A college acceptance letter from Renmin University of china Photo: Courtesy of Ren Jiayan

The new academic year is fast approaching, and high school seniors across the country have recently begun receiving their college acceptance letters. Every summer, these letters mark a turning moment bridging years of hard work with the promise of a fresh start. 

For the year 2025's incoming students, college admission packets offer more than just good news - they arrive carrying thoughtfulness, creativity, and a genuine invitation into campus life. 

Many universities in China are transforming these once-simple notices into meaningful keepsakes. From intricately crafted packages to gifts infused with technological innovation and cultural elements, today's acceptance letters are expressions of school spirit and tradition - not just a formal entry, but a heartfelt welcome.

Tech-driven welcome

Some of China's top universities are showcasing their technological edge through the design of their acceptance letters, including the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) in Northeast China's Harbin Province.

This year marks the 105th anniversary of HIT, and the university has prepared a "dream"- themed admission letter for the incoming class of 2025.

The first part of the letter is a spaceship Armor engraved with a message from the president. This circular keepsake embodies the cutting-edge technology forged by a HIT research team over a decade. The "armor" is made from a novel composite material jointly developed by the School of Astronautics, overcoming key challenges such as multi-scale, and cross-hierarchical design. 

As the core thermal protection material for the Dream Ark spacecraft and the return capsule of the Tianwen-2 probe, this material can withstand temperatures exceeding 3,000 C, providing a protective shield for crewed lunar landings and planetary exploration. 

This ultra-light spacecraft Armor symbolizes the idea of carrying the weight of extraordinary dreams with minimal mass, wishing the 2025 freshmen courage to face challenges on their journey to explore deep space.

The second part of the letter is an invitation to the "HIT micro-satellite dream voyage program." By scanning a QR code with their phones, new students can log in and input their future aspirations. When HIT will launch its next satellite (to date, the university has launched 36 satellites), each student's dream will soar into the cosmos alongside it, letting their aspirations journey through the vastness of the universe.

Yan Mu, an alumnus of HIT, expressed great envy for this year's freshmen, who get to begin their university journey with such a unique and meaningful admission letter. "This kind of admission letter not only deepens the freshmen's excitement about university life but also sparks their aspirations," Yan told the Global Times. "Seeing such cutting-edge technology, I'm sure they will be filled with anticipation for their future studies and research."

Fudan University's acceptance letter this year blends tradition with technology in celebration of its 120th anniversary.

Set in the university's signature "Fudan blue," the package features a traditional Chinese book-case design wrapped in velvet for a warm, textured feel. A magnetic lock mechanism allows the box to unfold layer by layer, revealing a journey through Fudan's century-long legacy.

The letter itself is printed on silk in a single, seamless piece, with dyeing and clear floral prints. The inner pages use a special revival of traditional Chinese Kaihua paper - developed through Fudan's own scientific research - and include an anti-counterfeit watermark featuring the university's logo.

A PhD acceptance letter from Harbin Institute of Technology Photo: Official WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology

Heritage-inspired design

The acceptance letter from Minzu University of China highlights rich cultural symbolism and craftsmanship.

The design features a motif inspired by a pomegranate pattern found on an ancient artifact. With 56 petals encircling the center, it represents the unity of China's 56 ethnic groups - sticking together like seeds of a pomegranate.

The structure follows a traditional Chinese "caisson" ceiling design, square-shaped on the outside and round within, echoing the ancient cosmological concept of "Round Heaven and Square Earth." This element draws inspiration from the celestial ceiling of the Temple of Agriculture (also known as Xiannong Altar) in Beijing.

At Renmin University of China, the acceptance package offers more than a warm welcome - it's a carefully curated "starter kit" for the academic journey ahead.

Inside the box, students will find a reading lamp, a copy of Mass Philosophy, and five bookmarks representing the university's core disciplines. A scannable QR code on the printed letter unlocks a personalized digital experience: By uploading a photo, students can generate a custom 3D cartoon avatar - their first virtual ID within Renmin University's digital campus.

Ren Jiayan, an incoming freshman at Renmin University of China from East China's Jiangsu Province, received her acceptance letter on the afternoon of Monday. She told the Global Times that, to her, the most distinctive part of the admission package was the red book-shaped reading lamp.

For Ren, the words on the lamp carry deep meaning. "They represent the university's high expectations and serve as a reminder of the responsibilities I'll take on as a Renmin student."

When turned on, the lamp's light shines through a paper shade etched with traditional Chinese landscape motifs. "It not only provides light," she said, "but also creates a sense of beauty and calm. This elegant gift will stay on my desk as a lasting symbol — lighting the way as I begin my journey into college life."