The second most populous nation in the world, situated in East Asia, China is approaching world superpower status, and the sheer diversity of experiences available in China make it a fascinating location to visit. The universities in China now compete amongst the very best in the world, making it an attractive destination for international students.
The 3,000+ universities and colleges of China have very specific naming conventions, depending on their status, the focus of their academic work and their institutional affiliation. Understanding these conventions will help you to understand the type of each Chinese university.
The first important thing of note is that whilst the Ministry of Education of China imposes strict naming conventions on education institutions in China, these are only reflected in the Chinese names of these institutions. So whilst an institution may only be allowed to refer to itself as a college in its Chinese title, it may refer to itself as a university in its English language title.
The status of Chinese education institutions can be sorted into groups including the following:
Universities in China are also categorized by the subject areas of their academic focus. There are several subject categories, including:
In addition, universities in China may be either provincial, which aim to develop students whose skills will best serve development of local areas, or governmental, which aim to develop students whose skills will help to develop the country at large. There are also privately owned and run universities in China.
China is a nation of many (hundreds!) of related languages, with Mandarin Chinese (often called Standard Chinese) being the most widely spoken dialect. Standard Chinese is the official national language of China, bridging the gap between regional dialects.
Whilst Mandarin Chinese is the most commonly used language of tuition, many Chinese universities also offer bachelors and masters degrees taught in English, as part of the Chinese government’s drive to open China to global markets.
China has now fully established itself as a major force in education, with many world class universities.
University | Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2024 | Best Global Universities | QS World University Ranking |
Tsinghua University | 12 | 23 | 25 |
Peking University | 14 | 39 | 17 |
Shanghai Jiao Tong University | 43 | 89 | 51 |
Fudan University | 44 | 116 | 50 |
Zhejiang University | 55 | 93 | 44 |
University of Science and Technology of China | 57 | 102 | 137 |
Nanjing University | 73 | 123 | 141 |
Sichuan University | 150 | 304 | 355 |
Huazhong University of Science and Technology | 158 | 109 | 275 |
Wuhan University | 164 | 150 | 194 |
See below for a list of universities and higher education providers in China. Click on universities you are interested in below to read more and to see which courses are available for international students.
Browse higher education providers in China
Globalisation and Development BSocSc (Hons)
Globalisation and Development Programme, United International College (Beijing Normal University - Hong Kong Baptist University) China
Find out moreBahcelor of Software Engineering and Technology Bachelor Degree
Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA) China
Find out moreFood Science and Engineering Bachelor Degree
Jiangsu University Overseas Education College China
Find out moreEnvironmental Science BSc (Hons)
United International College (Beijing Normal University - Hong Kong Baptist University) China
Find out moreProgram of China and Chinese Business which is delivered in English, with twenty-four to forty eight credits for exchange students Other UG Award
Zhejiang Gongshang University China
Find out moreFinance (Actuarial Science and Risk Management) MEcon
University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) China
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