Study in mainland China

Top universities in mainland China

Mainland China has over 70 institutions ranked in the QS World University Rankings. Notable universities include:

Tsinghua University

Tsinghua University is in the Chinese capital of Beijing and is a member of the elite C9 League. Established in 1911, Tsinghua University now has a community of just over 46,000 students, including nearly 2,700 from outside of China.

Peking University

A consistent contender among the top universities in China, Peking University is a prestigious research university belonging to China’s C9 League. Established in 1898 and located in Beijing, Peking University admits a high number of international students every year and has maintained a partnership with Germany’s Freie Universität Berlin since 1981. As well as its leading academic offering, Peking University’s campus grounds are loved for their traditional Chinese architecture.

Fudan University

Fudan University is spread across four campuses in Shanghai, one of the nation’s largest hubs of finance and trade. Another member of the C9 league and also currently ranked sixth in Asia, Fudan University has a current enrollment of just under 32,000 students and is known as one of China’s most selective schools.

Top student cities in mainland China

Ready to study in mainland China? Find out more about life in some of the major student cities:

Beijing

Beijing is one of the most populous cities in the world, home to over 24 million people. With plenty of nightspots and cultural attractions to choose from, international students certainly won’t have any difficulty finding opportunities to become immersed in local culture while practicing their Mandarin. For those not fluent in the language, many signs are written in English.

Out of the Chinese institutions featured in the QS World University Rankings, most are based in Beijing, the Chinese capital. This includes Tsinghua University which offers a selection of master’s programmes in English and Peking University which aims to increase the number of programmes taught in English in order to attract more international students.

The university is also accepting more students through the Confucius Institute Scholarship Program, which aims to promote Chinese language and culture around the world.

Shanghai

Although Shanghai may be expensive, this also means it’s where many of the jobs are, which may make it attractive for those hoping to find a part-time job during studies, or full-time employment after graduation.

Homesick international students in Shanghai can visit one of the 'copycat' towns in the suburbs around the city to get a fix of their own culture. These include Spanish, British, Scandinavian, Canadian, Dutch, Italian and German settlements. Perhaps the best known is Thames Town, an eerily quiet English replica complete with cobbled streets, old English pubs and a statue of Sir Winston Churchill… all labeled with Chinese signs.

Top universities in Shanghai include Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Tongji University. The first two are in the C9 league of elite universities, indicating that China’s ambition of creating something like a US Ivy League is showing results.

Xi'an

Xi'an is one of the oldest cities in Mainland China, with enough precious relics and historical sites to keep history devotees happy throughout their studies. One of the most famous and impressive sites is the Terracotta Warriors, which were made to be buried with the First Emperor Qin Shihuang, so they could serve him in the afterlife.

Universities in Xi’an include Xi'an Jiaotong University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Northwest University, and Xian International Studies University, all of which have focused on establishing international relations with other institutions worldwide.

Shandong

The hometown of Confucius, the Shandong Province in eastern China, where you’ll find student cities such as Jinan and Qingdao, now has a combined population of 99 million. There’s plenty going on all year round, including festivals, opera, arts and crafts. The Shandong style of cuisine is also generally accepted as the most popular in China. Universities in Shandong include Shandong University, one of the largest in Mainland China. Others are the Ocean University of China, Shandong Jianzhu University, Shandong Normal University and the University of Jinan.

Cost of living in mainland China

Inevitably for an economy that is growing so quickly, the cost of living in mainland China is not quite as cheap as it used to be. But tuition fees are relatively low. The above table outlines the cheapest Chinese cities to live in according to typical living costs.

Admission to universities in mainland China

To apply for a place at a university in China, international students can use the centralised CUCAS (China’s University and College Admission System) website, or apply directly to the university. International students can also choose to apply for a Chinese Government Scholarship Program, and will find information about this on the CUCAS site.

Chinese visa requirements

After being offered a place at a Chinese university, you’ll need to head to your local Chinese embassy, and apply for a visa appropriate for your length of stay. Chinese visa requirements state that for a stay of six months or more, you will need a study visa (or X1 visa). For less than six months, an X2 visa will do. If you do not receive your admission package in time, you may be able to apply for a tourist visa (L-visa) and convert this to a student visa when you arrive.

Languages in mainland China

Major languages in mainland China include Cantonese, Hokkien and of course Mandarin (also known as Putonghua) – which is the world’s largest language by number of speakers. Given China’s growing stature on the world stage, it is obviously going to enhance your employability if you know your way around Mandarin.

However, don’t worry if it seems like a tall order to study in a language that can seem completely opaque for the non-speaker. Many universities in China offer courses taught in English, and you’ll also find that many Chinese people speak English. If you choose to study in China in English, you won’t need to prove your fluency in Mandarin, but you may need to submit the results of a test of English proficiency such as IELTS or TOEFL.

If you decide that maybe you want to tackle a course in the native tongue, you will need to provide adequate Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK – Chinese proficiency test) results. You will usually need to reach level 3-8 (there are a total of 11), depending on your university and course. There are test centres around the world, so you shouldn’t have to travel too far. And there’s always the option of doing an intensive language course in China, which will also help you to get to grips with the place itself.