7 Best Medical Universities in China

I have compiled a list of the best medical universities in China based on various factors, including student quality, education standards, feedback from the results of the Medical Council of India FMGE test, and academic productivity.

Here, you will find the top medical universities in China. These universities are ranked based on their education quality, popularity among Indian students, and overall scores.

The factors that we considered for ranking medical universities in China include teaching standards, number of graduates, resources and infrastructure provided by the universities to students, and professional practices.

Read Also: Cheapest Universities in China For International Students.

Best Medical Universities in China

1) Shantou University Medical College 

Shantou University Medical College (SUMC) is a significant constituent of Shantou University (STU), a public university that receives long-term backing from the Li Ka Shing Foundation. It is located in the beautiful and tranquil coastal city of Shantou, Guangdong, China, that boasts of fresh air in South China and is in close proximity to Hong Kong.

The college is devoted to producing qualified medical professionals, providing quality healthcare services, and conducting innovative research projects. Guided by its core values of innovation, dedication, and professionalism, SUMC has made remarkable strides in medical curriculum reforms, scientific research, professional training, international collaboration, and exchange over the past decades.

In 2010, SUMC became the first institution to recruit international students from the US and Canada, authorized by the Ministry of Education. The Clinical Medicine program at SUMC was ranked in the top 1% of universities and research institutions globally based on Essential Science Indicators Analysis in 2012.

Their program is registered with the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER)’s International Medical Education Directory (IMED), enabling their students to apply for medical licensure exams in several countries, including USMLE.

2) Nanjing Medical University

Nanjing Medical University is a prestigious institution of higher learning with a long and distinguished history. It was among the first universities in China to enroll graduate students, offer six-year medical education programs, and grant doctoral and master’s degrees. Sponsored by Jiangsu Province, NMU is recognized as one of the key universities in China.

Originally founded in 1934 as Jiangsu Provincial College of Health Policy and Management, the institution was renamed Nanjing Medical College in 1957 and then Nanjing Medical University in 1993.

Today, NMU is a modern medical education institution with a comprehensive range of disciplines, an outstanding faculty, and excellent research capabilities. It offers seven first-level discipline doctoral programs, eleven first-level discipline master’s programs, and six postdoctoral research centers.

The university’s degree programs cover seven disciplines including medicine, science, technology, management, law, education, and literature. The university has three state-level key disciplines and one key discipline for state-level cultivation. It is home to one academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and one state key laboratory.

NMU is composed of twenty-two schools and one independent school (Kangda School), with twenty-three affiliated hospitals and more than fifty teaching hospitals located in Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Shandong.

3) Zhejiang University

Zhejiang University, established in 1897, is one of China’s earliest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning. It is a leading research university under the direct administration of China’s Ministry of Education. Historically known as the ‘East Cambridge,’ Zhejiang University consistently ranks among the top universities in China in terms of academic strength in teaching, research, and social service.

The School comprises ten different departments: the School of Basic Medicine, the School of Public Health, and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Clinical Medicine departments, along with the School of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the School of Pediatrics, the School of Stomatology, and the School of Nursing. Additionally, there are eight affiliated hospitals and eight cooperated hospitals associated with the School.

ZUSM has received authorization to establish five mobile post-doctoral stations and offers eight first-level discipline doctoral degree programs, such as Basic Medicine, Clinical Medicine, and Oral Medicine. In 2015, it was recognized as one of the first Extraordinary Medical Talents programs by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, and it was also selected as the first clinical post-doctoral training project pilot unit by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

To enhance its teaching capabilities, ZUSM has established major teaching platforms, including a national-level virtual simulation experimental teaching center and four experimental teaching centers at the provincial level. Moreover, the school offers nationally recognized excellent resource sharing courses, visual public courses, and courses through the Chinese Medical Education MOOC Union. Its team of editors-in-chief and associate editors contributes to national planning teaching materials.

Presently, ZUSM accommodates more than 6,300 students, including 2,500 undergraduates, 1,700 Master’s candidates, 1,500 Doctoral candidates, and 600 international students.

4) Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University

The Shanghai Medical College is a part of Fudan University, which was founded in 1905 and is located in the vibrant city of Shanghai. Fudan is a comprehensive research university with many highly-ranked majors and programs, and it is a member of prestigious academic organizations like the C9 League, Universitas 21, and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU).

Presently, the college boasts an extensive array of academic departments and facilities. It houses 27 departments dedicated to basic medical sciences and clinical medicine, alongside 20 national key disciplines, 1 national key laboratory, 8 Project 211 key disciplines, 9 key laboratories overseen by the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China, 2 municipal key disciplines, and 8 Shanghai Clinic Medical Centers. Additionally, there are 4 research stations available for postdoctoral fellowships, as well as 29 doctoral programs and 36 master programs.

For undergraduate students, the college offers programs in Clinical Medicine, Basic Medicine, and Forensic Medicine. Within the Clinical Medicine programs, students can choose from a standard 5-year program leading to a Bachelor of Medicine degree, a six-year program resulting in a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, or an eight-year program culminating in a Doctor of Medicine degree.

Fudan has more than 30,000 full-time students, including over 14,000 master’s and doctoral students, over 14,000 undergraduate students, and over 3,400 international students.

5) Capital Medical University

Capital Medical University (CMU), previously known as Beijing Second Medical College, was established in 1960. It is one of the leading academic medical institutions in China and a significant municipal university in Beijing. Professor Wu Jieping, a renowned urologist and member of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, founded the university. Currently, six members of the teaching staff are part of these prestigious academies, further enhancing the university’s reputation in the country.

CMU comprises 10 schools, 14 affiliated hospitals, and one teaching institution, with over 9,000 enrolled students. CMU offers various educational programs, including Doctorates, Masters, Bachelors, and certificates in the English language.

The university is well-known for its strong capacity in scientific research and hosts several key national and municipal disciplines, laboratories, and post-doctoral research exchange stations. Additionally, many high-caliber research and training centers and institutes covering several fields like General Practitioner Training, Clinical Medicine, Basic Medicine, Neurosciences, Ophthalmology, Geriatrics, Urology, Cardiology, Pain Medicine, Toxicology, Biomedical Engineering, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Reproduction, and Health Policy are founded here.

CMU has earned national and international recognition in various areas, including Neurobiology, Cytobiology, Immunology, Medical Iconography, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Cardiology, Cardiac-vascular Surgery, Kidney Transplantation, Respiratory Disease, Digestive Medicine, Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, and Pediatric Hematology, among others.

6) Huazhong University of Science and Technology

The School of Medicine and Health Management at HUST was founded in 2001, making it the first institution in China to integrate teaching, scientific research, training, and consultation in the fields of medicine and health management.

The School offers two major programs: Public Affairs Management (Health Management) and Information Management & Information System (Health and Medical Information). In 1995, they introduced the Social Medicine and Health Management Master’s Degree Program, followed by the establishment of the Doctoral Degree Program in 2003. Since its inception, the School has achieved significant progress. Social Medicine and Health Management received a continuous A++ rating from 2005 to 2007, ranking second nationwide.

The School is renowned for its strong emphasis on scientific research. It has undertaken over 180 programs and projects funded by the National Nature Science Fund and National Social Science Fund, with a total of approximately 2.4 million RMB (about $0.35 million) invested in research. In 2008, four research centers were established, including the Basic Medical Insurance Center and Rural Health Development Center.

7) Jinzhou Medical University

Jinzhou Medical University, founded in 1946, underwent an official renaming in March 2016, approved by the Ministry of Education, becoming known as Jinzhou Medical University. Over its 70 years of development, it has evolved into one of the top-ranked medical universities in China, offering comprehensive and diverse medical-based education across multiple levels and disciplines.

Currently, Jinzhou Medical University has a student body of over 12,000 on-campus students, attracting applicants from all over China. In recent years, the university has set high admission standards, with minimum scores surpassing those of other first-batch universities in Liaoning province by 50 points. The university boasts 95 professional teaching practice bases, including 3 affiliated hospitals. Notably, the First Affiliated Hospital and the Third Affiliated Hospital are recognized as First Class National Hospitals.

Since 1997, Jinzhou Medical University has been accepting overseas students. The university is authorized to confer ‘English-Taught Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)’ degrees and admits international students under the ‘Chinese Government Scholarship’ program. Offering 21 Bachelor’s degree majors taught in Chinese medium, including Clinical Medicine (MBBS), Anesthesiology, and Radiology, among others. Additionally, there are 59 Master’s degree programs available in both Chinese and English medium, such as Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Veterinary Science.

To date, Jinzhou Medical University has enrolled around 1,800 medical degree students and medical postgraduate students from over 66 countries.

FAQs

Is China a suitable destination for medical studies?

Fortunately, China provides a wide range of opportunities for medical education. Their programs are globally recognized, and the degrees they offer are accredited and accepted in many countries, just like medical schools in the US and UK. As a result, China has become a popular choice among international students who wish to pursue a medical career.

How long does it typically take to complete medical studies in China?

Medical education in China usually spans five years to attain a Bachelor’s degree, followed by a one-year internship (or clinical rotation) where students actively participate in patient care before receiving their final degree. For those pursuing clinical specialization, it generally involves an additional two to three years of study to earn a Master’s degree.

How much does an MBBS program cost in China?

For NEET UG 2023 candidates planning to pursue an MBBS degree in China, the fees for full-time courses are approximately ¥30,000 to ¥50,000 per academic year (equivalent to Rs 3,50,000 to Rs 6,00,000). Apart from the tuition fee, college accommodation expenses may be around ¥6,000, in addition to other daily expenses.