China is one of the most popular countries that offer international students an opportunity to get a world-class education with the experience of a unique culture. The best universities in the country, especially the ones that belong to the prestigious C9 League (sometimes referred to as the Ivy League of China), consistently rank as some of the best universities across the world. They are offering good research opportunities, well-developed English-taught programs, and high-paying scholarships such as the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC).
According to the international reputation, research productivity, and international student experience, we must consider the following 10 best universities in China for any future international student.
The 10 Best Chinese Universities to study in
The first positions of the list are controlled by the universities located in the cosmopolitan cities, Beijing and Shanghai. They provide the most academic services and an urban environment.
Peking University (Beijing)
Many people often consider PKU to be the most prestigious university in China, renowned for its natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences. It is an extremely selective and traditional and beautiful campus located in the fast-paced capital of Beijing. PKU accepts a large population of international students, and the university has leading positions in the world ratings.
Tsinghua University (Beijing)
Worldwide, people know Tsinghua as the direct competitor to PKU due to its dominance in the fields of Engineering, Computer Science, and Architecture. Many refer to it as the best alternative for international students searching for Master’s degrees in English across a broad spectrum of technical and business courses. Tsinghua believes in innovation and global leadership with a highly selective Schwarzman Scholars program.
Fudan University (Shanghai)
Fudan is ranked as one of the most outstanding schools in terms of humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and medicine since it is in the global finance and trade center of Shanghai. It is also a large hub of cultural interactions and has good programs for individuals wishing to learn Chinese language in addition to the primary courses.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai)
SJTU is a research-intensive university, especially in the strength of the fields of Engineering, Business, and Medicine. It is also reputed to have a large range of international collaboration with other institutions (such as MIT and Columbia) and offer a great amount of exchange and joint programs, which makes it a great place to choose as a globally oriented career.
Zhejiang University (Hangzhou)
ZJU is highly benefited with the respect of innovative research and entrepreneurship. But it is located in the picturesque and creative city of Hangzhou. It is a big, full-fledged university with a wide range of high-ranking programs and highly recruits foreign students frequently getting a high figure of CSC students.
Powerhouse of Regional Excellence and Research

The following category of the institutions is not different as it keeps the trend of the high global ratings, but they have regional advantages and strengths.
University of science and technology of china (Hefei)
USTC, a prestigious research center, actively engages in frontier science, technology, and engineering. It has also established itself as academically rigorous and is one of the smaller, more research-oriented universities on this list. USTC is one of the major destinations of applicants to ANSO Scholarship.
Nanjing University (Nanjing)
Nanjing University is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in China, especially in basic science and humanities. It is situated in Nanjing. The city of strong historical background, which offers both high acculturation and cultural background.
Wuhan University (Wuhan)
The campus of WHU is also beautiful (and especially the cherry blossoms), and has a very international outlook, having a wide range of student populations. It is ranked highly in other disciplines such as Engineering, Medicine and Law. This makes it an all-encompassing option beyond the Beijing-Shanghai axis.
Harbin Institute of Technology (Harbin)
HIT also stands out for its superiority in the field of Engineering, particularly in Aerospace, Civil, and Mechanical Engineering. The university occupies a location in the northern city of Harbin. It attracts students who seek technical and industrial innovation. It maintains a high position in the global ranking of engineering subjects.
Tongji University (Shanghai)
Tongji is located in Shanghai and it has specifically well-known programs in Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Urban Planning. It enjoys a high reputation of international cooperation particularly with European universities, hence popular among students in these majors.
How to be successful in admission with scholarship100
Admission in any of these 10 best universities and especially having a fully-funded scholarship is a hyper competitive event. Such establishments not only require excellent grades but also an extremely refined resume that exhibits a bright academic career path and career prospects.
The criteria are high: You should have strong research proposals (in case of graduate students), excellent personal statements, and, in most cases, a high level of language proficiency (either English, through IELTS/TOEFL, or Chinese, through HSK).
This is where the Scholarship 100 comes in. We are experts at negotiating the complicated system in China of applications.
- Targeted School Selection: We can assist you in matching your profile with the right university and program in which you have the best opportunity, either the prestige of Tsinghua or the research orientation of USTC.
- University Scholarship Placement: CSC is the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) that is a highly sought-after scholarship that will position your application strategically so that it will be connected to one of these elite universities.
- Document Perfection: Our consultants painstakingly polish your Study Plan and Statement of Purpose, and make your story convincing, professional and fitting the requirements of the C9 League admissions committees.
You should not leave your ambition of studying in a Chinese academic giant by chance. It is a worldwide competition and only the applications that are best prepared can make it.
You are now ready to accept into one of the top 10 universities in China?
Pull out your mobile and schedule a consultation with Scholarship100 today and start sending your application to the most competitive schools in the world!


