University Students In Beijing: A Comprehensive Count

Beijing is a city with a rich history and culture, and it is also China's capital. It is home to a large number of colleges and universities, including several well-known universities with international reputations, such as Peking University and Tsinghua University. The Chinese government has been investing heavily in the higher education sector to attract more international students. Beijing has over 90 public colleges and universities, making it the largest urban public university system in Asia. It is also the first city in China with the highest number of higher education institutions.

Beijing has over 90 universities, the highest number in China

Beijing is a city with a rich history stretching back 3,000 years and is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is also China's political and cultural capital. As such, it is perhaps unsurprising that Beijing has over 90 universities, the highest number in China.

Beijing's higher education system has developed rapidly since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The municipal government has established new higher education facilities, acquired and reorganised schools, and lowered age limits in school admission policies.

Beijing's universities are internationally renowned and consistently rank among the best in the world. For example, Tsinghua University and Peking University are considered two of the most prestigious universities in China and the world. They are regularly ranked in the top 20 institutions globally and are members of the C9 League, an alliance of elite Chinese universities.

Beijing is also home to the best universities in the Asia and Oceania region, with Tsinghua and Peking taking the top two spots. These universities are known for their beautiful campuses, with Tsinghua located on the former site of the Qing Dynasty royal gardens and Peking recognised for its traditional houses, gardens, pagodas, and historical structures.

In addition to its prestigious universities, Beijing has many specialist science and technology institutions, such as the University of Science and Technology Beijing. The city also offers a wide range of programmes in the social sciences and humanities, with universities like Beijing Jiaotong University.

The Chinese government has invested heavily in higher education to attract international students. Beijing is already a major destination for students from Japan, Korea, North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. With its abundance of top-tier universities and focus on modernisation, Beijing is an appealing choice for prospective students worldwide.

Tsinghua and Peking are Beijing's top-ranked universities

Beijing is home to over 90 public colleges and universities, making it the largest urban public university system in Asia. The city has the most higher education institutions in China and is also a leading destination for international students.

Tsinghua and Peking University are Beijing's top-ranked universities, placing 12th and 13th, respectively, in the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Both are members of the C9 League, an alliance of elite Chinese universities offering comprehensive and leading education. Peking University is the oldest higher education institution in China, founded in 1898, while Tsinghua University was established in 1911.

Tsinghua University offers more than 70 degree programs to undergraduate students and numerous master's and doctoral programs. The university comprises several schools and departments, covering a range of disciplines, including science, engineering, literature, arts, history, philosophy, economics, management, law, education, and medicine. It also has over 300 research institutions, including the Tsinghua National Laboratory for Information Science and Technology and the State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments.

Peking University consists of 30 colleges and 12 departments, with 93 undergraduate specialties, two specialties for a second bachelor's degree, 199 master's specialties, and 173 doctoral specialties. The university has a strong focus on both basic and applied sciences and has established 216 research institutes and centres, including two national engineering research centres and 12 national key laboratories. It aims to be ranked among the world's best universities.

Beijing's universities have a large international student population

Beijing has over 90 public colleges and universities, making it the largest urban public university system in Asia and the first city in China with the most higher education institutions. The city is also home to the two best universities in the Asia & Oceania region, Tsinghua and Peking University, which are ranked 12th and 13th in the world, respectively.

Beijing Normal University, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in China, is known for its Mandarin Chinese study programs and had around 1,800 long-term international students from over 100 countries and regions as of 2022. The university also collaborates with Princeton University for the Princeton in Beijing program.

The presence of a large number of international students in Beijing's universities contributes to the city's cultural diversity and enhances its reputation as a global educational hub. The Chinese government has established scholarships and incentives to promote the development of higher education for international students in the city, further contributing to the growing international student population.

The Chinese government has invested heavily in higher education

Beijing is home to over 90 public colleges and universities, making it the largest urban public university system in Asia. The city has the highest number of universities of any Chinese city, with institutions such as Tsinghua and Peking University ranked among the best in the world.

As a result of this investment, China now has the second-largest economy in the world and is a leader in scientific research output. Between 2016 and 2018, China published over 900,000 research papers, surpassing the United States in the number of Natural Science Publications. Additionally, China has become a major destination for international students, attracting scholars from Japan, Korea, North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

The Chinese government's commitment to higher education is further demonstrated by its plans to develop elite universities. The Double First-Class Construction initiative aims to transform 140 universities, representing the top 5% of Chinese higher education institutions, into world-class institutions by 2050. This initiative replaces previous projects, such as 'Project 211' and 'Project 985', which have contributed to the success of Chinese universities.

The impact of the government's investment is evident in the enrollment rates. In 2023, the university enrollment rate was 60.2%, representing 47 million mainland Chinese students enrolled in 4-year degree programs. This is a significant increase from the late 1990s, when the enrollment rate was less than 10%. The improvement in the quality of education and the resulting increase in employment opportunities have also encouraged more Chinese students to pursue their academic careers within the country.

Beijing's universities offer a range of courses, from engineering to the humanities

Beijing is home to a thriving academic community, with over 90 public colleges and universities. This includes two of the best universities in the Asia and Oceania region: Tsinghua and Peking University, which are ranked 12th and 13th in the world, respectively.

The Chinese capital offers a diverse range of courses across its academic institutions. Peking University, for example, has 93 specialties for undergraduates, covering both pure and applied sciences, as well as social sciences, humanities, and management and education sciences. The university has a particular focus on applied sciences and has established 2 national engineering research centres, 81 key national disciplines, and 12 national key laboratories.

Tsinghua University, meanwhile, offers a range of courses through its 14 schools and 58 departments, including the School of Economics and Management, the School of Architecture, and the Academy of Arts and Design.

Other well-regarded universities in Beijing include the Central Academy of Drama, China Agricultural University, Beijing Normal University, and Renmin University of China. These institutions offer a variety of courses, reflecting the broad academic landscape of the city.

Beijing's universities cater to a large student population, with around 700,000 students attending universities in the city as of 2011. The city also attracts many international students, making it one of the major destinations for foreign students in the Asia-Pacific region.

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