Subject guides · · 2 min read
Studying mathematics and statistics in China
China has become a serious mathematics power, with Peking and Tsinghua departments now attracting international faculty and students.
Quick answer
Where to study
Peking University's School of Mathematical Sciences, with the Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research, is the leading department and attracts international visitors and postdocs. Tsinghua's Department of Mathematical Sciences is close behind, particularly in geometry and number theory. USTC is exceptional in pure mathematics and in its tradition of training competition-level mathematicians.
Nankai has a historic tradition going back to Shiing-Shen Chern, Shandong University is strong in number theory and cryptography, and Fudan and Zhejiang are strong in applied mathematics and statistics.
Statistics and data science
Statistics is a rapidly growing field in China for obvious reasons. Renmin University's School of Statistics is the leading department, and Peking, USTC, Nankai and East China Normal all have strong programmes. Applied statistics and biostatistics are often located within the mathematics or public health faculties.
Much of the applied work connects to machine learning, finance and epidemiology.
Why China for mathematics
Funding and student quality are high, competition is intense, and the research culture in Chinese mathematics has become genuinely international at the top departments. For a student who wants to work on hard pure mathematics problems among serious peers, Tsinghua, PKU and USTC are now credible alternatives to any department in the world.
Language of instruction at postgraduate level in these departments is often English in practice, though you should confirm with the department.