Peking Union Medical College (Chinese: 北京协和医学院) was founded in 1917 and is among the most selective medical colleges in the People's Republic of China, located in Beijing. The school is widely considered to be the best medical school in China and was ranked 1st in China by CUCAS in 2015.[2] It is a relatively independent institution affiliated with Tsinghua University, one of the top two universities in China. Peking Union Medical College graduates receive Peking Union Medical College diploma signed by both the Peking Union Medical College and Tsinghua presidents.[3] It is the only medical school in China to be affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the first medical school in China to introduce the 8 year M.D. program.