Best universities in China 2024
Find out all about China’s top universities, and explore their world university ranking performance in 2024
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Top 10 universities in China 2024
Scroll down for the full list of best universities in China
China Ranking 2024 | World University Ranking 2024 | World University Ranking 2023 | University | Province/City |
1 | 12 | 16 | Tsinghua University | Beijing |
2 | 14 | 17 | Peking University | Beijing |
3 | 43 | 52 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | Shanghai |
4 | 44 | 51 | Fudan University | Shanghai |
5 | =55 | 67 | Zhejiang University | Hangzhou, Zhejiang |
6 | 57 | 74 | University of Science and Technology of China | Hefei, Anhui |
7 | 73 | =95 | Nanjing University | Nanjing, Jiangsu |
8 | =150 | =196 | Sichuan University | Chengdu, Sichuan |
9 | =158 | =176 | Huazhong University of Science and Technology | Wuhan, Hubei |
10 | =164 | 173 | Wuhan University | Harbin, Heilongjiang |
Tsinghua University and Peking University are the top two universities in China this year, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024. Both institutions are based in China's capital city of Beijing.
Directives including Project 211, Project 985 and the Double First Class University Plan – which aim to improve the standards of the top 100 and top 40 Chinese universities – combined with huge national investment have seen China’s educational reputation rocket in recent years.
And who wouldn’t want to study in China? Home to almost 20 per cent of the people on Earth, China has one of the fastest developing economies. From cuisine to culture, China offers a unique experience.
The huge country boasts some of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes on the planet, from the Rainbow Mountains in the Zhangye Danxia National Park to coastal fishing villages and vast cities that continue to expand.
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5. Zhejiang University
Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University is one of China’s oldest and most selective universities.
Research at the university covers 12 academic disciplines: agriculture, art, economics, education, engineering, history, law, literature, management, medicine, natural sciences and philosophy.
A number of research centres are located on campus, including six national engineering research centres, three national key research centres of humanities and social sciences and 13 academies of independent studies.
The university has strategic partnerships with more than 140 universities in 30 countries worldwide, including University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
4. Fudan University
Fudan University comprises four campuses in downtown Shanghai: Handan, Fenglin, Zhangjiang and Jiangwan.
The university takes a liberal arts approach to teaching, with a number of its courses taught in English.
Internationalisation is also a high priority at the institution with global connections and exchange programmes at almost 200 overseas universities including Sciences Po.
Students are also encouraged to go on international exchanges, with about 40 per cent electing to do this.
The university is extremely selective, with fewer than 0.2 per cent of National College Entrance Examination (gao kao) takers being accepted.
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3. Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Shanghai Jiao Tong University is a major research university located in Shanghai, China.
The university has 31 schools/departments, 31 research institutions, 13 affiliated hospitals, two affiliated medical research institutes, 20 directly affiliated units and five directly affiliated enterprises.
Subjects taught at the university include mechanical engineering, physics, astronomy, humanities, media and design, international and public affairs and medicine among others.
The university's International Student Union hosts a range of events, volunteering projects and activities to help international students connect with each other and the community.
2. Peking University
Peking University is a member of the C9 league, which is similar to the Ivy League group in the US, and is generally one of the highest ranked institutions in China.
It was the first modern national university in China, and since its founding in 1898, it has had a reputation as a leading educational institution.
The institution is renowned for its campuses in the Haidian district of northwest Beijing. It is home to some of the capital’s most prominent gardens and traditional architecture. Several gates lead in to campus, with the West Gate being the most well-known for the painted murals on its ceiling.
The university has established joint degree programmes with The University of Tokyo to encourage international student exchanges.
1. Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University is located in the Haidian district of northwest Beijing. It was established in 1911.
Its 20 schools and 54 departments cover disciplines in art, economics, education, engineering, history, management, medicine, law, literature, philosophy and sciences.
It retains much of its traditional architecture, juxtaposed with many buildings built in a Western style, reflecting the historical American influence on the campus.
In terms of life outside of studying, the university has more than 110 student associations covering science and technology, sport, arts and public welfare.
Many successful people in politics, academia and industry have graduated from Tsinghua University, including two Nobel prizewinners, physicists Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen Ning Yang.
Top universities in China 2024
Click on each institution to see its full World University Rankings 2024 results.
China Ranking 2024 | World University Ranking 2024 | World University Ranking 2023 | University | Province/City |
1 | 12 | 16 | Tsinghua University | Beijing |
2 | 14 | 17 | Peking University | Beijing |
3 | 43 | 52 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | Shanghai |
4 | 44 | 51 | Fudan University | Shanghai |
5 | =55 | 67 | Zhejiang University | Hangzhou, Zhejiang |
6 | 57 | 74 | University of Science and Technology of China | Hefei, Anhui |
7 | 73 | =95 | Nanjing University | Nanjing, Jiangsu |
8 | =150 | =196 | Sichuan University | Chengdu, Sichuan |
9 | =158 | =176 | Huazhong University of Science and Technology | Wuhan, Hubei |
10 | =164 | 173 | Wuhan University | Harbin, Heilongjiang |
11 | =168 | 351–400 | Harbin Institute of Technology | Beijing |
12 | =177 | 251–300 | Beijing Normal University | Shanghai |
13 | =185 | 251–300 | Tongji University | Shenzhen, Guangdong |
=14 | 201–250 | =166 | Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
=14 | 201–250 | 251–300 | Sun Yat-sen University | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
=14 | 201–250 | 401–500 | Tianjin University | Tianjin |
=17 | 251–300 | 501–600 | Beijing Institute of Technology | Beijing |
=17 | 251–300 | 301–350 | Nankai University | Tianjin |
=17 | 251–300 | 401–500 | South China University of Technology | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
=17 | 251–300 | 501–600 | Xi’an Jiaotong University | Xi'an, Shaanxi |
=21 | 301–350 | 501–600 | Beihang University | Beijing |
=21 | 301–350 | 351–400 | East China Normal University | Shanghai |
=21 | 301–350 | 501–600 | Northwestern Polytechnical University | Xi'an, Shaanxi |
=21 | 301–350 | 401–500 | Southeast University | Nanjing, Jiangsu |
=21 | 301–350 | 401–500 | Xiamen University | Xiamen, Fujian |
=26 | 351–400 | 601–800 | Chongqing University | Chongqing |
=26 | 351–400 | 401–500 | University of Electronic Science and Technology of China | Chengdu, Sichuan |
=26 | 351–400 | 401–500 | Hunan University | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
=26 | 351–400 | 401–500 | Shenzhen University | Shenzhen, Guangdong |
=26 | 351–400 | 401–500 | Southern Medical University | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
31 | 401–500 | 601–800 | Dalian University of Technology | Dalian, Liaoning |
=32 | 501–600 | 801–1000 | China University of Petroleum, Beijing | Beijing |
=32 | 501–600 | 801–1000 | Donghua University | Shanghai |
=32 | 501–600 | 601–800 | Jinan University | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
=32 | 501–600 | 601–800 | Shanghai University | Suzhou, Jiangsu |
=32 | 501–600 | 601–800 | Soochow University, China | Yangzhou, Jiangsu |
=32 | 501–600 | 801–1000 | Yangzhou University | Beijing |
=38 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Capital Medical University | Shanghai |
=38 | 601–800 | 1001–1200 | East China University of Science and Technology | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
=38 | 601–800 | 801–1000 | Guangdong University of Technology | Zhenjiang, Jiangsu |
=38 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Jiangsu University | Nanjing, Jiangsu |
=38 | 601–800 | 1001–1200 | Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics | Nanjing, Jiangsu |
=38 | 601–800 | 801–1000 | Nanjing Forestry University | Nanjing, Jiangsu |
=38 | 601–800 | 801–1000 | Nanjing Tech University | Shenyang, Liaoning |
=38 | 601–800 | 801–1000 | Northeastern University, China | Qingdao, Shandong |
=38 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Qingdao University | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
=38 | 601–800 | 801–1000 | South China Normal University | Suzhou, Jiangsu |
=38 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University | Xi'an, Shaanxi |
=38 | 601–800 | 1001–1200 | Xidian University | Xi'an, Shaanxi |
=38 | 601–800 | 501–600 | Zhejiang Normal University | Jinhua, Zhejiang |
=38 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Zhengzhou University | Zhengzhou, Henan |
=52 | 801–1000 | 501–600 | Changsha University of Science and Technology | Changsha, Hunan |
=52 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Chengdu University | Chengdu, Sichuan |
=52 | 801–1000 | NR | China University of Petroleum (East China) | Qingdao, Shandong |
=52 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Fuzhou University | Fuzhou, Fujian |
=52 | 801–1000 | 601–800 | Guangzhou University | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
=52 | 801–1000 | 601–800 | Guangzhou Medical University | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
=52 | 801–1000 | 1201–1500 | Harbin Engineering University | Harbin, Heilongjiang |
=52 | 801–1000 | 1001–1200 | Jiangnan University | Wuxi, Jiangsu |
=52 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology | Nanjing, Jiangsu |
=52 | 801–1000 | 1001–1200 | Nanjing Medical University | Nanjing, Jiangsu |
=52 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Nanjing Normal University | Nanjing, Jiangsu |
=52 | 801–1000 | 1201–1500 | North China Electric Power University | Beijing |
=52 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Northeast Normal University | Changchun, Jilin |
=52 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Shantou University | Shantou, Guangdong |
=52 | 801–1000 | 601–800 | Wenzhou University | Wenzhou, Zhejiang |
=52 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Wenzhou Medical University | Wenzhou, Zhejiang |
=52 | 801–1000 | 1001–1200 | Zhejiang Gongshang University | Hangzhou, Zhejiang |
=69 | 1001–1200 | 1001–1200 | China Pharmaceutical University | Nanjing, Jiangsu |
=69 | 1001–1200 | 1001–1200 | Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University | Fuzhou, Fujian |
=69 | 1001–1200 | 1001–1200 | Huaqiao University | Quanzhou, Fujian |
=69 | 1001–1200 | 1001–1200 | Northwest University | Xi'an, Shaanxi |
=69 | 1001–1200 | 1001–1200 | Shanghai Maritime University | Shanghai |
=69 | 1001–1200 | 801–1000 | Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics | Hangzhou, Zhejiang |
=75 | 1201–1500 | 1001–1200 | Jiangsu Normal University | Xuzhou, Jiangsu |
=75 | 1201–1500 | 1201–1500 | University of Shanghai for Science and Technology | Shanghai |
=75 | 1201–1500 | NR | University of South China | Hengyang, Hunan |
=75 | 1201–1500 | NR | Southwest Petroleum University | Chengdu, Sichuan |
=75 | 1201–1500 | 1201–1500 | Wuhan Textile University | Wuhan, Hubei |
=75 | 1201–1500 | 1201–1500 | Xiangtan University | Xiangtan, Hunan |
=75 | 1201–1500 | 1201–1500 | Xuzhou Medical University | Xuzhou, Jiangsu |
=75 | 1201–1500 | NR | Zhejiang Chinese Medical University | Hangzhou, Zhejiang |
=83 | 1501+ | 1501+ | Communication University of China | Beijing |
=83 | 1501+ | 1201–1500 | Jianghan University | Wuhan, Hubei |
=83 | 1501+ | 1501+ | Sichuan University of Science and Engineering | Zigong, Sichuan |
=83 | 1501+ | 1501+ | Yanshan University | Qinhuangdao, Hebei |