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Nanjing University

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Nanjing University (NJU) is a prestigious public research university in China. It operates across several locations in Jiangsu province. The university maintains campuses in Nanjing and Suzhou. Specifically, it has the Xianlin campus in northeast Nanjing. It also has the Gulou campus in the city center. The Pukou campus is located in the Pukou District. Finally, there is a campus in the city of Suzhou. The university is sponsored by the Ministry of Education. It is a member of the elite C9 League. It is also part of important national programs. These include Project 211 and Project 985. It is part of the Double First-Class Construction initiative.

Nju.auditoria
Nju.auditoria

The university has a long and complex history. It was established in 1902 as Sanjiang Normal School. Over many decades, the institution underwent several name changes. It was known as Nanjing Higher Normal School. Later, it was called National Southeastern University. It also operated as National Central University. In 1950, the institution was renamed Nanjing University. In 1952, it merged with the University of Nanking. This history shows how the school has evolved through different eras of Chinese history.

Nanjing University northwestern corner
Nanjing University northwestern corner

The university follows a specific motto to guide its students. The motto is "Sincerity with Aspiration, Perseverance with Integrity." The first half, "Sincerity with Aspiration," comes from the National Central University era. The second half, "Perseverance with Integrity," is inspired by classical Chinese aphorisms. During the early years, President Li Ruiqing used a different phrase. He wrote that one who chews on vegetable roots can accomplish great things. The current motto was adopted in 2002. This happened during the university's centennial celebration. President Jiang Shusheng led this process after consulting faculty and students.

Nanjing University offers a vast range of academic disciplines. It is a Double First-Class Construction university in 15 different disciplines. The university is divided into many schools and departments. Students can study the School of Liberal Arts or the School of Law. There are specialized areas like the School of Artificial Intelligence. Science students might join the School of Physics or the School of Chemistry. There are also departments for the School of Journalism and Communication. The university includes many independent research institutes. These cover topics from modern biology to the humanities.

The academic quality of the university is very high. Its faculty includes more than twenty Nobel Laureates. These are individuals who have won the world's highest prize for excellence. The university is highly ranked in global assessments. As of 2025, it ranked 7th in China. It was ranked 14th in Asia. In global rankings, it was placed 68th by some sources. Other rankings placed it 62nd in the world. The Nature Index 2025 ranked it 7th in the world for scientific research output. It is also ranked 6th in the Asia-Pacific region for research.

Nju.auditoria
Nju.auditoria

Many notable people have been connected to the university. The school has produced many leaders and scientists. Since 1977, it has ranked first in the number of alumni elected as academicians. These are members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. In 1931, the university had a strong showing in civil service exams. Out of the top 100 graduates, 25 were from Nanjing University. This included the top graduate, Chow Bangdao. In 1933, the university also had many successful female graduates. One graduate, Lee Hsuehteng, became the Chief Justice of the ROC Supreme Court.

Nanjing University's influence extends to many different fields. Its alumni have held many high-ranking government positions. For example, one-fourth of the Chief Justices in the early 60 years of the Republic of China were alumni. The school also had a strong presence in the Academia Sinica. In 1948, 28 graduates or faculty members were elected as academicians in natural sciences. This was the only time such an event happened in mainland China. The university also has a long musical tradition. The school song was composed in 1916. Jiang Qian wrote the lyrics, and Li Shutong composed the melody.

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