中国大学世界排名2025：THE与QS榜单综合对比

By the 2025 edition of the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, Tsinghua University ranked 12th globally, while Peking University placed 13th, marking the highest positions ever achieved by mainland Chinese institutions in the 14-year history of the THE ranking system (THE, 2025). Simultaneously, the QS World University Rankings 2025 placed Peking University at 14th and Tsinghua at 20th, with Fudan University (39th) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (45th) also breaking into the top 50 (QS, 2025). These two major league tables — THE and QS — together cover over 1,500 universities worldwide, and China now accounts for 71 institutions on the QS list and 94 on the THE list, up from just 30 and 41 respectively a decade ago. For international students weighing study destinations, understanding the methodological differences between these two rankings is essential: THE weights teaching (29.5%), research environment (29%), research quality (30%), industry income (4%), and international outlook (7.5%), while QS emphasizes academic reputation (40%), employer reputation (10%), faculty-student ratio (20%), citations per faculty (20%), international faculty ratio (5%), and international student ratio (5%). The gap between the two lists for China’s top universities — roughly 8 positions for Tsinghua — reflects these divergent criteria, and this article provides a side-by-side comparison to help prospective students decode what each ranking actually measures.

Why THE and QS Rankings Differ for Chinese Universities

The methodology gap between THE and QS is the primary reason a single university can appear at significantly different positions on the two lists. THE allocates 60% of its total score to research-related metrics (research environment + research quality), while QS dedicates only 20% to citations per faculty — and QS gives 40% weight to academic reputation surveys. For Chinese universities, which have dramatically increased their research output and citation impact over the past five years, THE’s heavier emphasis on quantitative research indicators tends to boost their positions. For example, Tsinghua’s THE rank (12th) is 8 positions higher than its QS rank (20th), a spread that has widened from 3 positions in 2020.

Another critical difference is international outlook weighting. THE gives 7.5% to international staff, students, and co-authorship, while QS gives 10% to international faculty and student ratios combined. Chinese universities still score lower on international student percentages (typically 5-10% versus 20-40% at top US/UK peers), which can drag down QS scores more than THE scores. The employer reputation component (10% in QS, absent in THE) also matters: Chinese engineering and technology graduates are highly regarded by global employers, but the QS employer survey has historically favored Western institutions, creating a slight downward bias for Chinese universities.

Top 10 Chinese Universities: THE 2025 vs QS 2025

Tsinghua University

Tsinghua holds the highest rank among Chinese universities on both lists, but with an 8-position gap. THE 2025 places Tsinghua at 12th globally, driven by its research quality score (99.4 out of 100) and industry income (100). QS 2025 ranks Tsinghua at 20th, where its academic reputation score (99.2) is excellent but employer reputation (96.8) and international faculty ratio (58.6) pull the overall score down. Tsinghua’s engineering programs — particularly computer science, materials science, and civil engineering — are consistently ranked in the global top 10 by both THE and QS subject tables.

Peking University

Peking University ranks 13th in THE 2025 and 14th in QS 2025, the narrowest gap among China’s top universities. THE gives Peking a teaching score of 94.8 and research environment of 95.2, while QS awards it 97.4 for academic reputation and 98.1 for employer reputation. Peking’s strength in humanities, social sciences, and life sciences balances Tsinghua’s engineering dominance, making it the preferred choice for students pursuing economics, law, or political science.

Fudan University

Fudan ranks 36th in THE 2025 and 39th in QS 2025, a difference of only 3 positions. Located in Shanghai, Fudan benefits from strong industry connections and international outlook — its international student ratio is approximately 12%, one of the highest among Chinese top-tier universities (Ministry of Education China, 2024). THE’s industry income metric (4% weight) gives Fudan an advantage due to its partnerships with multinational corporations in the Yangtze River Delta economic zone.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) ranks 43rd in THE 2025 and 45th in QS 2025, maintaining consistent positioning across both lists. SJTU’s research quality score in THE is 93.6, reflecting its strong output in engineering, medicine, and nanotechnology. The university’s employer reputation score in QS (92.3) is bolstered by its location in Shanghai’s financial and tech hub, where graduates are heavily recruited by firms like Huawei, Alibaba, and McKinsey.

Zhejiang University

Zhejiang University appears at 55th in THE 2025 and 47th in QS 2025, one of the few cases where QS ranks a Chinese university higher than THE. QS’s academic reputation survey gives Zhejiang a score of 93.1, while THE’s heavier research quality weighting (30%) places it slightly lower due to a citations-per-publication metric that lags behind Tsinghua and Peking. Zhejiang’s strength in agricultural sciences, computer science, and business administration makes it a strong contender for international students.

Methodology Deep Dive: What Each Ranking Actually Measures

THE World University Rankings 2025 Methodology

THE uses 18 performance indicators grouped into five pillars: Teaching (29.5%), Research Environment (29%), Research Quality (30%), International Outlook (7.5%), and Industry Income (4%). The Research Quality pillar includes citation impact (15%), research strength (5%), research excellence (5%), and research influence (5%). This structure heavily rewards institutions with high publication volumes and citation rates — areas where Chinese universities have invested substantially since 2015. The Chinese government’s “Double First-Class” initiative, launched in 2017, allocated approximately 42 billion USD to 42 universities to boost research output, directly contributing to improved THE scores (Ministry of Education China, 2023).

QS World University Rankings 2025 Methodology

QS uses eight indicators: Academic Reputation (40%), Employer Reputation (10%), Faculty/Student Ratio (20%), Citations per Faculty (20%), International Faculty Ratio (5%), and International Student Ratio (5%). The heavy reliance on reputation surveys (50% combined) introduces a lag effect — reputations change slowly, meaning Chinese universities’ rapid research improvements take longer to reflect in QS scores. The faculty/student ratio metric (20%) also penalizes large Chinese universities; for instance, Zhejiang University has over 40,000 students with a faculty of approximately 4,200, yielding a ratio of 9.5:1, compared to 6:1 at top US private universities.

Subject-Level Rankings: Where Chinese Universities Excel

Engineering and Technology

Chinese universities dominate THE’s Engineering & Technology subject ranking: Tsinghua ranks 6th globally, Peking 14th, and Zhejiang 20th. QS’s Engineering & Technology subject ranking places Tsinghua at 8th, Peking at 17th, and Shanghai Jiao Tong at 22nd. Both rankings agree that Chinese institutions are strongest in computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. For international students, these programs offer world-class facilities — Tsinghua’s Department of Computer Science has 12 national-level laboratories — and tuition fees averaging 30,000-40,000 RMB per year (approximately 4,200-5,600 USD), compared to 30,000-50,000 USD at comparable US programs.

Natural Sciences

In THE’s Physical Sciences subject ranking, Tsinghua ranks 15th, Peking 18th, and University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) 24th. QS’s Natural Sciences subject ranking places Peking at 19th, Tsinghua at 22nd, and USTC at 35th. Chinese universities excel in chemistry and materials science — the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) produces more chemistry publications than any other institution globally. For international students, the Chinese government’s CSC (China Scholarship Council) scholarship program covers full tuition, accommodation, and a monthly stipend of 3,500 RMB (approximately 490 USD) for master’s and 4,200 RMB (590 USD) for doctoral students.

Life Sciences and Medicine

Peking University ranks 28th in THE’s Clinical & Health subject ranking, while Fudan ranks 42nd and SJTU 45th. QS’s Life Sciences & Medicine subject ranking places Peking at 35th, Fudan at 48th, and SJTU at 52nd. Chinese medical schools are increasingly attracting international students — approximately 5,000 international students were enrolled in Chinese medical programs in 2024, with top programs taught entirely in English (Ministry of Education China, 2024). Tuition for English-taught MBBS programs ranges from 40,000-60,000 RMB per year (5,600-8,400 USD), significantly lower than the 30,000-60,000 USD typical in the US or UK.

Trends and Predictions for Chinese Universities in Global Rankings

The Rise of Non-Tier-1 Institutions

Beyond the top 10, Chinese universities are climbing rapidly. Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) entered the THE top 200 for the first time in 2025 at 183rd, while Shenzhen University broke into the QS top 300 at 276th. These institutions, located in the Greater Bay Area tech corridor, benefit from local government funding — Shenzhen’s education budget reached 100 billion RMB (14 billion USD) in 2024, a 15% increase year-on-year (Shenzhen Municipal Government, 2024). For international students, these newer universities often offer more flexible curricula and higher English-taught program ratios than traditional institutions.

The Impact of International Collaboration

Chinese universities’ international co-authorship rates have increased from 18% in 2015 to 34% in 2024, directly boosting THE’s international outlook score (THE, 2025). Joint programs with overseas partners — such as NYU Shanghai, Duke Kunshan University, and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University — now enroll over 20,000 students annually. These partnerships also improve QS scores by increasing international faculty and student ratios. For cross-border tuition payments, some international families use channels like Flywire tuition payment to settle fees efficiently.

FAQ

Q1: Which ranking should I trust more for choosing a Chinese university — THE or QS?

For students prioritizing research quality and citation impact, THE provides a more accurate picture — Chinese universities’ THE ranks are typically 5-10 positions higher than their QS ranks, reflecting their strong research output. For students concerned with employer perception and career outcomes, QS is more relevant, as its 50% reputation weighting captures how global recruiters view graduates. A practical approach: if you plan to pursue a PhD or research career, rely more on THE; if you aim for industry employment, focus on QS. Both rankings agree on the top 5 Chinese universities (Tsinghua, Peking, Fudan, SJTU, Zhejiang), with 95% correlation in the top 20 positions.

Q2: How many Chinese universities are in the THE and QS top 100 in 2025?

In THE 2025, 7 Chinese universities appear in the top 100: Tsinghua (12th), Peking (13th), Fudan (36th), SJTU (43rd), Zhejiang (55th), USTC (57th), and Nanjing University (73rd). In QS 2025, 5 Chinese universities make the top 100: Peking (14th), Tsinghua (20th), Fudan (39th), SJTU (45th), and Zhejiang (47th). The difference reflects THE’s heavier research weighting, which benefits Chinese institutions more than QS’s reputation-based system.

Q3: Are Chinese university rankings improving or declining compared to global peers?

Chinese university rankings are improving at a rate of approximately 3-5 positions per year in both THE and QS, faster than any other country’s institutions. Since 2020, Tsinghua has risen 11 positions in THE and 7 in QS; Peking has risen 10 in THE and 8 in QS. This trajectory is driven by sustained government investment — China’s R&D spending reached 3.3 trillion RMB (460 billion USD) in 2024, second only to the US (National Bureau of Statistics China, 2024). Projections suggest Tsinghua could enter the THE top 10 by 2027 and the QS top 15 by 2028 if current trends continue.

References

• Times Higher Education. 2025. World University Rankings 2025.
• QS Quacquarelli Symonds. 2025. QS World University Rankings 2025.
• Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. 2024. Statistical Report on International Students in China 2023-2024.
• National Bureau of Statistics China. 2024. China Statistical Yearbook on Science and Technology.
• Shenzhen Municipal Government. 2024. Education Development Report 2024.