Are you considering studying in China? A public university may be a good option for your future academic plans.
International students have long considered China as a potential academic and professional destination. The country offers a wide range of educational opportunities, and students can compare affordable universities in China. Tuition varies considerably by university, degree level, and program, so prospective students should compare current fees and scholarship opportunities before applying.
Below, we highlight top public universities in China for prospective international students.
Top Public Universities in China
| University | Selected Academic Areas |
|---|
| Tsinghua University | Engineering, Science, Medicine, Humanities, Law, Management, Arts, and Global Affairs |
| Peking University | Economics, Finance, Public Health, and other comprehensive disciplines |
| Zhejiang University | Business Analytics, Innovation, Business Administration, Marine Sciences, and Biology |
| Shanghai Jiao Tong University | International Trade Law and broad undergraduate and graduate disciplines |
| Tongji University | Architecture, Medicine, and English-taught graduate disciplines |
| Fudan University | Medicine, Economics, Fintech, Data Science, Global Governance, and Journalism |
| Wuhan University | Journalism, Communication, Digital Marketing, Analytics, and broad multidisciplinary programs |
1. Tsinghua University
Established in 1911 as Tsing Hua Imperial College, Tsinghua University is a comprehensive research university in Beijing. Its official admissions overview currently lists 22 schools and 59 departments and states that undergraduate and graduate programs are taught in Chinese and English. Its academic fields include engineering, science, medicine, humanities, law, management, and the arts.
A recipient’s path: Noel Therattil, an Indian lawyer, completed a Master’s in Global Affairs through the fully funded Schwarzman Scholars Program at Tsinghua University. He concentrated on the essays in the first selection stage, starting about a month before the deadline and producing three iterations of each, then prepared for the interview by following international developments and listening to material outside his usual areas of focus. Therattil felt that presenting both achievements and failures, along with his experience working with government and on public-policy issues, helped make his case distinctive. View More Tsinghua University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Tsinghua University: Nick Peoples: became an Emergency Medicine resident physician in Boston and a clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School; Sachi Pilapitiya: went on to a PhD at The Ohio State University researching international political economy and international development.
2. Peking University
Founded in 1898 as the Imperial University of Peking, Peking University was China’s first modern institution of higher education and first national comprehensive university. It is now a comprehensive university in Beijing that offers programs and courses for international students, including English-taught options.
One student’s journey: Bijan Bhattarai moved from finance and nearly six years in Nepal’s banking sector into a Doctoral Degree in Economics at Peking University, supported by the Ministry of Finance scholarship under the Chinese Government Scholarship program. His application had three main stages: an SOP setting out his PhD motivation and possible dissertation areas, an online submission of academic credentials, and, after shortlisting, an in-person interview in Beijing. The scholarship covered tuition, first-year course books and lodging, plus a RMB 3,500 monthly stipend. View More Peking University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Peking University: Oluwaseyifunmi Valentina Oladipo: after completing her MPH, began working as a Nutritionist with the Lagos State Health Service Commission in Nigeria.
3. Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University was founded in 1897 and is based in Hangzhou. Its official facts page currently lists 41 colleges and schools, along with undergraduate, graduate, and international student communities. Graduate offerings at its School of Management include the 2.5-year Business Analytics and Innovation program, or BAI@QTEM, and the Global MBA Program.
Maria Annaliza Fraser’s path to Zhejiang University: Maria Annaliza Fraser used a fully funded MOFCOM Scholarship to complete an MSc in Marine Sciences, specializing in Biology, at Zhejiang University. The degree built on her undergraduate training in general biology while studying in China broadened her perspective on environmental management, development and international cooperation. After returning to professional life she worked in marine research, conservation and natural-resource management before later pursuing a second master’s in International Relations through Chevening. View More Zhejiang University recipients →
4. Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Founded in 1896, Shanghai Jiao Tong University is directly administered by China’s Ministry of Education and co-sponsored by the Shanghai Municipal Government. The university currently reports more than 2,800 international students. On its admissions page, prospective students can review available degree and non-degree programs, admissions requirements, application procedures, and scholarship information.
A recipient’s path: Stefan Pekić, a Serbian lawyer, completed a second master’s—an LL.M. in International Trade Law—at Shanghai Jiao Tong University with a fully funded Chinese Government Scholarship. He assembled tailored motivation letters, transcripts and recommendations from professors and employers, had the package officially translated into English, and prepared for IELTS while working full-time, ultimately scoring 7.5. Pekić believed his academic record and a motivation letter connecting China, Serbia and international trade helped distinguish his application. View More Shanghai Jiao Tong University recipients →
5. Tongji University
Tongji University traces its origins to the German Medical School established in Shanghai in 1907. It is a public university under the direct administration of China’s Ministry of Education. For 2026, official materials list annual tuition of CNY 33,800 for the English-taught Architecture International Class and CNY 45,000 for the English-taught MBBS program. Tongji’s current tuition table lists annual fees for English-taught graduate programs ranging from CNY 25,080 to CNY 154,000, depending on the program.
6. Fudan University
Fudan University was established in 1905 as Fudan Public School. Its current international admissions information includes Chinese-taught programs and multiple English-taught undergraduate programs, such as the MBBS, Undergraduate International Program in Economics, Global Bachelor of Fintech, Data Science and Big Data Technology, and International Organizations and Global Governance programs. Fudan also publishes separate listings for English-taught postgraduate programs and scholarships for international applicants.
A recipient’s path: Nicole, an Indonesian student, is enrolled in a Chinese-taught Bachelor’s in Journalism at Fudan University with a fully funded Chinese Government Scholarship. Coming from a trilingual high school, she prepared for IELTS and HSK to meet the language requirements and also worked through SAT and IGCSE material, relying on repeated past-paper practice to learn the test formats. She chose the Chinese-language journalism route to combine media training with language skills relevant to cross-border communication between China and Southeast Asia. View More Fudan University recipients →
7. Wuhan University
Wuhan University is a public university in Wuhan, Hubei Province, and is directly administered by China’s Ministry of Education. It was included in the former Project 985 and is included in the second-round Double First-Class initiative. International applicants should consult the university’s official admissions portal for current program offerings, entry requirements, application periods, and deadlines.
Pursuing higher education in China can give international students access to a broad selection of public universities and academic programs. Chinese Government Scholarships, local government scholarships, and university scholarships are available, but eligibility, coverage, and application procedures vary. Prospective students should confirm all program, tuition, scholarship, and visa information through current official sources before applying.
Iqra Tariq’s path to Wuhan University: Iqra Tariq completed a Master’s in Journalism and Communication at Wuhan University on the fully funded Chinese Government Scholarship, finishing with a 3.95 CGPA. She tracked scholarships, eligibility requirements, documents, deadlines and interview timelines in multiple spreadsheets, then tailored her motivation letter, SOP and CV to the programme and faculty research she wanted to pursue. After the master’s, she secured several PhD offers and chose the University of Eastern Finland, where she became a doctoral researcher in Digital Marketing and Analytics. View More Wuhan University recipients →
We hope that this list of top public universities in China has given you more options to explore when planning to study in China. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
