About Nankai University

Founded in 1919 by prominent educators Zhang Boling (1876–1951) and Yan Fansun (1860–1920), Nankai University is one of the most prestigious universities in China. Its alumni include the former Premier Zhou Enlai and Nobel laureates Chen Ning Yang and Tsung-Dao Lee. Nankai is located in Tianjin, China.

As a key comprehansive university directly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Nankai University has academic programs that cover almost every area including humanities, natural sciences, technology, life sciences, medical sciences and the arts. It has 22 colleges and schools, and offers 79 bachelor's degree programs, 231 master's degree programs, and 172 Ph.D. programs. The total enrollment stood at approximately 12,000 undergraduate students and 11,000 graduate students. Of the total student population, 10% are international students from different countries around the world. Nankai is consistently listed among the top ten universities in China by various ranking sysyems. Nankai's mathematics, chemistry, history, business and economics programs are among the best in China. The chemistry research was ranked No. 1 according to the statistics from the Ministry of Education in 2008. Economics, mathematics and history were ranked 2nd among over 2000 Chinese universities. Chern, Shiing-Shen established the world's largest mathematics institute (in terms of office area) in Nankai University. The university is also highly regarded for its top quality undergraduate programs. Many of the undergraduate lectures are selected as national elite lectures by the Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education.

Nankai has established broad international exchanges and collaborative relationships with more than 200 universities and academic institutions. Nobel Laureates Chen Ning Yang, Tsung-Dao Lee, Samuel Chao Chung Ting, Robert A. Mundell, and Reinhard Selten as well as former President of Korea Kim Dae Jung and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger were all conferred Honorary Professorships by Nankai University. Many other world-known scholars and entrepreneurs have been invited as Visiting Professors at Nankai University. Dr. Heng-Kang Sang returned from the United States to found the College of Economic and Social Development in 1987. Nankai University, a magnet for talented mathematicians known both at home and abroad, has become one of the most famous centers for mathematics worldwide. Also, Nankai established dozens of Confucius Institutes all around the world.