100 Best universities for Physics in China

Updated: July 18, 2023

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in China ranked based on their research performance in Physics. A graph of 126M citations received by 9.92M academic papers made by 553 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

#7 in Asia

#31 in the World

Enrollment: 60,739
Founded: 1897

3. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#9 in Asia

#39 in the World

Enrollment: 47,000
Founded: 1896

4. University of Science and Technology of China

For Physics

#10 in Asia

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1958

5. Harbin Institute of Technology

For Physics

#12 in Asia

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1920

6. Peking University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#13 in Asia

#52 in the World

Enrollment: 35,915
Founded: 1898

7. Huazhong University of Science and Technology

For Physics

#15 in Asia

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1953

8. Xi'an Jiaotong University

For Physics

#18 in Asia

#71 in the World

Enrollment: 40,346
Founded: 1896

9. Nanjing University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#19 in Asia

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Enrollment: 56,068
Founded: 1902

10. Tianjin University

China | Tianjin

For Physics

#21 in Asia

#86 in the World

Enrollment: 35,370
Founded: 1895

11. Fudan University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#22 in Asia

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1905

12. Jilin University

China | Changchun

For Physics

#24 in Asia

#94 in the World

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

13. South China University of Technology

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#26 in Asia

#99 in the World

Enrollment: 42,720
Founded: 1952

14. Shandong University

For Physics

#29 in Asia

#114 in the World

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

15. Dalian University of Technology

For Physics

#30 in Asia

#115 in the World

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

16. Wuhan University

For Physics

#31 in Asia

#121 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000
Founded: 1893

17. Sichuan University

China | Chengdu

For Physics

#32 in Asia

#123 in the World

Enrollment: 44,200
Founded: 1896

18. Beihang University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#35 in Asia

#129 in the World

Founded: 1952

19. Central South University

China | Changsha

For Physics

#36 in Asia

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1914

20. Southeast University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#37 in Asia

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Enrollment: 30,664
Founded: 1902

21. Hong Kong Polytechnic University

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#38 in Asia

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1937

22. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#40 in Asia

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1991

23. Northwestern Polytechnical University

For Physics

#42 in Asia

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1938

24. Beijing Institute of Technology

China | Beijing

For Physics

#43 in Asia

#151 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1940

25. Tongji University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#44 in Asia

#152 in the World

Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1907

26. Nankai University

China | Tianjin

For Physics

#45 in Asia

#153 in the World

Enrollment: 26,568
Founded: 1919

27. University of Science and Technology Beijing

China | Beijing

For Physics

#46 in Asia

#158 in the World

Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1952

28. Chinese University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#47 in Asia

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

29. Sun Yat - Sen University

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#48 in Asia

#161 in the World

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

30. City University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#50 in Asia

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1984

31. Hunan University

China | Changsha

For Physics

#51 in Asia

#181 in the World

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

32. University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

China | Chengdu

For Physics

#53 in Asia

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 39,000
Founded: 1956

33. Chongqing University

China | Chongqing

For Physics

#54 in Asia

#189 in the World

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

34. Xiamen University

For Physics

#58 in Asia

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 40,302
Male:Female: 49:51
Founded: 1921

35. Wuhan University of Technology

For Physics

#59 in Asia

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 540,000
Founded: 1946

36. Shanghai University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#60 in Asia

#218 in the World

Enrollment: 36,000
Founded: 1994

37. Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics

For Physics

#61 in Asia

#219 in the World

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

38. Soochow University

For Physics

#64 in Asia

#228 in the World

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

39. East China University of Science and Technology

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#67 in Asia

#235 in the World

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

40. Lanzhou University

China | Lanzhou

For Physics

#70 in Asia

#254 in the World

Founded: 1909

41. Northeastern University, China

China | Shenyang

For Physics

#73 in Asia

#266 in the World

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

42. Nanjing University of Science and Technology

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#74 in Asia

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1953

43. Beijing University of Chemical Technology

China | Beijing

For Physics

#75 in Asia

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1958

44. North China Electric Power University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#81 in Asia

#303 in the World

Founded: 1958

45. Beijing Normal University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#82 in Asia

#305 in the World

Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1902

46. Jiangsu University

China | Zhenjiang

For Physics

#83 in Asia

#309 in the World

Enrollment: 37,600
Founded: 1902

47. Fuzhou University

For Physics

#85 in Asia

#311 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1958

48. National University of Defense Technology

China | Changsha

For Physics

#86 in Asia

#324 in the World

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

49. China University of Mining and Technology

For Physics

#87 in Asia

#328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1909

50. China University of Petroleum - Beijing

China | Beijing

For Physics

#88 in Asia

#330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 15,445
Founded: 1953

51. Donghua University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#89 in Asia

#331 in the World

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

52. Zhengzhou University

China | Zhengzhou

For Physics

#90 in Asia

#332 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1956

53. Southwest Jiaotong University

China | Chengdu

For Physics

#92 in Asia

#343 in the World

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

54. Beijing University of Technology

China | Beijing

For Physics

#93 in Asia

#345 in the World

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

55. Nanjing Tech University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#95 in Asia

#350 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1958

56. Xidian University

For Physics

#97 in Asia

#359 in the World

Enrollment: 35,277
Founded: 1931

57. East China Normal University

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#101 in Asia

#373 in the World

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

58. Harbin Engineering University

For Physics

#102 in Asia

#374 in the World

Enrollment: 28,278
Founded: 1953

59. Beijing Jiaotong University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#108 in Asia

#396 in the World

Founded: 1896

60. Jiangnan University

For Physics

#113 in Asia

#427 in the World

Enrollment: 28,000
Founded: 2001

61. Zhejiang University of Technology

China | Hangzhou

For Physics

#114 in Asia

#430 in the World

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

62. Hefei University of Technology

For Physics

#115 in Asia

#432 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1945

63. Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications

China | Beijing

For Physics

#117 in Asia

#435 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1955

64. Shenzhen University

China | Shenzhen

For Physics

#124 in Asia

#451 in the World

Enrollment: 34,156
Founded: 1983

65. Southwest University

China | Chongqing

For Physics

#126 in Asia

#467 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 2005

66. Northeast Normal University

China | Changchun

For Physics

#138 in Asia

#513 in the World

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

67. Hohai University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#142 in Asia

#522 in the World

Founded: 1915

68. Taiyuan University of Technology

China | Taiyuan

For Physics

#144 in Asia

#529 in the World

Founded: 1902

69. Yanshan University

China | Qinhuangdao

For Physics

#145 in Asia

#531 in the World

Enrollment: 38,000
Founded: 1920

70. Guangdong University of Technology

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#146 in Asia

#532 in the World

Founded: 1956

71. Kunming University of Science and Technology

China | Kunming

For Physics

#148 in Asia

#536 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1954

72. South China Normal University

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#149 in Asia

#539 in the World

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

73. Central China Normal University

For Physics

#150 in Asia

#542 in the World

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

74. Yangzhou University

China | Yangzhou

For Physics

#154 in Asia

#556 in the World

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

75. Qingdao University of Science and Technology

China | Qingdao

For Physics

#156 in Asia

#558 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1950

76. China Agricultural University

China | Beijing

For Physics

#158 in Asia

#563 in the World

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

77. Ocean University of China

China | Qingdao

For Physics

#160 in Asia

#566 in the World

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

78. Nanchang University

China | Nanchang

For Physics

#164 in Asia

#574 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1958

79. Shaanxi Normal University

For Physics

#169 in Asia

#593 in the World

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

80. Nanjing Normal University

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#172 in Asia

#602 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1952

81. Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications

China | Nanjing

For Physics

#173 in Asia

#605 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1958

82. XiangTan University

China | Xiangtan

For Physics

#174 in Asia

#607 in the World

Enrollment: 37,057
Founded: 1958

83. Anhui University

For Physics

#175 in Asia

#609 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1928

84. University of Jinan

For Physics

#177 in Asia

#612 in the World

Enrollment: 37,529
Founded: 1948

85. Guangxi University

China | Nanning

For Physics

#178 in Asia

#613 in the World

Founded: 1928

86. Northwest University, China

For Physics

#179 in Asia

#616 in the World

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

87. Ningbo University

For Physics

#181 in Asia

#619 in the World

Enrollment: 26,000
Founded: 1986

88. Jinan University

China | Guangzhou

For Physics

#182 in Asia

#623 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 37,918
Founded: 1906

89. Qingdao University

China | Qingdao

For Physics

#186 in Asia

#646 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 46,000
Founded: 1985

90. University of Shanghai for Science and Technology

China | Shanghai

For Physics

#187 in Asia

#647 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1907

91. Shanxi University

China | Taiyuan

For Physics

#189 in Asia

#649 in the World

Founded: 1902

92. Shandong University of Science and Technology

For Physics

#194 in Asia

#657 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1958

93. China University of Geosciences Beijing

China | Beijing

For Physics

#197 in Asia

#669 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1952

94. Hebei University of Technology

China | Tianjin

For Physics

#198 in Asia

#671 in the World

Enrollment: 21,000
Founded: 1903

95. Zhejiang Normal University

For Physics

#199 in Asia

#678 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

96. Henan University

China | Kaifeng

For Physics

#207 in Asia

#704 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1912

97. Tianjin Polytechnic University

China | Tianjin

For Physics

#217 in Asia

#741 in the World

Enrollment: 28,000
Founded: 1952

98. Henan Normal University

China | Xinxiang

For Physics

#218 in Asia

#742 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1923

99. Hong Kong Baptist University

China | Hong Kong

For Physics

#221 in Asia

#748 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1956

100. Lanzhou University of Technology

China | Lanzhou

For Physics

#226 in Asia

#760 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1919

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 Engineering507

Applied/Engineering Physics205

Astrobiology127

Astrophysics and Astronomy501

Atomic and Molecular physics299

Condensed Matter Physics400

Materials Science529

Medical Physics69

Nanotechnology473

Nuclear Physics423

Optical Engineering519

Quantum and Particle physics542

Theoretical Physics261