Subject guides · · 2 min read
Studying agriculture and food science in China
China feeds 20% of the world's population on 9% of its arable land. Its agricultural universities are world leaders in crop science.
Quick answer
Where the strength is
Zhejiang University ranks among the global leaders in ARWU's agricultural subject table and is particularly strong in horticulture and crop genetics. China Agricultural University in Beijing is the dedicated national agricultural university and strongest overall in agronomy and plant protection. Huazhong Agricultural University leads in plant pathology and animal science, and Nanjing Agricultural University in crop science and agricultural resources.
In food science and engineering, South China University of Technology and Jiangnan University are the two national leaders.
Why it is worth considering
China's agricultural research budget is large, the field is explicitly connected to national food-security policy, and the practical results — hybrid rice, disease-resistant wheat, aquaculture — have global relevance for countries facing similar climate and population pressures.
For applicants from Africa and South Asia, Chinese agricultural universities offer unusually accessible postgraduate funding and research topics with direct application at home.
Practical notes
Most undergraduate programmes are Chinese-taught; master's and doctoral programmes in plant science, food engineering and agricultural economics are frequently available in English with supervisor support. Field research is often conducted at university experimental stations, which may involve extended stays outside the city.