Top Universities in China for Computer Science

The recently released QS World University Rankings by Subject features 686 of the best universities to study computer science in the world – with 39 of these located in mainland China.   

The QS World University Rankings by Subject are based on five indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper, international research network and the H-index (a way of measuring the productivity and published work of a scientist or scholar). You can find more details about the methodology behind the subject rankings here.  

Read on to learn more about the top 10 computer science schools in Mainland China in 2023. 

Alternatively, if you would like to explore the computer science schools in further detail, click here to view the full table.  

Top 10 universities for computer science in China   Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023
Mainland China ranking	World ranking	Name of institution	Location
1	15	Tsinghua University	Beijing
2	19	Peking University	Beijing
3	27	Shanghai Jiao Tong University	Shanghai
4	36	Zhejiang University	Hangzhou
5	60	Fudan University	Shanghai
6	88	University of Science and Technology of China	Hefei
7	95	Huazhong University of Science and Technology	Wuhan
8	98	Xi’an Jiaotong University	Xi’an
9	110	Nanjing University	Nanjing
10	118	Beijing Institute of Technology	Beijing

10. Beijing Institute of Technology 

Image: Flickr (Michelle Sessoms)

The Chinese university securing 10th place on the list for its computer science course is Beijing Institute of Technology. The school earns its highest score for H-index citations followed by the second-highest score for research citations per paper indicator.  

Beijing Institute of Technology's computer science programme was established in 1958 and offered one of the first computer science programmes in mainland China. Throughout the course, students gain a deep understanding of both fundamentals and important current issues in computer science and computer engineering. 

9. Nanjing University 

Ranked 110th worldwide and ninth in mainland China for computer science this year is Nanjing University. The programme scores highly in the H-index citations and the research citations per paper indicators.  

Nanjing University’s department of computer science and technology was founded in 1958 and conferred the first doctoral degree in Computer Software in Mainland China.   

9. Xi’an Jiaotong University 

Ascending from the 251-300 ranking to 98th position globally, Xi’an Jiaotong University has showcased remarkable improvement this year. The university is acknowledged for delivering the eighth best computer science degree in mainland China in 2023, and the highest score achieved by them is for the H-index citations indicator.  

The course combines elements of electrical and electronic engineering with computer science to give students a competitive edge in the graduate job market. Graduates from the computer science school at Xi’an Jiaotong University have managed to secure employment by companies including IBM, Microsoft, Baidu, Tencent, Ali and Huawei, among others.   

8. Huazhong University of Science and Technology 

Seventh in mainland China and 95th globally is Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Wuhan. Its computer science programme boasts the highest score for H-index citations, securing an impressive 20th position globally for the same. 

Computer science students at HUST can participate in several international events including the Microsoft Imagine Cup, ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest, and the International Supercomputing Conference. These opportunities not only allow students to showcase their skills but also facilitate networking, contributing to the enhancement of their employability prospects. 

6. University of Science and Technology of China 

Image: Ryanli 

Ranked as the sixth-best Chinese university for computer science for another year, the University of Science and Technology of China is ranked 88th globally. The university excels particularly in the H-index citations indicator and is closely followed by the score for research citations per paper. 

Undergraduate computer science programmes at the University of Science and Technology of China typically takes four years to complete. The first two years focuses on fundamental theories and basic knowledge, with the final two years allowing the students the freedom to choose subjects according to their interests. 

5. Fudan University 

Fudan University in Shanghai has shifted down one spot to fifth in mainland China for computer science this year. Despite this, the university has made significant improvement globally, climbing up 11 places from 71st to being ranked 60th worldwide in the field of computer science. 

The highest scores achieved by the university are for H-index citations and research citations per paper, closely followed by the score for employer reputation. Fudan University has many notable alumni in the field of technology, including the president of the online services group at Microsoft, Qi Lu, and president of the Alibaba Group, Jianhang Jin.   

4. Zhejiang University 

Zhejiang University has demonstrated remarkable progress by ascending 36 places to secure 36th position globally, and advancing one spot to be rankedfourth in mainland China this year. The university excels across various indicators, with notable achievements in the H-index citations indicator. 

The university is in the city of Hangzhou, home to the Hangzhou Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (HHTZ). The HHTZ positions itself as the Silicon Valley of mainland China and is home to the headquarters of the Alibaba Group, mainland China's largest website in terms of market value.   

3. Shanghai Jiao Tong University 

Shanghai Jiao Tong University maintains third position in mainland China for computer science for another year while being ranked 27th globally. The university has earned the highest score in the H-index citations indicator, securing 14th position globally. 

The department of computer science and engineering at the university covers five core research areas: computer science theory, parallel and distributed computing, intelligence and human computer interaction, cryptography and information security and computer applications. 

2. Peking University 

Second in Mainland China and 19th in the world for computer science degrees is Peking University, located in the Chinese capital of Beijing. The university scores highly across all ranking indicators, particularly for the H-index citations and research citations per paper indicators. 

The School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) is the largest department at Peking University, with 12 research institutes and around 390 faculty members. 

1. Tsinghua University 

Tsinghua University continues to dominate as the top-ranked institution in mainland China for computer science, securing 15th position globally for another year. The university excels by achieving the highest scores in the country across four out of the five indicators, with a notable emphasis on the H-index citations for which it’s ranked second in the world. 

Students at Tsinghua’s computer science school get the chance to participate in the Tsinghua artificial intelligence programming contest, where they develop artificial intelligence programmes for gaming.   

FAQ 

What is the best computer science university in China? 

The best computer science university in China, based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023, is Tsinghua University, as it’s ranked 15th in the world for computer science. Not only that, the top four universities in China recognised and mentioned above for their computer science degrees have secured global ranks within the top 50, making China a desirable country for computer science degrees.   

What is the average salary of a computer science graduate in China? 

According to salary surveys conducted by ERI, the average salary for a computer science graduate in China is CNY 370,962 per year or CNY 178 per hour, according to salary surveys conducted by ERI. The salary range typically falls between CNY 255,593 and CNY 452,945.