Tsinghua University

Tsinghua University

The campus of Tsinghua University is situated in northwest Beijing on the site of the former imperial gardens of the Qing Dynasty, and surrounded by a number of historical sites.

Tsinghua University was established in 1911, originally under the name “Tsinghua Xuetang”. The school was renamed "Tsinghua School" in 1912. The university section was founded in 1925. The name “National Tsinghua University” was adopted in 1928.

The faculty greatly valued the interaction between Chinese and Western cultures, the sciences and humanities, the ancient and modern. Tsinghua scholars Wang Guowei, Liang Qichao, Chen Yinque and Zhao Yuanren, renowned as the "Four Tutors" in the Institute of Chinese Classics, advocated this belief and had a profound impact on Tsinghua's later development.

Tsinghua University was forced to move to Kunming and join with Peking University and Nankai University to form the Southwest Associated University due to the Resistance War against the Japanese Invasion in 1937. In 1946 The University was moved back to its original location in Beijing after the war.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the University was molded into a polytechnic institute focusing on engineering in the nationwide restructuring of universities and colleges undertaken in 1952. In November 1952, Mr. Jiang Nanxiang became the President of the University. He made significant contributions in leading Tsinghua to become the national center for training engineers and scientists with both professional proficiency and personal integrity.

Since China opened up to the world in 1978, Tsinghua University has developed at a breathtaking pace into a comprehensive research university. At present, the university has 20 schools and 58 departments with faculties in science, engineering, humanities, law, medicine, history, philosophy, economics, management, education and art.

With the motto of “Self-Discipline and Social Commitment” and the spirit of “Actions Speak Louder than Words”, Tsinghua University is dedicated to the well-being of Chinese society and to world development. As one of China’s most prestigious and influential universities, Tsinghua is committed to cultivating global citizens who will thrive in today’s world and become tomorrow’s leaders. Through the pursuit of education and research at the highest level of excellence, Tsinghua is developing innovative solutions that will help solve pressing problems in China and the world.

Located in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing, Tsinghua University was established in 1911 on the site of “Qing Hua Yuan (Tsinghua Garden)” —a former royal garden of the Qing Dynasty. Partly funded by the “Gengzi Indemnity”, also known as “Boxer Indemnity,” it functioned at first as a preparatory school called “Tsinghua Xuetang (Tsing Hua Imperial College)” for those students who were sent by the government to study in the United States.

On April 29, 1911, Tsinghua Xuetang began its first term of study, and from that year on, the Tsinghua’s anniversary has fallen on the last Sunday of April. The name was changed to “Tsinghua Xuexiao (Tsing Hua College)” after the 1911 Revolution.

In 1925, Tsinghua launched its four-year undergraduate programme. In 1928, its name was changed to “Guoli Tsinghua Daxue (National Tsinghua University),” and in the autumn of 1929 its graduate school was set up.

Following the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan in 1937, Tsinghua University, Peking University and Nankai University merged to form the National Southwest Associated University in Kunming. After the war, Tsinghua University moved back to its original Beijing campus.

Three years after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, a nationwide restructuring of institutes of higher education began, and in 1952, Tsinghua University became a multidisciplinary polytechnic university specializing in training engineers. In November of that year, the Ministry of Education appointed Jiang Nanxiang as President.

Since 1978, Tsinghua University has strengthened its teaching in sciences, economic management, humanities and law. In 1999, Tsinghua opened the School of Arts and Design by merging with the Central Academy of Arts and Design. In 2012, the Graduate School of the People's Bank of China (PBC) merged into Tsinghua University as Tsinghua University PBC School of Finance. Today, Tsinghua has become a world-leading comprehensive university that offers subject areas in engineering, science, economics, management, art, medicine, philosophy, law, literature, history and education. Students are provided diversified development paths to advance their critical thinking and entrepreneurship through research-based learning.

Over the past over 100 years, Tsinghua University has witnessed and shared the hardships and glories of the nation. The University’s motto of “Self-discipline and Social Commitment” has inspired many generations of Tsinghua teachers and students to struggle for the prosperity of China.

In 2017, Tsinghua officially released its "Double First-Class (First-Class University & First-Class Disciplines)" development plan. As one of China’s most prestigious and influential universities, Tsinghua is committed to cultivating global citizens who will thrive in today’s world and become tomorrow’s leaders. Through the pursuit of education and research at the highest level of excellence, Tsinghua is developing innovative solutions that will help solve pressing problems in China and the world.

Timeline

1911　 Founding of "Tsing Hua Imperial College", later changed to "Tsing Hua College" (preparatory school for students to study in the USA)

1925　 Launching of four-year undergraduate programme

1928　 "National Tsinghua University" is set up with 16 departments in four schools: the Liberal Arts, Law, Sciences, and Engineering

1937　 Tsinghua moved to Changsha, merging with Peking University and Nankai University to form "Changsha Temporary University"

1938　 Moved to Kunming, changing its name to "National Southwest Associated University"

1946　 Returned to the original campus, "Qing Hua Yuan (Tsinghua Garden)", in Beijing, and founded the School of Agriculture

1952　 Restructured as a polytechnic university after the nationwide restructuring

1978　 Nationwide College Entrance Examination is resumed

1984　 Establishes the first Graduate School in China.

― School of Economic Management is formed out of the existing department of management engineering.

― School of Sciences resumes on the basis of science departments.

1985　 First School of Continuing Education opens in China

1988　 Establishes School of Architecture

1993　 Former departments and research institutes in the humanities and social sciences merged as School of Humanities and Social Sciences

1994　 Establishes School of Information Science and Technology

1996　 Establishes School of Mechanical Engineering

1999　 School of Law reopens Establishes School of Applied Sciences and Technology Establishes Academy of Arts and Design by merging with the Central Academy of Arts and Design

2000　 Establishes School of Civil Engineering Establishes School of Public Policy and Management.

2001　 Establishes School of Medicine

2002　 Establishes School of Journalism and Communication

2003　 Merges Huaxin Hospital and Yuquan Hospital into Tsinghua

2004　 Establishes School of Aerospace

2006　 Peking Union Medical College changed its name to "Peking Union Medical College (Division of Medicine, Tsinghua University)"

2008　 Establishes School of Marxism

2009　 Establishes School of Life Sciences

2011　 Centenary Celebration

― Establishes School of Environment

2012　 PBC School of Finance, School of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, School of Materials Science and Engineering established

2015　 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences established Schwarzman College established

2016　 Department of Earth System Science established School of Clinical Medicine established

2017　 Department of the History of Science established

2019　 Department of Astronomy established School of Vehicle and Mobility established