Objective  To investigate the cognition, willingness, and behavior of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among college students in Beijing city and to provide evidences for promoting voluntary HIV testing and developing effective AIDS prevention and control measures in the students.

  Methods  With convenient sampling/snowball sampling and a questionnaire self-designed based on health belief model theory, we conducted an online anonymous survey in Beijing city among 16 – 30 years old undergraduate and graduate students (n = 2 562) in 5 universities with the implementation of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Global AIDS Program – China Cooperation (GAP) in 2015.

  Results  The response rate of the survey was 87.0%. Of the 2 230 students with valid information, only 3.8% (86) reported ever having an HIV testing; 86.0% (1 917) considered that the inclusion of HIV testing in regular physical examination is acceptable and the proportion was significantly lower in the male respondents than in the female respondents (82.3% vs. 87.9%, P < 0.01); 39.0% (869) were aware of rapid HIV testing and the awareness rate was significantly higher in the male respondents than in the female respondents (46.8% vs. 34.9%, P < 0.01). The respondents ever receiving an HIV testing had a higher score for perceived HIV susceptibility but lower scores for perceived severity of HIV infection, benefits and barriers of HIV testing compared to those never receiving the testing. In terms of barriers for participation in HIV testing, both the respondents with and without HIV testing reported the highest score for the item of cognition on the necessity of HIV testing and the susceptibility of HIV infection.

  Conclusion  The acceptance rate was high but the participation rate was low for HIV testing and being not aware of HIV testing was a main reason for the low rate of HIV voluntary counseling and testing among the undergraduate and graduate students in Beijing city. The results suggest that health education on HIV/AIDS should be promoted among the students.