[Online Tool] Complete List of China's 985, 211, and Double First-Class Universities — One Page for Students and Parents

Every college application season, the same questions fill parent groups:

"Is this university a 985 or 211?" "Are Double First-Class and 211 the same thing?" "My child wants to apply to XX University — does it count as a top institution?"

These concepts look similar at first glance but have clear distinctions — and they overlap in specific ways. Toolshu's University List compiles China's 985, 211, and Double First-Class institutions into a searchable, filterable list — one of the most practical references for college application season.

🔗 Tool URL: https://toolshu.com/en/universities

985, 211, Double First-Class — What's the Difference?

These three labels represent three distinct national key university development programs from different eras and with different goals. Understanding how they relate is essential to reading China's university tier system.

Project 985: Launched in May 1998 (the name comes from the date). A group of universities selected for intensive development toward world-class status. 39 universities total, including Tsinghua, Peking University, Fudan, Zhejiang University, SJTU, USTC, Nanjing University, Renmin University, HIT, and Xi'an Jiaotong University. These 39 are widely regarded as China's top university tier.

Project 211: Launched in 1993 — the name combines "21st century" and "approximately 100 universities." The goal was to build roughly 100 key universities for the next century. 112 universities were ultimately included (with subsequent adjustments), covering a broader range than 985. All 985 universities are also 211 universities, but not all 211 universities are 985.

Double First-Class (双一流): Formally launched in 2017, this is the current national key development program — full name "World-Class Universities and World-Class Disciplines." The first round (2017) designated 42 "World-Class University" institutions (36 Type A + 6 Type B) and additional "World-Class Discipline" institutions. The second round (2022) dropped the A/B distinction and simply designates all as "Double First-Class universities."

The relationship: 985 ⊂ 211 ⊂ Double First-Class (roughly — the Double First-Class scope continues to be updated). Simply put: 985 is the most elite tier, 211 is the next, and Double First-Class is the newest and broadest framework.

A Detail Many People Miss

Projects 211 and 985 were officially retired after 2017 — the Ministry of Education no longer designates new 985 or 211 universities, and these labels are no longer part of the official policy framework. Double First-Class is the current formal system.

In practice, however, the 985 and 211 labels remain heavily used in recruitment and employment. Many companies' campus recruiting criteria still specify "985/211 universities," and university admissions materials continue to reference these categories. It's a form of institutional inertia — the policy has changed, but social expectations haven't fully caught up.

The practical takeaway: understand both systems. Policy-wise, look at Double First-Class. In the job market, 985/211 still matters.

Common Points of Confusion

Does the Type A / Type B distinction still apply for Double First-Class?

The first round (2017) split into Type A (36 universities) and Type B (6 universities: Northeastern University, Hunan University, Chongqing University, Northwest A&F University, Zhengzhou University, and Yunnan University). From the second round (2022) onward, the A/B distinction was dropped — all are simply Double First-Class universities. The tool retains the first-round A/B records for historical reference.

What's the difference between "World-Class University" and "World-Class Discipline"?

Within Double First-Class, "World-Class University" institutions are recognized for overall institutional strength. "World-Class Discipline" institutions have one or more specific disciplines ranked at world-class level, but may not be top-tier overall. When choosing a major, a top-ranked discipline at a World-Class Discipline institution can be just as competitive as the same field at a top 985 university.

If a university is 985, 211, AND Double First-Class, is it automatically the best choice?

It's a top-tier institution — but that doesn't mean every program it offers is strong. China's universities vary enormously by discipline. A comprehensive university at the top of the rankings may have certain less-prominent programs that lag behind specialist institutions. When filling out your application, look at individual program strength and graduate outcomes, not just the institution's overall tier.

How to Use This Tool During Application Season

Verify a school's tier: Search a university name to see whether it's 985, 211, Double First-Class, or some combination — gives you a clear positioning at a glance.

Browse by category: Want to see all 985 universities? Filter with one click and get the complete list — a systematic way to understand how top institutions are distributed across the country.

Data in this tool is based on the official list published by China's Ministry of Education (June 2024). For anything requiring certainty, verify against the Ministry of Education's latest official announcements.

👉 Look up 985 / 211 / Double First-Class universities: https://toolshu.com/en/universities

Toolshu Online Tools — toolshu.com — essential during gaokao season. Worth bookmarking for students and parents alike.