Ranking of China’s top universities in 2022
According to Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2022, the Top 5 Ranked Chinese Universities this year are Peking University and Tsinghua University, both located in the Chinese capital, Beijing.
Policies such as Project 211, Project 985, and the First and Second Class Universities Program, which aim to raise the standard of China’s top 100 and 40 universities respectively, along with huge national investment, have caused the reputation of Chinese education to soar in recent years.
And who wouldn’t want to study in China? China is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and is home to about 20% of the world’s population. From its cuisine to its culture, China is a unique experience.
This vast country offers some of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes in the world, from the Hongshan Mountains of Zhangjiadanxia National Park to coastal fishing villages and sprawling megacities.
With the growing number of universities in China, it can be overwhelming to choose where to study.
However, at the initiative of the Chinese government, the top universities are now ranked in a system similar to the Russell Group in the United Kingdom and the Ivy League in the United States.
Launched in 1995, Project 211 aims to raise the research standards of China’s top universities. Institutions that meet certain criteria are eligible for a significant increase in funding. 112 universities participated in Project 211.
Three years later, a similar strategy, Project 985, was launched. However, only 39 universities received funding under this project and in 2011 it was announced that no new universities would be included in this exclusive group.
The most selective group is the C9 League, a group of nine elite universities to which 10% of China’s national research budget is allocated.
The latest initiative is the Dual-Class University Plan, which aims to turn China’s elite university groups and individual university departments into world-class institutions and departments by the end of 2050. The list includes 42 institutions across the country.
Top five Chinese universities
5 Shanghai Jiao Tong University
– Shanghai Jiao Tong University is a leading research university in Shanghai, China.
– It comprises 31 faculties and departments, 31 research institutes, 13 affiliated hospitals, two affiliated medical institutes, 20 direct units, and five direct enterprises.
Subjects taught include mechanical engineering, physics, astronomy, humanities, media and design, international and public affairs, and medicine.
The university’s International Student Union offers a series of events, projects and volunteer activities to connect international students with each other and the local community.
4 Zhejiang University
– Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University is one of the oldest and most selective universities in China.
– The university’s research covers 12 academic disciplines: agriculture, arts, economics, education, engineering, history, law, literature, business administration, medicine, natural sciences and philosophy.
There are several research centers on campus, including six national technical research centers, three national humanities and social science research centers, and 13 independent research academies.
The University has strategic partnerships with more than 140 universities from 30 countries around the world, including Imperial College London, Princeton University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne.
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3 Fudan University
– Fudan University has four campuses in the centre of Shanghai: Handan, Fenglin, Zhangjiang and Jiangwan.
– The university has a humanistic approach to teaching, with many courses taught in English.
Internationalisation is also a high priority for the university. For example, global links and exchange programmes have been established with nearly 200 foreign universities, including Columbia University, University of Toronto, University of Sydney, KU Leuven, University of Manchester and Sciences Po.
Students are also encouraged to participate in international exchange programmes, which are chosen by around 40% of students.
The university is highly selective, with less than 0.2% of entrants passing the national entrance exam (gao kao).
= Peking University
– Peking University belongs to the C9 league, which is equivalent to the Ivy League in the United States and is generally ranked among the top universities in China.
– It was China’s first modern national university and has been renowned as a first-class educational institution since its foundation in 1898.
The institution is best known for its campus in the Haidian district in north-west Beijing. The capital has some of the most beautiful gardens and traditional architecture. Several gates lead to the campus, of which the West Gate is best known for the frescoes on its roof.
In order to promote international student exchanges, the university has established joint study programmes with Cornell University, Yale University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the Paris School of International Affairs, Waseda University, Seoul National University and Tokyo University.
=Tsinghua University
– Tsinghua University is located in the Haidian District in the north-west of Beijing. It was founded in 1911.
– Its 20 faculties and 54 departments include arts, business, education, engineering, history, administration, medicine, law, literature, philosophy and science.
Much of the traditional architecture has survived, as well as many Western-style buildings reflecting the historical American influence on the campus.
In terms of life outside the classroom, the university has more than 110 student societies in science and technology, sports, arts and community activities.
Tsinghua University has graduated many successful political, scientific and industrial figures, including two Nobel Prize winners, Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen Ning Yang.
