Universities in China are the largest group of higher education institutions. There are over 2,000 conventional universities in the country. Most of them are state-owned, but at the beginning of the 20th century, the number of private universities began to grow: now there are about 700 universities. Universities of China have high-quality programs. Chinese universities annually attract more than 300,000 students from all over the world to the country. People come here both from neighboring regions and from Europe, the USA, Canada. 

Top 3 best Universities in China

Here is the list of 3 best universities in China for foreigners:

1. Tsinghua University. 

The university was founded in 1911 and was built on the site of the former imperial park. Today, Tsinghua University is a powerful research institute that prepares experts in various fields. In the 2021 QS World Ranking, the university took 15th position, leaving behind 4 American Ivy League universities. In the ranking of the Asian region, the university is on the 4th line.

2. Peking University. 

Peking university is the main university in China. The university was founded in 1898 and is the educational and socio-political center of the country. Currently, the university prepares highly qualified specialists in the field of innovative technologies. Peking University created the IBM brand, which is now owned by Lenovo.

3. Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 

One of the oldest universities in China was founded in 1896 in Shanghai. The study is conducted in Chinese, French, and English. Shanghai Jiao Tong University is featured for its programs in mechanical engineering, computer engineering, electrical power engineering, and thermophysics. Local research projects are focused on the needs of the Chinese society, so the university researches in the fields of molecular biology, mechanical engineering, nanotechnology, and biomedicine.

Free universities in China

Foreigners cannot just do that for budget-funded places in Chinese universities. However, there are a quantity of academic grants and scholarships in the country. Thousands of international students have chances to receive financial support from Chinese government. Most of the time the scholarship may cover the entire tuition and accommodations costs. They can also issue money for monthly expenses in the amount of 200-400 USD. The conditions for obtaining a scholarship are usually more than doable, but there are many applicants. Good academic performance in the previous place of study and knowledge of the Chinese language at a level of at least HSK 4 are significant. 

Grants are provided at all levels of study from undergraduate to doctoral studies. You can find out more about the requirements for candidates and application deadlines on the official Campus China portal.

For admission to the selected university, you must pay the following amounts of money:

• The amount of funds is charged for the consideration of documents. When submitting entrance documents, many Chinese universities charge a fee of 40 – 80 euros;
• For a medical examination, you need to pay about 80 euros. It will take place at the student’s place of residence;
• Student visa fees range from 25 to 100 euros;
• Depending on the chosen educational institution, the cost of studying in Chinese universities will differ. Education in private universities is more expensive than in-state ones;
• Accommodation, food, and transport costs will be the largest during the period of study.

A big bonus for students is receiving a grant. Then the cost of study in China will be reduced. Almost any student can receive a grant and study for a bachelor’s, master’s, doctor’s degree. When applying for language courses, you can also use a grant. Distinguished students who attend classes, complete all assignments, study well, are paid a scholarship of 3,000 yuan.

Tuition fees in different cities of China

In almost all universities in China, the cost of training will depend on whether it is public or private, and the existing specialization. For example, pedagogical, technical, medical, and others. But each of these universities has its advantages.

• Beijing University is the largest. Various faculties and the largest technical base are represented here. The cost of training will be from 3500 USD per year, accommodation – 1000 USD per year;
• School in Shanghai allows you to get a high level of Swiss education in the field of hotel management. The cost of training will be 23,000 USD per year, including accommodation and meals;
• University in Tianjin is called “Nankai”. The training will cost 2500 USD, accommodation from 2200 per year;
• The Shenyang University of Pharmacy is a state-owned university specialized in pharmacology. The cost of training is from 3500 USD per year + accommodation from 1300 USD per year.

How to go to university in China

There are not so many formal requirements for applying to Chinese universities:

• Knowledge of the Chinese language at the HSK-3 level (minimum 180 points);
• Previous education documents (certified translations).

In addition, many Chinese universities have age restrictions:

• Applicants applying for undergraduate studies must be between 18 and 25 years old;
• Admission to the Master’s Degree – for those under 40.

Of course, the prospective student must meet the requirements of the Chinese Immigration Service. This means the absence of a criminal record (a certificate, however, is rarely required), the presence of medical insurance, a certain amount of money in the account. If the specialty is creative, you may also need a presentation or personal project, portfolio, recommendations.

All the nuances need to be discussed after choosing a specific educational institution. Despite the general rules for all universities in China, there are corrective clarifications and additions in different provinces.