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University Directory · East Asia & Pacific

Top 25 universities in China

The 25 leading universities and higher education institutions in China, ordered by the citations their research has received. Part of the WAC University Directory.

25 institutions listed · data October 2026

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  1. 1
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    Tsinghua University (THU)

    Beijing, China

    • 388,112 research works
    • 35 million citations
    • h-index 1,212
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  2. 2

    Zhejiang University (ZJU)

    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    • 426,040 research works
    • 34.9 million citations
    • h-index 1,034
  3. 3

    Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU)

    Shanghai, China

    • 414,934 research works
    • 33.3 million citations
    • h-index 972
  4. 4

    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS)

    Beijing, China

    • 394,472 research works
    • 31.3 million citations
    • h-index 924
  5. 5
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    Peking University (PKU)

    Beijing, China

    • 326,537 research works
    • 29.7 million citations
    • h-index 1,099
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  6. 6

    Fudan University

    Shanghai, China

    • 275,261 research works
    • 25.3 million citations
    • h-index 957
  7. 7

    Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)

    Wuhan, Hubei, China

    • 271,643 research works
    • 25 million citations
    • h-index 931
  8. 8

    University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)

    Hefei, Anhui, China

    • 216,142 research works
    • 24.2 million citations
    • h-index 995
  9. 9

    Sun Yat-sen University

    Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

    • 251,066 research works
    • 21.1 million citations
    • h-index 848
  10. 10

    Sichuan University (SCU)

    Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    • 251,148 research works
    • 20.1 million citations
    • h-index 719
  11. 11

    Nanjing University (NJU)

    Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

    • 208,009 research works
    • 18.7 million citations
    • h-index 850
  12. 12

    Central South University (CSU)

    Changsha, Hunan, China

    • 222,298 research works
    • 17.7 million citations
    • h-index 699
  13. 13

    Shandong University (SDU)

    Jinan, Shandong, China

    • 218,721 research works
    • 16.6 million citations
    • h-index 611
  14. 14

    Wuhan University (WHU)

    Wuhan, Hubei, China

    • 199,519 research works
    • 15.3 million citations
    • h-index 806
  15. 15

    Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS)

    Beijing, China

    • 170,380 research works
    • 15.3 million citations
    • h-index 942
  16. 16

    Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU)

    Xi'an, Shaanxi, China

    • 225,122 research works
    • 15.2 million citations
    • h-index 663
  17. 17

    Jilin University

    Changchun, Jilin, China

    • 181,499 research works
    • 15 million citations
    • h-index 647
  18. 18

    Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT)

    Harbin, China

    • 228,197 research works
    • 14.9 million citations
    • h-index 625
  19. 19

    Tianjin University (TJU)

    Tianjin, China

    • 175,561 research works
    • 13.2 million citations
    • h-index 628
  20. 20

    Tongji University

    Shanghai, China

    • 206,830 research works
    • 12.1 million citations
    • h-index 625
  21. 21

    South China University of Technology (SCUT)

    Guangzhou, China

    • 152,484 research works
    • 11.7 million citations
    • h-index 602
  22. 22

    Southeast University (SEU)

    Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

    • 194,040 research works
    • 10.7 million citations
    • h-index 619
  23. 23

    Xiamen University (XMU)

    Xiamen, Fujian, China

    • 123,384 research works
    • 10.4 million citations
    • h-index 668
  24. 24

    Nankai University (NKU)

    Tianjin, China

    • 112,645 research works
    • 10.3 million citations
    • h-index 676
  25. 25

    Hunan University

    Changsha, Hunan, China

    • 96,065 research works
    • 10.2 million citations
    • h-index 663

Ordered by total research citations recorded in OpenAlex (October 2026). Works, citations and h-index are OpenAlex figures for the institution. How the list is made.

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About the directory

How institutions are chosen and ordered

The directory lists 1436 universities, colleges and higher education institutions in 199 countries and territories. In countries with 200 or more higher education institutions recorded in OpenAlex it lists the top 25; everywhere else, the top 5.

Institutions are ordered by the total number of citations their research has received, as recorded in OpenAlex, the open catalogue of the world’s research, with data taken in October 2026. This is a transparent, research-based order: it favours large research institutions and does not measure teaching quality, student experience or graduate outcomes. University systems are left out in favour of their campuses, and faculties or institutes are left out when their parent university is already listed. Names, cities and websites come from OpenAlex and the Research Organization Registry (ROR).

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