China is the third largest and the second most populous country in the world. It has the second highest Gross Domestic Product of any nation and is a trading and research powerhouse. The country is a notable tourist destination, with Shanghai, the financial center, being one of the most visited cities in the world.
China has a large number of highly ranked universities, and all their degrees are recognized globally for employment and higher studies. More than 300,000 international students study in the country, and there is an increasing number of courses taught in English. The course cost is lower than that in most European and American countries, and the higher number of universities ensures that foreign students who may not have secured seats in their home countries can study highly competitive courses e.g. Medicine and Dentistry. Finally, Chinese universities boast some of the most impressive placement statistics in the world.
China is ranked in the top half of the world's countries on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:
There are more than 3,000 institutions of higher education (HEIs) in China, with almost 50 million students enrolled. In 2017, the Chinese Ministry of Education recognized two types of HEIs:
1. Double First Class Universities: These are world-class institutions with all the facilities required to be ranked among the top 500 colleges in the world. The Ministry actively seeks to improve the standard of education and research. The faculty departments are especially noteworthy; there are currently 140 such Universities in China.
2. Other Universities and Colleges: Other than the Double First Class institutions, there are 2,872 colleges in the country, with the upper tier aspiring for the Double First Class rating.
The Ministry recognizes three levels of degrees in 13 disciplines:
| Philosophy | Economics | Laws | Education |
| Arts & Fine Arts | History | Science | Engineering |
| Agriculture | Medicine | Management | Military Science |
Chinese Universities offer comparatively fewer short-term certificate courses than those in other countries. Most of these are Chinese language courses, meant either for foreign students who study the language during the first year in the country, or international Chinese educators who wish to add a university-approved certificate to their resume. There are also several English language short-term virtual certificate courses offered by Chinese Universities in association with foreign institutions e.g. the Technical University of Munich.
The Chinese Ministry of Education recognizes undergraduate Bachelor's degree programs in thirteen broad disciplines. Most of them last four years, as compared to European countries, which have three-year undergraduate programs. Certain disciplines (e.g. medicine, dentistry, surgery) have six-year integrated degrees. Eligibility criteria are the same as those worldwide; students must show proof of completion of a recognized Year 12 higher secondary examination.
Specialized Master's degrees in Chinese Universities are of two types: academic (which last two years in most cases) and research (which usually last three years, and may be combined with doctoral degrees). China has the largest postgraduate education system in the world, and most courses are taught in Chinese. All postgraduate degrees, including academic ones, end with a Master's dissertation. Candidates must have a valid Bachelor's degree in a related discipline in order to apply.
China has the largest number of Ph.D. students and graduates in the world. A doctoral degree in a Chinese University may take between three and five years to complete. During this period, students start with coursework and teaching assistant duties, and then spend the last two to three years on research and publication, culminating in a doctoral thesis defense.
| Biomedical Engineering | Medical and Dental Science | Information Technology |
| Semiconductor Physics and Electronics | Financial Markets | Ceramic Engineering |
| Textile Technology | Digital Marketing | Manufacturing Processes |
| Urban Engineering | International Relations | Cultural Anthropology |
| Welfare Economics | Chinese and Asian History | Comparative Linguistics |
Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in China.
| The Name of the City | No. of Universities |
| Beijing | 92 |
| Shanghai | 35 |
| Guangzhou | 24 |
| Shenzhen | 15 |
| Chongqing | 18 |
| Tianjin | 21 |
| Chengdu | 20 |
| Hangzhou | 17 |
| Nanjing | 21 |
Tuition Fees for international students in China range from approximately 3,000 to 10,000 USD per year, with higher costs for certain medical degree programs. The top-ranked universities offer several partial and complete tuition fee waivers for students based on merit; these are offered both by Chinese Government organizations (e.g. the Confucius scholarships) and third-party Indian companies active in China.
Living costs in most cities in China, other than Shanghai and Beijing, are approximately 50% lower than those in most European countries. For example, the cost of student accommodation in most University hostels is very low, less than $300 per month. Private housing is slightly more expensive and may exceed $1,000 in certain areas of Shanghai. In most cities, students can manage their monthly expenses with a budget between $500 and $900 per month.
There are two kinds of Chinese student visas: X1 and X2. The X2 visa is intended for students enrolled in short-term courses, and all students who intend to join a course that lasts more than six months must apply for the X1 visa.
