Media Spotlight on STU 2026 Undergraduate Admissions: 100 More Seats to 4,900, New UQ Joint Programs

According to Sohu Education, Shantou University held its 2026 undergraduate admissions media briefing in Guangzhou on June 15, with Party Secretary Tang Rui and heads of relevant offices present to explain the 2026 admissions policy and the university’s development highlights.

Expanded Enrollment

The 2026 undergraduate plan grows by 100 to a total of 4,900 seats. Science, engineering and medical programs account for 2,950 seats (60.20%); 3,778 are within Guangdong and 1,068 outside the province. The increase is directed mainly to biotechnology, electronic information engineering, communication engineering, materials science and engineering, digital economy, and history.

This year STU adds Shaanxi to its recruitment map, expanding coverage to 26 provinces, with the largest increments in Guangdong, Henan, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Shandong and Hubei. For Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, the overseas Chinese and cross-strait quota stands at 80.

New Programs and Joint Degrees

STU offers 48 undergraduate majors in 2026, including 30 national or provincial first-class majors; it adds History (Area and Country Studies) and 28 new major directions.

Notably, two new Sino-foreign joint programs debut: Mathematics and Applied Mathematics (a “2+2” dual-degree international class with Australia’s University of Queensland) and Biotechnology (a “2+2” international class with UQ). A member of Australia’s Group of Eight, UQ ranked 42nd globally in the 2026 QS World University Rankings; graduates of the programs earn degrees from both institutions.

Zero-transfers and Distinctive Strengths

In Guangdong, 40 major groups are set, with no more than six majors per group except one with seven, essentially achieving “no transfer when all preferences are filled.” Admission follows a “score-first” rule with no preference-level gap.

At the briefing, Tang Rui outlined STU’s three unique institutional traits and clarified rumors, stressing that the Li Ka-shing Foundation’s support has never stopped and in fact grew—its 2025 donations totaled about RMB 174 million. He noted STU has led AI-plus higher-education reform, requiring all 48 majors to overhaul their curricula; 15 disciplines are in the top 1% of ESI globally, and the faculty of over 1,300 includes seven foreign academicians.

Source: Sohu Education (Gaoxiao Jiaoyu Yidiantong)