Best Universities in China for Indian Students in 2026-27

Tsinghua University and the Peking University are consistently ranked among the best universities in China. These universities along with Fudan University, Zhejiang University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, are considered as the Ivy League universities or MITs of China. Read this article to know the best universities in China 2026. 

The number of students visiting China for the purpose of studying has increased gradually over the years, and for all the right reasons. The best universities of China are often famous for their research, teaching pedagogies and their overall international outlook. Indian students looking to study at the top universities in China for 2026-27 would want nothing but the best for themselves. One must make a choice by focusing on the course they want to study and aligning this course with the university that specialises in the training of this course. For example, Tsinghua University specialises in teaching tech and engineering courses and Peking University specialises in humanities and likewise courses.  

For the benefit of our readers and all who plan on visiting China for the purpose of studying, we have brought together the QS World University Rankings 2026 and THE World University Rankings 2026 for the top 10 Universities in China 2026. Read on to learn more about the popular universities to study in China below.

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Top 10 Best Universities in China 2026

Read on to know more about the best universities in China 2026 spread across the country. Candidates can check out more about every university on our website or by visiting the official university website.

Details on the Top Universities in China

Know more about the universities in detail here:

Tsinghua University

Founded in 1911, originally under the name "Tsing Hua Imperial College". Tsinghua University has been ranked among the best universities in mainland China by most National and International university rankings. Admission to the university and graduate schools is highly competitive. According to reports, only about 16% of MBA applicants are admitted each year. The university has 21 Schools that are further subdivided into 59 Departments teaching various courses to students at various levels.

Peking University

Peking University is the first national comprehensive university of China. Peking University was established in 1898 as the Imperial University of Peking. After the revolution of 1911, it was renamed as the National University of Peking. Peking University is located in the Haidian District in the western suburbs of Beijing and is a National Key University in China. The university comprises 30 colleges and 12 departments, with 93 specialities for undergraduates, 2 specialities for the second Bachelor's degree, 199 specialities for Master's degree candidates, and 173 specialities for Doctoral candidates. Presently, the university has 216 research institutions and research centres, including 2 national engineering research centres, 81 key national disciplines, and 12 national key laboratories. With 4.5 million holdings, the university library is the largest of its kind in Asia.

Fudan University

Founded in 1905 originally as Fudan Public School. In 1917, it was renamed Fudan University, which has been kept ever since. Fudan University is one of the oldest and most selective universities in Shanghai, China. The University is a member of the C9 League and Universitas 21. The University is composed of four campuses, including Handan, Fenglin, Zhangjiang, and Jiangwan. Fudan University comprises 28 schools and departments. The university offers 154 doctoral degree programs, 224 master's degree programs and 70 bachelor's degree programs to students across the world. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and postgraduate courses taught in English. 

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Established in 1896, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) is a public research university located in Shanghai, China. Shanghai Jiao Tong University is also referred to as Shanghai Jiaotong University or simply Jiaotong University. The University is one of the oldest, most prestigious, and selective universities in China, along with being a member of the C9 League and the Yangtze Delta Universities Alliance in China. SJTU encompasses 33 schools (departments) and offers 60 undergraduate programs, more than 100 master's-degree programs, 203 Ph.D. programs, and 28 post-doctorate programs to international students across 9 disciplines: Economics, Management, Law, Literature, Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Medicine, and Arts. The university has 11 state key laboratories and national engineering research centres and 12 affiliated hospitals.  

Zhejiang University

Zhejiang University (ZJU) aka Chekiang University, is a national cum oldest institution of higher education in China. It is a member of the C9 League and the Yangtze Delta Universities Alliance. It was founded in 1897 under the name Quishi Academy. Zhejiang is a modern university located in the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Zhejiang University spans 12 academic disciplines, covering philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, art, science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, and management. Students can choose from 130+ undergraduate programs, 300+ graduate programs through 39 colleges/schools spread across 7 campuses spread across China. 

University of Science and Technology of China

Founded in 1958, the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) is one of the leading Chinese universities. The university is known for its advanced science and high technology programs, unique management studies, and well-tailored disciplines in the humanities. USTC boasts 8 national key programs of first-level disciplines, 4 national key programs of second-level disciplines, 2 programs with major national support, and 19 programs with major provincial and ministerial support. USTC offers 34 undergraduate programs in 12 disciplines. besides, USTC offers over 100 master's programs and 90 doctoral programs in science and technology, as well as management and humanities, across different schools and research institutes in Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Shenyang, Changchun, and Hefei. 

Nanjing University

Established in 1902, Nanjing University (NJU) is one of the oldest and key comprehensive universities in China under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Education. The University, currently, consists of three beautiful campuses, Gulou, Pukou, and Xianlin. The university is also a member of the C9 League and the Yangtze Delta Universities Alliance. The university provides multiple courses at the undergraduate, graduate, and research stages of education. There are 28 schools under the direct control of Nanjing University. 

Wuhan University

Wuhan University is one of the most prestigious universities in China. It was founded in the year 1893 and is one of the oldest universities in China. It is famous worldwide for its beautiful cherry blossom gardens. The university hosts a Cherry Blossom Festival during spring. Wuhan University campus is spread over a massive area of 2.42 km. It has different schools of studies ranging from the School of Social Sciences, the School of Humanities, the School of Medical Sciences, the School of Law, the School of Engineering, and the School of Information Sciences. All the schools are led by experienced and learned faculty in state-of-the-art campuses.

Tongji University

Established in 1907, Tongji University is a comprehensive university located in Shanghai. The university is one of the oldest, most selective, and prestigious universities in China. The university is especially renowned for its engineering, business, and architecture programs. Tongji University is a member of the Yangtze Delta Universities Alliance and the Asian-European Laotse Universities Network.

Beijing Normal University

With its root university to have been founded in 1902 with different names, the Beijing Normal University got its name in 1923. The university merged with Peking Women’s Normal University and Fu Jen Catholic University in 1931 and 1952 respectively. Beijing Normal University's main campus is the North Taipingzhuang Campus, where the majority of its educational activities are carried out. The university is famous for its teaching science, educational science and foundational arts & science courses. 

Read: Study in China: Cost of Living

How to choose the right university in China for you?

To choose the right university in China for yourself, you can tick more than one of the following checkpoints.

1. Analyse your career goals and the course, studying which can help you manifest them. Pro tip - also check the Skills Occupation List of China to determine which jobs are in demand in the country. Hence, you can be sure of getting a job after graduation.  
2. Figure out the universities that have your desired course.
3. Check which universities suit your budget and then make a choice. 

Cost of Living in China for Students in 2026

There are two cost components of studying in China; one is the tuition fee and the other one is living costs. The cost of living in China includes your accommodation rent, travelling, fooding and other costs involved during your stay in China. The average cost of living in China for international students ranges from 4,000-4,500+ RMB per month. 

Lucrative part-time work options, a friendly post-study work permit, and an easy visa application process have all made the desire to study in China all the sweeter for students looking to make an indelible mark in the global market. Got more queries? Don’t hesitate to write to us in the comments section below.

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