China’s medical schools have gained worldwide attention for their excellent medical facilities, numerous scholarship offers, and well-trained, internationally renowned medical professors.
Most of China’s medical universities are recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and are listed in the Directory of World Medical Schools. Compared to medical schools in the West, Chinese medical schools have easier entry requirements and lower tuition fees.
In addition, the cost of living in China is much lower, which attracts many foreign students to study medicine in China. Which are the best medical schools in China for international students?
MBBS in China is a smart choice that is popular because of its low cost and promising returns. China, which is adjacent to Pakistan, has been trending when it comes to the choice of students who prefer to pursue their medical education in a foreign university. Compared to many other foreign universities, China offers cheap medical education. The number of foreign students going to Chinese universities is increasing because of the budget education provided in China, which has many research and development activities in the field of medical science.
Since the 1980s, China has been working to improve the quality of education in the country. While there are many challenges in running the largest education system on the planet, the Chinese government has managed to overcome them successfully – and even surpass itself. In fact, two Chinese universities have managed to rank 23rd and 24th respectively in the world university rankings.
Due to its excellent education system and state-of-the-art facilities, more and more aspiring doctors are choosing Chinese universities. If you are interested in studying in the world’s most populous country, you should consider one of these top 10 medical schools in China.
1. Tsinghua University – School of Medicine
Tsinghua is China’s top university according to the World University Ranking and is home to one of the most selective medical schools in the country. Although it was only founded in 2001, it is modelled after one of the most elite institutions in China, the Peking Union Medical College (PUMC). Founded in 1917, PUMC is modelled on the US medical school system.
- Peking University – Health Sciences Centre (HSC)
The University Medical School is under the purview of Peking University HSC. It is managed alongside other health institutions as well as the many university hospitals. Based in Beijing, the former Imperial University of Beijing is a prominent member of the C9 League, the Chinese version of the US Ivy League.
- Fudan University – Shanghai Medical College (SMC)
Shanghai Medical College dates back to 1927 when it was founded by Dr Fuqing Yan. It remains one of the best medical schools in China, especially after the government-mandated merger with Fudan University in 2000.
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) – Medical School
This school is the result of the 2005 merger of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Second Medical University, the latter of which was founded in 1952.
- Zhejiang University – School of Medicine
The Medical School was founded in 1912 as the Zhejiang Medical College. After some changes, it was officially named Zhejiang University School of Medicine in 1999.
- Nanjing Medical University (NMU) – School of Medicine
Next on our list of the best medical schools in China is Nanjing Medical University. It was founded in 1934 as the Jiangsu Provincial College of Health Policy and Management but was renamed Nanjing Medical College in 1957 when it moved to its current location.
- Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU) – Zhongshan Medical School
The Zhongshan Medical School, formerly called the School of Preclinical Studies in Medicine, is located on the SYSU campus in Guangzhou. It was founded in 1866 as the Boji Medical School, making it the oldest Western medical school in the country. Interesting fact: its namesake, Dr Sun Yat-Sen, studied medicine there.
- Central South University (CSU) – Xiangya Medical School
CSU – Xiangya Medical School started its activities as Xiangya Medical School. It was founded in 1914 and was one of the few schools to offer Western medicine to students in China. It was subsequently merged with CSU, which was only founded in 2000.
- Sichuan University – Western China College of Medicine (WCCM)
The school, formerly known as the Western China Union College, was founded in 1914 by Western doctors and missionaries. After several name changes, the institution was merged with Sichuan University to form WCCM.
- Southern Medical University (SMU) – School of Clinical Medicine
We round off the list of the best medical schools in China with Southern Medical University. This school, located in the Baiyun Mountain area of Guangzhou, was founded in 1951 as the First Military Medical University. After approval by the State Council and the Central Military Commission, the school was renamed SMU.