Universities in China — 272 on File | Global Dao Consultants

Read rankings, then put them down.

If you are looking for an international-student-friendly university you are probably also looking at rankings. They give a quick picture of the quality of education on offer — but do not let them decide for you.

Ranking figures on this page are reproduced from published 2020 tables and are retained for orientation only. Current-cycle positions are confirmed with you at the shortlist stage.

Rankings are usually based on multiple criteria, but it is the overall score that gets the attention — and that single figure can be a pitfall rather than a guide. They are very general, and so sometimes fall short.

Many universities are active in different fields of science, and how they perform in each area is difficult to capture in one digit. Some rankings look at how much a university publishes, or how often it is quoted. Universities in the hard sciences score higher because they traditionally publish more in scientific journals than those specialising in social sciences and humanities.

University ranking and popularity is one factor among several when choosing where to study in China. If you are ambitious and want to enrol at one of the best Chinese universities, use the tables as a starting point — then check language of instruction, tuition band, hostel availability and whether the degree can be equated in Pakistan on return.

Where China sits

Fifty-two Chinese universities appeared in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings of 980 institutions, with Peking University at 29 and Tsinghua University at 35. Mainland China was the strongest gainer in the Asian tables, with 22 institutions in the Asian top 100. Since 1990 China has invested heavily in developing world-class universities, and the academic reputation and influence of its institutions has improved steadily as a result.

Top five universities in China, as published in the 2020 tables.

1. Tsinghua University 2. Peking University 3. Fudan University 4. Zhejiang University 5. University of Science and Technology of China

Generally speaking all Chinese universities are multidisciplinary, but each is known for particular directions. Fudan University is very well recognised for modern languages and political training, while for engineering you should look at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the University of Science and Technology of China.

Bear in mind that each university has its own rules on enrolment. If you are applying for an English-taught degree programme, a copy of your TOEFL or IELTS certificate is generally required. If you are applying for a course taught in Chinese, you must hold an HSK certificate demonstrating your Chinese language level. Letters of recommendation are welcome in both cases.

Five top universities that are also affordable.

Some universities are top-ranked and still affordable, which matters if you are on a budget. These five are hand-picked: among the best schools in China, and still within reach.

Annual tuition, five affordable universities

CNY · TUITION ONLY · EXCLUDES LIVING COSTS

UNIVERSITY	CITY	FOUNDED	UNDERGRADUATE / YEAR	POSTGRADUATE / YEAR
Hunan University	Changsha	976	15,000 – 17,000	17,000 – 21,000
Southeast University	Nanjing	1902	16,000 – 30,600	23,000 – 35,000
Tongji University	Shanghai	1907	20,000 – 35,000	22,960 – 32,800
Capital Normal University	Beijing	1954	27,600 (engineering)	27,600 – 31,600
Beihang University	Beijing	1952	30,000 (technical)	Language 8,600 / course

Figures are reproduced from the 2023 source copy and are planning estimates, not quotations. Tuition is confirmed against the current university handbook at the shortlist stage. Beihang is highly specialised in technology, engineering and communication; Hunan University has roughly 46,000 students and Capital Normal around 27,940 across 17 departments and colleges.

COURSES AT THESE UNIVERSITIES

Capital Normal University — literature, languages, political science, music, art, engineering, sciences.

Tongji University — medicine, engineering, business, applied sciences, languages. Courses run in both Chinese and English, with around 30,000 students.

Southeast University — engineering, architecture, automation, applied sciences, medicine, in both Chinese and English, with 43,643 students.

Hunan University — engineering, medicine, design, applied sciences, languages.

HOW HIGHER EDUCATION IS STRUCTURED

Higher education in China, which also includes vocational schools, usually starts at sixteen. Institutions divide into tertiary vocational schools (two or three years), technological academies (three years) and undergraduate schools (four years).

Only students at undergraduate schools receive a bachelor's degree — worth knowing when you are comparing offers. After a further three years at graduate school students receive a master's, and can then apply for a PhD, which is a further three years.

This is the domestic structure. International admission runs on separate criteria, which is what your shortlist is built against.

Search the whole list, then narrow it to a shortlist that will actually take you.

Read rankings, then put them down.

Where China sits

Top five universities in China, as published in the 2020 tables.

Five top universities that are also affordable.

Annual tuition, five affordable universities

272 institutions on file, with an admission-difficulty signal.

Turn this list into a shortlist of eight.