China is one of the world’s most populous countries and has one of the world’s largest higher education systems. China has invested heavily in its higher education in recent decades, and the mainland has more than 3,000 higher education institutions. The latest full official Ministry of Education statistical report available in English reported 492,185 international students in China in 2018. At that time, the largest source countries included South Korea, Thailand, Pakistan, India, and the United States.
Because of the strong demand for Chinese education, admission to many top Chinese universities can be highly competitive. Let’s take a look at the universities in China with low acceptance rates.
Universities in China with Low Rates of Acceptance
1. Peking University
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: 30%
Peking University is one of the leading universities in China. It originated as the Imperial University of Peking in 1898 and is well-known for its historic campus and traditional Chinese-style architecture. The university remains one of the top-ranked institutions in China and the wider region.
Because of its popularity and research strengths, admission to Peking University is highly competitive. Its official English profile states that the university has 55 schools and departments and more than 48,600 students, including nearly 2,500 international students.
2. Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University is one of China’s leading public research universities. Its campus is in northwest Beijing on the site of former Qing Dynasty imperial gardens, and the university was established in 1911 as Tsing Hua Imperial College. Tsinghua is especially well known for science, engineering, and research.
According to Tsinghua University’s official Facts and Figures, the university had 63,132 registered students as of December 31, 2025, including 2,631 international students across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels.
3. Nanjing University
Nanjing University is one of the leading public universities in China. It was founded in 1902 as Sanjiang Normal School, and its name was changed to Nanjing University in 1950. ShanghaiRanking lists Nanjing University as 6th in its Best Chinese Universities Ranking for 2024, 2025, and 2026. Admission to the university is competitive, but the university does not publish an official acceptance rate for international students.
The university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across many academic fields, including Chinese-taught and English-taught options for international students.
3. Xiamen University
The main campus of Xiamen University is its Siming Campus in Xiamen. It was founded in 1921 by Tan Kah Kee and is recognized by the university as the first university founded by an overseas Chinese person in modern Chinese education. Xiamen University is known for strengths across disciplines such as economics, management, law, chemistry, marine science, medicine, communications, and the arts.
Xiamen University is also active in international education. Its official English overview states that it has four campuses, including Xiamen University Malaysia, and more than 48,000 enrolled students as of December 31, 2025.
5. University of Science and Technology of China
The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) is a prominent public research university in Hefei, Anhui Province. It was established by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing in 1958 to support China’s science and technology development, and it moved to Hefei in 1970. USTC is widely recognized for research in science and technology.
We hope that you found this article on universities in China with low acceptance rates informative. Make sure to also check out the China Page and the Available Programs for International Students to explore your options for studying abroad.
