Chengdu, Sichuan · Founded 1896 · Project 985 · Project 211 · Double First Class
Sichuan University 四川大学
Sichuan University is the flagship of western China's higher education system and one of the largest universities in the country, with around 65,000 students. It is especially strong in medicine, dentistry, polymer materials, Chinese literature and stomatology.
Overview
Sichuan University is the flagship of western China's higher education system and one of the largest universities in the country, with around 65,000 students. It is especially strong in medicine, dentistry, polymer materials, Chinese literature and stomatology.
Its West China School of Stomatology is the best dental school in Asia and one of the top three in the world by research output, and the West China Hospital is one of the largest single-site hospitals on earth.
History
SCU traces its origin to 1896, when it was founded as the Sichuan Chinese-Western School. It became a national comprehensive university in the 1930s and was reorganised in 1952 into a multi-disciplinary institution.
In 1994 it merged with Chengdu University of Science and Technology, and in 2000 with the West China University of Medical Sciences — one of China's oldest and most prestigious medical schools — creating today's very large comprehensive university.
SCU is a Project 985 and Double First Class university. Its Jiang'an campus is one of the largest single university campuses in China.
World rankings, 2017–2026
| Edition | QS | ARWU | THE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 401 | 201–300 | 601–800 |
| 2018 | 391 | 201–300 | 601–800 |
| 2019 | 413 | 151–200 | 501–600 |
| 2020 | 405 | 151–200 | 501–600 |
| 2021 | 386 | 101–150 | 401–500 |
| 2022 | 331 | 101–150 | 351–400 |
| 2023 | 336 | 98 | 301–350 |
| 2024 | 336 | 87 | 251–300 |
| 2025 | 336 | 87 | 201–250 |
| 2026 | 327 | 87 | 201–250 |
Compilations such as this one can lag a publisher's revisions; verify the current figure at source.
Campuses
| Campus | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Wangjiang Campus (Main) | 24 South Section 1, Yihuan Road, Wuhou District, Chengdu | Oldest campus on the Jinjiang river; humanities, social sciences and administration. |
| Jiang'an Campus | Shuangliu District, Chengdu | One of the largest campuses in China; most undergraduate teaching, engineering and science. |
| Huaxi Campus (Medical) | Guoxue Lane, Wuhou District, Chengdu | West China School of Medicine, Stomatology and the West China Hospital. |
Faculty and research
Sichuan University employs around 6,200 academic staff, including about 13 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering. 13 national academy members. The College of Polymer Science and Engineering and the West China School of Stomatology supervise international master's and doctoral students in English.
Discipline strength
| Discipline | National grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stomatology (Dentistry) | A+ | The best dental school in Asia and among the top three worldwide by research output. |
| Polymer Materials / Materials Science | A+ | One of the oldest and strongest polymer programmes in China. |
| Clinical Medicine | A+ | West China Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in the world. |
| Chinese Language & Literature | A | Long tradition in classical Chinese literature. |
| Basic Medicine | A | Strong in human anatomy and pathophysiology. |
| Pharmacy | A | Natural product drug discovery. |
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery | A+ | Global leader in reconstructive surgery research. |
| Optical Engineering | A | Laser and optoelectronic materials. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Medicine (MBBS) | Bachelor | English | 6 years |
| Stomatology (BDS) | Bachelor | English | 5 years |
| Chinese Language and Literature | Bachelor | Chinese | 4 years |
| Polymer Science and Engineering | Master / PhD | English | 3 / 4 years |
| Chinese Language Programme | Language | Chinese | 0.5–2 years |
Admissions, tuition and deadlines
Requirements
Bachelor: high school diploma with biology and chemistry for medical tracks, SCU entrance examination, IELTS 6.0 or HSK 4–5. Graduate: degree, transcripts, two references, study plan.
Deadlines and fees
Deadlines: Bachelor: December – April (medical programmes fill early). Graduate: December – April.. Application fee: CNY 600. Tuition: CNY 20,000–26,000 per year for bachelor's; CNY 26,000–40,000 for master's; MBBS/BDS CNY 55,000–60,000 per year.
Scholarships
Chinese Government Scholarship, Confucius Institute Scholarship, Sichuan Provincial Government Scholarship, SCU President Scholarship.
Notable alumni
| Alumnus | Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zhu De | Military leader and statesman | Studied at the Sichuan Chinese-Western School. |
| Guo Moruo | Writer and scholar | One of modern China's most influential literary figures. |
| Ba Jin | Novelist | Author of 'The Family'; one of China's most widely read modern writers. |
| Li Lanjuan | Epidemiologist | Academician and leading infectious-disease specialist. |
Why students choose this university
- Ideal for dentistry, medicine and polymer materials
- Chengdu is consistently ranked China's most liveable large city
- Large international student community from South Asia, Africa and Europe