Tsinghua students tell BI they study long hours, join research labs, and publish multiple papers to build a future in AI. CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Tsinghua University is China's top computer science school, drawing the country's best students.

A grind culture fuels long hours and peer pressure to excel, students and experts told BI.

For many, studying at Tsinghua opens doors to top AI roles and careers.

Felix Gan, a second-year Ph.D. student in computer science, said he is effectively living a "996" routine at Beijing's Tsinghua University. Seven days a week, his days start around 8 a.m., and he leaves campus at about 9 p.m.

Most of those hours go into his research, but he's not just working toward a degree. Gan hopes to develop a technology he can turn into a product and launch a startup after graduation.

That level of intensity is the norm on campus, where writing one thesis isn't enough to stand out.…