Best universities in China 2025
Find out all about the top universities in China based on the Times Higher Education World University Rankngs 2025
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Top 10 universities in China
Scroll down for the full list of best universities in China
| China Rank 2025 | World University Rank 2025 | World University Rank 2024 | University | Province/city |
| 1 | 12 | 12 | Tsinghua University | Beijing |
| 2 | 13 | 14 | Peking University | Beijing |
| 3 | =36 | 44 | Fudan University | Shanghai |
| 4 | =47 | =55 | Zhejiang University | Hangzhou, Zhejiang |
| 5 | 52 | 43 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | Shanghai |
| 6 | =53 | 57 | University of Science and Technology of China | Hefei, Anhui |
| 7 | 65 | 73 | Nanjing University | Nanjng, Jiangsu |
| 8 | =134 | =164 | Wuhan University | Harbin, Heilongjiang |
| 9 | =146 | =177 | Beijing Normal University | Beijing |
| 10 | =152 | =168 | Harbin Institute of Technology | Beijing |
Tsinghua University and Peking University are the top two universities in China this year, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025. 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.
Top 5 universities in China
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.
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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
Top universities in China 2025
Click on each institution to see its full World University Rankings 2025 results
| China Rank 2025 | World University Rank 2025 | World University Rank 2024 | University | Province/city |
| 1 | 12 | 12 | Tsinghua University | Beijing |
| 2 | 13 | 14 | Peking University | Beijing |
| 3 | =36 | 44 | Fudan University | Shanghai |
| 4 | =47 | =55 | Zhejiang University | Hangzhou, Zhejiang |
| 5 | 52 | 43 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | Shanghai |
| 6 | =53 | 57 | University of Science and Technology of China | Hefei, Anhui |
| 7 | 65 | 73 | Nanjing University | Nanjng, Jiangsu |
| 8 | =134 | =164 | Wuhan University | Harbin, Heilongjiang |
| 9 | =146 | =177 | Beijing Normal University | Beijing |
| 10 | =152 | =168 | Harbin Institute of Technology | Beijing |
| 11 | =154 | =185 | Tongji University | Shenzhen, Guangdong |
| 12 | =166 | =158 | Huazhong University of Science and Technology | Wuhan, Hubei |
| 13 | =183 | 201–250 | Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
| =14 | 201–250 | 251–300 | Beijing Institute of Technology | Beijing |
| =14 | 201–250 | 251–300 | Nankai University | Tianjin |
| =14 | 201–250 | =150 | Sichuan University | Chengdu, Sichuan |
| =14 | 201–250 | 201–250 | Sun Yat-sen University | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
| =14 | 201–250 | 201–250 | Tianjin University | Tianjin |
| =14 | 201–250 | 251–300 | Xi’an Jiaotong University | Xi'an, Shaanxi |
| =20 | 251–300 | 301–350 | Beihang University | Beijing |
| =20 | 251–300 | 301–350 | East China Normal University | Shanghai |
| =20 | 251–300 | 301–350 | Northwestern Polytechnical University | Xi'an, Shaanxi |
| =20 | 251–300 | 251–300 | South China University of Technology | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
| =20 | 251–300 | 351–400 | Southern Medical University | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
| =25 | 301–350 | 351–400 | Hunan University | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
| =25 | 301–350 | 301–350 | Southeast University | Nanjng, Jiangsu |
| =25 | 301–350 | 351–400 | University of Electronic Science and Technology of China | Chengdu, Sichuan |
| =25 | 301–350 | 301–350 | Xiamen University | Xiamen, Fujian |
| 29 | 351–400 | 351–400 | Shenzhen University | Shenzhen, Guangdong |
| =30 | 401–500 | NR | Beijing University of Chemical Technology | Beijing |
| =30 | 401–500 | 351–400 | Chongqing University | Chongqing |
| =30 | 401–500 | 401–500 | Dalian University of Technology | Dalian, Liaoning |
| =30 | 401–500 | 501–600 | Shanghai University | Shanghai |
| =34 | 501–600 | 501–600 | China University of Petroleum, Beijing | Beijing |
| =34 | 501–600 | 501–600 | Donghua University | Shanghai |
| =34 | 501–600 | 601–800 | Jiangsu University | Nanjng, Jiangsu |
| =34 | 501–600 | 501–600 | Jinan University (China) | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
| =34 | 501–600 | 501–600 | Soochow University, China | Yangzhou, Jiangsu |
| =34 | 501–600 | NR | University of International Business and Economics | Beijing |
| =34 | 501–600 | 501–600 | Yangzhou University | Beijing |
| =41 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Capital Medical University | Shanghai |
| =41 | 601–800 | 601–800 | East China University of Science and Technology | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
| =41 | 601–800 | 801–1000 | Fuzhou University | Fuzhou, Fujian |
| =41 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Guangdong University of Technology | Zhenjiang, Jiangsu |
| =41 | 601–800 | 801–1000 | Guangzhou University | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
| =41 | 601–800 | 801–1000 | Jiangnan University | Wuxi, Jiangsu |
| =41 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Nanjing Forestry University | Nanjng, Jiangsu |
| =41 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Nanjing Tech University | Shenyang, Liaoning |
| =41 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics | Nanjng, Jiangsu |
| =41 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Northeastern University, China | Qingdao, Shandong |
| =41 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Qingdao University | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
| =41 | 601–800 | 601–800 | South China Normal University | Suzhou, Jiangsu |
| =41 | 601–800 | 801–1000 | Wenzhou University | Wenzhou, Zhejiang |
| =41 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University | Xi'an, Shaanxi |
| =41 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Xidian University | Xi'an, Shaanxi |
| =41 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Zhejiang Normal University | Jinhua, Zhejiang |
| =41 | 601–800 | NR | Zhejiang University of Technology | Zhejiang |
| =58 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Changsha University of Science and Technology | Changsha, Hunan |
| =58 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Chengdu University | Chengdu, Sichuan |
| =58 | 801–1000 | 1001–1200 | China Pharmaceutical University | Nanjng, Jiangsu |
| =58 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | China University of Petroleum (East China) | Qingdao, Shandong |
| =58 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Guangzhou Medical University | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
| =58 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Harbin Engineering University | Harbin, Heilongjiang |
| =58 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Nanjing Medical University | Nanjng, Jiangsu |
| =58 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Nanjing Normal University | Nanjng, Jiangsu |
| =58 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology | Nanjng, Jiangsu |
| =58 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | North China Electric Power University | Beijing |
| =58 | 801–1000 | NR | Northeast Agricultural University | Harbin, Heilongjiang |
| =58 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Northeast Normal University | Changchun, Jilin |
| =58 | 801–1000 | NR | Southwest Jiaotong University | Chengdu, Sichuan |
| =58 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Wenzhou Medical University | Wenzhou, Zhejiang |
| =58 | 801–1000 | 801–1000 | Zhejiang Gongshang University | Hangzhou, Zhejiang |
| =73 | 1001–1200 | 1001–1200 | Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University | Fuzhou, Fujian |
| =73 | 1001–1200 | NR | Hangzhou Normal University | Hangzhou, Zhejiang |
| =73 | 1001–1200 | 1001–1200 | Huaqiao University | Quanzhou, Fujian |
| =73 | 1001–1200 | 1001–1200 | Northwest University (China) | Xi'an, Shaanxi |
| =73 | 1001–1200 | NR | Shanghai Normal University | Shanghai |
| =73 | 1001–1200 | 801–1000 | Shantou University | Shantou, Guangdong |
| =73 | 1001–1200 | 1001–1200 | Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics | Hangzhou, Zhejiang |
| =80 | 1201–1500 | NR | Changzhou University | Changzhou, Jiangsu |
| =80 | 1201–1500 | 1201–1500 | Jiangsu Normal University | Xuzhou, Jiangsu |
| =80 | 1201–1500 | 1201–1500 | University of Shanghai for Science and Technology | Shanghai |
| =80 | 1201–1500 | 1201–1500 | Wuhan Textile University | Wuhan, Hubei |
| =80 | 1201–1500 | 1201–1500 | Xiangtan University | Xiangtan, Hunan |
| =80 | 1201–1500 | 1201–1500 | Xuzhou Medical University | Xuzhou, Jiangsu |
| =80 | 1201–1500 | NR | Zhejiang Sci-Tech University | Zhejiang |
| =87 | 1501+ | 1501+ | Communication University of China | Beijing |
| =87 | 1501+ | 1501+ | Jianghan University | Wuhan, Hubei |
| =87 | 1501+ | NR | North University of China | Taiyuanc, Shanxi |
| =87 | 1501+ | NR | Shanxi Medical University | Shanxi |
| =87 | 1501+ | 1501+ | Sichuan University of Science and Engineering | Zigong, Sichuan |
| =87 | 1501+ | 1201–1500 | Southwest Petroleum University | Chengdu, Sichuan |
| =87 | 1501+ | NR | Yanbian University | Yanbian |
| =87 | 1501+ | 1501+ | Yanshan University | Qinhuangdao, Hebei |
