China is home to universities with wide-ranging engineering schools, departments, and research units. This guide to studying in China provides additional background for international students considering engineering programs.
If you are interested in civil, mechanical, electrical, energy, materials, or computer-related fields, compare the official program pages below before applying. Program availability, degree levels, language of instruction, tuition, and scholarship terms can change. Let’s take a look at the top universities for engineering in China.
Top Schools Offering Engineering Programs in China
1. Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University is located in Beijing and was established in 1911. Its official schools and departments page lists engineering-related units including the School of Civil Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Aerospace Engineering, School of Environment, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, and Department of Chemical Engineering.
Because engineering offerings are distributed across multiple academic units, prospective students should use the official department and admissions pages to confirm current majors, degree levels, and language-of-instruction options.
2. Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Founded in 1896, Shanghai Jiao Tong University offers engineering-related study through multiple schools and colleges. Its official international portal provides current degree-program, scholarship, and application information for prospective international students.
3. Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University (ZJU) lists nine units in its Engineering grouping: the School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Energy Engineering, College of Electrical Engineering, College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Ocean College, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Department of Polymer Science and Engineering.
ZJU also lists information-technology-related academic units, including colleges and schools focused on optical science, electronic engineering, control science, computer science, and software technology. Applicants should review the relevant unit’s official page for current program details.
4. Harbin Institute of Technology
Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) was founded in 1920 in Harbin. According to its official introduction, HIT is overseen by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and maintains campuses in Harbin, Weihai, and Shenzhen.
HIT describes itself as a multidisciplinary, research-oriented national university. Students interested in engineering should consult its official academic and admissions pages to confirm the current programs offered at each campus.
What Current Students / Alumni of Harbin Institute of Technology Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Sohaib Bin Altaf Khattak
PhD in Information and Communication Engineering | His doctoral coursework and research were conducted entirely in English, continuing his specialization in telecommunications and wireless communication. Reflecting on his experience, he emphasized choosing a research group and supervisor whose work closely matches the applicant’s interests. | He valued HIT’s multicultural campus and found its international community helpful for settling in and building friendships. Learning basic Mandarin helped him connect with local people. |
5. Peking University
Peking University offers engineering-related study through academic units listed by its official course pages. These include the School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering, and College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering.
6. University of Science and Technology of China
The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) was established by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing in 1958 and relocated to Hefei in 1970.
USTC’s School of Engineering Science includes the Department of Safety Science and Engineering, Department of Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instruments, and Department of Modern Mechanics. Applicants should review the relevant department pages for current degree options and admissions information.
7. Tianjin University
Established in 1895 as Peiyang University, Tianjin University traces its history to China’s first modern university. The institution was renamed Tianjin University in 1951.
Engineering offerings vary by school and degree level. Applicants should use the official program and admissions pages to confirm current majors, language-of-instruction options, and scholarship terms.
In a Global Scholarships profile, Gulzeb Rajput, a QHSE professional from Pakistan who completed a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering at Tianjin University, explained that his studies “helped me deepen my technical knowledge and research skills, enabling me to contribute effectively to sustainable development and decarbonization initiatives.” He also emphasized the academic quality behind that growth, noting, “I rate the institution highly because of its experienced faculty, strong research opportunities, and supportive learning environment,” and adding that it “effectively combines theory and practical skills.” These comments reflect one graduate’s experience of the program.
Gulzeb also described his time at the university as “enriching and rewarding,” highlighting “helpful professors and a welcoming international student community.” He said Tianjin University gave him “the valuable opportunity to present my research work at an international conference,” which “greatly boosted my confidence and professional development.” His comments illustrate the campus and professional-development support he experienced as an international student.
What Current Students / Alumni of Tianjin University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Gulzeb Rajput
Master’s in Environmental Engineering
2017–2020 | His master’s studies developed his expertise in environmental technologies, sustainability, and research techniques, with classes conducted in English. He also presented his research at an international conference through an opportunity provided by the university. | He found the international student community welcoming and said living in the international dormitory helped him connect with people from diverse backgrounds. He described the environment as supportive during his adjustment to university life. |
Rahool Dembani
MS in Software Engineering
2017–2020 | His master’s thesis developed deep-learning models for facial-expression recognition and face recognition, giving him hands-on experience with advanced neural-network architectures. Looking back, he wished he had built academic networks earlier and aimed for a stronger publication record from his master’s work. | — |
8. Fudan University
Fudan University was established in 1905 as Fudan Public School. According to the university’s official profile, Fudan has 11 faculties, including engineering, and was selected for the Double First-Class University Plan in 2017.
Fudan’s admissions pages provide current information about its degree programs. Prospective engineering students should confirm the available majors, language of instruction, and admissions requirements on the relevant official program pages.
9. Nanjing University
Nanjing University offers engineering-related study through several academic units. Its official schools and departments page lists the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, with departments in materials science and engineering, quantum electronics and optical engineering, biomedical engineering, and energy science and engineering.
The university also lists engineering-related units in areas such as chemical engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, electronic science, environmental engineering, and geological engineering. Students should consult the official admissions pages for current program-specific details.
10. Chongqing University
Chongqing University (CQU) is included in China’s Double First-Class initiative. A March 2024 article on the university’s official website states that mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and civil engineering are supported disciplines under the initiative and discusses CQU’s wider engineering portfolio.
The university offers engineering-related study in areas including mechanics, electrical engineering, civil engineering, energy science and engineering, automation, resources and safety engineering, optoelectronic engineering, environmental engineering, computer science, and communications engineering. Applicants should consult the official program pages for current degree and admissions details.
In a Global Scholarships profile, Ph.D. scholar Anees Ahmad from Pakistan describes his academic journey at CQU as “immensely rewarding.” He emphasizes access to laboratories and computational resources, as well as the focus on renewable energy and sustainability in his area of study. His comments provide one student’s perspective on CQU’s research environment.
He also highlights the international-student support he experienced, including a dedicated International Student Office, Mandarin courses, and a student community. His experience illustrates the type of support one student received; applicants should confirm currently available services directly with the university.
What Current Students / Alumni of Chongqing University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Anees Ahmad
PhD in Power Engineering and Engineering Thermodynamics
Research interests: renewable energy, waste-to-energy conversion, and resource recovery | He described access to advanced laboratories and computational resources as crucial to his doctoral research. When choosing a supervisor, he matched his energy-research interests with the professor’s ongoing projects and presented a research concept connecting his previous expertise to the laboratory’s work. | He enjoyed cultural immersion in Chongqing and interacting with local and international students. University cultural events and trips helped make his transition to life in China smoother. |
11. University of Science and Technology Beijing
The University of Science and Technology Beijing, or USTB, is located in Beijing’s Haidian District. Its engineering provision includes materials, metallurgy, mining, mechanical systems, and infrastructure. Relevant teaching units include the School of Resources and Safety Engineering, School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, and School of Future Urban Studies.
Undergraduate engineering options include Materials Science and Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mining Engineering, and Environmental Engineering. The current catalog also lists Intelligent Mining Engineering, Robotics Engineering, and Energy Storage Science and Engineering. Its international brochure identifies Environmental Engineering as an English-taught bachelor’s option; Materials Science and Engineering is also listed under English-taught provision but carries a Chinese proficiency requirement.
Master’s and doctoral programs are separately available in Materials Science and Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Science and Engineering. Other graduate fields include Control Science and Engineering and Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics. USTB lists standard study durations of two to three years for master’s programs and three to five years for doctoral programs, with the applicable period depending on the qualification.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Science and Technology Beijing Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Syed Nadeem Gillani
Master’s in Environmental Science and Engineering
Thesis focus: metal oxide nanoparticle toxicology | His thesis investigated the toxicological effects of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles using MTT and LDH cytotoxicity assays. He gained hands-on experience with analytical instruments including ICP-MS, LC-MS, GC-MS, SEM, and TEM, developing skills in environmental toxicology and risk assessment. | — |
12. Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications
Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, or BUPT, offers engineering education in Beijing with a particular focus on communications, electronics, computing, and automation. Relevant academic units include the School of Information and Communication Engineering, School of Electronic Engineering, and School of Intelligent Engineering and Automation.
The university’s international undergraduate catalog lists Communication Engineering, Information Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (Digital Intelligence), Robot Engineering, and Automation among its Chinese-taught options. Separately, its joint education arrangement with Queen Mary University of London offers dual-award bachelor’s programs, including Electronic Information Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering with Management, and Internet of Things Engineering. These joint programs have their own admission arrangements and should be distinguished from BUPT’s standard international admissions routes.
Master’s programs include Information and Communication Engineering, Optical Engineering, Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Control Science and Engineering. Doctoral options are independently listed in fields including Information and Communication Engineering, Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering. The international catalog also identifies English-taught doctoral options in communications, electronic science, and optical engineering, so teaching language should be assessed for the specific degree.
What Current Students / Alumni of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Zahid Iqbal
Master’s in Electronic Science and Information Engineering, 2018–2020
PhD in Electronic Science and Technology, completed 2025 | His electronics studies combined coursework, laboratory work, and independent research using advanced facilities, with supervisor feedback on research direction, academic writing, and publications. Classes, research discussions, presentations, and thesis work were conducted in English, which he said was sufficient for academic communication in his programs. | He initially struggled with adjusting to a new country, academic system, and lifestyle, but support from classmates, teachers, and university staff helped. He valued the multicultural community and administrative guidance during registration and settling in. |
13. Nanjing University of Science and Technology
Nanjing University of Science and Technology, commonly abbreviated NJUST, offers engineering education in Nanjing, Jiangsu. Its academic structure includes the School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Electronic and Optical Engineering, and School of Computer Science and Engineering. These units support several distinct engineering pathways.
The 2026 international undergraduate catalog lists Mechanical Engineering, Vehicle Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Robotics Engineering, and Aircraft Design and Engineering. Other options include Chemical Engineering and Technics, Electronic and Information Engineering, Software Engineering, and Microelectronics Science and Engineering. These are full undergraduate majors rather than individual modules. The listed examples are Chinese-taught, making the teaching language an important distinction for international applicants.
Graduate provision includes a master’s program in Mechanical Engineering and doctoral programs in Mechanical Engineering and other engineering disciplines. The mechanical engineering doctoral curriculum identifies research directions such as digital design and manufacturing, intelligent robots, precision transmission, and microelectromechanical systems. Students complete advanced coursework and dissertation-related requirements. These research qualifications should be distinguished from the university’s short international summer programs, which do not award engineering degrees.
What Current Students / Alumni of Nanjing University of Science and Technology Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Ana T. Paredes
Bachelor’s in Materials Science and Engineering
2014–2018 | Her program included classes on drones, 3D design and printing, and innovative materials technologies. She described the degree as taught in English, with a mandatory Chinese-language course alongside her engineering studies. | Studying at NJUST was her first experience living abroad, which she found culturally enriching. Accommodation, orientation, and learning Chinese helped her integrate into campus and everyday life. |
Dr. M. Amjad Iqbal
Master’s in Engineering (Information Systems)
September 2017–July 2020 | He said the research experience gained during his master’s in China strengthened his interest in practical engineering research, particularly microwave remote sensing and radar imaging. His selected program was taught mostly in English. | He described China as appealing for its quality of life and expressed a desire to settle there and pursue a professional career. |
14. Harbin Engineering University
Harbin Engineering University is located in Harbin, Heilongjiang, and offers engineering education across shipbuilding, marine power, underwater acoustics, and other technical fields. Relevant academic units include the College of Shipbuilding Engineering, College of Power and Energy Engineering, and College of Underwater Acoustic Engineering. These provide a particularly clear maritime dimension to its engineering curriculum.
The 2026 undergraduate catalog includes Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Marine Engineering, Energy and Power Engineering, Underwater Acoustics Engineering, and Electrical Engineering and Automation. Students can also study Software Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Chemical Engineering and Technology. Teaching languages vary by program: naval architecture and marine engineering are listed in Chinese, while the Civil Engineering double-degree program includes Chinese- and English-taught routes.
Master’s and doctoral programs are separately listed in Design and Construction of Naval Architecture and Ocean Structure, Marine Engine Engineering, Underwater Acoustics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Control Science and Engineering. Materials Science and Engineering also appears at both graduate levels. By contrast, the current international catalog lists Civil Engineering and Electrical Engineering at master’s level without a corresponding doctoral entry, so degree availability should be assessed discipline by discipline.
What Current Students / Alumni of Harbin Engineering University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Md Rabbi Al Islam
Master’s in Underwater Acoustic Engineering | His master’s research focuses on predicting channel impulse responses from partially known data for underwater acoustic applications. He connects this work to the engineering challenges of signal distortion, attenuation, and unpredictable underwater communication channels. | He valued cross-cultural interactions while studying in China. Looking back, he wished he had improved his Chinese before arrival to adapt more quickly to daily life. |
15. Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications
Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, or NJUPT, is an engineering-oriented university in Nanjing, Jiangsu, with an academic focus on information technology. Its School of Communications and Information Engineering supports teaching and research in communications systems. Electronics and related engineering fields are also represented through the university’s electronic and optical engineering academic units.
The communications school lists undergraduate majors in Communication Engineering, Electronic Information Engineering, and Radio and Television Engineering. These are distinct undergraduate programs rather than optional subject tracks. NJUPT’s published international undergraduate curricula also document a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Technology. The communications school maintains teaching and experimental centers alongside research institutes, connecting its academic provision with communications and signal-processing technologies.
Graduate options include master’s and doctoral study in Information and Communication Engineering. Electronic Science and Technology is also supported at both graduate levels. Published graduate curricula cover digital communication, information theory, research methodology, and specialized technical study. Research areas include wireless communications, satellite communications, optical fiber communications, and signal processing. NJUPT’s 2026 doctoral admissions notices independently confirm continued doctoral provision in Information and Communication Engineering.
What Current Students / Alumni of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Md Rabbi Al Islam
BSc in Electronic and Information Engineering
Completed 2019 | His undergraduate thesis examined object recognition using deep learning. He said the thesis and an internship allowed him to apply technical skills to practical problems, building on his training in programming, algorithm design, and data analysis. | — |
The universities above offer a variety of engineering-study options. Because majors, admissions rules, tuition, and scholarship terms can change, confirm the details on each university’s official pages before applying. You can also review this guide to China’s education system and these scholarship opportunities.
We hope this article helps you compare universities. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
