University programs in China have grown dramatically in recent years. Today, over 500,000 international students study across Chinese campuses. The range runs from four-week summer sessions to full doctoral degrees. According to the British Council (2025), 72 mainland Chinese universities appear in the QS World University Rankings 2026 — more than any country outside the US and UK.
This guide covers what each university actually offers, not just rankings.
What Types of Programs Can You Find?
Before diving into specific universities, it helps to know what you are looking for. Chinese universities generally offer four types of programs for international students:
- Degree programs: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD. Some are fully English-taught.
- Exchange programs: Semester or full-year. Nomination through your home university is required.
- Summer and short-term programs: Two to eight weeks. Most accept direct applications.
- Chinese language programs: Non-degree tracks, from beginner to advanced.
Each university below offers a different mix. Moreover, the right choice depends on your goal, timeline, and language level.
University Programs at a Glance
The table below summarizes verified programs at ten leading Chinese universities. All links point to official university pages.
| University | Program Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Peking University | Degree (UG & PG) | Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD across all faculties. Graduate English options available. |
| Exchange | Semester or full-year via bilateral agreements with 120+ partner universities. Nomination required. | |
| Chinese Language Summer School | 4/6/8-week sessions July–August; beginner to advanced; 300+ students from 30+ countries annually. | |
| PKU–UChicago Summer School | Joint English-taught program in International Policy, Monetary Policy, and Environmental Economics. Certificate from both PKU and UChicago. | |
| Tsinghua University | Degree (UG) | 15 divisions open to international undergraduates; 4–5 year programs in Chinese and English. |
| Degree (PG) | 30+ English-taught Master’s and PhD programs across 53 schools. Master’s 2–3 years; PhD 3–4 years. | |
| Exchange / Visiting | Semester-to-2-year visiting programs; 200+ English-taught courses; agreements with 120+ universities. | |
| Summer School | Programs in China Environment, China Finance, PhD Camp and more. | |
| Fudan University | Degree (UG) | ~50 programs; 2 fully English-taught UG tracks: MBBS (medicine, 6 years) and UIPE (economics). |
| Degree (PG) | 175 Master’s and 137 PhD programs; 47 taught in English. | |
| Exchange | Semester exchange via bilateral agreements; tuition waived for nominated students. | |
| Chinese Language (ICES) | Long-term and short-term; degree tracks in Chinese Language & Culture and Business Chinese. | |
| International Summer Session (FISS) | 4-week credit-bearing program, July 13–August 7, 2026. | |
| Shanghai Jiao Tong University | Degree (UG & PG) | 64 UG programs, 56 Master’s, 38 PhD disciplines; most open to international students. |
| Semester Exchange | Nomination-based via partner universities; one or two semesters. | |
| Chinese Language Foundation | Pre-university non-degree program to build language skills before degree enrollment. | |
| Zhejiang University | Degree (UG & PG) | Full degree programs via International College; joint institutes with University of Edinburgh and UIUC at International Campus (Haining). |
| Exchange | Semester or full-year; nomination required; Chinese language courses included. | |
| Summer School | 2-week SDG-themed credit-bearing program; international faculty from ZJU and partner universities. | |
| USTC | Degree (UG & PG) | 35 UG, 91 Master’s, 97 PhD programs; 63% of international students are PhD. USTC Fellowship covers tuition + stipend. |
| Summer Research (FuSEP) | 6-week research placement in USTC labs; tuition, housing, and travel grant waived for strong applicants. | |
| Programs in Suzhou (SIAR) | English-taught competitive Master’s programs at Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research. | |
| Nanjing University | Degree (UG & PG) | Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD; UN Chinese Department training site. |
| Exchange | Bilateral agreements with 150+ partner universities; ~200 exchange students per year. | |
| Summer School & Research Internship | International summer school and summer research internship programs. | |
| Wuhan University | Degree (UG & PG) | Undergraduate Chinese Language; Master’s in TCSOL and International Law; WTO double degree. |
| Exchange | Student exchange via international bilateral agreements. | |
| Luojia Global Summer School | Annual international program; academic courses and cultural activities on an iconic campus. | |
| Tongji University | Degree – Chinese taught | UG, Master’s, and PhD in Chinese; strong in architecture, civil engineering, and design. |
| Degree – English taught | English-taught UG and Master’s programs. | |
| Non-degree & Exchange | Non-degree and exchange programs open January–June each year. | |
| Pre-University Foundation | One-semester bridge program for students preparing for Chinese-taught undergraduate programs. | |
| Harbin Institute of Technology | Degree & Non-degree | Science, engineering, and management programs; Chinese and English tracks; 3 campuses in Harbin, Weihai, and Shenzhen. |
| Chinese Language Programs | Non-degree language track; Ministry of Education national demonstration base designation. |
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Apply
Exchange programs work differently than you think
Most students assume they can apply to exchange at Tsinghua or Fudan directly. They cannot. Every university in this table requires official nomination from your home institution. Therefore, your first step is always your home university’s international office — not the Chinese university’s admissions page.
Summer programs are the easiest entry point
If you are unsure about a full semester or degree, summer programs accept direct applications in most cases. Furthermore, they are often free or low-cost for nominated exchange students. PKU’s Chinese Language Summer School, FISS at Fudan, and USTC’s FuSEP research program are among the most accessible options.
English-taught degrees are more common than expected
The number of English-medium programs in China grew by 12% between 2021 and 2023, reaching nearly 2,900 programs (Mastersportal, 2025). In other words, a language barrier is no longer a reason to rule out a full degree in China.
Scholarships cover more than tuition
The Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) covers tuition, accommodation, and a monthly stipend for eligible applicants. Additionally, several universities in this table — including USTC, Tongji, and SJTU — offer their own institutional scholarships on top of the CSC. University programs in China are, in practical terms, more financially accessible than their global rankings might suggest.
How to Choose
Here is a quick way to narrow it down:
- Mandarin study only → PKU summer school or Fudan ICES
- STEM research degree → USTC PhD or Master’s track
- Architecture or design → Tongji, Shanghai
- Humanities and social sciences → Fudan or NJU
- Dual degree with a Western credential → ZJU International Campus (Edinburgh or UIUC)
- Short summer, no full enrollment → FISS at Fudan, ZJU summer school, or WHU Luojia
References
British Council. (2025). Chinese universities: QS World University Rankings 2026. https://opportunities-insight.britishcouncil.org/short-articles/news/chinese-universities-qs-world-university-rankings-2026
Fudan University International Students Office. (2026). Admissions. https://iso.fudan.edu.cn/isoenglish/main.htm
Fudan University International Summer Session. (2026). FISS 2026. https://iss.fudan.edu.cn/
Harbin Institute of Technology. (2026). International student admissions. http://hit.admissions.cn/
Mastersportal. (2025). Studying in China in English: A new world of opportunities. https://www.mastersportal.com/articles/3331/study-in-china-xjtlu-liverpool-studyportals.html
Nanjing University. (2026). International student exchange program. https://stuex.nju.edu.cn/en_/57245/list.htm
Peking University International Students Division. (2026). Programs for international students. https://isd.pku.edu.cn/en/
Peking University International Students Division. (2026). Chinese Language Summer School 2026. https://isd.pku.edu.cn/en/summer.php
Shanghai Jiao Tong University International Affairs Division. (2026). Study at SJTU. https://global.sjtu.edu.cn/en/studyatSJTU
Tsinghua University. (2026). Graduate admissions for international students. https://yz.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/
Tsinghua University. (2026). Visiting and exchange programs. https://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/Admissions/Non_Degree_Programs1/Visiting_Exchange_Programs.htm
Tongji University International Students Office. (2026). Admission information. https://study.tongji.edu.cn/English/HOME.htm
University of Science and Technology of China International College. (2026). Admissions. https://ic.ustc.edu.cn/en/admission.php
Wuhan University. (2026). Admissions. https://en.whu.edu.cn/Admissons.htm
Zhejiang University International College. (2026). International admissions. https://iczu.zju.edu.cn/admissionsen/
