Nanjing, Jiangsu · Founded 1902 · C9 League · Project 985 · Project 211 · Double First Class
Nanjing University 南京大学
Nanjing University is one of China's most respected comprehensive universities, with a historic reputation in the natural sciences, Chinese literature, history and philosophy. Its astronomy, geology and atmospheric science departments are the best in the country.
Overview
Nanjing University is one of China's most respected comprehensive universities, with a historic reputation in the natural sciences, Chinese literature, history and philosophy. Its astronomy, geology and atmospheric science departments are the best in the country.
NJU operates three campuses, including the striking new Suzhou campus opened in 2023, and runs English-taught master's degrees in computer science, business, environment and China studies.
History
NJU traces its lineage to 1902 and the Sanjiang Normal College, making it one of the oldest modern universities in China. It was renamed National Central University in 1928 and became Nanjing University in 1949.
In the 1952 reorganisation NJU lost its engineering and medical schools, which were split off to form what became Southeast University (Nanjing Institute of Technology) and the Nanjing medical institutions. It retained and intensified its strength in basic sciences and the humanities.
NJU is a founding member of the C9 League, joined Project 985 in 1999 and the Double First Class plan in 2017. Its Xianlin campus (built from 2009) and Suzhou campus (2023) signal a continuing expansion into engineering, medicine and interdisciplinary research.
World rankings, 2017–2026
| Edition | QS | ARWU | THE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 115 | 201–300 | 201–250 |
| 2018 | 114 | 201–300 | 201–250 |
| 2019 | 122 | 151–200 | 201–250 |
| 2020 | 120 | 101–150 | 201–250 |
| 2021 | 124 | 101–150 | 111–120 |
| 2022 | 131 | 96 | 105–110 |
| 2023 | 133 | 96 | 95 |
| 2024 | 141 | 82 | 73 |
| 2025 | 145 | 75 | 65 |
| 2026 | 103 | 75 | 62 |
Compilations such as this one can lag a publisher's revisions; verify the current figure at source.
Campuses
| Campus | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Xianlin Campus (Main) | 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing | The modern main campus with the flagship library and most undergraduate teaching. |
| Gulou Campus | 22 Hankou Road, Gulou District, Nanjing | The historic city-centre campus with the North Building and the School of Chinese Language and Literature. |
| Pukou Campus | Nanjing | Teaching and research base for several science and engineering schools. |
| Suzhou Campus | Suzhou, Jiangsu | New campus opened in 2023 focusing on interdisciplinary and graduate education. |
Faculty and research
Nanjing University employs around 4,600 academic staff, including about 33 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering. 33 national academy members. NJU's School of Astronomy and Space Science, School of Earth Sciences and School of Physics all accept international graduate students and supervise in English.
Discipline strength
| Discipline | National grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomy | A+ | China's leading astronomy department. |
| Geology / Earth Sciences | A+ | Palaeontology and stratigraphy with global impact. |
| Atmospheric Science | A+ | Climate modelling and monsoonal dynamics. |
| Chemistry | A | Coordination chemistry and materials chemistry. |
| Physics | A | Condensed matter and optical physics. |
| Chinese Language & Literature | A+ | One of the country's most respected literature departments. |
| History | A+ | Particularly strong in Chinese history and historiography. |
| Philosophy | A | Chinese and Western philosophy. |
| Computer Science & Technology | A | Software engineering and AI, ranked first nationally in several years. |
| Library, Information & Archive Management | A+ | Ranked first in China for information science. |
Grades follow China's national discipline evaluation scheme (A+ is the highest). Consult the university for the most recent evaluation results.
Programmes open to international students
| Programme | Level | Language | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese Language and Literature | Bachelor | Chinese | 4 years |
| Computer Science and Technology | Master | English | 2–3 years |
| China Studies | Master | English | 2 years |
| Environmental Science and Engineering | Master / PhD | English | 2–4 years |
| Business Administration (MBA) | MBA | English | 2 years |
| Chinese Language Programme | Language | Chinese | 0.5–2 years |
Admissions, tuition and deadlines
Requirements
Bachelor: high school diploma and entrance examination; HSK 5 for Chinese-taught, IELTS 6.0–6.5 for English-taught. Graduate: bachelor's degree, two recommendation letters, study plan; some science programmes require a written subject test.
Deadlines and fees
Deadlines: Bachelor: 1 December – 31 March. Graduate: December – March.. Application fee: CNY 500. Tuition: CNY 20,000–26,000 per year for bachelor's; CNY 26,000–50,000 for master's; research degrees usually funded.
Scholarships
Chinese Government Scholarship, Nanjing University Presidential Scholarship, Jiangsu Provincial Government Scholarship, Confucius Institute Scholarship.
Notable alumni
| Alumnus | Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wu Jianxiong (Chien-Shiung Wu) | Experimental physicist | NJU graduate; proved parity violation in weak interactions. |
| Yang Zhenning | Nobel Laureate in Physics | Studied at the wartime NJU-affiliated programme. |
| Zhu Guangya | Physicist | Nuclear physics pioneer and NJU alumnus. |
| Bi Feiyu | Novelist | Mao Dun Literature Prize winner. |
| Howard Schultz | Former Starbucks CEO | Attended NJU's executive programme; Starbucks opened its first China store in the NJU area. |
Why students choose this university
- Exceptionally strong for pure science research at moderate cost
- Nanjing is a historic, student-heavy city with lower living costs than Shanghai
- Established Chinese-language teaching for international students