Best Universities in China

Best Universities in China for International Students

With an international student population in the country that reaches just shy of 450,000, there is no doubt that China is a melting pot of cultures hailing from around the world. The country ranks 9th when it comes to most popular destinations for study and 8th in terms of higher education systems overall, offering a wide variety of academic opportunities, programs, fields of study, and or course universities catering to students in multiple languages. The reasons students choose to study here are numerous and broad [link to Why Study in China], much like the opportunities the country provides.

China’s nearly 2,500 higher education institutions are known for their wide range of programs and their variation in teach languages - though most courses are in English or one of the Chinese dialects. This gives students the opportunity to study in and learn some of the world’s most widely spoken languages.

With so many options, how are students to decide which university and program is best for them? We’ve compiled top university rankings in China for international students based on a variety of attributes:

Top Chinese Universities

Of course, students are looking to travel to a new destination to study among the best and brightest. These universities attract just that: students who have dedicated themselves to their studies and who are committed to becoming the best they can be at the best universities China has to offer. According to Times Higher Education, the top 10 universities in China are:

1. Peking University (World Ranking of #27)
2. Tsinghua University (#30)
3. Fudan University (#116)
4. University of Science and Technology of China (#132)
5. Nanjing University (#169) [in FC database]
6. Zhejiang University (#177)
7. Shanghai Jiao Tong University (#188)
8. Sun Yat-sen University
9. Huazhong University of Science and Technology [in FC database]
10. Tongji University

Top 10 Chinese Universities by International Student Percentage

It’s no doubt the going to a new country with a culture, language, and setting that differs from that which is familiar can be taxing on a student. The experience of learning new customs and engaging in new locations is one of the most exciting and daunting opportunities a student can undergo. So, it’s not surprising that many benefit from a university that invites many international students, all experiencing the same culture shock and excitement together. Here are the top 10 Chinese universities for welcoming international students to their campuses:

1. Jinan University (Percentage of Campus Identifying as International - 25%)
2. Peking University (16%)
3. Huaqiao University (15%)
4. East China Normal University (13%)
5. Tongji University (11%)
6. Fudan University (10%)
7. Nanjing University (10%) [in FC database]
8. Tsinghua University (9%)
9. Sun Yat-sen University (9%)
10. Harbin Institute of Technology (9%)

Top 10 Chinese universities for Student-to-Staff Ratios

Some of the highest-quality education comes from maintaining direct access to a teacher or professor. It follows that students engaging in studies far from home will want a smaller student-to-teacher ratio (meaning a smaller difference between the number of students and faculty). China has many options in this regard - in fact, here are the top 10 Chinese universities with the lowest student-to-teacher ratios in the country:

1. Capital Medical University (Student to faculty ratio of 6.9:1)
2. Jiangsu University (7.0:1)
3. University of Science and Technology of China (8.2:1)
4. Peking University (8.9:1)
5. Nanjing Medical University (9.1:1)
6. Harbin Institute of Technology (10:1)
7. Xi’an Jiaotong University (10.7:1)
8. China Agricultural University (11.3:1)
9. Southeast University (11.7:1)
10. Renmin University of China (12:1)