Study in Asia, Graduate with a US Degree: The Wenzhou-Kean Dual-Degree Route

What if you could earn a genuine American university degree without ever moving to the United States, and at a fraction of the price? That is exactly what a growing number of international students are doing in China, at Wenzhou-Kean University.

A US degree, earned in Asia

Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU, 温州肯恩大学) is a Sino-American university in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, established in 2011 as a joint venture between Wenzhou University and Kean University in New Jersey, and approved by China's Ministry of Education. It teaches Kean University's American curriculum, entirely in English, to a community of more than 5,300 students from over 30 countries.

The headline benefit: when you complete the program and meet the requirements, you graduate with two bachelor's degrees, one from Wenzhou-Kean University and one from Kean University in the United States, the same American degree that students in New Jersey earn. You gain a US credential recognised by employers and graduate schools worldwide, plus the experience of living in China.

Why this route is so smart

For many families, a US education is the dream, but the price and the visa process put it out of reach. This pathway helps with both:

• Two degrees, one journey. You graduate with both a WKU and a Kean University (USA) bachelor's degree, taught in English on an American curriculum.
• A fraction of the cost. 2026-27 international tuition is RMB 68,000 a year (about $9,400), far below the $40,000 or more a year that a similar degree often costs in the United States.
• Generous scholarships. Merit awards can cut tuition by up to 60%, bringing it as low as roughly RMB 27,200 a year (about $3,800) for top students, and they are renewable for up to four years.
• A real chance to study in the US. Students can apply to spend one to five semesters at Kean University in the United States as part of their degree.
• You live in China, not just study there. Alongside your major, you build Chinese-language skills and an international network, both of which employers value.

Studying in China is also affordable day to day. See our cost of living in China guide for a realistic budget.

Strong graduate outcomes

This is where WKU really stands out. Based on the university's 2025 graduate data, 75% of graduates continued to further study, and of those, 83% entered a global top-100 university and 60% a global top-50 one (using QS and U.S. News rankings). Graduates have gone on to employers including PwC, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, Alibaba, Tencent, Huawei, ByteDance, LinkedIn, Tesla, and Procter & Gamble. A US degree from WKU opens real doors.

What "dual degree" actually means

You are not getting a copy or a lookalike qualification. You are enrolled in an American university program delivered in China, and on graduation you hold both a WKU degree and a genuine Kean University degree from the United States, plus the WKU graduation certificate. For graduate-school applications and job interviews, that American degree carries the weight you would expect.

18 programs across four colleges

WKU offers 18 English-taught undergraduate degrees, each leading to the dual WKU and Kean University degrees, across four colleges: Business and Public Management; Liberal Arts; Science, Mathematics and Technology; and the Michael Graves College of Architecture and Design. Asia Pathway lists them here:

• International Undergraduate Degrees at Wenzhou-Kean University, the overview of all options
• International Business and Management, with Global Business, Marketing, Economics, and Management (Supply Chain, Business Analytics, or Entrepreneurship)
• Computer Science and Data Analytics, covering computing, AI, and data
• Accounting and Finance
• Architecture, a studio-based Architectural Studies program
• Design, in Graphic, Industrial, or Interior Design
• Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences, with hands-on laboratory research
• Psychology, Communication and English

Browse them all on our China programs page.

You also gain Chinese, and China

Because you live and study in China, you leave with more than an American degree. Every international undergraduate completes a 22-credit Chinese National Conditions Curriculum, which includes four levels of Mandarin plus courses on Chinese society and development. So you graduate with structured Chinese on top of your English-taught major. Our Chinese language learning guide shows how quickly you can progress, and our Chinese culture guide helps you settle in.

Do I need to speak Chinese to start?

No. All academic and professional courses are taught in English, so you can begin with no Mandarin at all. You then build Chinese through the curriculum as you go.

Admission, fees and the practical side

• Intake and deadline: the current cycle is Fall 2027, with an application deadline of 15 June 2027, applied with Asia Pathway. It is currently test-optional.
• English requirement: typically IELTS Academic 6.0, TOEFL iBT 79, or Duolingo 105, with waivers for students who studied in English. See our overview of English-taught programs in Asia.
• Scholarships: First-Class awards (60% of tuition) and Second-Class awards (30%) are assessed alongside admission, using results such as a high-school GPA of 3.5 or 3.0, IELTS 7.0 or 6.5, or equivalent SAT, AP, A-Level, or IB scores.
• Other costs: on-campus accommodation runs about RMB 8,000 to 10,000 for roughly ten months, medical insurance is about RMB 800 a year, and there is a RMB 400 application fee and a RMB 10,000 deposit that goes toward tuition.
• Visa: most degree students use the X1 student visa, which you convert to a residence permit after arrival. Our China student visa guide and guide to applying to Chinese universities walk through the steps.

How Asia Pathway gets you there

Choosing the degree is only the first step. We support the whole journey: matching you to the right WKU major and scholarship, preparing your application and any design portfolio, communicating with the university, arranging your student visa, sorting housing and insurance, and connecting you with other Asia Pathway students on campus. Our student portal keeps every deadline and document in one place, so you never miss a step like the cut-off.

Start your US-degree-in-Asia journey

A US degree does not have to mean four years and a fortune in the United States. At Wenzhou-Kean, you can earn an American Kean University degree in English, in China, with scholarships of up to 60%, and graduate with an international edge. Book a free consultation and we will help you choose your major, apply for scholarships, and plan your route from home to graduation. For the bigger picture, start with our complete guide to studying in China.