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Tsinghua University Vs Peking University
Laura Bridgestock
Updated Aug 05, 2024Save
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If you’re looking to study at one of the top universities in China, it’s almost certain that you’re considering Tsinghua University and Peking University. Both based in capital city Beijing, these two institutions are consistently ranked as the top two in China.
In the QS World University Rankings® 2019, Tsinghua University is ranked 17th in the world, ahead of Peking University which is in 30th place. Elsewhere, in the latest edition of the QS BRICS University Rankings – which highlights leading universities in the five BRICS countries – they are the top two universities, largely thanks to their strong global reputations.
Read on for more details of how these two top universities in China compare in the BRICS ranking, and what the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject reveals about their relative subject strengths.
Tsinghua University Vs Peking University in the BRICS rankings
Comparison based on the QS BRICS University Rankings 2019
Tsinghua University
Peking University
Academic reputation
1st
2nd
Employer reputation
1st
2nd
Faculty/student ratio
17th
47th
Papers per faculty
21st
36th
Citations per paper
19th
12th
International faculty
13th
12th
Staff with PhD
47th
69th
International students
36th
11th
Overall ranking
1st
2nd
As the table above shows, these two leading Chinese universities claim the strongest reputations among any of the leading BRICS institutions, heading the list among both academics and employers. While Peking University comes out slightly ahead in these two reputation surveys, Tsinghua is the leader on three of the other indicators used.
Notably, Peking University offers a slightly more international campus community, with a higher proportion of international faculty members and students, although Tsinghua is still scored reasonably well for these factors.
In terms of research impact, the two universities are fairly well matched. Aside from Peking’s faculty/student ration, both universities’ lowest scores come in the ‘staff with PhD’ indicator, which assesses the proportion of academic staff with a PhD-level qualification. However, they are both ranked extremely well for the number of academic papers being produced by their faculty and the number of citations they receive per academic paper.
So, while performing at similar levels overall, how do the two top universities in China compare on individual subjects?
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Tsinghua University Vs Peking University in the subject rankings
Between them, China’s top two universities claim a very impressive presence in the QS World University Rankings by Subject. Tsinghua University is ranked among the world’s best for 33 out of a possible 46 subjects, while Peking University makes 37 appearances.
Tsinghua’s strongest subjects are for civil and structural engineering (ranked ninth in the world), architecture/built environment and engineering & technology (both 10th) and chemical engineering (11th). Peking’s top three positions are for modern languages (10th), natural sciences (14th) and geography (16th).
Overall, Peking University appears to be stronger in a wider range of subject areas, as it typically outperforms Tsinghua in all subject areas apart from engineering and technology. A complete breakdown of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019, as well as each university’s ranking for each broad subject area, can be seen below.
Comparison based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019
Tsinghua University
Peking University
Arts & Humanities
63rd
34th
Archaeology
-
31st
Architecture
10th
-
Art & Design
18th
51-100
English Language & Literature
51-100
51-100
History
51-100
51-100
Linguistics
51-100
=17th
Modern Languages
48th
10th
Philosophy
101-150
=50th
Engineering & Technology
10th
20th
Computer Science & Information Systems
=15th
=18th
Engineering – Chemical
11th
-
Engineering – Civil & Structural
9th
51-100
Engineering – Electrical & Electronic
12th
26th
Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing
14th
21st
Life Sciences & Medicine
=136th
58th
Anatomy & Physiology
-
21st
Biological Sciences
36th
38th
Dentistry
-
23rd
Medicine
101-150
51-100
Nursing
-
51-100
Pharmacy & Pharmacology
51-100
32nd
Psychology
151-200
51-100
Natural Sciences
19th
14th
Chemistry
=18th
=18th
Earth & Marine Sciences
51-100
=27th
Environmental Sciences
13th
21st
Geography
45th
15th
Materials Science
12th
21st
Mathematics
25th
20th
Physics & Astronomy
18th
19th
Social Sciences & Management
35th
24th
Accounting & Finance
=27th
24th
Anthropology
-
51-100
Business & Management Studies
39th
32nd
Communication & Media Studies
51-100
51-100
Economics & Econometrics
=31st
30th
Education & Training
151-200
51-100
Law
28th
=23rd
Politics & International Studies
30th
=33rd
Social Policy & Administration
30th
26th
Sociology
51-100
26th
Sports-related Subjects
-
51-100
Statistics & Operational Research
19th
46th
Which of these two top universities in China would you choose, and why? Let us know in the comments below.
This article was originally published in August 2015. It was updated in February 2019.
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The former editor of TopUniversities.com, Laura oversaw the site's editorial content and student forums. She also edited the QS Top Grad School Guide and contributed to market research reports, including 'How Do Students Use Rankings?'
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