Best Medical Schools in China
China has been working to improve the quality of education in the country since the 1980s. Although managing the largest education system on the planet presents many challenges, the Chinese government has managed to overcome them and overcome them on its own. In fact, its two institutions are ranked 23 and 24 respectively in the World University Rankings.
With an excellent education system and modern equipment, increasingly young doctors are turning their attention to Top Medical Universities in China. If you are interested in studying in one of the most famous countries in the world, then consider one of the top 10 medical schools in China.
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What requirements must Chinese medicine meet?
Chinese universities offer MBBS or medical and surgical degrees. This is an undergraduate degree program, so this degree is open to high school graduates aged 18 and over.
Candidates must be in good physical and mental health. Must have good grades and good English.
How long does it take to get a medical degree from a medical school in China?
An MBBS degree in China takes at least 6 years to complete. The first year covers the basics and the second and third years cover basic medicine. The fourth and fifth years are devoted to clinical medicine. The final year is devoted to an internship that can be done in China or another country.
Best Medical Schools in China
- Tsinghua University – Faculty of Medicine
According to the World University Rankings, Tsinghua is a top university in China and has one of the most selective medical schools in the country. Although it was only founded in 2001, it is one of China’s elite institutions, the Peking Union Medical College (PUMC). Founded in 1917, PUMC is modeled after the American medical school system.
Admission to medical school is very competitive, as this medical school in China only admits about 90 students each year. Compared to other schools, Tsinghua runs an 8-year program. After that, we apply the 3+2+3 model, in which the knowledge base is created in the first 3 years. The next 2 years follow the refresher training system and the last 3 years are dedicated to the rigors of clinical medicine.
- Peking University – Center for Health Sciences (HSC)
Peking University HSC heads the University School of Medicine. It operates in collaboration with other medical institutions and several university hospitals. The former Beijing Peking Imperial University is a prominent member of the C9 League, China’s version of the US Ivy League.
Founded in 1902, it was the first medical school in China to adopt the British medical school system. Thus, he was the first person in the country to teach modern western medicine to his students.
As part of the school’s 6-year clinical medicine degree, HSC students can complete an internship at one (or all) of the university’s eight affiliated hospitals. They are also encouraged to conduct research as the school has 19 research institutes and 38 research centers.
- Fudan University – Shanghai Medical College (SMC)
Shanghai Medical College traces its roots to Dr. Fuqing Yan, who founded the school in 1927. It continues to be one of the best medical schools in China, especially in 2000. The government-ordered merger with Fudan University.
The school currently offers two clinical medical degrees which can be completed in 6 and 8 years. The 6-year degree is suitable for international students as the curriculum is taught in English.
On the other hand, the 8 year course is for those who can develop their clinical and research skills at the same time. Students have the opportunity to collaborate with partners from renowned universities such as Harvard and Columbia.
Currently, the SMC campus is 1900 square meters in the Fenlin Campus. The school is affiliated with 10 hospitals where students can engage in clinical practice.
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) – Faculty of Medicine
The school was founded in 2005. A merger of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Second Medical University, the latter was founded in 1952.
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SJTU School of Medicine
- Zhejiang University – Faculty of Medicine
The medical school was founded in 1912 and was formerly known as Zhejiang Medical University. After several changes, it was officially named Zhejiang University School of Medicine in 1999.
Nevertheless, the university is considered one of China’s elite schools, as it is a member of the highly regarded C9 Alliance. It is also considered one of China’s 36 dual first-class universities.
Zhejiang Zijinjiang Campus is one of the best medical schools in China. It has seven affiliated hospitals and several other research institutes.
Thanks to them, the school is known for its outstanding academic performance and impressive international reputation. That means the university ranks 10th and 14th in conferences and publications, respectively, according to the US News rankings.
- Nanjing Medical University (NMU) – Faculty of Medicine
Next on our list of the best medical schools in China is Nanjing Medical University. Founded in 1934, the Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Health Management has renamed Nanjing Medical University after moving to its current location in 1957.
NMU School of Medicine was one of the first schools to offer an English-taught MBBS degree in 2005. It is also one of the most selective schools, accepting only 100 students per year.
NMU has two campuses, and the majority of clinical teaching and research takes place on the 8-hectare Wutai campus.
NMU has four departments of clinical medicine, the first of which is the first hospital specializing in cardiology. The second school is believed to house 14 teaching and research departments. The third school specializes in cardiovascular surgery and the fourth school in pediatrics.
- Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) – Sun Yat-sen Medical University
Sun Yat-sen University of Medicine, formerly known as University of Preclinical Medicine, is located on the Guangzhou campus of Sun Yat-sen University. Established in 1866, it was earlier known as Boji Medical College. It is the oldest western medical school in the country. Fun fact: this is why the eponymous Dr. Sun Yat-sen studied medicine.
After several name changes and mergers, Zhongshan Medical University was established in 1985. Like most schools, it offers an eight-year clinical medicine program and a six-year MBBS program.
Over a century of excellence, the school is considered one of the best in the country. You can see it on the US News chart. The university is ranked 34th in publications in clinical medicine and 37th in reputation for field research.
- Central South University (CSU) – Xiangya Medical University
Central South University Xiangya Medical College was founded as Xiangya Medical College. Founded in 1914, the school is one of the few in China that offers Western medicine to its students. It was later merged with CSU, which was founded in 2000.
This Chinese medical school in Hunan is considered one of the top double-A universities in the country.
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CSU students spend most of their time on both campuses. Medical college students will be housed in the old campus of Xiangya Third Hospital. Graduate students, on the other hand, study at the new campus. It is also home to Xiangya Hospital and the National Institute of Medical Genetics.
- West China College of Medicine (WCCM), Sichuan University
Formerly known as West China United University, the school was founded in 1914 by Western doctors and missionaries. After several name changes, the institution merged with Sichuan University to form WCCM.
WCCM offers a six-year MBBS program taught in English. Students conduct clinical research at the country’s largest Huaxi Hospital. With 4,300 beds, it is considered one of the top 3 medical centers in China.
As one of the top medical schools in the country, WCCM is affiliated with Asia’s only center for evidence-based medicine. WCCM shares this distinction with only 14 institutions worldwide.
- Southern Medical University (SMU) – School of Clinical Medicine
We ended our list of the best medical schools in China with Southern Medical University. The school is located in the Baiyun Mountains of Guangzhou and is the first military medical college established in 1951. With the approval of the State Council and the Central Military Commission, the school was finally named SMU.
The university is known for its Department of Clinical Medicine, which offers an eight-year program for aspiring doctors. Students are taught in a variety of ways, including classroom, problem-based learning, group work, and self-directed learning. For clinical rotations, SMU students can apply their studies to any of the school’s seven affiliated hospitals.