalization;

b. Passport entry and exit records for the last 4 years or a two-year proof (at least) of residence abroad for the last four years (a full or longer period of nine months of residence abroad can be counted as one year as verified by entry and exit records).

Note: The above materials shall be sent by the electronic form to the email address wcstafa@163.com

9.Assessment and Admission

After evaluation of applicants application materials, TAFA will organize experts to select the qualified students.The final admission decisions will be communicated to applicants via email.

10. Contact Information

International Affairs Office, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts

Address：No.4 Tianwei Road, Hebei District, Tianjin, 300141, P.R China

Zip code:300141

Tel /Fax： +86 22 26241505

Email：wcstafa@163.com