Universities

Donghua University (DHU) in Shanghai, founded in 1951, is a Ministry of Education university known for fashion design, textile engineering, and information technology. It has long hosted international students from many countries. Degree pathways span design, textiles, materials, and related engineering and management fields.

East China Normal University (ECNU) is a key university under the Ministry of Education and was part of Project 211 and Project 985. Founded in October 1951 from the former Great China University and Kwang Hua University, with parts of Fudan and Tongji and others. It was among the first 16 National Key Universities in 1959 (reaffirmed 1978), among the first 33 institutions authorized to set up graduate schools in 1986, joined Project 211 in 1996, and entered Project 985 after a 2006 Ministry of Education–Shanghai co-sponsorship agreement. Faculty: over 4,500 staff, including 1,986 full-time teachers (over 1,100 professors or associate professors); 11 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or Chinese Academy of Engineering (6 dual); 11 members of the State Council Academic Appraisal Committee; 8 Yangtze Scholar specially hired or lecture professors; 9 New-Century Talents Project state-level talents; 10 National Outstanding Youth Fund winners; 80 Zijiang Scholar specially hired or lecture professors; 105 tenured professors

Founded in 1952 in Shanghai, East China University of Science and Technology began as the nation’s first university dedicated to chemical engineering. It now operates across three campuses in Xuhui, Jinshan, and Fengxian districts. The university comprises 15 academic schools and five colleges, offering programmes across eleven disciplinary areas—from science and engineering to law, education, and the arts. It awards bachelor’s degrees in 61 fields, master’s degrees in 121, and doctoral degrees in 73, alongside professional master’s qualifications in business, public administration, law, and social work. With over 28,300 full-time students and more than 1,000 academic staff holding professorial or associate professorial rank, ECUST maintains a strong emphasis on research and multidisciplinary integration. Its academic identity remains rooted in its original specialisation while expanding into broader scientific and humanistic domains.

Fudan University, established in 1905, is situated in Shanghai’s Yangpu District and forms part of China’s national key universities. Its campus hosts over 30,000 students and includes five national key laboratories alongside a library holding more than five million volumes. The university comprises multiple schools and colleges, offering undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programmes across disciplines. Teaching and research span the humanities, sciences, medicine, and social sciences. Its location in central Shanghai supports close ties with academic, cultural, and professional communities in the city. The university operates primarily in Mandarin, though some postgraduate programmes are delivered in English.

Fuzhou University, founded in 1958 in Fuzhou, Fujian, is a Double First-Class university with strengths in science and engineering alongside economics and the arts. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and welcomes international applicants on open degree pathways.

Guangxi University was established in 1928. It is a regional comprehensive teaching-and-research university and the only university in Guangxi included as a key university in the National “211 Project.” It has 30 colleges covering philosophy, economics, law, liberal arts, science, engineering, agriculture, management, and education. Programs: 97 bachelor’s; 186 second-grade master’s; 58 second-grade doctoral; 7 postdoctoral research stations. Faculty and staff: 3,585, including 422 professors (144 doctoral supervisors) and 711 associate professors. Campus: 307.19 hectares; floor space 1,202,600 square meters; equipment worth RMB 478 million. Libraries hold 3.12 million print volumes, 1.98 million digital books, over 4,000 paper periodicals, and 17,000 electronic periodicals. It was among the first 66 universities certified by the Ministry of Education to recruit international students (recruitment began in 1961).

Guizhou University (GZU) is a key “211 Project” university jointly built by the Ministry of Education and the People’s Government of Guizhou Province. In 2012 it was listed among 14 universities in the Project for Improving Comprehensive Abilities of Midwestern Universities in China. Library: over 3.1 million regular books. Structure: 33 colleges; 136 undergraduate specialties across 11 branches including philosophy, economics, law, liberal arts, history, science, engineering, agriculture, and administration. Full-time enrollment: 55,121 students. Teaching staff: 4,003, of whom 2,714 are full-time teachers. International cooperation: relations with more than 140 academic institutions in over 40 countries and regions.

Hainan University, formed in 2007 through the merger of two institutions, is a provincial-level comprehensive university jointly supported by the Hainan Provincial Government and the Ministry of Education. Its three campuses—Haidian (the main campus on Haidian Island in Haikou), Chengxi, and Danzhou—span around 830 acres across tropical southern China. The university hosts over 37,000 students and employs more than 2,400 faculty members, including nearly 1,600 full-time teaching staff. It organises studies across nine disciplinary categories, with distinctive strengths in tropical agriculture, marine science, and regional development linked to Hainan’s geography and administrative status. Four academic schools oversee 21 colleges, and the university maintains national and provincial research platforms, including a co-managed key laboratory and doctoral programmes across multiple disciplines.

Founded in 1953 in Harbin—a city on the banks of the Songhua River known for its winter climate—Harbin Engineering University evolved from the Harbin Military Engineering Institute. It is part of China’s national ‘211 Project’ and hosts a graduate school alongside a National University Science Park. The university focuses strongly on shipbuilding engineering, ocean exploration, and nuclear energy applications, with teaching and research shaped by this technical emphasis. Its campus supports over 30 academic disciplines delivered in English and draws students from more than 70 countries. With around 20 schools and institutes, HEU maintains a concentrated profile in engineering and applied sciences. Student numbers reflect its role as a national key university, particularly for maritime and nuclear-related fields.

Founded in 1920 in Harbin, northeast China, Harbin Institute of Technology is a national key university with strengths across engineering, science, management, and humanities. It hosts multiple schools and institutes, offering undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programmes. The campus spans several sites in Harbin, with the original campus situated near the city’s central walking street. HIT maintains a strong research orientation and a long-standing commitment to multidisciplinary education. Around 1800 international students from over 100 countries study at the university each year. Its location in Harbin provides a distinct regional context, shaped by both historical development and seasonal character.

Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) is a C9 League university, often called the “Cradle of Engineers.” In the 2025–2026 U.S. News World University Rankings for Engineering, HIT ranked third globally, with Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical & Electronic Engineering among the top 10 worldwide. HIT also ranks among leading Chinese universities in major global rankings. Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen (HITSZ) was established in 2002 and is one of HIT’s three main campuses. It sits in Shenzhen, a core city of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area. The campus has more than 14,000 students, including over 2,000 international students (more than 16% of the student body). Over 80% of full-time faculty have studied or worked abroad. Programs are aligned with regional development needs. Flagship fields include Computer Science and Technology; Mechanical Design, Manufacturing and Automation; Civil Engineering; Architecture; and Economics. Shenzhen is often called “China’s Silicon Valley” and is a major high-tech and finance hub in the Greater Bay Area, close to Hong Kong )

Hebei University of Technology (HEBUT) is a key provincial university and a national “Project 211” university. Under Hebei Province, it specializes in engineering and also covers technology, science, economics, management, and arts. Founded in 1903 as Beiyang Technical School, it follows the motto “Diligence, Prudence, Devotion and Loyalty” and stresses both academic learning and engineering practice. It offers 69 undergraduate programs across engineering, science, economics, management, art, and law. Structure: 17 schools/departments, 1 physical-training teaching department, and 2 teaching administrative schools. It has 6 state-level characteristic disciplines, 18 province-level representative programs, 2 national key disciplines, 4 province-level advantageous disciplines, and 20 provincial key disciplines. There are 42 doctoral disciplines and 131 master’s or professional degree fields. HEBUT was the first engineering-based university in China to launch an MBA program and is the only university in Hebei offering EMBA education. It has 9 post-doctoral work stations; Material Science and Engineering is a special national program among them. Faculty: 2,474 qualified members; among 1,365 full-time teachers, 706 hold senior titles and 682 have doctorates

Hefei University of Technology (HFUT) is in Hefei, capital of Anhui Province. It is a national key university under the Ministry of Education. Founded in 1945, it is part of Project 211 and a Program 985 innovation platform, and is included in the national “Double First Class” plan. HFUT is mainly an engineering-focused comprehensive university. Eleven disciplines are in the top 1% of ESI global rankings: Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Computer Science, Agricultural Science, Earth Sciences, Environment/Ecology, Social Sciences (General), Biology & Biochemistry, Physics, and Plant & Animal Science. Engineering science ranks in the top 1‰. There are about 33,200 undergraduate and 16,200 graduate students. The university motto is “pursuing virtue and knowledge, seeking truth and innovation.” It offers 20 first-level doctoral disciplines, 38 first-level master’s disciplines, and 84 undergraduate majors. Faculty include academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chinese Academy of Sciences, accredited professors, National Outstanding Youth Science Foundation scholars, and national top-teacher award winners.

Hohai University was established in 1915 and is known worldwide for water conservancy research and education. It traces back to Hohai Civil Engineering School, founded by Zhang Jian — China’s first institution focused on water conservancy. After the 1952 national college restructuring, East China Technical University of Water Resources was formed from water-related disciplines of Nanjing University, Tongji University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Zhejiang University. It was renamed Hohai University in 1985; Deng Xiaoping inscribed the university’s name. Main campus is in Nanjing, with additional campuses in Changzhou and Jiangning. Total area is about 1,533,333 m². It is a state key university under the Ministry of Education, focused on water conservancy, with engineering as the first priority and coordinated development of engineering, science, economics, management, liberal arts, and law. It is also a Project 211 university. Programs: 52 undergraduate majors; first-level master’s degrees in 34 disciplines and second-level master’s in 185; 9 post-doctoral research bases; first-level Ph.D. degrees in 12 disciplines and second-level in 57.

Huazhong University of Science and Technology stands in Wuhan, central China’s largest inland city. Founded in 1953, it is one of China’s national key universities, administered directly by the Ministry of Education. Its campus spans over 1,150 acres and features dense tree cover—nearly three-quarters of the grounds are green, earning it the informal title 'University in the Forest'. The university offers programmes across twelve academic disciplines, with around 60,000 students enrolled, including over 3,000 from more than 130 countries. It delivers undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and post-doctoral training through 95 bachelor’s, 224 master’s and 183 doctoral programmes. Research infrastructure includes five national key laboratories, the Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, and a high magnetic field facility—one of only four such centres globally. Teaching staff include approximately 900 professors and 1,200 associate professors.

Founded in 1902 and situated in Wuxi, a historic city in Jiangsu Province’s Yangtze River Delta, Jiangnan University operates under the direct supervision of China’s Ministry of Education. The university comprises 17 schools offering undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programmes across disciplines including food science, fermentation engineering, textile technology, industrial design, economics, law, literature, and medicine. Its food and fermentation programmes hold national leadership and international recognition, while newer fields such as international trade and business administration attract growing numbers of overseas students. Since 1964, Jiangnan University has welcomed learners from over 80 countries. Its campus reflects an ecological design centred on waterways, with functional buildings and green spaces integrated across the site. The university maintains a consistent emphasis on academic quality as central to its mission.

Jilin University was founded in 1946. After decades of development and mergers of six higher education institutions, it became China’s largest comprehensive university by student enrollment, supported by national key projects including Project 211 and Project 985. It offers all 13 academic categories: Philosophy, Economics, Law, Education, Literature, History, Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Medicine, Management, Military Science, and Arts — with 124 undergraduate, 299 master’s, 237 doctoral, and 41 post-doc programs. Faculty: 6,568 members, including 2,058 full professors (1,186 doctoral advisors) and 24 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering (15 adjunct academicians). Full-time students: 68,957, including over 24,021 master’s/doctoral and over 43,024 undergraduates. Library collection: 6.59 million books; designated UNESCO, UNIDO, and World Bank library; CALIS center for Northeast China. About 2,000 international students from 98 countries study in 124 programs across 37 colleges (including School of International and Public Affairs, College of Humanities, Norman Bethune College of Medical Science, Economics School, and others). Popular programs include International Relations, Chinese language, World Economy, and Diplomacy

Jinan University, founded in 1906, was the first Chinese institution dedicated to education for overseas Chinese. It is one of China’s One Hundred Key Universities and operates under the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council. It has 27 colleges, 59 departments, 178 research institutions, and 77 laboratories. As of April 2014: 46,750 students total — 10,471 graduates on campus (1,214 doctoral, 7,977 master’s, 1,280 on-the-job master’s), 20,718 full-time undergraduates, and 11,532 overseas Chinese, foreign, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan students. supervisors, 502 professors, and 690 associate professors. International links: more than 300 bilateral agreements or exchange relationships worldwide; active exchange with 43 countries plus Hong Kong and Macau; offices in Hong Kong and Macau and an education foundation in Hong Kong. Main campus in Guangzhou covers about 1.69 million square meters

Lanzhou University in Lanzhou, several subjects ranked in the global ESI top 1%.

Liaoning University is a comprehensive university covering Chinese language and literature, history, philosophy, economics, law, foreign languages, art, natural science, engineering, and management. It is a Project 211 key university under the Ministry of Education. The university has 25 colleges, 62 undergraduate majors, 160 master’s disciplines, and authority to award 62 doctorates. International students have been admitted since 1965, from more than 94 countries including the USA, Japan, Russia, Korea, Italy, the UK, and France. Over 8,000 long-term and 3,000 short-term international students have studied here; about 700 international students are on campus at a time

Minzu University of China (MZUC) in Beijing's Haidian District is a national university designated for ethnic minority education and known for teaching and research across related fields.

Nanjing Agricultural University (NAU) is a Ministry of Education university in Nanjing with agriculture and life sciences at its core. It is a Double First-Class institution offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programmes across plant, animal, food, engineering, and social-science faculties. International students join degree and exchange pathways in food, environment, and rural development fields.

Nanjing Normal University (NNU) is a national key university under Project 211. Its history goes back to Sanjiang Normal Institute (1902). It has three campuses—Suiyuan (often called “the most beautiful campus in the East”), Xianlin, and Zijin—totaling more than 2,000,100 square meters (over 200 hectares). NNU has 24 schools and colleges, 80 undergraduate programs, 199 graduate programs, and 130 doctoral programs across humanities, social sciences, science, engineering, art, and related fields. In 2011 there were about 25,000 full-time students. It was among the earliest universities authorized by the Ministry of Education to open to the outside world and is a National Base for Teaching Chinese for Foreigners. International students have studied at NNU since 1965; more than 20,000 have completed study there. In 2011 it accepted 1,600 students from 123 countries and regions. It is a base for the Chinese Government Scholarship Students Foundation Program and is known for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. It has partnerships with 144 universities in 28 countries. The NNU library is the third largest in Jiangsu Province, with more than 2,500,000 books. Jingwen Library on Xianlin Campus is described as the largest university library in Jiangsu with advanced facilities.

The Institute for International Students handles international student enrollment at Nanjing University. It is a national test site for HSK, the Test of Practical Chinese (C.Test), and the Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (TCFL) Capability Test. It has hosted more than 10,000 international students from over 70 countries. Graduates have gone into politics, business, and scholarship. The Institute includes the Department of Chinese Language, the Department of TCFL, the Institute of Chinese-Foreign Culture Comparison Studies, the Postgraduates Center, and the Teaching Materials Center for TCFL. It offers Chinese language and culture programs, short-term language training, and degree programs (B.A., M.A., Ph.D.). Faculty: 33 full-time (23 professors or associate professors) plus over 30 adjunct faculty, experienced in teaching Chinese to foreign students. It has served as a training site for organizations including the Chinese Department of the UN, CIEE, the Chinese Teaching Association of the New York Area, and the American National Chinese Flagship Program, and works with foreign governments, companies, diplomatic services, the military, and schools. It offers Chinese language and culture programs and HSK prep courses; HSK candidates from the university have traditionally ranked highly.