Chinese universities overtake Princeton and Columbia in natural sciences

According to the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2026, Chinese institutions continue to climb in the field of natural sciences. This upward trajectory is fueled by massive research output and a burgeoning international academic reputation.

Tsinghua University led the charge for China by securing a place in the global top 10. This milestone reflects the country's rapid investment and development in the sciences. Closely following is Peking University, which claimed the 11th spot globally.

Ivy League stalwarts Princeton University and Columbia University placed 15th and 16th, respectively.

While Chinese schools are closing the gap, U.S. and U.K. institutions still maintain a hold on the highest tier.

Harvard University remains the world leader in Natural Sciences, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Oxford. The top five is rounded out by the University of Cambridge and Stanford University.

Students study at the library of Tsinghua University, March 2025. Photo from the university's Facebook page

This year's rankings cover 55 disciplines across five broad academic fields: Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and Management. More than 1,900 universities were evaluated, an increase of around 200 from the previous year.

China now boasts the highest number of top-tier natural science schools in Asia, with 30 institutions ranked in this field by QS.

Tsinghua University’s dominance is particularly versatile. Beyond its high faculty ranking, it placed in the global top 10 across six specific subjects: Environmental Sciences (ranked 7th), Engineering – Civil and Structural (8th), Architecture and Built Environment (9th), Materials Sciences (9th), Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (10th), and Engineering - Chemical (10th).