Tsinghua University welcomes over 4,000 freshmen

Tsinghua University welcomed more than 4,000 undergraduate freshmen for the 2026 academic year on Wednesday, as the elite institution continues to modestly expand its enrollment.

Among the new cohort, about 3,800 are from the Chinese mainland, hailing from over 1,100 high schools across all 31 provincial-level regions. More than 80 students come from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, while over 300 international students from 45 countries — mostly countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative — have been admitted as part of the university's commitment to opening-up and global academic exchange.

Continuing its drive to promote educational equity, Tsinghua has channeled high-quality resources to rural students in remote and ethnic regions through two special admission programs since 2011. In 2026, a total of 555 students were admitted via the national special program and the university special program, covering more than 260 county-level high schools across the country.

One of them, Zhang Dongyu, from Hong'an county in Hubei province, earned a place at the Ziqiang College through the university's special program. His father, a truck driver in Ningbo's port area of Zhejiang province, often works overnight shifts to support the family.

"My father bears the whole family's burden alone — he is the biggest pillar behind my hard work," Zhang said.

Another inspiring story comes from Liu Chenrui, from Mianyang in Sichuan province. Born prematurely amid aftershocks of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, Liu lost his left arm at age 10 after repeated surgeries for a tumor.

He taught himself to write with one hand and pressed paper down with his elbow. Despite starting late in high school, he threw himself into mathematics competitions and won a silver medal at the 2025 Chinese Mathematical Olympiad.

After passing the college entrance exam and subsequent interviews, he was admitted to Zhili College. "Whatever problems fate gives you, you have to answer them — handing in a blank paper is the biggest loss," he said.