100 Best universities for Physics in China

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in China ranked based on their research performance in Physics. A graph of 146M citations received by 8.2M 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

#6 in Asia

#26 in the World

Enrollment: 60,739
Founded: 1897

3. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#8 in Asia

#38 in the World

Enrollment: 47,000
Founded: 1896

4. University of Science and Technology of China

For Physics

#9 in Asia

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1958

5. Peking University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#10 in Asia

#44 in the World

Enrollment: 44,730
Founded: 1898

6. Harbin Institute of Technology

For Physics

#12 in Asia

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1920

7. University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#13 in Asia

#52 in the World

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

8. Huazhong University of Science and Technology

For Physics

#15 in Asia

#58 in the World

Enrollment: 71,970
Founded: 1953

9. Xi'an Jiaotong University

For Physics

#17 in Asia

#66 in the World

Enrollment: 40,346
Founded: 1896

10. Nanjing University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#18 in Asia

#68 in the World

Enrollment: 56,068
Founded: 1902

11. Tianjin University

China | Tianjin

For Physics

#20 in Asia

#73 in the World

Enrollment: 35,370
Founded: 1895

12. Fudan University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#22 in Asia

#82 in the World

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1905

13. Jilin University

China | Changchun

For Physics

#23 in Asia

#87 in the World

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

14. South China University of Technology

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#24 in Asia

#91 in the World

Enrollment: 42,720
Founded: 1952

15. Central South University

China | Changsha

For Physics

#26 in Asia

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1914

16. Sichuan University

China | Chengdu

For Physics

#28 in Asia

#98 in the World

Enrollment: 44,200
Founded: 1896

17. Dalian University of Technology

For Physics

#29 in Asia

#103 in the World

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

18. Wuhan University

For Physics

#30 in Asia

#105 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000
Founded: 1893

19. Shandong University

For Physics

#31 in Asia

#106 in the World

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

20. Southeast University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#35 in Asia

#120 in the World

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

21. Beihang University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#36 in Asia

#125 in the World

Founded: 1952

22. Sun Yat - Sen University

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#37 in Asia

#127 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

#135 in the World

Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1952

24. Tongji University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#39 in Asia

#136 in the World

Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1907

25. Hong Kong Polytechnic University

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#40 in Asia

#137 in the World

Founded: 1937

26. Beijing Institute of Technology

China | Beijing

For Physics

#42 in Asia

#142 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1940

27. Northwestern Polytechnical University

For Physics

#43 in Asia

#146 in the World

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

28. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#44 in Asia

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1991

29. Chongqing University

China | Chongqing

For Physics

#46 in Asia

#159 in the World

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

30. Nankai University

China | Tianjin

For Physics

#47 in Asia

#160 in the World

Enrollment: 26,568
Founded: 1919

31. Hunan University

China | Changsha

For Physics

#50 in Asia

#172 in the World

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

32. University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

China | Chengdu

For Physics

#51 in Asia

#173 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

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1984

34. Chinese University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#53 in Asia

#185 in the World

Founded: 1963

35. Wuhan University of Technology

For Physics

#56 in Asia

#199 in the World

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

36. Xiamen University

For Physics

#57 in Asia

#201 in the World

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

37. Soochow University

For Physics

#61 in Asia

#210 in the World

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

38. Shanghai University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#62 in Asia

#219 in the World

Enrollment: 36,000
Founded: 1994

39. Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics

For Physics

#65 in Asia

#235 in the World

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

40. East China University of Science and Technology

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#67 in Asia

#247 in the World

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

41. Northeastern University, China

China | Shenyang

For Physics

#69 in Asia

#253 in the World

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

42. Nanjing University of Science and Technology

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#71 in Asia

#256 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1953

43. Lanzhou University

China | Lanzhou

For Physics

#73 in Asia

#260 in the World

Founded: 1909

44. Beijing University of Chemical Technology

China | Beijing

For Physics

#74 in Asia

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1958

45. North China Electric Power University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#79 in Asia

#280 in the World

Founded: 1958

46. Jiangsu University

China | Zhenjiang

For Physics

#81 in Asia

#284 in the World

Enrollment: 37,600
Founded: 1902

47. Fuzhou University

For Physics

#83 in Asia

#302 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1958

48. China University of Mining and Technology

For Physics

#85 in Asia

#305 in the World

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

49. Zhengzhou University

China | Zhengzhou

For Physics

#86 in Asia

#306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1956

50. Beijing Normal University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#87 in Asia

#309 in the World

Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1902

51. Southwest Jiaotong University

China | Chengdu

For Physics

#88 in Asia

#319 in the World

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

52. National University of Defense Technology

China | Changsha

For Physics

#89 in Asia

#323 in the World

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

53. Beijing University of Technology

China | Beijing

For Physics

#90 in Asia

#326 in the World

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

54. Nanjing Tech University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#93 in Asia

#337 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1958

55. Donghua University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#94 in Asia

#339 in the World

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

56. Xidian University

For Physics

#95 in Asia

#343 in the World

Enrollment: 35,277
Founded: 1931

57. Harbin Engineering University

For Physics

#99 in Asia

#367 in the World

Enrollment: 28,278
Founded: 1953

58. East China Normal University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#101 in Asia

#370 in the World

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

59. Beijing Jiaotong University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#105 in Asia

#390 in the World

Founded: 1896

60. Shenzhen University

China | Shenzhen

For Physics

#107 in Asia

#396 in the World

Enrollment: 34,156
Founded: 1983

61. Jiangnan University

For Physics

#110 in Asia

#406 in the World

Enrollment: 28,000
Founded: 2001

62. Hefei University of Technology

For Physics

#116 in Asia

#435 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1945

63. Zhejiang University of Technology

China | Hangzhou

For Physics

#117 in Asia

#444 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1953

64. Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications

China | Beijing

For Physics

#118 in Asia

#447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1955

65. China University of Petroleum - Beijing

China | Beijing

For Physics

#121 in Asia

#453 in the World

Enrollment: 15,445
Founded: 1953

66. Southwest University

China | Chongqing

For Physics

#124 in Asia

#462 in the World

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

67. Guangdong University of Technology

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#136 in Asia

#497 in the World

Founded: 1956

68. Hohai University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#137 in Asia

#500 in the World

Founded: 1915

69. Kunming University of Science and Technology

China | Kunming

For Physics

#140 in Asia

#510 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1954

70. Taiyuan University of Technology

China | Taiyuan

For Physics

#141 in Asia

#518 in the World

Founded: 1902

71. Nanchang University

China | Nanchang

For Physics

#143 in Asia

#522 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1958

72. Yanshan University

China | Qinhuangdao

For Physics

#145 in Asia

#529 in the World

Enrollment: 38,000
Founded: 1920

73. Northeast Normal University

China | Changchun

For Physics

#147 in Asia

#532 in the World

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

74. China Agricultural University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#148 in Asia

#535 in the World

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

75. Qingdao University

China | Qingdao

For Physics

#149 in Asia

#536 in the World

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

76. South China Normal University

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#150 in Asia

#537 in the World

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

77. Yangzhou University

China | Yangzhou

For Physics

#152 in Asia

#544 in the World

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

78. Ocean University of China

China | Qingdao

For Physics

#153 in Asia

#546 in the World

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

79. Guangxi University

China | Nanning

For Physics

#158 in Asia

#563 in the World

Founded: 1928

80. Central China Normal University

For Physics

#160 in Asia

#567 in the World

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

81. Qingdao University of Science and Technology

China | Qingdao

For Physics

#162 in Asia

#571 in the World

Founded: 1950

82. Jinan University

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#164 in Asia

#576 in the World

Enrollment: 37,918
Founded: 1906

83. Peking Union Medical College

China | Beijing

For Physics

#165 in Asia

#584 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1917

84. Anhui University

For Physics

#167 in Asia

#593 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1928

85. Nanjing Normal University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#169 in Asia

#595 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1952

86. Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#170 in Asia

#597 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1958

87. Shaanxi Normal University

For Physics

#172 in Asia

#600 in the World

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

88. Ningbo University

For Physics

#173 in Asia

#601 in the World

Enrollment: 26,000
Founded: 1986

89. University of Shanghai for Science and Technology

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#175 in Asia

#605 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1907

90. University of Jinan

For Physics

#180 in Asia

#614 in the World

Enrollment: 37,529
Founded: 1948

91. Northwest University, China

For Physics

#181 in Asia

#615 in the World

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

92. XiangTan University

China | Xiangtan

For Physics

#183 in Asia

#618 in the World

Enrollment: 37,057
Founded: 1958

93. Shandong University of Science and Technology

For Physics

#184 in Asia

#619 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1958

94. China University of Geosciences Beijing

China | Beijing

For Physics

#186 in Asia

#622 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1952

95. Hebei University of Technology

China | Tianjin

For Physics

#190 in Asia

#635 in the World

Enrollment: 21,000
Founded: 1903

96. Zhejiang Normal University

For Physics

#195 in Asia

#672 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

97. Shanxi University

China | Taiyuan

For Physics

#196 in Asia

#673 in the World

Founded: 1902

98. Henan University

China | Kaifeng

For Physics

#204 in Asia

#696 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1912

99. Northwest A&F University

China | Yangling

For Physics

#205 in Asia

#697 in the World

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

100. Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#210 in Asia

#703 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 Engineering520

Applied/Engineering Physics253

Astrobiology170

Astrophysics and Astronomy518

Atomic and Molecular physics329

Condensed Matter Physics432

Materials Science541

Medical Physics76

Nanotechnology485

Nuclear Physics445

Optical Engineering527

Quantum and Particle physics541

Theoretical Physics298