Universities

Beihang University (BUAA), formerly Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, was founded in 1952 as China's first university focused on aerospace technology. Since the 1950s it has been one of 16 key state universities. It has grown into a science and technology university with aerospace features, combining science, engineering, liberal arts, law, economics, management, and education. Doctoral programs in 49 fields, master's in 144 fields, bachelor's in 57 subjects. The university has 28 schools and about 130 professional laboratories, of which 35 are listed as state or ministry key laboratories. Campus is in western Beijing near Zhongguancun. International education began in the early 1990s. By the end of 2011, over 1,100 international students were enrolled, including over 700 degree students (doctoral, master, or bachelor).

Founded in 1940, Beijing Institute of Technology is a science- and engineering-focused university located in China’s capital. It comprises 19 schools and delivers 64 undergraduate, 196 graduate, and 95 doctoral programmes across disciplines including engineering, materials science, chemistry, physics, mathematics, business, law, design art, and foreign languages. The campus hosts over 27,000 full-time students, including more than 1,200 international students from 90 countries. With 3,504 faculty members—including academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering—the university maintains nine national key disciplines and five national key laboratories. Its academic structure integrates science, engineering, and liberal arts, with research activity concentrated in nationally designated centres and laboratories. BIT’s location in Beijing supports sustained engagement with national strategic priorities in technology and innovation.

Beijing Normal University (BNU) was founded in 1902. It is a major university in Beijing that has received strong national support, including through the "211" and "985" projects. Structure: 1 Faculty, 23 colleges and schools, 2 departments, and 37 institutes. BNU signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education and Beijing Municipal Government and became the 10th university on a special support list aiming for world prestige. It has 108 doctoral programs, 153 master's programs, 60 bachelor's programs, and 25 post-doctoral programs. It has 16 national key disciplines (5 general and 11 specialized). BNU has cooperative agreements with 300 institutions in over 30 countries, and over 50 student exchange partners in Asia, Europe, and North America. Joint Confucius Institutes are named with: University of Manchester (UK); San Francisco State University (US); University of Oklahoma (US); Université de Sherbrooke and Dawson College (Canada); Aalborg University (Denmark); University of Macerata (Italy); and the College of William and Mary (US).

Central South University stands in Changsha, a historic city in south-central China. Formed in 2000 through the merger of three institutions—including a pioneering medical school founded in 1914—the university brings together strengths in mineral resources, materials science, medicine, civil engineering, and transportation. It offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programmes across eleven academic fields, with 31 colleges and institutes, a graduate school, and three top-tier affiliated hospitals. Around 52,400 students study here, supported by approximately 20,000 staff. The university hosts 24 postdoctoral research stations and maintains academic links with more than 200 overseas universities and research organisations.

Chongqing University (CQU) is a key national university directly under the Ministry of Education. It is a “211 Project” and “985 Project” university with support from central and local government. Founded in 1929, CQU has 28 colleges, plus the Graduate School, the City College of Science and Technology, the College of Continuing Education, and the College of Networking Education. Total enrollment is about 50,000: about 20,000 master’s and doctoral students and 30,000 undergraduates. The university has 24 postdoctoral mobile stations, 133 doctoral programs, 256 master’s programs, 18 professional master’s programs (including MBA, EMBA, MPA, and master of engineering), and 89 bachelor’s programs across science, engineering, liberal arts, economics, management, law, agriculture, and education. Staff: about 5,400 faculty and staff, including about 2,700 full-time teachers; 3 members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and 12 contracted members from other institutions; 6 members of the Subject Appraisal Team of the Degree Committee under the State Council; 4 chief scientists of the National 973 Project; 4 state-level middle-aged or young experts with distinguished contribution; 500 doctorate supervisors; and 1,700 full professors and associate professors. CQU has exchange links with over 100 higher education institutions in about 20 countries, including the USA, England, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, Holland, Japan, South Korea, and Russia.

Dalian University of Technology (DUT) is a national key university under the Ministry of Education, in the coastal city of Dalian. It is strong in science and technology and also covers economics, management, applied liberal arts, foreign languages, and social sciences. It has a graduate school, 7 faculties, and 5 colleges, with about 32,000 full-time students. DUT has academic agreements with more than 120 higher education or research institutions in more than 20 countries and regions. The School of International Cultural Exchanges handles enrollment, teaching, and management of international students. About 6,000 students from 102 countries have studied at DUT for degrees or Chinese language training

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

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.

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 )

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Nankai University, founded in 1919 in Tianjin, is a major multidisciplinary university covering humanities, natural sciences, technology, life sciences, medical sciences, and the arts. It is a member of Project 985 and Project 211. The university has cooperative ties with about 300 colleges and research institutes in over 40 countries. Enrollment is about 24,000 students, including almost 3,000 international students. More than 10,000 foreign graduates have studied at Nankai. Alumni mentioned include Zhou Enlai and two Nobel Prize winners, along with well-known writers and historians. English-taught master’s programs and Chinese language study are available. Library: four main libraries and resource centres; about 3,822,000 volumes and 30 terabytes of e-books; book circulation service for students. Campus smart card covers library/teaching building access, canteen and supermarket payments, and city transport. Computer access includes 100+ library computers, school IT suites (Monday–Friday), and free campus Wi-Fi. Sports facilities include an Olympic-size swimming pool, outdoor stadium, running track, soccer and basketball courts, and 100+ tennis, table tennis, and badminton courts, plus clubs such as Kung Fu and Tai Chi. Tianjin is about 30 minutes by high-speed train from Beijing.

Northeastern University (NEU) was founded on 23 April 1923. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education and located in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province. It is a multidisciplinary university with a strong engineering focus, comprising a Graduate School, Qinhuangdao Branch, School of Continuing Education, 12 schools, and a Department of Physical Education. Programs: 55 majors; master’s degrees in 171 subjects plus MBA, MPA, and Engineering Master; doctorates in 81 subjects; 13 postdoctoral stations. Staff: 2,227 teachers and researchers, including 5 CAS/CAE academicians. Students: about 2,300 PhD students, 5,000 graduate students, and 22,200 undergraduates. International exchange: academic programs with 140 universities and institutes in 30 countries and regions; about 705 scholars invited as professors/adjuncts; more than 4,000 staff sent abroad for study, lectures, or cooperative research. Foreign students have been enrolled since 1950. The university can recruit Chinese Government Scholarship students independently. The School of International Exchange provides learning, living, and cultural facilities. Nearly 300 students from more than 50 countries study at NEU

Northwestern Polytechnical University is based in Xi’an, a city with deep historical roots as the seat of thirteen Chinese dynasties. Established in 1938, it has grown into a research-intensive university focused on science and technology, particularly in aeronautics, astronautics, and marine engineering. The university comprises 16 academic schools and delivers undergraduate, postgraduate, and postdoctoral programmes across technical and non-technical disciplines including humanities, economics, management, and law. It offers 54 undergraduate, 101 postgraduate, and 12 postdoctoral programmes. With over 28,000 students and more than 3,500 faculty members—including scholars from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering—NPU maintains a strong emphasis on technological innovation and interdisciplinary education. Its campus community reflects long-standing contributions to national scientific development since its founding.

Founded in 1924, Ocean University of China is located in Qingdao, a coastal city on the Shandong Peninsula with a mild climate and historic maritime character. Its position by the Yellow Sea informs its long-standing emphasis on marine science, atmospheric science, and related disciplines, while also maintaining teaching and research programmes in economics, law, engineering, pharmacy, agronomy, and the humanities. The university operates across two campuses in Qingdao, each embedded within the city’s academic and cultural environment. It hosts approximately 27,000 students, including over 1,300 international students from more than fifty countries, and is staffed by around 2,500 faculty members. Academic work spans eight disciplinary areas, with degrees offered at undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. The university falls under the direct administration of China’s Ministry of Education.

Established in 1898 in Beijing, Peking University is China’s first national university. Its campus hosts five faculties—Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, Medicine, and Information and Engineering—alongside 47 colleges and departments. The university offers over one hundred undergraduate programmes and more than five hundred graduate and doctoral programmes. With around 34,000 students including nearly 2,400 international learners from 80 countries, its academic community is both large and diverse. The teaching staff includes over 5,800 full-time faculty members, among them more than 1,700 professors and over 60 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering. Research infrastructure includes 11 national key laboratories, 46 state key laboratories, and a library holding 7.7 million volumes—the largest university library in Asia.

Renmin University of China (RUC) is a comprehensive research university focused on humanities and social sciences. Its predecessor was Shanbei Public School (1937), later North China Union University and North China University. It was formally established as Renmin University of China on 3 October 1950 — described as the first university founded by the new Chinese government — and is a Project 211 and Project 985 university, often called a flagship for social sciences and humanities education in China. Structure: 26 schools and 14 interdisciplinary research institutes, plus School of Physics, School of Continuing Education, and School of Education & Training; a satellite campus in Suzhou and a research institution in Shenzhen. Programs: 75 bachelor’s, 4 secondary bachelor’s, 183 master’s (including 33 offered autonomously by RUC), 124 PhD (including 31 autonomous); 20 first-level PhD disciplines and 18 postdoctoral mobile centers

Shandong University is among the founding institutions of modern Chinese higher education. Its main body, Shandong Imperial College (Shandong Da Xue Tang), was established in 1901 as the second national university in China after the Imperial University of Peking, and the first university founded and run under a chartered constitution. The university has 8 campuses in three cities — Jinan, Qingdao, and Weihai — covering over 533 hectares. It has 4 affiliated hospitals, 3 non-subordinate affiliated hospitals, and 11 teaching hospitals. Teaching and administrative staff number about 10,200 (including Weihai Campus and 3 affiliated hospitals). Full-time students total about 60,000: 41,437 undergraduates, 16,607 postgraduates, and 2,456 international students. Faculty include 1,107 professors, among them 907 Ph.D. supervisors. As a comprehensive university, it covers 13 general disciplines: philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, military science, management, and fine arts. It has 40 first-level doctoral programs, 55 first-level master’s programs, 28 professional doctoral and master’s programs, 116 undergraduate programs, and 38 mobile post-doctoral research stations. Key discipline figures include 2 national key first-level disciplines (including 8 second-level), 14 national key second-level disciplines, 3 key national second-level disciplines (incubating), and 70 provincial key disciplines )

Founded in 1896, Shanghai Jiao Tong University is one of China’s oldest universities and is based in Shanghai’s Minhang and Xuhui districts. It comprises 28 schools and departments, offering 64 undergraduate programmes across nine disciplinary areas including engineering, medicine, science, and management. The university hosts over 44,000 students, including nearly 6,000 international learners, and employs more than 2,800 full-time academic staff. Its research infrastructure includes eight state key laboratories and multiple national engineering research centres. SJTU awards degrees at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels across a broad range of disciplines, with particular depth in engineering and the natural sciences. The university operates several affiliated hospitals and maintains close ties with Shanghai’s municipal government and national education authorities.

Sichuan University (SCU), founded in 1896 and based in Chengdu, is a leading comprehensive university in western China. It offers a wide range of programmes across science, engineering, medicine, liberal arts, and management. International students study on undergraduate and postgraduate pathways across its main campuses.