Top 30 Chinese Universities Most Popular with International Students and Their Admission Difficulty

Top 30 Most Popular Chinese Universities for International Students & Application Difficulty Analysis

Planning to study in China but unsure which university to choose? This article presents the top 30 most popular Chinese universities among international students, analyzing their application difficulty, popular majors, and internationalization level to help you make an informed decision!

University Selection Criteria

Availability of English-taught courses
Chinese government and university scholarships
International student population and service quality
Location and cost of living
University's overall strength and international reputation
Program offerings aligned with career goals

Top 10 Chinese Universities for International Students (with Application Difficulty)

Peking University★★★★★

China's top academic institution, leading in research, offering various scholarships, with highly competitive admission.
Tsinghua University★★★★★

World-class technical university, excelling in engineering, biotechnology, and architecture.
Fudan University★★★★☆

Top-ranked comprehensive university in Shanghai, popular for management, international relations, and journalism.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University★★★★☆

Strong in science, engineering, and business, offering multiple English-taught graduate programs.
Wuhan University★★★★☆

Located in central China, known for beautiful campus, popular among international students for law, surveying, and information technology.
Zhejiang University of Media and Communications★★★☆☆

Located in Hangzhou, excels in film, media, and journalism, attracting many international art students.
Xiamen University★★★☆☆

High-value university, famous for humanities, business, and marine sciences, offering English-taught courses.
Tianjin University★★★☆☆

One of China's earliest modern universities, strong in engineering, actively expanding international cooperation.
Tongji University★★★☆☆

World-renowned for architecture and urban planning, located in cosmopolitan Shanghai with strong academic atmosphere.
Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine★★☆☆☆

Leading in TCM studies, offering specialized English courses for international students interested in natural medicine.

More Popular Chinese Universities (11-30)

Rank	University	City	Key Programs/Features
11	Nanjing University	Nanjing	Humanities, Biology, Materials Science
12	Harbin Institute of Technology	Harbin	Engineering, AI, Aerospace
13	Beijing Normal University	Beijing	Education, Psychology, Chinese
14	Soochow University	Suzhou	Medicine, Textile, Business
15	Sichuan University	Chengdu	Medicine, History, Language & Culture
16	Jilin University	Changchun	Automotive Engineering, Law
17	Xi'an Jiaotong University	Xi'an	Electrical Engineering, Energy
18	Beihang University	Beijing	Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering
19	Central South University	Changsha	Medicine, Mining Engineering
20	East China Normal University	Shanghai	Education, Psychology, International Relations
21	Southeast University	Nanjing	Architecture, Electronic Information
22	Chongqing University	Chongqing	Architecture, Management
23	Central University of Finance and Economics	Beijing	Finance, Economics
24	Northeastern University	Shenyang	Metallurgy, Materials, Mechanical Engineering
25	Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications	Beijing	Information Engineering, Communication Technology
26	Nankai University	Tianjin	Business, Economics, Chemistry
27	Jinan University	Guangzhou	Chinese Language, International Trade
28	Southwestern University of Finance and Economics	Chengdu	Finance, Accounting
29	Shanghai University	Shanghai	Design, Materials, Film Production
30	Hunan University	Changsha	Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Application Tips

Check language requirements: While many top universities offer English-taught programs, some courses may require basic Chinese proficiency.
Note application deadlines: Most undergraduate and master's programs accept applications from March to June, with some fall semester deadlines earlier.
Research scholarship options: Consider Chinese Government Scholarship, Silk Road Scholarship, and university-specific scholarships covering tuition and living expenses.
Prepare required documents: Transcripts, language test scores, recommendation letters, and personal statements are essential.

Want to learn more about these universities? Contact our study abroad consultants now!

Jun 07,2025