The 20 Best Universities in China, Hong Kong and Macao to Study Law in 2026

Preliminary Note: Ranking Methodology

The preparation of this ranking has been based on a combined analysis of different aspects that help us better understand each university and the education it provides. We have examined their curricula, the structure of their programmes and the way each institution organises teaching, paying particular attention to the quality and up-to-date nature of the content, as well as its connection to students’ needs and the challenges facing society.

We have also taken into account the teaching methods, resources and facilities available at each university. These elements help shape the environment in which academic life takes place and can directly influence students’ experiences. In addition, we have reviewed information published on the institutions’ own websites, their news and their presence in the media, as complementary ways to understand their initiatives, development and the image they project.

The analysis has been complemented by exploratory consultations conducted on a random basis among young people and students. The aim was to understand how they perceive the education they receive and what they think of the university they attend. These impressions offer a perspective rooted in students’ everyday experiences and complement the examination of institutional information. We have also considered, as supplementary material, assessments and references produced by other institutions and specialised organisations, without allowing them to replace our own analysis.

The competitiveness of universities and their ability to respond to current academic and professional demands also form part of the assessment. However, we believe that the quality of an institution cannot be measured solely by its market position, resources or international profile. We have therefore chosen to pay particular attention to the human dimension: honesty, a humanistic approach to education, ethics, learning and the transmission of values.

In our view, a university fully fulfils its purpose when, in addition to preparing students for professional practice, it contributes to their personal and civic development. Academic excellence is inseparable from responsibility, respect, critical thinking and the ability to act with integrity. With this approach, the ranking seeks to offer a broad view of universities, considering both the strength of their educational offering and the principles that guide the education they provide.

Peking University leads the ranking compiled by Impact Lawyers, followed by the University of Hong Kong and Tsinghua University.

Editorial selection criteria

Peking University tops the first edition of the Impact Lawyers ranking of the best universities in China, Hong Kong and Macao to study Law. The University of Hong Kong and Tsinghua University occupy second and third place, respectively, while the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Renmin University of China and Fudan University complete the top six.

The ranking jointly analyses institutions in mainland China and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao. This scope provides a more comprehensive overview of the Chinese higher education landscape, but it also requires recognition that the selected universities do not operate within a single legal system.

Mainland China has a legal system predominantly influenced by the civil-law and socialist legal traditions, while Hong Kong retains a system based on the common law. Macao, for its part, maintains a civil-law system strongly influenced by Portuguese law. Studying Law in these three jurisdictions can therefore lead to substantially different forms of legal education and professional careers.

In preparing this editorial selection, Impact Lawyers has considered the diversity of academic programs, the orientation of their curricula, and the academic projection of institutions in the region.

The editorial selection in the field of Law and Legal Studies for 2026 pays special attention to academic reputation, employer evaluation, and the impact of scientific research.

The editorial selection for Law studies values teaching, the research environment, the quality of scientific production, institutional ties, and international outlook.

Likewise, the research-oriented perspective is key to this overview, considering aspects related to publications, scientific impact, international collaboration, and presence in relevant academic journals.

This editorial selection incorporates a review of the public information provided by the universities themselves. It considers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, curricula, teaching methodologies, legal clinics, internationalisation, research centres, exchange opportunities and each institution’s relationship with courts, leading law firms, companies and public authorities.

A methodology adapted to three different jurisdictions

The international projection of academic centres does not always evenly reflect their institutional impact. In particular, various Chinese universities specialising in law may have more limited external visibility despite their profound relevance and deep roots within the national legal system.

In order to offer a balanced view of the university landscape, Impact Lawyers has articulated an editorial selection focused on faculties in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. This approach addresses the particularities of each jurisdiction and the diversity of their legal programmes, allowing the region's educational offering to be properly contextualised without relying on uniform metrics.

The editorial selection considers the legal specialisation and available academic information of each institution, avoiding equating lower international visibility with a lack of educational quality and adapting the assessment to the academic reality of each programme.

This consideration is particularly relevant in the case of institutions such as China University of Political Science and Law, East China University of Political Science and Law or Southwest University of Political Science and Law. Their specialisation, professional influence and relationship with Chinese legal institutions are highly relevant factors, defined by a profile focused on legal disciplines as opposed to the model of large multidisciplinary universities.

The editorial perspective adopted aims to assess that the institutions included offer substantive legal education, interpret the differences between systems, and prevent the general reputation of a university from replacing a specific consideration of its law school.

Peking University: Research, International Projection and Legal Influence

1. Peking University

Peking University occupies first place in this editorial selection. Its profile combines academic prestige, research strength, internationalisation and influence over the Chinese legal system.

In this 2026 edition, the university stands out for the strength of its teaching, research environment and the quality of its scholarly output within mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao.

Peking University Law School holds prominent historical importance and maintains a close relationship with the development of legal theory, constitutional law, administrative law, economic law and international legal education in China.

Its academic approach combines an in-depth understanding of the Chinese legal system with comparative analysis and openness to international law. The university attracts outstanding students and academics and maintains significant connections with public institutions, major companies, law firms and international academic centres.

In this editorial selection, the university occupies first place. Its educational model combines national prestige, international reach, research capacity and access to positions of high professional responsibility.

The University of Hong Kong, the leading common-law institution

2. University of Hong Kong (HKU)

The University of Hong Kong occupies second place and ranks as Hong Kong’s leading university for studying Law.

Its Faculty of Law offers an international education closely connected to the common law, the Hong Kong legal system, Chinese law and international transactions. Its location in one of Asia’s principal financial and commercial centres provides an especially favourable environment for corporate, financial, arbitration and cross-border law.

The university offers a four-year LLB designed to respond to the changing demands of the legal profession and aligned with programmes at international law schools, according to the official programme information.

HKU also has centres dedicated to Chinese law, public and comparative law, international financial law, technology, medical ethics and interdisciplinary studies. This structure enables students to combine a general legal education with specialisations of increasing relevance.

Those wishing to practise as solicitors or barristers in Hong Kong must complete the corresponding professional stage after undertaking recognised legal studies. The Postgraduate Certificate in Laws, or PCLL, constitutes the main academic gateway to professional practice. The university describes its PCLL as a programme designed to prepare future solicitors and barristers in Hong Kong.

Tsinghua and its connection to innovation

3. Tsinghua University

Tsinghua University occupies third place, backed by the growing strength of its research and the soundness of its academic environment.

Its School of Law benefits from the broader prestige of a university with particular strengths in engineering, technology, economics and public policy. This encourages an interdisciplinary approach to fields such as artificial intelligence, intellectual property, digital regulation, international trade and corporate governance.

Tsinghua offers an especially attractive education for students interested in the relationship between law, innovation, business and technological transformation. Its location in Beijing also provides proximity to central government institutions, courts, regulators, major companies and professional organisations.

Although Peking University maintains a longer legal tradition, Tsinghua has developed a law school with broad international reach and growing relevance in the academic and professional spheres.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Renmin complete the leading group

4. Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong occupies fourth place. Its Faculty of Law combines English-language teaching, international research and a close connection with Hong Kong’s legal market.

CUHK is particularly strong in commercial law, arbitration, dispute resolution, Chinese law, human rights and international legal studies. Its global orientation and proximity to mainland China place it in a privileged position for analysing transactions and disputes that simultaneously affect different jurisdictions.

5. Renmin University of China

Renmin University of China ranks fifth. Within mainland China, it is one of the most influential institutions in the study of Law, social sciences and public policy.

Its law school has played a prominent role in the development of Chinese legal scholarship and in educating academics, judges, prosecutors, public officials and lawyers. It is particularly recognised in civil, constitutional, criminal, procedural and economic law.

Renmin’s position in this editorial selection reflects how an institution can consolidate prominent influence in the national legal sphere, focusing its work on regulatory development and internal institutional training as opposed to models more focused on external projection and English-language publications.

Fudan and City University of Hong Kong

6. Fudan University

Fudan University occupies sixth place. Its location in Shanghai facilitates close connections with mainland China’s leading financial and business centre.

Its legal education is particularly relevant in commercial, financial, international, economic and regulatory law. The opportunity to connect Law with disciplines such as economics, public administration and international relations strengthens its educational offering.

7. City University of Hong Kong

City University of Hong Kong ranks seventh. Its School of Law has a distinctly professional and international orientation and offers education related to the common law, Chinese law, arbitration and international dispute resolution.

The university benefits from its proximity to global law firms, courts, arbitration institutions and multinational companies. Its applied approach makes it an especially attractive option for students interested in professional practice and cross-border transactions.

Together with HKU and CUHK, City University forms the principal group of institutions offering an academic route in Hong Kong towards the PCLL and, subsequently, the professions of solicitor or barrister.

Wuhan, Shanghai Jiao Tong and Zhejiang

8. Wuhan University

Wuhan University occupies eighth place and maintains one of the most recognised legal traditions in mainland China. Its law school is particularly prominent in international law, environmental law and the study of cross-border legal relations.

9. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Shanghai Jiao Tong University ranks ninth. Its academic offering stands out for its research environment, institutional connections and international outlook.

Its KoGuan Law School benefits from the university’s scientific and technological capacity and its location in Shanghai. This combination supports the study of business law, intellectual property, economic regulation and innovation.

10. Zhejiang University

Zhejiang University completes the top ten. Its Guanghua Law School has an interdisciplinary orientation and is located in one of China’s most dynamic regions for technology, e-commerce and entrepreneurship.

Its proximity to major digital companies and its position within a leading comprehensive university provide significant opportunities to study technology regulation, data protection, intellectual property and emerging forms of commercial activity.

China University of Political Science and Law, a specialist institution

11. China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL)

China University of Political Science and Law occupies 11th place. The institution stands out for its notable professional influence within mainland China.

Unlike major multidisciplinary universities, CUPL specialises in Law, political science and related disciplines. This concentration enables it to provide one of the country’s most extensive structures for legal education and research.

The university maintains particularly close connections with courts, prosecutors’ offices, government bodies and the legal professions. It also plays a significant role in legislative development, doctrinal research and the education of public-sector professionals.

This marked legal specialization contrasts with the profile of universities that have diversified scientific production across multiple areas of knowledge. For a student primarily focused on the legal system of mainland China, CUPL represents an option fully comparable to the other benchmark institutions in this selection.

Nanjing and East China University of Political Science and Law

12. Nanjing University

Nanjing University occupies 12th place. Its law school benefits from the prestige of one of China’s most important research universities and offers a strong combination of legal theory, economic law, international law and interdisciplinary studies.

13. East China University of Political Science and Law

East China University of Political Science and Law ranks 13th. Based in Shanghai, it is one of China’s best-known specialist legal institutions.

Its location allows it to maintain especially close connections with the city’s legal, financial and corporate markets. It is particularly strong in commercial, economic, international, criminal and intellectual property law.

Like CUPL, its marked specialized profile gives it solid educational relevance and a broad professional presence within the country.

University of Macau, a bridge between legal traditions

14. University of Macau

The University of Macau occupies 14th place and is the highest-ranked institution from Macao.

Its Faculty of Law has a distinctive identity. Macao’s legal system belongs to the civil-law tradition and retains a strong Portuguese influence, while increasingly interacting with mainland Chinese law and international legal exchanges.

The faculty offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and postgraduate certificate programmes in Chinese, Portuguese and English. Its academic fields include Macao law, comparative law, European law, international law and international business law, according to the official information published by the Faculty of Law.

Its qualifications include undergraduate degrees taught in Chinese, Portuguese or bilingually, as well as a Bachelor of Law in Chinese Law and Global Legal Studies. This linguistic and legal combination reinforces the comparative and international profile of its academic offering.

The University of Macau is therefore a particularly interesting option for those who wish to work in legal contexts related to China, Portuguese-speaking countries and international transactions.

Sun Yat-sen, Xiamen and Jilin

15. Sun Yat-sen University

Sun Yat-sen University occupies 15th place. Its location in Guangzhou and proximity to Hong Kong and Macao strengthen its importance within the Greater Bay Area.

This geographical position is particularly relevant for business law, international trade, investment and the growing legal and economic coordination among the cities of southern China.

16. Xiamen University

Xiamen University ranks 16th. Its law school has a distinguished tradition in international law, maritime law, economic law and legal relations with Taiwan and Southeast Asia.

17. Jilin University

Jilin University occupies 17th place. It has one of north-eastern China’s most established law schools and retains considerable influence in jurisprudence, criminal law and academic legal education.

All three institutions provide strong legal programmes, although their international visibility and access to the largest professional markets are somewhat more limited than those of universities based in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Beijing Normal, UIBE and Southwest University of Political Science and Law

18. Beijing Normal University

Beijing Normal University occupies 18th place. Its reputation in the humanities and social sciences encourages an interdisciplinary approach to Law, with particular attention to jurisprudence, public law, criminal law and human rights.

19. University of International Business and Economics (UIBE)

The University of International Business and Economics ranks 19th. Its principal strength is the connection between Law, trade, economics and international relations.

UIBE may be especially attractive to students interested in international trade law, foreign investment, economic regulation, arbitration and cross-border business transactions.

20. Southwest University of Political Science and Law

Southwest University of Political Science and Law completes the ranking in 20th place. Based in Chongqing, it is one of China’s major specialist legal universities and has an extensive alumni network across the judiciary, prosecution services, legal practice and public administration.

Its inclusion reflects the intention to ensure that the ranking is not limited to the universities with the greatest international visibility or to the principal centres of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Three territories, three models of legal education

The principal distinguishing feature of this ranking is the coexistence of three different legal and educational traditions.

In mainland China, the undergraduate Law degree normally lasts approximately four years. Completing the degree, however, is not sufficient in itself to enter certain legal professions.

The National Unified Legal Professional Qualification Examination is the principal professional accreditation for lawyers, judges, prosecutors and other legal professionals. China’s Ministry of Justice organizes and administers the examination, which includes objective and subjective stages. More than 960,000 candidates registered for its initial stage in 2024, demonstrating its enormous competitive scale, according to figures published by the Ministry of Justice.

Hong Kong retains its own structure based on the common law. The usual pathway begins with an LLB or equivalent legal qualification, continues with the PCLL and concludes with the applicable period of professional training for practice as a solicitor or barrister.

Macao also has its own system of professional admission and an educational model adapted to its legal order. Knowledge of Chinese and Portuguese may be especially important, as both languages retain legal and institutional significance.

Consequently, an excellent university for studying mainland Chinese law will not necessarily be the best option for qualifying in Hong Kong or Macao. Students should first identify the legal system in which they wish to be educated and then compare the institutions offering the most appropriate professional pathway.

The importance of language

The language of instruction is a decisive consideration.

In mainland China, most undergraduate Law degrees intended for domestic students are taught primarily in Mandarin. Although international programmes and English-language courses are available, proficiency in Chinese is essential for studying national legislation, judicial materials and legal practice in depth.

In Hong Kong, English plays a central role in university education and in a substantial part of legal practice. Chinese—particularly Cantonese, and increasingly Mandarin—may be equally important when dealing with clients, institutions and transactions connected to mainland China.

In Macao, Chinese and Portuguese coexist as official languages, while English has a growing presence in international programmes and the business sector.

Language should not be regarded merely as an academic requirement. It determines which legislation students can examine directly, the courts and markets in which graduates may be able to work and the types of clients they will be equipped to advise.

Why a standardized approach is not enough

A purely automated approach would create several distortions.

Significant weight is often given to research published in English, scientific citations and international reputation. These elements are relevant, but they do not fully reflect a university’s influence within the courts, administrations and legal professions of mainland China.

Furthermore, some highly specialised institutions do not have medical, engineering or natural sciences faculties. Comparing them exclusively with multidisciplinary universities could overlook a central element of their proposition: the concentration of resources in Law and political science.

There are also substantial differences between Hong Kong’s common-law system, mainland China’s legal system and Macao’s legal tradition. A purely numerical classification cannot determine by itself which education is most useful for practising in each jurisdiction.

The Impact Lawyers editorial selection therefore focuses on a review of the content of academic programmes and their connection with professional practice.

There is no perfect university for everyone

The ranking provides a general overview of academic excellence, but it does not mean that a higher-ranked institution will necessarily be the best choice for every student.

Someone intending to practise in Hong Kong may find that HKU, CUHK or City University offers a more direct professional pathway than a mainland Chinese university, even if the latter stands out in the field of research.

Students interested in public administration, the judiciary or legal practice in mainland China may place particular value on Peking, Renmin, CUPL, Wuhan or one of the specialist universities of political science and law.

Those seeking to work in Shanghai and specialise in business law may consider Fudan, Shanghai Jiao Tong or East China University of Political Science and Law. Within the Greater Bay Area, the University of Hong Kong, CUHK, City University, Sun Yat-sen and the University of Macau offer particular geographical and professional advantages.

The decision should take into account the jurisdiction in which the student intends to practise, the language of instruction, the desired specialisation, admission requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, alumni networks and the realistic possibility of obtaining the relevant professional qualification.

One of the world’s most complex legal regions

The principal conclusion of the study is that China, Hong Kong and Macao together form one of the world’s most complex legal and university environments.

Peking University leads due to its balance between reputation, research, teaching and institutional influence. The University of Hong Kong represents the most international and solid offering within the common law, while Tsinghua stands out for its connection with technology, innovation and public policy.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Renmin and Fudan complete a leading group composed of markedly different educational models. Specialist universities such as CUPL, East China University of Political Science and Law and Southwest University of Political Science and Law contribute substantial professional influence and strong connections to legal practice.

The inclusion of the University of Macau also recognises the distinctive character of a jurisdiction in which Chinese law, Portuguese legal traditions and multilingual legal education converge.

Considering the different educational models and the academic programmes published by the universities themselves provides a broad and useful overview. This approach does not eliminate the differences between the three systems, but it makes it possible to understand them and to place each university within the legal environment in which it actually operates.