Southwest University. (Photo/Southwest University)

Chongqing - Chongqing is strengthening its position in higher education, with 14 local universities earning 136 subject listings in the 2026 ShanghaiRanking Best Chinese Subjects released on October 15. The results include 23 nationally recognized first-class subjects, three of them ranked among China's top subjects.

The 2026 ShanghaiRanking Best Chinese Subjects evaluates academic disciplines at Chinese universities, offering a subject-by-subject comparison rather than an overall university ranking. For international students considering postgraduate study in China, it provides a useful reference for identifying universities with strengths in their chosen fields.

The rankings cover universities authorized to award graduate degrees in each subject and list the top 50% nationwide. ShanghaiRanking defines “China’s top subjects” as the top 3% nationally, and “first-class subjects” as the top 7% or 12%.

A total of 336 subject entries from 118 universities were recognized as “China’s top subjects.” Peking University and Tsinghua University ranked first and second nationwide, followed by Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in joint third place, Zhejiang University in fifth and Renmin University of China next.

Among the 136 subjects listed in Chongqing, Southwest University had 38 subjects listed; Chongqing University had 36 subjects listed; Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications had 10 subjects listed; Army Medical University and Chongqing Medical University each had 8 subjects listed; Chongqing Normal University had 7 subjects listed; and Chongqing Jiaotong University also had 7 subjects listed.

In addition, schools with listed subjects also include: Chongqing Technology and Business University (5), Sichuan Fine Arts Institute (4), Southwest University of Political Science and Law (4), Sichuan International Studies University (3), Chongqing University of Technology (3), Chongqing University of Science and Technology (2), and Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences (1).

Chongqing has three subjects ranked among China’s top subjects: psychology at Southwest University, law at Southwest University of Political Science and Law, and fine arts and calligraphy at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute.