Tsinghua University and Peking University are China's two most prestigious institutions and are consistently ranked as Asia's top universities alongside a small handful of others. Both sit in Beijing, both are extraordinarily competitive for domestic Chinese students, and both offer a growing but still limited set of English-taught programmes for international applicants. This guide compares the two directly and explains what international students need to know before applying — including the fact that most programmes remain taught in Mandarin.
Quick Facts — Tsinghua vs Peking
| Detail | Tsinghua University | Peking University |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Beijing, China | Beijing, China |
| Founded | 1911 | 1898 — generally regarded as China's first modern national university |
| Known for | Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture, strong STEM research | Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, Medicine, broad academic breadth |
| Medium of instruction | Primarily Mandarin; a limited number of English-taught programmes | Primarily Mandarin; a limited number of English-taught programmes |
| Global ranking (QS 2026) | Consistently Asia's top or near-top ranked university, generally top 20–30 worldwide | Consistently among Asia's top-ranked universities, generally top 20–40 worldwide |
Both universities are often described as China's "Ivy League equivalents," and admission for domestic students is exceptionally competitive, based heavily on the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao).
Acceptance Rates
| Applicant Type | Tsinghua | Peking University |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic (Gaokao-based) undergraduate | Extremely low — among the most selective outcomes in Chinese higher education | Extremely low — comparably selective to Tsinghua |
| International undergraduate (application-based, not Gaokao) | Competitive but generally less numerically extreme than the domestic Gaokao pathway; strong academic record and, often, Chinese proficiency or a relevant test score required | Similarly competitive; varies by programme and nationality quota |
| International Master's/PhD | Competitive; varies significantly by department, with STEM fields at Tsinghua and Humanities/Social Sciences at Peking especially sought after | Competitive; varies significantly by department |
Key point: Domestic admission to either university functions on an entirely different, Gaokao-based system that is separate from and generally far more competitive than the international applicant pathway. International students apply through a distinct process and should not benchmark their chances against domestic acceptance figures.
Tuition Fees for International Students (2026)
| Programme Level | Approx. Annual Tuition (RMB) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate (Humanities/Social Sciences) | RMB 26,000 – 35,000 |
| Undergraduate (Science/Engineering) | RMB 30,000 – 40,000 |
| Undergraduate (Medicine) | RMB 35,000 – 45,000+ |
| Master's (taught programmes) | RMB 30,000 – 50,000 |
| MBA / professional master's | RMB 100,000 – 300,000+ |
Tuition at both universities is broadly comparable and considerably lower than equivalent programmes in the US, UK, or Hong Kong — a key part of their appeal for international students, especially before scholarship support is factored in.
English-Taught Programme Availability
| Track | Tsinghua | Peking University |
|---|---|---|
| English-taught undergraduate programmes | A small number of dedicated international/English-medium tracks (e.g. Schwarzman College's global affairs master's is the most famous English-taught programme, though at graduate level) | A limited set of English-taught undergraduate options, generally smaller in number than Chinese-medium offerings |
| English-taught graduate programmes | Growing set of English-taught Master's/PhD options, particularly in Engineering, Economics, and Public Policy | Growing set of English-taught options, particularly in International Relations, Economics, and select Sciences |
| Overall balance | Majority of programmes remain Mandarin-medium | Majority of programmes remain Mandarin-medium |
Important: Despite growing English-taught offerings, most undergraduate and many graduate programmes at both Tsinghua and Peking University are still taught primarily in Mandarin. International applicants should not assume broad English-medium access — always verify the language of instruction for the specific programme before applying.
HSK (Chinese Proficiency) vs English-Taught Tracks
| Requirement | Applies To |
|---|---|
| HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) — Chinese proficiency test | Required for most Mandarin-medium programmes; typically HSK Level 4–5 or higher depending on the programme |
| TOEFL/IELTS | Required for English-taught programmes; not typically required if you're already meeting a Chinese-medium track's HSK requirement |
| Programmes with no language test required | Rare — nearly all programmes require either HSK (Chinese-medium) or an English proficiency test (English-taught), depending on the track |
If you don't yet speak Mandarin, your realistic path is to target specifically labelled English-taught programmes rather than the general (Mandarin-medium) undergraduate application, and to budget time for intensive Chinese study if you plan to stay in China long-term.
TOEFL/IELTS Requirements (English-Taught Tracks)
| Programme | Typical TOEFL iBT Range | Typical IELTS Range |
|---|---|---|
| English-taught undergraduate | Roughly 80–100 | Roughly 6.0–7.0 |
| English-taught Master's/PhD | Roughly 90–100+ | Roughly 6.5–7.5 |
Exact minimums vary by department and change between admissions cycles — always confirm current requirements on the specific programme's official page.
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)
The Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), administered by the China Scholarship Council, is the primary government-funded scholarship route for international students at Tsinghua, Peking University, and other top Chinese institutions.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Typically tuition, accommodation, a monthly stipend, and comprehensive medical insurance |
| Application routes | Directly through the university, through Chinese embassies/consulates abroad, or via bilateral government programme agreements |
| Levels covered | Undergraduate, Master's, PhD, and general/senior scholar tracks |
| Competitiveness | Highly competitive, especially for Tsinghua and Peking University given their prestige |
| Language track | Available for both Chinese-medium and, increasingly, English-taught programmes, depending on the specific scholarship category |
Many international students at both universities are CSC scholars, particularly at the graduate level — it's worth exploring as a primary funding strategy well before your application deadline.
Application Tips
- Decide your language track first — whether you're targeting a Mandarin-medium or English-taught programme fundamentally changes your required test scores, timeline, and preparation strategy.
- Apply for CSC scholarship deadlines separately and early — CSC application windows typically close several months before the academic year begins and often require additional documentation beyond the standard university application.
- For Mandarin-medium tracks, start HSK preparation well in advance — reaching HSK 4–5 level proficiency is a multi-year undertaking for most non-native speakers; don't leave this until the application year.
- Research specific English-taught programmes carefully — because English-medium offerings are a minority of total programmes, confirm exact language of instruction, faculty, and course structure directly with the department rather than assuming based on the university's general reputation.
- Highlight genuine interest in China — both universities value applicants who demonstrate real engagement with Chinese language, culture, or the region's academic and economic landscape, even in English-taught programmes.
Tsinghua vs Peking — Quick Take
| Factor | Tsinghua University | Peking University |
|---|---|---|
| Strongest fields | Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture | Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, Medicine |
| Often compared to | MIT of China | Ivy League breadth institution of China |
| English-taught graduate options | Growing, notably in STEM and Public Policy | Growing, notably in International Relations and Economics |
| Campus location | Northwest Beijing, adjacent to Peking University | Northwest Beijing, adjacent to Tsinghua University |
Prepare for TOEFL/IELTS with Gabble — Tsinghua and Peking University's English-taught tracks typically expect TOEFL iBT 80–100+ or IELTS 6.0–7.5 depending on the programme. AI-powered speaking and writing feedback with instant score estimates helps you build the score these competitive programmes expect.