Top Universities in Nanjing for International Students

September 9, 2026 · CSCA Gateway Team

Nanjing has one of China’s strongest campus ecosystems, with Nanjing University (a C9 member) as the most prestigious, alongside several other solid 985/211 campuses. Here’s a rundown.

1. Nanjing University (南京大学)

A C9 League member — we covered it in full in our Campus Deep-Dive: Nanjing University article, check there for its ranking profile and flagship programs.

2. Southeast University (东南大学)

Also a Project 985 member (the same elite funding tier as Nanjing University, just not a C9 member), very strong in architecture, civil engineering, electronic/information engineering, and biomedical engineering. QS World University Rankings 2027 around #335 — the strongest "second-tier" campus in Nanjing.

3. Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (南京航空航天大学)

One of China’s "Seven Sons of National Defence," focused on aerospace and mechanical engineering. Admits 470+ international undergraduates from 40 countries, with English-taught programs in Aerospace Engineering, International Business, Mechanical Engineering, and Software Engineering.

4. Hohai University (河海大学)

A world-class specialist in water resources, civil, and environmental engineering — ranked #1 nationally in Water Resources Engineering. One of the first Chinese universities authorized to grant bachelor’s/master’s/PhD degrees to international students, with 1,359 international students among a total of ~55,000.

5. Nanjing Normal University (南京师范大学)

A National Base for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language — particularly relevant for students coming to deepen their Mandarin or pursue teacher-training tracks. Has admitted international students since 1965, with 1,800+ international students annually from 123 countries.

How This Relates to CSCA

Southeast University and NUAA weigh CSCA Mathematics and Physics scores strictly, similar to Nanjing University’s standard for engineering majors. Nanjing Normal University places more weight on CSCA Chinese language scores, especially for language/education-track applicants.