Peking University, June 19, 2025: Peking University has maintained its 14th spot in the latest QS rankings, continuing its domination among Chinese mainland universities as they show a collective progress in global standings.

Among the 32 Chinese mainland universities that have made headway in the rankings, Tsinghua University follows PKU right on the heels, jumping three places from the 20th to the 17th place, while Fudan University has surged 9 places to the 30th. Overall, there are 5 Chinese mainland universities in the top 100 ranking.

PKU jumped 11 places to the 17th place in reputation among employers—the biggest improvement among the 9 indicators on which the world rankings were based. It’s ace up its sleeve remains academic reputation, in which it ranks the 12th globally, leading its mainland peers.

Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President of QS, praised the stunning development of Chinese mainland universities in the past ten years, while singling out PKU as a poster child. “Its shows that China has impressive momentum among international higher education institutions, and it still has an opportunity to further enhance the overall quality of its higher education system.”

He added that while China has cemented its status as an academic powerhouse, international student recruitment and academic exchanges remain two growth points.

Written by: Chen Shizhuo
Source: QS World University Rankings 2026