Best Acting (Performing arts/Drama theatre) Schools in Asia

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Asia ranked based on their research performance in Performing arts. A graph of 265K citations received by 23.1K academic papers made by 159 universities in Asia was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. Beijing Normal University

China | Beijing

For Performing arts

#1 in China

#45 in the World

Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1902

2. University of Tokyo

For Performing arts

#1 in Japan

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,479
Founded: 1877

3. Peking University

China | Beijing

For Performing arts

#2 in China

#95 in the World

Enrollment: 44,730
Founded: 1898

4. Tel Aviv University

Israel | Tel Aviv

For Performing arts

#1 in Israel

#99 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

5. University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#3 in China

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 21,652
Founded: 1911

6. National University of Singapore

Singapore | Singapore City

For Performing arts

#1 in Singapore

#135 in the World

Enrollment: 30,098
Founded: 1905

7. Zhejiang University

China | Hangzhou

For Performing arts

#4 in China

#143 in the World

Enrollment: 60,739
Founded: 1897

8. Lanzhou University

China | Lanzhou

For Performing arts

#5 in China

#148 in the World

Founded: 1909

9. Shandong Normal University

For Performing arts

#6 in China

#158 in the World

Founded: 1950

10. University of Haifa

For Performing arts

#2 in Israel

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1963

11. Nagoya University

For Performing arts

#2 in Japan

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 15,834
Founded: 1939

12. Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology

China | Nanjing

For Performing arts

#7 in China

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 34,000
Founded: 1960

13. Nanjing University

China | Nanjing

For Performing arts

#8 in China

#190 in the World

Enrollment: 56,068
Founded: 1902

14. Chinese University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#9 in China

#196 in the World

Founded: 1963

15. Wuhan University

For Performing arts

#10 in China

#202 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000
Founded: 1893

16. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

China | Shanghai

For Performing arts

#11 in China

#215 in the World

Enrollment: 47,000
Founded: 1896

17. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Performing arts

#3 in Japan

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 18,560
Founded: 1911

18. Tsinghua University

China | Beijing

For Performing arts

#12 in China

#222 in the World

Enrollment: 48,739
Founded: 1911

19. Sun Yat - Sen University

China | Guangzhou

For Performing arts

#13 in China

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 65,638
Founded: 1924

20. Kyoto University

For Performing arts

#4 in Japan

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,455
Founded: 1897

21. Tohoku University

For Performing arts

#5 in Japan

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 17,591
Founded: 1907

22. Tongji University

China | Shanghai

For Performing arts

#14 in China

#234 in the World

Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1907

23. Hong Kong Polytechnic University

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#15 in China

#242 in the World

Founded: 1937

24. Seoul National University

South Korea Flag

South Korea | Seoul

For Performing arts

#1 in South Korea

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 28,378
Founded: 1946

25. Nanyang Technological University

Singapore | Singapore City

For Performing arts

#2 in Singapore

#254 in the World

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1955

26. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Performing arts

#6 in Japan

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 17,541
Founded: 1918

27. Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

For Performing arts

#3 in Israel

#261 in the World

Founded: 1924

28. Ankara University

Turkey | Ankara

For Performing arts

#1 in Turkey

#276 in the World

Enrollment: 28,757
Founded: 1946

29. Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Israel | Jerusalem

For Performing arts

#4 in Israel

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 23,500
Founded: 1918

30. Southwest University

China | Chongqing

For Performing arts

#16 in China

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 2005

31. Osaka University

For Performing arts

#7 in Japan

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 23,123
Founded: 1931

32. Bar-Ilan University

Israel | Ramat Gan

For Performing arts

#5 in Israel

#314 in the World

Enrollment: 16,787
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1955

33. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Performing arts

#8 in Japan

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 16,507
Founded: 1973

34. Indian Institute of Science

India | Karnataka

For Performing arts

#1 in India

#333 in the World

Enrollment: 4,695
Founded: 1909

35. University of Malaya

Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur

For Performing arts

#344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1905

36. Indonesia University of Education

Indonesia | Bandung

For Performing arts

#1 in Indonesia

#350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

37. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Israel | Beersheba

For Performing arts

#6 in Israel

#359 in the World

Enrollment: 17,225
Founded: 1969

38. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Performing arts

#9 in Japan

#364 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

39. University of Science and Technology of China

For Performing arts

#17 in China

#370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1958

40. Weizmann Institute of Science

Israel | Rehovot

For Performing arts

#7 in Israel

#371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 1,380
Founded: 1934

41. National University of Malaysia

Malaysia | Bangi

For Performing arts

#396 in the World

Enrollment: 28,776
Founded: 1970

42. Central South University

China | Changsha

For Performing arts

#18 in China

#409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1914

43. Guangxi University

China | Nanning

For Performing arts

#19 in China

#411 in the World

Founded: 1928

44. City University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#20 in China

#416 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1984

45. KAIST

South Korea Flag

South Korea | Daejeon

For Performing arts

#2 in South Korea

#423 in the World

Enrollment: 10,249
Founded: 1971

46. Southeast University

China | Nanjing

For Performing arts

#21 in China

#435 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 30,664
Founded: 1902

47. Fudan University

China | Shanghai

For Performing arts

#22 in China

#445 in the World

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1905

48. Shandong University

For Performing arts

#23 in China

#458 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 60,000
Founded: 1901

49. South China University of Technology

China | Guangzhou

For Performing arts

#24 in China

#460 in the World

Enrollment: 42,720
Founded: 1952

50. National Taiwan University

Taiwan | Taipei

For Performing arts

#1 in Taiwan

#468 in the World

Enrollment: 33,882
Founded: 1945

51. Open University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#25 in China

#482 in the World

Founded: 1989

52. MARA University of Technology

Malaysia | Shah Alam

For Performing arts

#486 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1956

53. Chulalongkorn University

Thailand | Bangkok

For Performing arts

#490 in the World

Enrollment: 42,782
Founded: 1917

54. Tianjin University

China | Tianjin

For Performing arts

#26 in China

#494 in the World

Enrollment: 35,370
Founded: 1895

55. National Tsing Hua University

Taiwan | Hsinchu

For Performing arts

#2 in Taiwan

#505 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 16,647
Founded: 1911

56. American University of Beirut

Lebanon | Beirut

For Performing arts

#1 in Lebanon

#509 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment: 7,220
Founded: 1866

57. Sichuan University

China | Chengdu

For Performing arts

#27 in China

#512 in the World

Enrollment: 44,200
Founded: 1896

58. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

India | Uttar Pradesh

For Performing arts

#2 in India

#513 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1959

59. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#28 in China

#516 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1991

60. Mahidol University

Thailand | Nakhon Pathom

For Performing arts

#521 in the World

Enrollment: 6,332
Founded: 1888

61. University of Indonesia

Indonesia | Depok

For Performing arts

#2 in Indonesia

#522 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 46,978
Founded: 1950

62. Chiba University

For Performing arts

#10 in Japan

#531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 13,983
Founded: 1949

63. Sebelas Maret University

Indonesia | Surakarta

For Performing arts

#3 in Indonesia

#542 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1976

64. Shanghai University

China | Shanghai

For Performing arts

#29 in China

#543 in the World

Enrollment: 36,000
Founded: 1994

65. Xi'an Jiaotong University

For Performing arts

#30 in China

#548 in the World

Enrollment: 40,346
Founded: 1896

66. Hacettepe University

Turkey | Ankara

For Performing arts

#2 in Turkey

#558 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Enrollment: 44,937
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1967

67. Yonsei University

South Korea Flag

South Korea | Seoul

For Performing arts

#3 in South Korea

#559 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 29,502
Founded: 1957

68. Telkom University

Indonesia | Bandung

For Performing arts

#4 in Indonesia

#563 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2013

69. Soochow University

For Performing arts

#31 in China

#568 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 48,901
Founded: 1899

70. East China Normal University

China | Shanghai

For Performing arts

#32 in China

#571 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 36,026
Founded: 1951

71. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

India | Maharashtra

For Performing arts

#3 in India

#576 in the World

Founded: 1958

72. State University of Semarang

Indonesia | Semarang

For Performing arts

#5 in Indonesia

#581 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1965

73. Jilin University

China | Changchun

For Performing arts

#33 in China

#588 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 68,000
Founded: 1946

74. South China Normal University

China | Guangzhou

For Performing arts

#34 in China

#589 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1933

75. Banaras Hindu University

India | Uttar Pradesh

For Performing arts

#4 in India

#592 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1915

76. Indian Statistical Institute

India | West Bengal

For Performing arts

#5 in India

#599 in the World

Founded: 1931

77. Xiamen University

For Performing arts

#35 in China

#601 in the World

Enrollment: 40,302
Male:Female: 49:51
Founded: 1921

78. National Central University

Taiwan | Taoyuan

For Performing arts

#3 in Taiwan

#602 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 10,829
Founded: 1915

79. Chongqing University

China | Chongqing

For Performing arts

#36 in China

#611 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 47,000
Founded: 1929

80. Hohai University

China | Nanjing

For Performing arts

#37 in China

#617 in the World

Founded: 1915

81. Ocean University of China

China | Qingdao

For Performing arts

#38 in China

#620 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 26,000
Founded: 1924

82. Huazhong University of Science and Technology

For Performing arts

#39 in China

#622 in the World

Enrollment: 71,970
Founded: 1953

83. Gazi University

Turkey | Ankara

For Performing arts

#3 in Turkey

#631 in the World

Enrollment: 31,353
Founded: 1982

84. Northwest Normal University

China | Lanzhou

For Performing arts

#40 in China

#638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1902

85. University of Tehran

For Performing arts

#1 in Iran

#641 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 52,588
Founded: 1934

86. Istanbul University

Turkey | Istanbul

For Performing arts

#4 in Turkey

#642 in the World

Enrollment: 35,190
Founded: 1933

87. Nanjing Normal University

China | Nanjing

For Performing arts

#41 in China

#645 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1952

88. Kobe University

For Performing arts

#11 in Japan

#647 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1902

89. National Chiao Tung University

Taiwan | Hsinchu

For Performing arts

#4 in Taiwan

#655 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1958

90. Northeast Normal University

China | Changchun

For Performing arts

#42 in China

#661 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 28,024
Founded: 1946

91. University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

China | Chengdu

For Performing arts

#43 in China

#664 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 39,000
Founded: 1956

92. University of Delhi

India | Haryana

For Performing arts

#6 in India

#667 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Founded: 1922

93. Hong Kong Baptist University

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#44 in China

#669 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1956

94. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Saudi Arabia Flag

Saudi Arabia | Thuwal

For Performing arts

#1 in Saudi Arabia

#673 in the World

Enrollment: 940
Founded: 2009

95. State University of Yogyakarta

Indonesia | Sleman

For Performing arts

#6 in Indonesia

#687 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1964

96. Harbin Institute of Technology

For Performing arts

#45 in China

#690 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1920

97. Dalian University of Technology

For Performing arts

#46 in China

#692 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 41,000
Founded: 1949

98. Sungkyunkwan University

South Korea Flag

South Korea | Seoul

For Performing arts

#4 in South Korea

#694 in the World

Founded: 1398

99. Ataturk University

Turkey | Erzurum

For Performing arts

#5 in Turkey

#696 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 11,086
Founded: 1957

100. Putra Malaysia University

Malaysia | Serdang

For Performing arts

#702 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1973