Nanjing, Jiangsu · Founded 1902 · Project 985 · Project 211 · Double First Class
Southeast University 东南大学
Southeast University, in Nanjing, is one of China's oldest and most respected engineering and architecture universities. It is particularly strong in architecture, civil engineering, electronic science, information and communication engineering, and transportation.
Overview
Southeast University, in Nanjing, is one of China's oldest and most respected engineering and architecture universities. It is particularly strong in architecture, civil engineering, electronic science, information and communication engineering, and transportation.
SEU operates the National Mobile Communications Research Laboratory and is a key partner in China's 5G and 6G research programmes.
History
SEU traces its origin to 1902 and the Sanjiang Normal College, the institution from which Nanjing University also descends. In 1952 the engineering faculties were split off to form Nanjing Institute of Technology, which became Southeast University in 1988.
It was designated a national key university and joined Project 211 (1996), Project 985 (2001) and Double First Class (2017). Its signal and information processing group is among the strongest in China.
SEU has four campuses across Nanjing and further sites in Suzhou and Wuxi, and it runs strong cooperative programmes with Monash University and other international partners.
World rankings, 2017–2026
| Edition | QS | ARWU | THE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 501 | 301–400 | 601–800 |
| 2018 | 481 | 301–400 | 601–800 |
| 2019 | 465 | 201–300 | 501–600 |
| 2020 | 462 | 201–300 | 501–600 |
| 2021 | 460 | 151–200 | 451–500 |
| 2022 | 465 | 151–200 | 401–500 |
| 2023 | 461 | 151–200 | 351–400 |
| 2024 | 454 | 101–150 | 301–350 |
| 2025 | 428 | 101–150 | 251–300 |
| 2026 | 415 | 101–150 | 251–300 |
Compilations such as this one can lag a publisher's revisions; verify the current figure at source.
Campuses
| Campus | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Sipailou Campus (Main) | 2 Sipailou, Xuanwu District, Nanjing | Historic city-centre campus with the landmark auditorium; architecture and civil engineering. |
| Jiulonghu Campus | Jiangning Development Zone, Nanjing | Modern campus for electronic and information engineering, computer science and international student housing. |
| Dingjiaqiao Campus | Nanjing | Medicine and clinical teaching hospitals. |
| Suzhou Campus | Suzhou, Jiangsu | Graduate engineering and joint programmes with Monash University. |
Faculty and research
Southeast University employs around 3,700 academic staff, including about 16 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering. 16 national academy members. The School of Information Science and Engineering and the School of Architecture accept international graduate students and supervise in English.
Discipline strength
| Discipline | National grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture / Built Environment | A+ | One of the historic 'old eight' architecture schools. |
| Electronic Science & Technology | A+ | Ultra-high-frequency and integrated circuit design. |
| Information & Communication Engineering | A+ | National Mobile Communications Research Laboratory, 5G/6G research. |
| Civil Engineering | A+ | Prestressed structures and bridge engineering. |
| Transportation Engineering | A+ | Intelligent transport systems and road engineering. |
| Biomedical Engineering | A+ | Medical imaging and neuroinformatics. |
| Art Theory / Design | A | Design and art history. |
| Instrument Science & Technology | A | MEMS and precision measurement. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering | Bachelor / Master | English | 4 / 2–3 years |
| Information Engineering | Bachelor / Master | English | 4 / 3 years |
| Architecture | Master | English | 2 years |
| Clinical Medicine (MBBS) | Bachelor | English | 5–6 years |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | MBA | English | 2 years |
Admissions, tuition and deadlines
Requirements
Bachelor: high school diploma, SEU entrance examination, IELTS 6.0 or HSK 4–5. Graduate: degree, transcripts, two references, study plan; a portfolio is required for architecture.
Deadlines and fees
Deadlines: Bachelor: December – April. Graduate: December – March.. Application fee: CNY 500. Tuition: CNY 20,000–26,000 per year for bachelor's; CNY 26,000–40,000 for master's.
Scholarships
Chinese Government Scholarship, Confucius Institute Scholarship, Jiangsu Provincial Government Scholarship, SEU President Scholarship.
Notable alumni
| Alumnus | Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wang Zhuo | Architect | Pioneer of Chinese architectural education. |
| Qi Kang | Architect | Academician and designer of the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall. |
| You Xiaozeng | Chemist | Academician and coordination chemist. |
| Zhang Guangdou | Hydraulic engineer | Academician and former president of Tsinghua University. |
Why students choose this university
- Excellent for architecture, civil, electronic and communications engineering
- Nanjing's lower costs with a strong technology job market
- Joint programmes with Monash University, Australia