100 Best universities for Physics in China

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in China ranked based on their research performance in Physics. A graph of 166M citations received by 8.59M academic papers made by 558 universities in China 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.

1. Tsinghua University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#2 in Asia

#8 in the World

Enrollment: 48,739
Founded: 1911

2. Zhejiang University

China | Hangzhou

For Physics

#4 in Asia

#22 in the World

Enrollment: 60,739
Founded: 1897

3. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#8 in Asia

#33 in the World

Enrollment: 47,000
Founded: 1896

4. University of Science and Technology of China

For Physics

#9 in Asia

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1958

5. Peking University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#10 in Asia

#43 in the World

Enrollment: 44,730
Founded: 1898

6. Harbin Institute of Technology

For Physics

#12 in Asia

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1920

7. University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#13 in Asia

#51 in the World

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

8. Huazhong University of Science and Technology

For Physics

#14 in Asia

#55 in the World

Enrollment: 71,970
Founded: 1953

9. Xi'an Jiaotong University

For Physics

#16 in Asia

#63 in the World

Enrollment: 40,346
Founded: 1896

10. Nanjing University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#18 in Asia

#67 in the World

Enrollment: 56,068
Founded: 1902

11. Tianjin University

China | Tianjin

For Physics

#19 in Asia

#68 in the World

Enrollment: 35,370
Founded: 1895

12. Fudan University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#21 in Asia

#76 in the World

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1905

13. Central South University

China | Changsha

For Physics

#23 in Asia

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1914

14. Jilin University

China | Changchun

For Physics

#24 in Asia

#85 in the World

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

15. South China University of Technology

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#25 in Asia

#87 in the World

Enrollment: 42,720
Founded: 1952

16. Sichuan University

China | Chengdu

For Physics

#26 in Asia

#88 in the World

Enrollment: 44,200
Founded: 1896

17. Dalian University of Technology

For Physics

#27 in Asia

#96 in the World

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

18. Wuhan University

For Physics

#30 in Asia

#101 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000
Founded: 1893

19. Shandong University

For Physics

#31 in Asia

#102 in the World

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

20. Southeast University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#33 in Asia

#109 in the World

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

21. Beihang University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#35 in Asia

#117 in the World

Founded: 1952

22. Sun Yat - Sen University

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#36 in Asia

#118 in the World

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

23. University of Science and Technology Beijing

China | Beijing

For Physics

#38 in Asia

#123 in the World

Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1952

24. Tongji University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#39 in Asia

#126 in the World

Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1907

25. Beijing Institute of Technology

China | Beijing

For Physics

#40 in Asia

#131 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1940

26. Northwestern Polytechnical University

For Physics

#41 in Asia

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1938

27. Hong Kong Polytechnic University

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#42 in Asia

#135 in the World

Founded: 1937

28. Chongqing University

China | Chongqing

For Physics

#44 in Asia

#147 in the World

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

29. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#45 in Asia

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1991

30. Nankai University

China | Tianjin

For Physics

#46 in Asia

#155 in the World

Enrollment: 26,568
Founded: 1919

31. Hunan University

China | Changsha

For Physics

#48 in Asia

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 36,000
Founded: 1926

32. University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

China | Chengdu

For Physics

#49 in Asia

#165 in the World

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

33. City University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#52 in Asia

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1984

34. Chinese University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#53 in Asia

#181 in the World

Founded: 1963

35. Wuhan University of Technology

For Physics

#54 in Asia

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 540,000
Founded: 1946

36. Xiamen University

For Physics

#55 in Asia

#191 in the World

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

37. Soochow University

For Physics

#57 in Asia

#197 in the World

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

38. Shanghai University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#60 in Asia

#208 in the World

Enrollment: 36,000
Founded: 1994

39. Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics

For Physics

#63 in Asia

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1952

40. Northeastern University, China

China | Shenyang

For Physics

#67 in Asia

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 46,000
Founded: 1923

41. East China University of Science and Technology

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#68 in Asia

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 26,000
Founded: 1952

42. Nanjing University of Science and Technology

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#69 in Asia

#247 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1953

43. Lanzhou University

China | Lanzhou

For Physics

#71 in Asia

#253 in the World

Founded: 1909

44. Beijing University of Chemical Technology

China | Beijing

For Physics

#73 in Asia

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1958

45. Jiangsu University

China | Zhenjiang

For Physics

#76 in Asia

#270 in the World

Enrollment: 37,600
Founded: 1902

46. North China Electric Power University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#77 in Asia

#271 in the World

Founded: 1958

47. Zhengzhou University

China | Zhengzhou

For Physics

#81 in Asia

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1956

48. China University of Mining and Technology

For Physics

#82 in Asia

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1909

49. Fuzhou University

For Physics

#83 in Asia

#286 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1958

50. Beijing Normal University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#85 in Asia

#300 in the World

Enrollment: 36,482
Founded: 1902

51. Southwest Jiaotong University

China | Chengdu

For Physics

#87 in Asia

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 44,000
Founded: 1896

52. Beijing University of Technology

China | Beijing

For Physics

#89 in Asia

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 24,442
Founded: 1960

53. National University of Defense Technology

China | Changsha

For Physics

#90 in Asia

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1953

54. Nanjing Tech University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#91 in Asia

#319 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1958

55. Donghua University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#92 in Asia

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1951

56. Xidian University

For Physics

#94 in Asia

#331 in the World

Enrollment: 35,277
Founded: 1931

57. Harbin Engineering University

For Physics

#98 in Asia

#353 in the World

Enrollment: 28,278
Founded: 1953

58. East China Normal University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#99 in Asia

#358 in the World

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

59. Shenzhen University

China | Shenzhen

For Physics

#102 in Asia

#365 in the World

Enrollment: 34,156
Founded: 1983

60. Beijing Jiaotong University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#105 in Asia

#379 in the World

Founded: 1896

61. Jiangnan University

For Physics

#106 in Asia

#380 in the World

Enrollment: 28,000
Founded: 2001

62. Hefei University of Technology

For Physics

#113 in Asia

#413 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1945

63. Zhejiang University of Technology

China | Hangzhou

For Physics

#115 in Asia

#427 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1953

64. China University of Petroleum - Beijing

China | Beijing

For Physics

#118 in Asia

#440 in the World

Enrollment: 15,445
Founded: 1953

65. Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications

China | Beijing

For Physics

#119 in Asia

#441 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1955

66. Southwest University

China | Chongqing

For Physics

#122 in Asia

#446 in the World

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

67. Guangdong University of Technology

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#126 in Asia

#462 in the World

Founded: 1956

68. Hohai University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#130 in Asia

#474 in the World

Founded: 1915

69. Kunming University of Science and Technology

China | Kunming

For Physics

#136 in Asia

#485 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1954

70. Taiyuan University of Technology

China | Taiyuan

For Physics

#140 in Asia

#500 in the World

Founded: 1902

71. Nanchang University

China | Nanchang

For Physics

#141 in Asia

#505 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1958

72. Qingdao University

China | Qingdao

For Physics

#143 in Asia

#513 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 46,000
Founded: 1985

73. Yanshan University

China | Qinhuangdao

For Physics

#144 in Asia

#521 in the World

Enrollment: 38,000
Founded: 1920

74. China Agricultural University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#145 in Asia

#522 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1905

75. Yangzhou University

China | Yangzhou

For Physics

#146 in Asia

#523 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1902

76. Guangxi University

China | Nanning

For Physics

#148 in Asia

#525 in the World

Founded: 1928

77. Ocean University of China

China | Qingdao

For Physics

#149 in Asia

#526 in the World

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

78. South China Normal University

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#150 in Asia

#527 in the World

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

79. Northeast Normal University

China | Changchun

For Physics

#152 in Asia

#533 in the World

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

80. Qingdao University of Science and Technology

China | Qingdao

For Physics

#154 in Asia

#542 in the World

Founded: 1950

81. Jinan University

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#159 in Asia

#556 in the World

Enrollment: 37,918
Founded: 1906

82. Peking Union Medical College

China | Beijing

For Physics

#160 in Asia

#558 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1917

83. Central China Normal University

For Physics

#161 in Asia

#560 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1903

84. Anhui University

For Physics

#166 in Asia

#574 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1928

85. Ningbo University

For Physics

#167 in Asia

#577 in the World

Enrollment: 26,000
Founded: 1986

86. Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#168 in Asia

#579 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1958

87. University of Shanghai for Science and Technology

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#169 in Asia

#580 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1907

88. Nanjing Normal University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#170 in Asia

#584 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1952

89. Shaanxi Normal University

For Physics

#171 in Asia

#585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 38,000
Founded: 1944

90. Shandong University of Science and Technology

For Physics

#172 in Asia

#592 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1958

91. University of Jinan

For Physics

#173 in Asia

#596 in the World

Enrollment: 37,529
Founded: 1948

92. Hebei University of Technology

China | Tianjin

For Physics

#175 in Asia

#599 in the World

Enrollment: 21,000
Founded: 1903

93. Northwest University, China

For Physics

#176 in Asia

#600 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1912

94. XiangTan University

China | Xiangtan

For Physics

#178 in Asia

#602 in the World

Enrollment: 37,057
Founded: 1958

95. China University of Geosciences Beijing

China | Beijing

For Physics

#181 in Asia

#606 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1952

96. Zhejiang Normal University

For Physics

#194 in Asia

#651 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

97. Shanxi University

China | Taiyuan

For Physics

#195 in Asia

#655 in the World

Founded: 1902

98. Northwest A&F University

China | Yangling

For Physics

#196 in Asia

#662 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1934

99. Henan University

China | Kaifeng

For Physics

#199 in Asia

#676 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1912

100. Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#200 in Asia

#682 in the World

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

The best cities to study Physics in China based on the number of universities and their ranks are Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Hefei.

Physics subfields in China

Acoustical Engineering521

Applied/Engineering Physics260

Astrobiology176

Astrophysics and Astronomy521

Atomic and Molecular physics331

Condensed Matter Physics438

Materials Science541

Medical Physics87

Nanotechnology486

Nuclear Physics450

Optical Engineering529

Quantum and Particle physics541

Theoretical Physics303