Beijing, Beijing · Founded 1937 · Project 985 · Project 211 · Double First Class
Renmin University of China 中国人民大学
Renmin University of China (RUC) is the country's most influential university in economics, finance, law, sociology, journalism and public administration. Its graduates dominate China's financial regulatory bodies, major banks and think tanks.
Overview
Renmin University of China (RUC) is the country's most influential university in economics, finance, law, sociology, journalism and public administration. Its graduates dominate China's financial regulatory bodies, major banks and think tanks.
For international students, RUC offers English-taught master's degrees in Chinese economy, finance, international relations and business, and runs the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, a major policy think tank.
History
RUC was founded in 1937 as Shaanbei Public School during the war and renamed the People's University of China in 1950, when it became the first new-style comprehensive university of the People's Republic. Its original mission was training cadres for economic reconstruction.
In 1954 it was designated one of the first national key universities, and it developed China's first faculties of economics, finance, statistics, law and journalism as separate disciplines.
RUC joined Project 211 (1996), Project 985 (2003) and Double First Class (2017). Its Suzhou campus opened in 2016 and focuses on international education and the Silk Road School.
World rankings, 2017–2026
| Edition | QS | ARWU | THE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 551 | 401–500 | 801–1000 |
| 2018 | 541 | 401–500 | 801–1000 |
| 2019 | 531 | 401–500 | 601–800 |
| 2020 | 581 | 351–400 | 601–800 |
| 2021 | 581 | 351–400 | 501–600 |
| 2022 | 537 | 301–400 | 501–600 |
| 2023 | 601 | 301–400 | 451–500 |
| 2024 | 631 | 301–400 | 401–500 |
| 2025 | 621 | 301–400 | 401–500 |
| 2026 | 601 | 301–400 | 401–500 |
Compilations such as this one can lag a publisher's revisions; verify the current figure at source.
Campuses
| Campus | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Haidian Campus (Main) | 59 Zhongguancun Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing | Main campus in the Zhongguancun technology district; all major schools and international student housing. |
| Tongzhou New Campus | Tongzhou District, Beijing | New eastern campus under development for expanded teaching capacity. |
| Suzhou Campus | Suzhou, Jiangsu | International education, the Silk Road School and executive programmes. |
Faculty and research
Renmin University of China employs around 1,900 academic staff, including about 4 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering. RUC has fewer national academy members than science-focused peers but hosts China's largest concentration of leading economists and legal scholars. The Silk Road School teaches entirely in English.
Discipline strength
| Discipline | National grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Economics | A+ | Ranked first in China; finance, trade and industrial economics. |
| Law | A+ | One of the two leading law schools in China. |
| Sociology | A+ | China's leading sociology department. |
| Journalism & Communication | A+ | National leader in media research. |
| Political Science | A+ | Public administration and international relations. |
| Business Administration | A+ | School of Business, top-ranked nationally for management. |
| Statistics | A+ | Economic statistics and data science. |
| Theory of Marxism | A+ | The country's principal centre for political theory research. |
Grades follow China's national discipline evaluation scheme (A+ is the highest). Consult the university for the most recent evaluation results.
Programmes open to international students
| Programme | Level | Language | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese Economy and Business (Silk Road School) | Master | English | 2 years |
| Finance (International Master of Finance) | Master | English | 2 years |
| International Relations | Master | English | 2 years |
| Master of Business Administration (IMBA) | MBA | English | 2 years |
| LL.M. in Chinese Law | Master | English | 2 years |
| Chinese Language Programme | Language | Chinese | 0.5–1 year |
Admissions, tuition and deadlines
Requirements
Bachelor: high school diploma, RUC entrance examination or interview, HSK 5. Graduate: recognised bachelor's degree, transcripts, two recommendation letters, study plan; business and finance programmes may require a quantitative assessment.
Deadlines and fees
Deadlines: Bachelor: December – April. Graduate: December – March.. Application fee: CNY 600. Tuition: CNY 26,000–30,000 per year for bachelor's; CNY 35,000–55,000 for English-taught master's.
Scholarships
Chinese Government Scholarship, Confucius Institute Scholarship, Beijing Municipal Government Scholarship, RUC International Student Scholarship.
Notable alumni
| Alumnus | Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Liu He | Economist | Former vice-premier and leading economic policy figure; RUC graduate. |
| Chen Yulu | Economist and central banker | Former deputy governor of the People's Bank of China. |
| Ma Jian | Writer | Novelist and cultural commentator. |
| Wang Xiaobo | Writer | Influential essayist and novelist; studied at RUC. |
Why students choose this university
- Best place to study the Chinese economy and Chinese law in English
- Exceptional professional networks in Beijing's financial sector
- Small, focused international student community