22 Best Universities In Yunnan For International Students 2026

Yunnan is surely one of the places you should be considering if you’re looking to study in China. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 22 universities and colleges in Yunnan, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 22 universities in Yunnan, Yunnan University and Yunnan Normal University are the top-performing schools in Yunnan.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Yunnan. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Yunnan.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Yunnan?

Applying to the universities in Yunnan involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Yunnan to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Yunnan?

Tuition fees at Yunnan’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 10,000 RMB to 35,000 RMB , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 8,000 RMB to 40,000 RMB. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Yunnan!

As we cover the best universities in Yunnan for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Yunnan for International Students

Yunnan University was established in 1922, making it one of the oldest comprehensive universities in China’s southwest region. It has two campuses, located in Chenggong and Donglu in Kunming City. The university currently has more than 26,000 students across its degree programs in Science, Technology, Fine Arts, Agriculture, and Business Administration.

Every institution has its key features. For Yunnan Normal University, it is an excellent school for students who want to pursue a degree in teaching Chinese. One of its top-rated academic programs is Teaching Chinese to Speakers of other Languages. Aside from that, domestic and international students can choose from a broad spectrum of programs. Currently, the university offers over 90 undergraduate programs and more than 100 postgraduate programs.

Kunming University of Science and Technology, one of China’s Top 100, is the largest public institution in Yunnan Province. It is also the only polytechnic university in the area and offers more than 300 courses in engineering, science, medicine, law, arts, and other disciplines. The institution comprises three campuses.

Yunnan Agricultural University was established in 1938 as the School of Agricultural under Yunnan University. Yunnan Agricultural University was authorized to grant a master’s degree in 1983, and a doctor’s degree in 2003. Specializing in agricultural programs, Yunnan Agricultural University also offers courses in other areas such as engineering, mathematics, sciences, and management, among others.

Dali University was established in 2001 and is located in the province of Yunnan. The institution is comprised of different schools and research institutes. Under these, there are around 49 bachelor’s programs and 28 postgraduate programs.

Yunnan University of Finance and Economics is a higher education institution that is specialized in areas of study, such as management and economics. There are also courses in other disciplines like liberal arts, law, and sciences.  Students interested can look into various undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

Yunnan Minzu University was initially established in 1951 to educate the ethnic groups in Yunnan. It has since expanded and progressed into a well-known institution in the province. Currently, the school accepts students from other regions of China and foreign nationalities regardless of background. In addition, it is actively collaborating in other countries such as the US, Australia, and Norway.

Kunming Medical University is a specialized public institution and leading medical school in Yunnan, China. It started as a part of the now Yunnan University but has since become independent and grown into the most prominent medical institution in the province. Several programs are offered, some of which are English-taught.

Established in 1984, Kunming University is a public institution in China. They offer more than 40 major programs for both local and international students. Today, they have 7,000 students on their three campuses.

Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is among the first universities in China that offer degree programs in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It was founded in 1960 initially as an undergraduate university and has since received approval to confer masters and doctoral degrees. There are more than 14,000 students at the university, taking up courses in Chinese Medicine, along with Science, Management, and Engineering.

Yunnan Arts University was established in 1959. It is located in the city of Kunming, Yunnan Province. With two campuses, one of each is situated in Chenggong and Mayuan, Yunnan Arts University focuses on courses such as music, drama, dance, and film and television, among others.

Qujing Normal University has a rich culture and history. The university follows a multi-disciplinary development pattern to cultivate more productive graduates in society. Presently, Qujing Normal University persists in deepening its international relations and providing a warm learning environment for its students.

Honghe University was established in 1978. Its predecessor was Mengzi Teachers College. Honghe University offers undergraduate programs in economics, education, agriculture, arts, engineering, and sciences, among others.

Chuxiong Normal University was established in 2001. Chuxiong Normal University was formed when two schools merged: Chuxiong Teachers College for Nationalities and Chuxiong Teachers College. Chuxiong Normal University has strong affiliations with universities in other countries.

West Yunnan University (WYNU) is a public institution established in Lincang City, Yunnan. The university offers undergraduate and junior college programs in liberal arts, foreign languages, education, arts, sciences, engineering, economics, aviation, and humanities. However, most of them are taught primarily in Mandarin Chinese.  WYNU is ranked 695th in China by EduRank.

Yuxi Normal University was founded in 2000 as a provincial university for undergraduate studies in Yunnan Province, China. It specializes in Fine Arts, along with Biology, Geology, and Visual Design programs. The university has over 13,000 students and around 830 faculty members.

The Yunnan University of Business Management is a private undergraduate institution in Kunming City, China. Although the name implies specialization in business-related programs, the university also offers medicine, arts, and education courses. Two campuses comprise it: Haiyuan and Anning. It is ranked 787th in China and 12th in Kunming.

Baoshan University (BSU) is an educational institution in China. It is located in the western region of the Yunnan province. Adding to this, when it first began to welcome students, it was named Baoshan Teachers College. Today, it offers a wide range of courses and programs in fields such as agriculture, engineering, history, literature, and science.

Yunnan Technology and Business University is a specialized public institution. Established in 1999, it is located in Kunming City or Yunnan-Fu, Yunnan’s capital. It is ranked 841st in China and 13th in Kunming by EduRank.

West Yunnan University of Applied Sciences is a public institution in Dali, China. It is ranked 924th in China and 2nd in Dali City.

Puer University is a public institution in Pu’er City, Yunnan Province. It is ranked 616th in China and 3108th in Asia by EduRank. Its home city is most noted for its tea, Pu’er tea, from which it derives most of its income.

Zhaotong University is among China’s top institutions for higher education. They offer students a wide variety of courses across multiple areas of study. Many facilities and services are also made available to make students’ campus life comfortable.