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

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 281K citations received by 23.6K academic papers made by 163 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

#42 in the World

Enrollment: 36,482
Founded: 1902

2. University of Tokyo

For Performing arts

#1 in Japan

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,918
Founded: 1877

3. Peking University

China | Beijing

For Performing arts

#2 in China

#92 in the World

Enrollment: 44,730
Founded: 1898

4. Tel Aviv University

Israel | Tel Aviv

For Performing arts

#1 in Israel

#100 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

5. University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#3 in China

#130 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

#132 in the World

Enrollment: 30,098
Founded: 1905

7. Zhejiang University

China | Hangzhou

For Performing arts

#4 in China

#140 in the World

Enrollment: 60,739
Founded: 1897

8. Lanzhou University

China | Lanzhou

For Performing arts

#5 in China

#146 in the World

Founded: 1909

9. Shandong Normal University

For Performing arts

#6 in China

#154 in the World

Founded: 1950

10. University of Haifa

For Performing arts

#2 in Israel

#178 in the World

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

11. Nagoya University

For Performing arts

#2 in Japan

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 15,959
Founded: 1939

12. Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology

China | Nanjing

For Performing arts

#7 in China

#183 in the World

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

13. Nanjing University

China | Nanjing

For Performing arts

#8 in China

#187 in the World

Enrollment: 56,068
Founded: 1902

14. Sun Yat - Sen University

China | Guangzhou

For Performing arts

#9 in China

#190 in the World

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

15. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

China | Shanghai

For Performing arts

#10 in China

#192 in the World

Enrollment: 47,000
Founded: 1896

16. Chinese University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#11 in China

#193 in the World

Founded: 1963

17. Wuhan University

For Performing arts

#12 in China

#194 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000
Founded: 1893

18. Tongji University

China | Shanghai

For Performing arts

#13 in China

#203 in the World

Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1907

19. Tsinghua University

China | Beijing

For Performing arts

#14 in China

#206 in the World

Enrollment: 48,739
Founded: 1911

20. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Performing arts

#3 in Japan

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 18,813
Founded: 1911

21. Hong Kong Polytechnic University

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#15 in China

#237 in the World

Founded: 1937

22. Kyoto University

For Performing arts

#4 in Japan

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,365
Founded: 1897

23. Seoul National University

South Korea Flag

South Korea | Seoul

For Performing arts

#1 in South Korea

#239 in the World

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

24. Tohoku University

For Performing arts

#5 in Japan

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 17,975
Founded: 1907

25. Nanyang Technological University

Singapore | Singapore City

For Performing arts

#2 in Singapore

#247 in the World

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1955

26. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Performing arts

#6 in Japan

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 17,770
Founded: 1918

27. Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

For Performing arts

#3 in Israel

#264 in the World

Founded: 1924

28. Ankara University

Turkey | Ankara

For Performing arts

#1 in Turkey

#277 in the World

Enrollment: 48,271
Founded: 1946

29. Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Israel | Jerusalem

For Performing arts

#4 in Israel

#284 in the World

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

30. Southwest University

China | Chongqing

For Performing arts

#16 in China

#296 in the World

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

31. Osaka University

For Performing arts

#7 in Japan

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 23,234
Founded: 1931

32. Bar-Ilan University

Israel | Ramat Gan

For Performing arts

#5 in Israel

#312 in the World

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

33. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Performing arts

#8 in Japan

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 16,684
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

#337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1905

36. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Israel | Beersheba

For Performing arts

#6 in Israel

#349 in the World

Enrollment: 17,225
Founded: 1969

37. Indonesia University of Education

Indonesia | Bandung

For Performing arts

#1 in Indonesia

#357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

38. University of Science and Technology of China

For Performing arts

#17 in China

#369 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1958

39. Weizmann Institute of Science

Israel | Rehovot

For Performing arts

#7 in Israel

#371 in the World

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

40. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Performing arts

#9 in Japan

#373 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

41. Central South University

China | Changsha

For Performing arts

#18 in China

#386 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1914

42. National University of Malaysia

Malaysia | Bangi

For Performing arts

#393 in the World

Enrollment: 28,776
Founded: 1970

43. Guangxi University

China | Nanning

For Performing arts

#19 in China

#407 in the World

Founded: 1928

44. City University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#20 in China

#410 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1984

45. Southeast University

China | Nanjing

For Performing arts

#21 in China

#422 in the World

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

46. KAIST

South Korea Flag

South Korea | Daejeon

For Performing arts

#2 in South Korea

#429 in the World

Enrollment: 10,249
Founded: 1971

47. Fudan University

China | Shanghai

For Performing arts

#22 in China

#440 in the World

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1905

48. National Taiwan University

Taiwan | Taipei

For Performing arts

#1 in Taiwan

#455 in the World

Enrollment: 33,882
Founded: 1945

49. Shandong University

For Performing arts

#23 in China

#456 in the World

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

50. South China University of Technology

China | Guangzhou

For Performing arts

#24 in China

#459 in the World

Enrollment: 42,720
Founded: 1952

51. Chulalongkorn University

Thailand | Bangkok

For Performing arts

#471 in the World

Enrollment: 42,782
Founded: 1917

52. MARA University of Technology

Malaysia | Shah Alam

For Performing arts

#473 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1956

53. Tianjin University

China | Tianjin

For Performing arts

#25 in China

#484 in the World

Enrollment: 35,370
Founded: 1895

54. Open University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#26 in China

#494 in the World

Founded: 1989

55. Sichuan University

China | Chengdu

For Performing arts

#27 in China

#501 in the World

Enrollment: 44,200
Founded: 1896

56. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#28 in China

#503 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1991

57. American University of Beirut

Lebanon | Beirut

For Performing arts

#1 in Lebanon

#508 in the World

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

58. Xiamen University

For Performing arts

#29 in China

#513 in the World

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

59. University of Indonesia

Indonesia | Depok

For Performing arts

#2 in Indonesia

#516 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1950

60. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

India | Uttar Pradesh

For Performing arts

#2 in India

#519 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1959

61. National Tsing Hua University

Taiwan | Hsinchu

For Performing arts

#2 in Taiwan

#520 in the World

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

62. Shanghai University

China | Shanghai

For Performing arts

#30 in China

#522 in the World

Enrollment: 36,000
Founded: 1994

63. Mahidol University

Thailand | Nakhon Pathom

For Performing arts

#528 in the World

Enrollment: 6,332
Founded: 1888

64. Hacettepe University

Turkey | Ankara

For Performing arts

#2 in Turkey

#531 in the World

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

65. Chiba University

For Performing arts

#10 in Japan

#533 in the World

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

66. Sebelas Maret University

Indonesia | Surakarta

For Performing arts

#3 in Indonesia

#541 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1976

67. Yonsei University

South Korea Flag

South Korea | Seoul

For Performing arts

#3 in South Korea

#549 in the World

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

68. Xi'an Jiaotong University

For Performing arts

#31 in China

#551 in the World

Enrollment: 40,346
Founded: 1896

69. Telkom University

Indonesia | Bandung

For Performing arts

#4 in Indonesia

#560 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2013

70. State University of Semarang

Indonesia | Semarang

For Performing arts

#5 in Indonesia

#562 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1965

71. East China Normal University

China | Shanghai

For Performing arts

#32 in China

#566 in the World

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

72. Jilin University

China | Changchun

For Performing arts

#33 in China

#567 in the World

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

73. Chongqing University

China | Chongqing

For Performing arts

#34 in China

#570 in the World

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

74. Soochow University

For Performing arts

#35 in China

#579 in the World

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

75. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

India | Maharashtra

For Performing arts

#3 in India

#582 in the World

Founded: 1958

76. Hohai University

China | Nanjing

For Performing arts

#36 in China

#584 in the World

Founded: 1915

77. Banaras Hindu University

India | Uttar Pradesh

For Performing arts

#4 in India

#586 in the World

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

78. South China Normal University

China | Guangzhou

For Performing arts

#37 in China

#589 in the World

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

79. National Central University

Taiwan | Taoyuan

For Performing arts

#3 in Taiwan

#597 in the World

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

80. Huazhong University of Science and Technology

For Performing arts

#38 in China

#599 in the World

Enrollment: 71,970
Founded: 1953

81. Indian Statistical Institute

India | West Bengal

For Performing arts

#5 in India

#600 in the World

Founded: 1931

82. Gazi University

Turkey | Ankara

For Performing arts

#3 in Turkey

#610 in the World

Enrollment: 39,234
Founded: 1982

83. Ocean University of China

China | Qingdao

For Performing arts

#39 in China

#613 in the World

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

84. University of Tehran

For Performing arts

#1 in Iran

#626 in the World

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

85. Northwest Normal University

China | Lanzhou

For Performing arts

#40 in China

#634 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1902

86. Nanjing Normal University

China | Nanjing

For Performing arts

#41 in China

#636 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1952

87. Hong Kong Baptist University

China | Hong Kong

For Performing arts

#42 in China

#643 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1956

88. Ataturk University

Turkey | Erzurum

For Performing arts

#4 in Turkey

#648 in the World

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

89. National Chiao Tung University

Taiwan | Hsinchu

For Performing arts

#4 in Taiwan

#649 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1958

90. Istanbul University

Turkey | Istanbul

For Performing arts

#5 in Turkey

#650 in the World

Enrollment: 35,190
Founded: 1933

91. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Saudi Arabia Flag

Saudi Arabia | Thuwal

For Performing arts

#1 in Saudi Arabia

#651 in the World

Enrollment: 940
Founded: 2009

92. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

India | Haryana

For Performing arts

#6 in India

#652 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1961

93. University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

China | Chengdu

For Performing arts

#43 in China

#654 in the World

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

94. Northeast Normal University

China | Changchun

For Performing arts

#44 in China

#655 in the World

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

95. Kobe University

For Performing arts

#11 in Japan

#659 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 16,214
Founded: 1902

96. University of Delhi

India | Haryana

For Performing arts

#7 in India

#667 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Founded: 1922

97. State University of Yogyakarta

Indonesia | Sleman

For Performing arts

#6 in Indonesia

#678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1964

98. Harbin Institute of Technology

For Performing arts

#45 in China

#679 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1920

99. Henan University

China | Kaifeng

For Performing arts

#46 in China

#685 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1912

100. Dalian University of Technology

For Performing arts

#47 in China

#687 in the World

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