Studying in China is attractive to many international students because of the country’s rich cultural heritage and travel opportunities. Tuition fees and living costs vary significantly by institution, program, and city, so applicants should review the official university fee pages before applying.
One requirement to consider when looking for universities in China is the medium of instruction. Language requirements and the language of instruction vary by university and program. Some public-health-related programs below are taught in English, while others are currently listed as Chinese-taught. Applicants should confirm the language of instruction on the official program page before applying.
Top Schools Offering Public Health Programs in China
1. Peking University
Peking University is a comprehensive university with education and research in fields including medicine, science, engineering, the humanities, and the social sciences. In the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities rankings, Peking University ranked 25th globally and third in Asia.
The university’s School of Public Health offers a bachelor’s degree in preventive medicine, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in areas such as epidemiology and biostatistics, occupational and environmental health sciences, nutrition and food hygiene, maternal and child health, toxicology, and social medicine and health management. The school also offers a Master of Public Health program.
The School of Public Health lists ten departments, one central laboratory, two research institutes, five joint research centers, and two educational centers. Applicants can review the departments and degree options on the school’s official website.
The School of Public Health also offers an Executive Master of Public Health program. According to the official program details, the program takes two years to complete and requires 45 credit hours. The first year consists of full-time study at Peking University, while the second year includes a practicum, internship, or fieldwork in the student’s home country and a capstone thesis.
2. Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University is located in northwest Beijing. Its Vanke School of Public Health offers the International Master of Public Health program, commonly abbreviated as IMPH. The graduate program focuses on global public health.
The IMPH curriculum is taught in English and is designed for health officials, disease prevention and control specialists, and health program managers. Its areas of focus include health service delivery, access to health products, and global health governance.
Scholarships are competitive, and eligibility conditions may change. Tsinghua University’s 2026 international graduate admissions page lists the Chinese Government Scholarship and tuition scholarships, such as the Beijing Government Scholarship. The IMPH brochure also describes the Tsinghua University Scholarship and the Youth of Excellence Scheme of China scholarship. Applicants should review the current financial-aid and program pages before applying.
3. Nanjing Medical University
Nanjing Medical University has a School of Public Health that offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in public health and preventive medicine.
The School of Public Health currently lists 12 departments, seven centers, and one platform. Its departments include Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Occupational Medicine and Environmental Hygiene, Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Health Toxicology, Health Inspection and Quarantine, Social Medicine and Health Education, Health Informatics, Health Management, Microbiology and Infection, and Mental Hygiene.
The school’s three undergraduate programs are Preventive Medicine, Health Inspection and Quarantine, and Applied Statistics with a biostatistics focus. The school also lists a Master of Public Health program and a first-level Ph.D. program in Public Health and Preventive Medicine. International applicants should confirm the teaching language and admission requirements for their intended program with the university.
4. Jiangnan University Wuxi
At Jiangnan University’s Wuxi School of Medicine, the Public Health and Preventive Medicine discipline was established in June 2017. The official discipline page lists a first-level master’s program in Public Health and Preventive Medicine, a second-level master’s program in Nutrition and Food Hygiene, and a related second-level doctoral program in Foodborne Chronic Diseases.
The teaching and research offices include Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hygienic Toxicology, Environmental Hygiene, Child and Adolescent Health and Maternal and Child Health, Pathogenic Microorganisms and Global Health, and the Preventive Medicine Experimental Teaching Center.
For international applicants, Jiangnan University’s 2026 postgraduate catalog lists Public Health and Preventive Medicine as a three-year Chinese-taught master’s program. Applicants seeking an English-taught degree should not assume that this program is available in English and should review the official admissions catalog before applying.
5. Zhengzhou University
Zhengzhou University’s College of Public Health currently lists nine departments, three divisions, one teaching laboratory center, two research institutes, and one research center.
The university’s international admissions catalog lists Preventive Medicine at the undergraduate level. The College of Public Health also states that it has two doctoral programs and five master’s programs.
The official international admissions pages list a three-year Master of Public Health program and doctoral options such as Occupational and Environmental Health and Epidemiology and Health Statistics.
FAQS About Studying Public Health in China
Are Qualifications in Public Health in Demand?
Public health is an interdisciplinary field. Depending on the program, students may study epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health policy, health management, disease prevention, and health communication. Employment demand varies by role, country, and region, so prospective students should review current labor-market information for the location where they plan to work.
The universities above offer public-health-related programs at different academic levels. However, program availability, teaching language, tuition fees, and admission requirements may change. Applicants should use the official university pages to confirm the details of their intended program.
If you are considering studying public health in China, the universities mentioned above may be useful options to explore. Before traveling to China, international students should check the visa requirements that apply to their program. An X1 visa is issued for study periods of more than 180 days, while an X2 visa is issued for study periods of no more than 180 days. X1 visa holders must generally apply for a residence permit within 30 days of entering China. Requirements may vary by embassy or consulate. You can also read our article on how to get a student visa for China. To continue browsing courses in China, take a look at our article on the best subjects to study in China.
We hope that this article on the Best Universities for Public Health in China was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students to learn more!
