CDHAW - Chinesisch-Deutsche Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften

About CDHAW - Chinesisch-Deutsche Hochschule für angewandte Wissen

The Chinesisch-Deutsche Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (CDHAW) is a joint Chinese-German institution established in 2004 at Tongji University's Jiading campus in Shanghai, China. It was founded as a bilateral pilot project by Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and China's Ministry of Education (MoE), and is operated jointly by Tongji University and the German University Consortium DHIK (comprising approximately 26 German Fachhochschulen).

CDHAW offers four-year dual bachelor's degree programmes in Automotive Engineering, Mechatronics, Building Technology, and Industrial Engineering. Chinese students complete three years in Shanghai — including approximately 1,200 hours of German language instruction leading to the TestDaF — followed by one year at a German partner university, earning a dual degree from both Tongji University and the German partner institution.

The institution has been named a flagship project in Germany's China Strategy 2015-2020 and recognised by Shanghai authorities as a model institution for Chinese-foreign educational cooperation. Programmes are accredited by AQAS (first accredited 2009, reaccredited 2014).

Key facts

Founded: 2004
Students: 800

Dual bachelor's degree: graduates receive degrees from both Tongji University and a German partner Fachhochschule

Founded 2004 as a bilateral BMBF/MoE flagship project for German-Chinese higher education cooperation

Approximately 1,200 hours of German language training included in the four-year programme

Programmes accredited by AQAS (German accreditation agency); named model institution in Shanghai

~26 DHIK partner universities in Germany provide the fourth-year study-abroad phase

Named in Germany's China Strategy 2015-2020 as a leading transnational education example

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

No tuition fee information is published on the official CDHAW website. As the institution is located in China and operates under Tongji University, standard German tuition-free rules do not apply. Costs are set by Tongji University and the Chinese Ministry of Education. DAAD-administered scholarships (funded by BMBF) are available for qualifying students.

Admission requirements

CDHAW primarily admits Chinese students via the Chinese national gaokao (university entrance examination) and Tongji University's admissions process. German and international students may join in years 3-4 under exchange or dual-degree arrangements through one of the ~26 DHIK partner universities. Admission as a direct international applicant outside the DHIK network is not described on the official site. APS certificate is relevant for Chinese students applying to German partner institutions for the fourth-year phase in Germany.

Languages of instruction

German and Chinese (bilingual). Core curriculum delivered in German; approximately 1,200 hours of German language instruction required. Some specialised lectures taught in English for incoming German exchange students.

Campuses & locations

Jiading Campus, Tongji University

Cao'an Gong Lu 4800, Jiading, 201804 Shanghai, China. The institution is physically located in Shanghai, not Germany.

Living in Saarland

CDHAW is located on Tongji University's Jiading campus in Shanghai, China — one of the world's largest metropolitan areas and a major hub for automotive and manufacturing industries. Shanghai offers an international environment with strong German corporate presence (Volkswagen, BASF, Siemens). The Jiading district is approximately 40 km northwest of central Shanghai and hosts several automotive industry players.

Student life & support

Students experience a bicultural environment, studying alongside Chinese peers under German academic traditions. The German language programme is intensive and central to student life. A summer school programme in Germany is organised periodically. Student testimonials and video guides are available via the DHIK website.

International Office: International students page →

Accredited Programmes

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus