Complete Guide to Chinese Universities || Which Are The Very Best

Chinese Universities || Where Is Best & What’s The Deal?

Today we discuss some important FAQ’s about how to get into Chinese Universities, and the very best ones in the whole of China, amongst other things of use as well.

Have you ever thought about going abroad for an educational degree? For many foreigners, China is becoming a very attractive country to study in.

In the most populous country in the world, the need of educational institutions is of course massive and therefore provides plenty of opportunities.

With over 2,500 universities, China offers a wide range of institutions, focusing on many different areas.

Not only the number of institutions is increasing, but the quality of education is also worth mentioning, since more and more top universities pop up on the radar.

This is about giving not only Chinese natives great opportunities for education, but also people from all over the world!

So, why not consider studying a semester, or even for the whole degree, in China?

It is worth noting that Chinese universities can be, in certain aspects, quite different to your home university.

That’s why we want to give a little insight into how universities in China work, how far China offers opportunities to foreigners and finally we will show you the top universities in the country.

Chinese Universities || The Study System

Chinese Universities || Can Foreigners Study in China?

Chinese Universities || How Much Are Tuition Fees?

Chinese Universities || The Best Universities in China

Chinese Universities || FAQs

Chinese Universities | The Study System

Generally, the academic year in Chinese universities consists of two semesters: the fall semester (which starts around September) and the summer semester (which starts around February/March). 

The degrees are also divided into Bachelor and Master programs.

The undergraduate program, which leads to a bachelor’s degree usually takes around 8 semesters. The postgraduate program, which leads to the master’s degree takes 4 to 6 semesters.

Lectures and tutorials are the major form of teaching. Courses then usually end with exams (no matter what the major or degree) and attendance is mandatory. 

Looking from an outsiders perspective, to be admitted to a university is quite tough for Chinese students, as they have to take the Gāokǎo 高考 examination (which is the most important exam for Chinese High-School students and widely regarded to be the hardest one in the world)!

There is no fail or pass.

Instead Chinese universities set a minimum score, that a student needs to have in order to apply.

This number depends on province, major and the competition. So in order to get a high score to attend a top Chinese University, students need to work extremely hard during their entire school studies. No pressure, right?!

Prestigious universities require higher scores and therefore have higher admission standards.

Due to this, the competition is very fierce. Since it all depends on the result of the Gaokao, it unfortunately leads to high pressure on students already early on.

However, once a student graduates from a prestigious university, it is very likely that they will get the job of their choosing. High stakes, high pressure.

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Chinese Universities | Can Foreigners Study in China?

So with all that said and done, is it even possible for foreigners to apply for Chinese universities?

The answer is yes, it is possible.

In fact, more and more foreign students are welcomed to do an exchange program or even to obtain a complete degree in China.

Generally, there are other requirements for foreigners, since the Gaokao is solely a Chinese thing. These requirements depend on the program and the university you want to apply to.

You will need a qualification for university entrance, such as A-Levels or a High School Diploma.

If you decide to study a Chinese taught program, you have to provide that your Chinese level is above HSK 4, but more often HSK 5 or 6 would apply.

However this is totally up to the university. If your degree is taught in English, a HSK is not required.

BUT, if you’re not a native speaker of English, you will need to provide an English proficiency test certificate. 

Chinese Universities | How Much Are Tuition Fees?

This again fully depends on the Chinese university and the program.

However, comparing fees to other countries, it is about par.

International students have to pay around 2,000-5,000 EUR for tuition per year, Mainland Chinese Nationals usually have to pay less.

Compared to the tuition in the US or the UK, this might sound like a reasonable price, but compared to some European countries’ tuition fees, it appears rather high.

Either way, you might want to check if you qualify for a scholarship.

Additionally, depending on your living standards, the living costs are comparatively low in China (if you choose to stay on campus for instance). 

Chinese Universities | The Best Universities in China

This isn’t quite as easy to answer, because what makes a university a good university?

Of course, it always depends on many different factors. There are many, many Chinese universities to choose from. There are around 90 public colleges and universities in Beijing alone!

Therefore, some kind of ranking is helpful to get a little overview. Just like the American Ivy League, there is an alliance of the 9 best universities in China, the C9 League.

Here are the 3 top-universities from the C9 League.

#1 Tsinghua University (清华大学)

Tsinghua University (清华大学), is located in the northwest of Beijing and is considered as one of the most prestigious and influential universities in China.

It was established in 1911 and has more than 300 research institutions.

It is very popular among foreigners, since it offers a great selection of courses taught in English.

Tsinghua is also known to have one of the most beautiful campuses in China.

In 2020, out of the over 53,000 students, a total of 4,000 students are from abroad.

Currently, Tsinghua University is ranked #17 in the QS World University Rankings®. 

#2 Peking University (北京大学)

Peking University (北京大学), which is also located in Beijing, is the biggest competitor to Tsinghua for China’s best university.

It was established in 1898 and has around 40,000 students.

Just like Tsinghua it offers a beautiful campus with a combination of traditional and Western styles.

Currently it is ranked #18 in the QS World University Rankings®, just one place behind Tsinghua.

#3 Zhejiang University (浙江大学) 

Zhejiang University (浙江大学) is located in the city of Hangzhou and is one of the oldest universities in China.

It was established in 1897 and consists of seven campus and it houses one of the largest libraries in China, with 7.08 m volumes!

Out of the over 60,000 students, around 5,500 international students found their way to Zhejiang. 

To complete the C9 list, these are the remaining Chinese universities:

• #4 – Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai)
• #5 – Fudan University (Shanghai)
• #6 – University of Science and Technology of China (Hefei)
• #7 – Nanjing University (Jiangsu)
• #8 – Harbin University of Technology (Heilongjiang)
• #9 – Xi’an Jiaotong University (Shaanxi)

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Ever wondered what it’s like to study Chinese and live in a small city? Away from the bright lights of Beijing and Shanghai? Find out with Chris’ story.

Remember, if you want to come and study Chinese in China, you can choose between a Chinese university or a private language school, just like us at LTL!

If you are unsure on the benefits of each, we created this excellent guide comparing Uni’s in China vs Private Language Schools.

If you are interested in studying Chinese at any one of our schools, then drop us a message and we’ll get the ball rolling straight away!

Happy studying everyone and we hope you found this guide about Chinese universities handy 🙂

Chinese Universities | FAQs

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