FAQs
Thank you for your interest in the MPA program at Sun Yat-sen University. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding admission and application. If you have any further questions, please contact us via 020-39336431/020-39337060 or mpa@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
1. When will the program release the Admission Guide of the year?
The Admission Guide is usually released in October each year on the official website of the Center for MPA Program of Sun Yat-sen University. You can refer to the Admission Guide published in the previous year for the application requirements before the latest one is published. But specific requirements are subject to the latest Admission Guide.
2. How many students are enrolled in the program each year?
For the past three years, 223 students were enrolled in 2026;248 students were enrolled in 2025;225 students were enrolled in 2024.
3. What is the minimum score for admission to the program?
In 2026, the minimum score for participating in our self-designed program entrance exam is 202 in total.
4. What is the length of the degree?
The degree spans three years and allows for a maximum study period of a five-years. In other words, students are required to complete the program in five years.
5. How are MPA Classes delivered?
MPA students study on a part-time basis. The lectures will be arranged on Saturday and Sunday, and the national holidays, winter and summer holidays are excluded. Students are arranged to study in the Guangzhou East Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangdong Province.
6. How much is the tuition?
The tuition fee in 2026 is RMB 42,600 per academic year and it is paid on an academic-year basis. The board, lodging and transportation fees are excluded.
7. How many students are enrolled in the program?
As of September 2026, there are currently 820 enrolled students in the program, 425(52%) of whom are female, and 395 (48%) of whom are male.
8. How many enrolled students complete the program?
9. Can I get a dual degree?
No dual degree is available in the program.
10. What are the job placements of MPA graduates?
Below is the employment statistics of our MPA graduates in 2024-2025 study year.
11. Is there any scholarship or other financial aid?
1. The program sets up an MPA Scholarship and it is awarded according to students’ academic performance each academic year. The MPA Scholarship falls into three categories: RMB 5,000/person for the 1st Prize, RMB 3,000/person for the 2nd Prize, and RMB 2,000/person for the 3rd Prize.
2. The program offers financial support to students’ sociological research activities during their studies.
3. The program also provides information on tuition loans from reputable banks in China that have been working with Sun Yat-sen University for many years. It is up to students to choose whether they need such services or not.
12. What’s your program’s internship requirement? How many internship placements did the program have?
The MPA program at Sun Yat-sen University admits students with active employment status. All students are in-service and have a minimum of three years of work experience, therefore, there are no specific requirements for internships. However, to guide students to apply theories to practice and to exercise their ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems, students are required to conduct field trip study (2 credits) and submit field trip study report.
In addition, the program promotes the establishment of field teaching sites for experiential exercise and encourages students to join different sociological research. Below we listed 10 institutions cooperating with our program in field teaching during the 2025-2026 academic year.
