Tsinghua Academy of Fine Arts is different from Tsinghua because of their different management systems and school-running concepts, and there are differences in disciplines, specialty settings and enrollment methods. Tsinghua Academy of Fine Arts is affiliated to Tsinghua University, a part of Tsinghua University, a secondary college affiliated to Tsinghua University, and an influential art and design institute in China. Its art theory, art and design disciplines are all famous.

Tsinghua University is a comprehensive university, including science and engineering, literature and history, law, economics, education and other disciplines. The students trained are all at undergraduate, master and doctoral levels.