Tsinghua University Vs Peking University

Tsinghua University Vs Peking University

Laura Bridgestock

Updated June 9, 2022 Updated June 09

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?

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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This article was originally published in August 2016 . It was last updated in June 2022

Written by

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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