Top Chinese Colleges 

December 26, 2022
By AdmissionSight

Top Chinese Colleges

China is widely regarded as a preeminent force on the global stage. China has made significant headway in raising the overall quality of education throughout the country. As we speak, a top Chinese college would definitely thrive in what was known before as Asia’s sleeping giant. This is seen by the fact that many major educational institutions are prominently featured as among the best universities in the world.

China’s reputation in the field of foreign education has surged over the past decade thanks to the country’s limitless options, scholarship programs, cutting-edge educational system, and positive outlook on the top Chinese college experience.

There are a total of sixty top universities in China that have been included in the new QS Mainland China Rankings. Of these top Chinese colleges, there are forty that are listed in the QS World University Rankings® 2021, including six that are ranked among the top one hundred universities worldwide.

What are the top colleges and universities in China?

Where can one find China’s most prestigious educational institutions? According to the most recent statistics, which show that nearly 490,000 international students were enrolled in Mainland Chinese universities in 2017, China appears to be on track to meet its goal of hosting 500,000 foreign students by the year 2020.

These statistics are most likely attributable, in part, to the increased scholarship scheme that the Chinese government implemented in 2017, which resulted in approximately 59,000 students from other countries receiving financial assistance to study in China.

In the past five years, there has been a 63% increase in the total number of programs that are taught in English, which is another factor that plays a significant role in attracting students from other countries.

10) Beijing Normal University (BNU)

Founded: 1902

Location: Xinjiekouwai St, Haidian District, Beijing

Ranking: #10 in China, #53 in Asia, #277 in the world

The Beijing Normal University (BNU) has received a lot of accolades for its outstanding performance in the fields of the sciences and the humanities, as well as educator preparation and educational science.

BNU was one of the first institutions in China to accept international students, and it currently has more than 2,000 international students studying there on a long-term basis. In addition to this, it maintains working relationships with around 500 educational institutions and international organizations, hailing from over 30 nations and areas.

View of Beijing Normal University school library.

BNU bestows the New International Student Scholarship on international students or students that exemplify exceptional academic achievement. This scholarship covers the cost of full tuition as well as providing a monthly stipend and comprehensive insurance coverage.

9) Tongji University

Founded: 1907

Location: 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai. Tongji University has five campuses: Siping, Jiading, Huxi, Hubei, and Lingang campuses

Ranking: #9 in China, #54 in Asia, #265 in the world

The engineering program at Tongji University is regarded as having one of the broadest scopes and the greatest number of facets.

This top Chinese college is actively engaged in contributing to the growth of international collaboration. Because of its deep historical ties to Germany, it mostly collaborates with educational institutions located in Europe.

View of Cherry blossoms in full in Tongji University

However, it is also making concerted efforts to increase its impact in North America, Asia, and Africa.

Since its founding in 1954, Tongji has actively sought to enroll students from other countries. The university now has a total of 3,468 international students enrolled in its programs.

An International Student Office has been established at Tongji, and its responsibilities include the recruiting of international students, the organization of classes, and the maintenance of student care.

8) Wuhan University (WHU)

Founded: can be traced back to Ziqiang Institute, which was founded in 1893 by Zhang Zhidong

Location: Wuhan City, Hubei Province

Ranking: #8 in China, #36 in Asia, #257 in the world

One of the universities in China with one of the longest histories of providing education to international students is Wuhan University (WHU). It wasn’t until the 1950s that it started accepting students from other countries.

More than 3,500 international students attended WHU in 2016, studying one of WHU’s 200 undergraduate majors in one of its 30 schools.

Temple like buildings in Wuhan University.

In October 2014, the School of International Education (SIE) was established at WHU in order to further bolster the field of international education. SIE is one of the first members to have successfully completed the certification requirements necessary to study abroad in China.

Not only does WHU provide an excellent education, but its campus is also quite attractive to students from other countries. The university’s stunning palatial design is a seamless fusion of western and eastern architectural styles, lending it an air of refined sophistication.

WHU has been dubbed the “Most Beautiful University in China” thanks to its stunning architecture.

7) Nanjing University (NJU)

Founded: 1902

Location: Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Nanjing University has three campuses: the Gulou, Xianlin and Pukou campus.

Ranking: #7 in China, #31 in Asia, #120 in the world

Nanjing University, also known as NJU, was one of the first educational institutions in China to accept students from other countries.

It is one of the universities that is involved in the most worldwide communication and collaboration, working with a significant number of prestigious educational institutions and research centers located all over the world.

Nanjing University building covered in greenery.

Tens of thousands of students from over one hundred different nations have attended this top Chinese college to further their education. Among these graduates are significant figures in the realms of politics, commerce, academia, and other areas. At this time, there are 3,216 international students enrolled in programs at NJU.

At Nanjing University, the administrative office that is in charge of overseeing the enrolment of overseas students is called the Institute for International Students.

6) University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)

Founded: 1958

Location: Hefei, Anhui province

Ranking: #6 in China, #27 in Asia, #89 in the world

It is widely acknowledged in China that the University of Science and Technology (USTC), also known as the “Cradle of Scientific Elites,” is a prestigious educational institution.

It has been regarded as “a momentous event in the history of education and science of China” that USTC was established.

USTC is directed by some of the most eminent Chinese scientists now working in China. In addition to this, it has achieved a number of “firsts” in China.

Chinese students studying in a library.

For instance, USTC was the organization that pioneered the establishment of the first graduate school in China, as well as the first class for academically talented youth in China and the first “large science facility” in China.

Two national labs call the University of Science and Technology of California, which is a leader in science and technology, home. In addition to that, it possesses a hospital and a state-of-the-art computer network.

5) Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU)

Founded: 1896

Location: Minhang District, Shanghai, China

Ranking: #5 in China, #17 in Asia, #60 in the world

Situated in Shanghai, China, the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) is regarded as a top Chinese college that has earned a global reputation for the comprehensiveness, quality, innovation, and research-oriented nature of its academic offerings.

SJTU has welcomed thousands of students from over one hundred countries since the year 2000. Some of these nations include South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, the United States of America, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, North Korea, Australia, and Thailand.

In the most recent few years, the overall number of international students has increased to approximately 6,000.

Group of female students laughing and talking in front of a laptop.

SJTU offers a specialized International Students Administration and Services Department, with the goal of providing students with a sense of belonging and genuine assistance on their academic journey.

4) Zhejiang University (ZJU)

Founded: traces its roots back to 1897

Location: Hangzhou, the capital of China’s Zhejiang province. ZJU has seven campuses: the main campus, Zijingang, and the Yuquan, Xixi, Huajiachi, Zhijiang, Zhoushan and Haining campuses.

Ranking: #4 in China, #6 in Asia, #54 in the world

Zhejiang University, also known simply as ZJU, is widely regarded as one of the best universities in all of China. Eighteen areas of study at ZJU have been chosen for inclusion in China’s “Double First-class” Initiative, while 39 areas of the study received an A rating in the most recent iteration of the national assessment.

More than 6,800 international students hailing from 148 different countries were granted admission to ZJU’s International College in the academic year 2017.

View of Zhejiang University building with near its entrance.

There are now 7,074 international students attending ZJU, making up a significant portion of the student body at this institution.

ZJU is widely regarded as one of the institutions in China that extends the greatest hospitality to its students. Over 900 students are awarded scholarships and given admission to this top Chinese College each year.

3) Fudan University

Founded: 1905, originally called the Fudan Public School

Location: Fudan University has four campuses at the center of Shanghai: Handan, Fenglin, Zhangjiang and Jiangwan.

Ranking: #3 in China, #7 in Asia, #40 in the world

One of the most prestigious educational institutions in China, the contemporary and all-encompassing Fudan University is known for its stringent admissions standards.

More than 45,000 Chinese students make up one of the largest student groups at Fudan, making it one of the most popular educational institutions in China.

Fudan University entrance gate of campus.

Additionally, it is a center for international students, with 15% of first-year students at the institution coming from other countries.

Internationalization is one of Fudan University’s primary goals at this time. The university provides courses taught in English and has established a wide variety of academic exchange programs and relationships with educational institutions located all over the world.

2) Tsinghua University

Founded: 1911, one of the oldest universities in China

Location: Haidian District northwest Beijing, on the site of the former imperial gardens of the Qing Dynasty

Rankings: #1 in China, #4 in Asia and #16 in the world

Tsinghua University, which is considered to be both the best university in the world for engineering and computer science as well as one of the most prominent and prestigious universities in China, has a community that is exceptionally varied.

More than 4,000 international students from over 130 countries were enrolled in 2019, with more than 3,200 students working toward degrees and more than 700 students working toward other types of credentials.

Students walking in Tsinghua University building.

Students can choose from more than 500 different classes taught in English across the entirety of this top Chinese college. The International Students and Scholars Center (ISSC) at Tsinghua University is responsible for ensuring that the university’s international community receives substantial support and is effectively represented there.

1) Peking University (PKU)

Founded: in 1898, the oldest university in China

Rankings: #2 in China, #5 in Asia, #22 in the world

Location: Haidian District northwest Beijing. 

In the annals of modern China, Peking University (PKU) holds the distinction of being the country’s first-ever national university.

The university has one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. It is famous for its lovely gardens, traditional Chinese architecture, and painted murals.

The National School of Development (NSD) of Peking University is widely regarded as one of the most influential think tanks in China. PKU is essential to China’s development because of its role in the NSD.

View of Peking University

Students from other countries will find Peking University to be an excellent choice for higher education due to the university’s seamless integration of western culture with top Chinese college traditions.

The library of Peking University (PKU) is the largest university library in all of Asia, with a collection of about 7.33 million books, in addition to Chinese and international periodicals and magazines.

Why China Doesn’t Have A Student Debt Problem?

Why China does not have a problem with students taking on too much debt? In China, things are significantly different from what they are in other countries. There is hardly any such thing as student debt.

According to data provided by Tuition.io, the annual tuition fee at a public school in China is approximately $2,200. In comparison, the annual tuition fee at a private school in the United States is approximately $28,500. Even with a low starting wage after graduation, there is no genuine reason to consider getting a loan.

Because of the substantial amount of government funding that goes into education in China, the country’s system is extremely cost-effective. The annual investment in human capital is estimated to be $250 billion, or around $770 per person in the United States. This most likely does not cover necessary living expenses such as a dorm room, food, or books, none of which are particularly glamorous.

And this is just another reason why there is not a significant problem with student debt in China. Public institutions make up the vast majority of the world’s best universities, including Tsinghua, PKU, and Fudan University, among many others.

In the United States, where higher education is dominated by private institutions such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, the situation is very different.

Can foreigners go to college in China?

Can international students attend universities in China? Did you know that China is home to approximately 500,000 international students? Furthermore, this number is growing at a rate of 10% every year.

Studying in China is quickly rising the ranks to become one of the most sought-after opportunities for international students. It is now home to a greater number of international students than the United Kingdom.

South Korean students make up the vast majority of the international student body; the rest of the students hail from other Asian countries. Africa is one of the regions with the most rapid expansion.

In addition, there are a significant number of students attending from countries in Europe and the Americas.

At the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral levels, as well as at the non-degree level, some programs are taught in English. The majority of Chinese colleges will include at least some classes offered in English that are geared specifically toward foreign students.

There are thousands of excellent English-taught programs available in a wide variety of fields, ranging from medicine to literature to engineering. These programs are taught in English.

AdmissionSight is willing to help

If you wish to pursue your education in a top Chinese college, you should consider brushing up on your English language skills to succeed in the IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo English Test. At AdmissionSight, we will be more than happy to help you achieve whatever it is that you have set out to do.

AdmissionSight is the most trusted name in the college admissions advising industry, with more than a decade of expertise assisting students just like you in gaining entry to the colleges of their first and second choices. Please get in touch with us as soon as possible to set up a complimentary introductory consultation.

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