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Before anything else, you should know one key fact. The China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences is not a place to study MBBS. It does not offer a Western-style medical degree. If you came here to find that, this page will save you time. It will point you the right way. This is a research and study academy. It centers on Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM. This gap matters a lot. Read on before you go further.
Let us start with the basics. CACMS sits in Beijing. It began in 1955. Its old name was the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. That old name says a lot about the place. It works under the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This is a state body under the Chinese government. So this is not a private school that chases fees from abroad. It is a state-run research group. It has deep roots in one field. That field is TCM.
So what does this academy do? It does three main jobs. First, it runs deep science work into TCM. Second, it runs clinics through its own hospitals. Third, it trains grad students. These are people who hold a first degree already. They want to go deeper into TCM through a Master's or a PhD. This is not a school for fresh grads with no degree yet. There is no six-year MBBS-style course here for new school leavers. Do you want a first medical degree? Do you plan to use it to work as a doctor back home? Then this academy is not the right fit for you.
The size of this place is worth a look too. By late 2021, CACMS had close to 6,500 staff. That count spans doctors, researchers, teachers, and other staff. They work across many units. The academy has five top scientists on staff. In China, this rank means elite, state-known experts. It also runs three WHO hubs. This means the World Health Organisation works with set teams inside the academy. This link covers global health work tied to old-style medicine. On top of that, CACMS hosts big trade groups. These span the China group for Needle and Moxa work. They span the World Group for Needle-Moxa work too. Do you care about needle work, herb cures, or blend care? Then these links say a lot. This academy sits near the core of that field. It does not sit on the edge.
The grad school matters most for those from other lands. It began in 1984. By 2005, it hit a big mark. It was the first grad school in the whole TCM trade. The State TCM board gave it the nod. That is a real first. It shows this was not some late add-on to an old school. It was built to train new TCM experts. This work sits at the top rank. Today, the grad school can grant both Master's and PhD ranks. It spans three broad fields. One is TCM in its own right. Next comes Chinese herb science. This field looks hard at plant and herb cures. Last comes the mix of old TCM and new Western care. This blends both worlds. It does not keep them apart.
In 2024, the academy set up a new grad site. This new base sits in Pinggu, just past Beijing. This shows the academy still grows its base. It does not sit still in old, worn halls. It also has four top state labs. It has four state clinic bases too. These are big marks of rank in China. The state saves them for work it sees as key.
If you plan to apply from outside China, here is the plain truth. This academy makes sense in one case. You hold a first degree that fits. You want to dig deep into TCM, needle work, herb cures, or blend care. You want this at Master's or PhD rank. It does not fit a second case. Are you fresh out of Class 12? Do you hope to be a doctor through a first medical degree? Then this is not the spot for you. These two goals sit far apart. Mixing them can waste years of your life. It can waste a lot of your cash too.
Does TCM draw you in as a set grad field? Then CACMS holds real weight. Its state ties mean much. So do its WHO links. It holds rank as the first grad TCM school in China. It also runs a web of labs and clinic bases. All of this points to a firm, well-known school. That rank fits its one field well. It is not a broad medical school. No good spin can change that base fact.
For Indian students, one point needs to be clear. This academy does not grant a first, MBBS-like degree. So it does not fit the known NEET-to-MBBS path. Most Indian homes dig into this path when they weigh schools abroad. Does TCM draw you as a grad field, once you hold a first degree elsewhere? Then that is a whole new talk. Treat it as such. Dig deep on your own into rank rules. Check visa rules too. Look at how it helps your work back home.
Why the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Deserves a Closer Look, For the Right Applicant
Most comparison pages either skip this academy entirely or lump it in with general MBBS options in China, and both approaches miss the point. The reason is simple: this institution serves a completely different purpose from a standard medical university, and understanding that difference is the whole key to using this page well.
CACMS is not chasing foreign undergraduate enrolment numbers. It is a state research academy that happens to also train graduate students, and its priorities reflect that order. As a result, its reputation is built on decades of clinical and scientific work in TCM, not on marketing a fast-track medical degree to international applicants.
The graduate school's history also says a lot more than most pages explain. Since it became the first officially approved TCM graduate school in the entire country back in 2005, it carries a kind of institutional seniority within its field that newer TCM programmes elsewhere in China simply cannot claim yet.
Furthermore, the WHO Collaborating Centre status is not a minor detail. Because global health bodies do not hand out this kind of partnership casually, its presence signals that specific research units inside CACMS meet an international standard of scrutiny, which matters if you eventually want your postgraduate training to carry weight beyond China's borders.
One thing most pages get wrong is treating this academy as just another item on an MBBS shortlist. Since it offers no undergraduate primary medical qualification at all, comparing it directly against MBBS-focused universities is simply the wrong comparison. The right comparison is against other serious TCM-focused graduate institutions worldwide, and against that yardstick, CACMS holds a genuinely strong position.
No hidden charges, no donation. The full picture of costs at MBBS in China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences.
Tuition Fee
$5,000 to $7,000 USD
CNY 20,000 - 40,000/year
Hostel Fee
CNY 8,000 - 15,000/year (est.)
CNY 8,000 - 15,000/year (est.)
Food & Meals
CNY 12,000 - 18,000/year (est.)
per year
Insurance
CNY 3,000 - 5,000/year (est.)
per year
Donation
No Donation
No Hidden fee
Total Estimated Cost
CNY 45,000 - 80,000 (est.)
6 year
25–35%
Average FMGE first-attempt pass rates for students from many overseas medical universities. Students from structured programs consistently score higher.
Students returning to India need to clear the FMGE/NExT exam. MBBS in China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences integrates exam-oriented coaching into the regular curriculum so students are prepared from day one.
A structured program that takes you from foundational sciences to clinical mastery.
Focuses on general scientific prerequisites, scientific methodology, and fundamental cultural/philosophical underpinnings of ancient Chinese natural philosophy that drive medical theory
Medical Chinese, Basic Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Introduction to Traditional Chinese Philosophy.
Students transition into core human structure/function alongside core TCM concepts, learning how traditional diagnosis (four examinations: inspection, listening, inquiring, palpation) correlates with basic biomedical frameworks
Normal Human Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Physiology, Biochemistry, and Basic Theory of TCM (Diagnostics, Etiology, and Pathomechanism)
Combines modern pharmacological action of drugs with the properties, processing, and clinical formulation of Chinese herbs, meridians, and specific acupuncture point locations
Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Chinese Materia Medica (Herbalology), and Acupuncture & Moxibustion.
Intensive classroom and early clinical rotational study focused on syndrome differentiation (Bian Zheng Lun Zhi) applied to common internal and external disease conditions
TCM Internal Medicine, TCM External Medicine, Diagnostics of Integrative Medicine, Orthopedics, Gynecology, and Pediatrics
Full-time hands-on clinical training under senior TCM masters and practitioners across specialized departments (acupuncture, internal medicine, traumatology) to fulfill graduation and degree requirements
Advanced Clinical Clerkship, Hospital Rotations (e.g., at CACMS-affiliated hospitals like Guang'anmen or Xiyuan Hospital), and Emergency Medicine. [1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Academy_of_Chinese_Medical_Sciences), [2] (https://www.must.edu.mo/en/qa/563-academic/faculty-cm/course/bachelors/bachelor-traditional-chinese-medicine/1209-curriculum-en), [3] (https://iec.bucm.edu.cn/english/ywjyjx/jyjxfxljy/xjyjxxmjs/index.htm)
Furnished hostel rooms with Wi-Fi, laundry, 24/7 security, and Indian mess on or near campus.
Indian restaurants and mess facilities serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian home-style food daily.
Strong Indian community with cultural events, festival celebrations, and peer support groups.
Students get hands-on clinical training in government and private hospitals affiliated with the university.
Practical information for students planning to study at MBBS in China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences.
Prepare for all seasons. Thermal wear for winters, light clothing for summers. University provides heating in hostels.
Student visa processed with university invitation letter. Direct and connecting flights from major Indian cities.
Health insurance included in fees. Medical facility on campus plus city hospitals easily accessible.
Local SIM cards available. WhatsApp and video calls keep you connected with family back home.
Average monthly expenses of $150–$250 covering food, transport, and personal needs.
University library, online databases, and study groups. Seniors mentor juniors through academic challenges.
Our team guides you through every step — from application to arriving on campus.
Compare MOE-listed universities on fees, city, ranking, and FMGE track record, not just the cheapest option.
Submit the application along with academic transcripts, NEET scorecard, and (where required) CSCA score, either directly to the university or through an authorized admission partner.
The university’s international admissions office carries out document verification and academic evaluation.
Issued by the university on acceptance, typically within a few working days of document approval, though this can take longer during peak intake season (July–August).
Pay the tuition/hostel fee as per the written fee structure, ideally through a traceable bank wire to the university’s official account (never to a personal account), to confirm the seat.
Apply for the X1 (long-term) student visa at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) in New Delhi, Mumbai, or Kolkata.
Book travel and confirm arrival dates with the university’s international office, which typically coordinates registration timing for the incoming batch.
In the final weeks, finalize documents, arrange winter clothing if headed to a northern city, sort travel/health insurance, book flights, plan currency exchange, and confirm hostel allotment in writing.
Complete the on-arrival medical examination and residence permit registration with local authorities within the required window (typically around 30 days); this is what actually legalizes the stay for the full duration of the course, separate from the entry visa.
Attend orientation, check into your allotted hostel accommodation, pick up your class schedule, and begin building a routine and connections within the Indian student community as classes start.
Admission Helpline — Contact our counsellors for step-by-step assistance.
“The faculty here is incredibly supportive. The clinical training during hospital rotations has given me real confidence in patient care.”
“Affordable fees without compromising on quality. The campus facilities and hostel life made my transition abroad very smooth.”
“English medium instruction and WHO-recognized curriculum were the deciding factors for me. No regrets so far — excellent experience overall.”
“The university helped with everything from visa to accommodation. Hospital exposure from year three has been invaluable for my FMGE prep.”
“Just cleared my licensing exam on the first attempt. The structured coaching and mock exams during final year were a game-changer.”
“Safe campus, good food options, and a strong Indian student community. The teaching methodology is very practical and hands-on.”
No. This academy does not offer an undergraduate MBBS or any primary medical qualification. It focuses entirely on postgraduate Master's and Doctoral study in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Students who already hold a relevant bachelor's degree and want to specialise further in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese Materia Medica, or Integrative Medicine at postgraduate level.
Yes, in the context of TCM research. It hosts three WHO Collaborating Centres and is closely tied to major international acupuncture and integrative medicine bodies.
No. Since it offers no undergraduate primary medical degree, it falls outside the usual NEET-based MBBS-abroad framework that most Indian applicants research.
An official, single published international fee schedule was not found in accessible sources. Applicants should confirm exact costs directly through the Graduate School's admissions office.
The academy offers postgraduate study across Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese Materia Medica, and the Integration of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine.
Yes. As a comprehensive institution, CACMS combines research, education, and clinical medicine, giving postgraduate students access to affiliated hospital settings during their studies.
No. They are separate institutions. CACMS is a state research academy under SATCM, while Beijing University of Chinese Medicine is a separate university with its own undergraduate and graduate programmes.
The Graduate School was formally set up in 1984 and became the first officially approved TCM graduate school in China in 2005.
Not through this specific pathway. Since the academy offers no primary medical degree, students seeking a general MBBS-equivalent qualification should look at standard medical universities instead.
Our expert counsellors will guide you through the complete admission process — from documents to airport pickup.
