China Agricultural University (CAU)

China Agricultural University is one of the best locations in China to pursue a degree in agriculture, veterinary medicine, horticulture, and related fields. As a member of Project 985 and Project 211, the university boasts impressive research funding and many new facilities. For many international students seeking a career in agricultural sciences, CAU is a top choice.

China Agricultural University is located in northern Beijing, near the popular Wudaokou area. The university is the descendant of the College of Agriculture which was founded in 1905. The modern university reached its present form in 1995 after a series of mergers with other institutions such as the Beijing Agricultural Engineering University and the Beijing Mechanized Agricultural College. It was through this process of merging similar institutions that the China Agricultural University became the premier location for all agricultural studies in China.

CAU has twenty colleges, mostly focused around agriculture, plant and animal sciences, and engineering. Four of CAU’s subjects are listed in the world’s top 1% of ESI rankings and six disciplines are ranked by the Chinese Ministry of Education as the best in China. Faculty at China Agricultural University regularly publish their research in prestigious journals such as Science and Nature. The university has research funds in excess of 1.2 billion RMB—clear evidence of China’s commitment to the development of agricultural sciences.

One of China Agricultural University’s most noteworthy projects is the National Maize Improvement Center of China (NMICC). Jointly established in 1998 by the Ministry of Agriculture and CAU the NMICC focuses on breeding of maize varieties and the study of GMO crops. Since its founding, the NMICC has produced 43 commercial maize hybrids and planted more than 20 million hectares of corn—approximately 10% of all the corn in China!

In addition to being China’s top location for agricultural sciences, CAU is also famous for its involvement in Chinese athletics. The university’s gymnasium hosted all of the wrestling events during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. The reintroduction of rugby into mainland China began at the China Agricultural University, with the first rugby union in modern China founded there in 1990. The university is still the home of China’s national female rugby team and the national youth male rugby team. The university also stands out in mountaineering and key members of CAU’s mountaineering team hold membership in the Chinese national mountaineering team. In fact, CAU was responsible for the Mt. Everest portion of the 2008 Olympic torch relay.

China Agricultural University currently has around 600 international students at the undergraduate and doctoral level. The university has a strong commitment to international education and has a college established specifically for the training of international students. CAU offers more than 100 courses taught in English.

If you’re looking for a university offering first-class degrees in agricultural sciences in China, the China Agricultural University offers an impressive package. CAU is well-known in China as the premier destination for future agricultural engineers, horticulturalists, and GMO specialists. With generous government funding, an impressive athletic record, and a high rate of publications, it’s no wonder so many foreign students are enrolling in degree programs at the China Agricultural University.