Xi’an Jiaotong University

Xi’an Jiaotong University is one of China’s earliest institutions of higher education, renowned at home and abroad, and a key university directly administered by the Ministry of Education.

At the end of the nineteenth century, defeat in the Sino-Japanese War brought the nation into crisis. Upholding the belief that “self-strengthening begins with nurturing talent, and nurturing talent begins with developing education,” Sheng Xuanhuai, a renowned modern industrialist and educator, founded Nanyang Public School in Shanghai in 1896. It was named Jiaotong University in 1921. The university upheld the mission of “pursuing practical learning and engaging in practical enterprise” and emphasized the goals of “cultivating first-class character, pursuing first-class knowledge, creating first-class achievements, and developing first-class talent.” By the 1920s and 1930s, it had become a renowned university distinguished by science, engineering and management, known as the “MIT of the East.” During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the university moved into Shanghai’s foreign concession and relocated inland to Chongqing, continuing to operate in both cities. Many students put down their pens and joined the military, fighting to resist foreign aggression. On the eve of liberation, faculty and students actively participated in the democratic revolution and the liberation struggle, earning the university the name “a fortress of democracy.”

In 1955, the central authorities decided to relocate Jiaotong University inland to Xi’an. Faculty and students began moving in groups in 1956. In 1957, the university was divided into Xi’an and Shanghai sections under unified leadership. In 1959, the Xi’an section was named Xi’an Jiaotong University and was designated one of the country’s sixteen key universities that same year. In 2000, the State Council decided to merge Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an Medical University and Shaanxi Institute of Finance and Economics to form the new Xi’an Jiaotong University.

The university was a key development institution under the Seventh and Eighth Five-Year Plans and was among the first universities included in the national Projects 211 and 985. In 2017, it was selected as a Category A university in the national Double First-Class initiative, with 8 disciplines selected for first-class development.

The university is a comprehensive research university with distinctive strengths in science and engineering, covering 9 disciplinary categories: science, engineering, medicine, economics, management, literature, law, philosophy and art. It has 27 schools, departments and centers, 9 undergraduate residential colleges and 3 directly affiliated hospitals. It has 6538 staff on the established payroll, including 3729 full-time teachers. Its faculty includes 44 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, 6 nationally distinguished teachers, 42 recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 25 national experts with outstanding contributions, 30 selected for the national Hundred-Thousand-Ten Thousand Talent Project and its New Century version, 29 selections as Ministry of Education innovation team leaders, 234 selected for the Ministry of Education’s New Century Excellent Talent Support Program, and 491 experts who have made outstanding contributions to the country and receive special government allowances.

The university has 44325 students, including 20958 undergraduates, 21383 postgraduate students and 1984 international students. It has 90 undergraduate programs, 32 first-level disciplines authorized to award doctoral degrees, 41 authorized to award master’s degrees, 5 professional doctoral degree authorization fields, 27 professional master’s degree authorization fields, 30 postdoctoral research stations, 8 national first-level key disciplines, 5 national key laboratories, 7 national engineering or engineering technology research centers, 3 national engineering laboratories, 5 national international science and technology cooperation bases, 1 collaborative innovation center under the 2011 initiative, and 148 provincial or ministerial key research bases. It has established the National Institute for Energy Research in Western China and the Western China Institute of Quality Science and Technology.

According to ESI data, as of November 2020, 15 disciplines ranked among the world’s top 1% of academic institutions, 3 ranked in the top 1‰, and Engineering ranked in the top one ten-thousandth.

Over more than 120 years, the university has developed fine traditions of strengthening the nation through education, hard work in building institutions, respect for virtue and practical results, and rigorous scholarship. It values patriotism and loyalty to the university, pursuit of truth, diligence and practicality, and hard work and simplicity. Its educational characteristics include a high starting point, a solid foundation, rigorous requirements and an emphasis on practice. Outstanding alumni include Zhang Yuanji, Cai Yuanpei, Cai E, Huang Yanpei, Zou Taofen, Lu Dingyi, Qian Xuesen, Zhang Guangdou, Wu Wenjun, Jiang Zemin, Huang Xuhua and Hou Zonglian.

Since relocating west, the university has educated 42 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, including Lin Zonghu, Cai Ruixian, Cao Chunxiao, Jiang Xinsong, Li Helin, Ye Shangfu, Li Peicheng, Yao Mu, Chen Guoliang, Lei Qingquan, Xiong Youlun, Tu Mingjing, Li Bohu, Su Junhong, Sun Jiulin, Chen Guilin, Cheng Shijie, Sun Caixin, Han Qide, Tan Tieniu, Cong Bin, Hao Yue, Chen Zhengqing, Jiang Song, Fang Jiancheng, Wang Huaming, Tang Guangfu, Guo Wanlin, Wu Yican, Luo Qi and Yan Xinping. It has also educated members of overseas academies such as the US National Academy of Engineering, the US National Academy of Sciences and the Canadian Academy of Engineering, including Gao Huajian, Suo Zhigang, Jiang Jing, Liu Yilu, Liang Ping and Chen Zhangxing.

In the 65 years since relocation, it has supplied the country with more than 280000 graduates of various kinds. In 2020, at least 55% of graduates worked in central and western China, providing substantial intellectual support for the national western development strategy. Graduates enjoy a strong reputation across society. Prominent alumni include Yang Jiachi, Chen Huibo, Wen Xisen, Xiao Shengli, Ma Dexiu, Lei Jufang, Cui Dianguo, Sun Laiyan, Zhang Guobao, Jia Quanxi, Wang Jue, Lian Weiliang, Wen Shugang, Wang Jianping, Xin Baoan, Jiang Xiaojuan, Pu Zhongjie, Yu Jie, He Jinbi, Zhang Yue’e, Gui Shengyue, Lu Lei, Zhang Yalin, Ge Honglin, Zhao Huan, Qiu Jianping, Liang Haishan, Feng Xingya, Zhou Hongyi, Chen Xi, Liu Guangbin, Zheng Haitao, Lu Yiming, Fan Deng, Liu Liehong, Zhang Dongchen, Wang Dongfeng, Liu Qi, Guo Wenjun, Jing Haipeng, Chen Dong, Xue Ying and Zhang Xin.

The university implements an integrated talent training philosophy combining character development, knowledge transmission, capability building and innovative thinking. It has established a system of “general education plus broad-based professional education” and integrated undergraduate, master’s and doctoral training.

In 2006, the university introduced a residential college system. Its dual structure of residential colleges and academic schools gives students wings to soar. In 2017, it established an Undergraduate School, implemented teaching responsibilities at university, school and department levels, and developed an undergraduate education management system with horizontal collaboration, vertical integration, and coordinated teaching and personal development. Continuing its exploration of top innovative talent training, it has established programs since 1985 including the Young Gifted Students Class, Qian Xuesen Experimental Class, Hou Zonglian Experimental Class, Basic Discipline Talent Training Experimental Class, and Artificial Intelligence Experimental Class. Through the Qian Xuesen School, it applies Qian Xuesen’s spirit and wisdom to education and teaching. Its distinctive educational philosophy, relaxed learning atmosphere, strong faculty and good teaching outcomes have earned praise from students and parents.

The university has received 78 National Teaching Achievement Awards. It has developed 35 national quality courses, 23 national quality shared-resource courses, 13 national open video courses, 50 national first-class online courses, 7 national first-class blended online and offline courses, 9 national first-class offline courses, 10 national first-class virtual simulation experimental teaching courses, and 2 national first-class social practice courses. It has 8 national teaching and talent training bases, 12 national experimental teaching demonstration centers (including virtual simulation experimental teaching centers), 9 national teaching teams, and a national demonstration center for faculty teaching development. It has received 27 National 100 Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Awards and 46 nominations.

The university focuses on global scientific and technological frontiers, the main economic arena, major national needs, and people’s lives and health, continually improving its innovation capacity and scientific competitiveness. Since relocating, it has achieved more than one hundred domestic and international research firsts and played a leading role in reaching the forefront of research. These include establishing China’s first institute of engineering thermophysics and the country’s first programs in steam turbines, automobile manufacturing, refrigeration and cryogenics, and compressors; developing China’s first large general-purpose electronic computer and the first digital processing chip with independently owned intellectual property; and proposing the twin-shear unified strength theory for the first time internationally.

Since relocation, the university has produced more than 30000 research achievements, of which 241 received China’s three major national science and technology awards, generating economic and social benefits measured in hundreds of billions. Drawing on its disciplinary strengths and talent training, it innovates in industry-university-research cooperation, establishes research and development centers with governments and large and medium-sized enterprises, focuses on key technological problems in industry, and fully uses science and technology to support regional economic and social development.

Since 2000, it has led 21 projects under the 973 Program and received approval for 5832 National Natural Science Foundation projects, ranking among leading Chinese universities in the number and funding of basic research projects. It has undertaken 37 major national humanities research projects, received 36 Ministry of Education humanities and social sciences awards, and jointly established 17 high-end think tanks with institutions including the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau. Many of its research findings have been adopted and applied.

The university has a national university student cultural quality education base and 174 cultural societies. It offers a wide variety of science, technology, arts and sports activities. Series such as “Masters from Across China,” “Perspectives on the World,” “Siyuan Lecture Hall,” “Xue’er Forum,” “iHarbour Lectures” and “Innovation Forum” have become established programs broadening the horizons of faculty and students. Over the years, students have repeatedly achieved excellent results in international and domestic competitions, including the SAE International Aero Design Competition, VEX Robotics World Championship, international mathematical modeling competitions, World Chinese Debating Championship, international English speech competitions, world university architectural design competitions, World University Rowing Championships, ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest Asian regional selections, China International Internet Plus University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, Challenge Cup National University Student Extracurricular Academic Science and Technology Competition, Challenge Cup National University Student Entrepreneurship Plan Competition, China Undergraduate Mathematical Contest in Modeling, National University Student Mechanical Innovation Design Competition, Robocon National University Student Robot Competition, China Undergraduate Physics Tournament, National Aerospace Model Championships (Research Category), and National University Student Energy Conservation, Emission Reduction and Social Practice Science and Technology Competition.

The university has extensive international connections. Since 2000, it has invited 25 Nobel Prize and Fields Medal laureates and over 2000 overseas professors to visit and lecture. More than 20000 scholars, senior business executives and government officials from around the world have visited for collaborative research and academic exchange. It has sent faculty and students abroad on over 28000 visits for study, research, degree programs and other visits, with over 2000 participating in international conferences. It has established inter-university partnerships with more than 320 universities and research institutions in 44 countries and regions, including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore and South Korea.

In 2019, more than 3000 international students from 141 countries studied at Xi’an Jiaotong University.

The university has four campuses: Xingqing, Yanta, Qujiang and the Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbour. They cover approximately 4480 mu, with a total building floor area of approximately 4 million square meters. The library has been approved to bear the name Qian Xuesen Library. It has a total floor area of 43794 square meters and more than 3604 reading seats. Its cumulative holdings total 5.76 million volumes and items, including 10175 Chinese and foreign newspaper and periodical titles and 1307 current Chinese and foreign periodical titles. It provides 132 domestic and overseas electronic resource platforms with approximately 72 sub-databases, more than 59000 full-text Chinese and foreign electronic journals, and over 1759000 Chinese and Western-language e-books.

The Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbour aims to fulfill national missions, become a global hub for science and education, serve as an engine for Shaanxi, provide an innovation-driven platform, and demonstrate a smart academic town. It has established 8 major platforms, 29 institutes and over 300 research bases across 4 fields. It will serve major national research involving interdisciplinary work and civil-military integration, foster students’ innovative capabilities, facilitate commercialization and incubation of research achievements, and support economic and social development. It actively explores new models, forms and experiences for integrating a modern university with social development in the 21st century.

The University Alliance of the Silk Road, established under the university’s leadership, has attracted over 150 universities from 37 countries and regions. A group of high-end think tanks and research platforms, including the Collaborative Innovation Center for Reform Pilot Exploration and Evaluation and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Silk Road Economic Belt Research, is dedicated to social development and national rejuvenation.

On December 11, 2017, General Secretary Xi Jinping issued important instructions in response to a letter from 15 retired professors who had moved west with the university. He expressed profound respect for the veteran colleagues who answered the nation’s call and devoted themselves to building northwest China, and called for passing on the Westward Relocation Spirit and contributing wisdom and strength to western development and national construction.

On April 22, 2020, during an inspection visit to Shaanxi, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the university’s Westward Relocation Museum, met warmly with 14 retired professors who had moved west, and delivered two important speeches. He explained the core and essence of the Westward Relocation Spirit and encouraged faculty and students to carry it forward, seize new opportunities in the new era, make achievements where the country needs them most, and create the historical accomplishments of this generation on the new journey.

At this new historical starting point, the university is thoroughly studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, focusing on the fundamental task of fostering virtue and educating people, and maintaining its position of “Rooted in Western China, Serving the Nation, World-Class.” It is steadfastly advancing comprehensive reform, Double First-Class development and development through stronger intrinsic quality, striving to write a new chapter in its development in the new era and move toward becoming a world-class university with Chinese characteristics.

Motto: Diligence in Learning, Sincerity in Aspiration, Courage and Resolve in Action, Loyalty and Empathy in Responsibility

University positioning: Rooted in Western China, Serving the Nation, World-Class

Westward Relocation Spirit:

Meaning: Keep the overall situation in mind, contribute selflessly, uphold traditions, and build through hard work.

Core: Patriotism

Essence: Follow the Party’s guidance and leadership, sharing the destiny of the Party and country, the nation and the people.

Mission: To educate outstanding people who respect science, seek truth and innovation, are diligent and practical, and possess social responsibility and noble character. To preserve, create and disseminate knowledge, contributing to human civilization.

Vision: To become a world-class research university where distinguished masters gather, students aspire to study, outstanding leaders continually emerge, and cultural influence reaches widely.

Xi’an Jiaotong University – Chinese Government Scholarship

The Chinese Government has established scholarships to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and people around the world, and to develop exchange and cooperation in various fields between China and other countries and organizations such as UNESCO, the European Union, the ASEAN University Network and the World Meteorological Organization. Xi’an Jiaotong University is one of the host institutions for Chinese Government Scholarship students.

1. Chinese Government Scholarship – University Independent Admission Program

Supported study categories: At this university, this program supports master’s and doctoral students only.

Coverage: Tuition, accommodation, living allowance and comprehensive medical insurance.

Living allowance: master’s students: RMB 3,000/month; doctoral students: RMB 3,500/month.

How to apply: Applicants submit application materials directly to Xi’an Jiaotong University online.

Application period: Mid-November to mid-March each year.

Eligibility: a. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens in good health.

b. Educational qualifications and age requirements:

● Applicants for a master’s degree in China must hold a bachelor’s degree and be no older than 35.

● Applicants for a doctoral degree in China must hold a master’s degree and be no older than 40.

Note: All degree students must participate in an annual review after enrollment. For further details, see the 2022 Xi’an Jiaotong University Master’s and Doctoral Scholarship Admission Guide.

2. Chinese Government Scholarship – Nominated Programs

Supported study categories: Undergraduate students, master’s students, doctoral students, general scholars and senior scholars.

Coverage: Full and partial scholarships.

How to apply: Applicants apply through the international student dispatching authority in their country, UNESCO, the European Union, the ASEAN University Network Secretariat, or other relevant organizations.

Application period: Generally early January to early April. Check the official website of the application receiving agency for specific dates.

Procedure for obtaining a pre-admission letter: http://sie.xjtu.edu.cn/sqzn/zjsqylqtzssqzn.htm

Note: All degree students must participate in an annual review after enrollment. For further details, visit the China Scholarship Council website: http://www.campuschina.org/zh/scholarships/

Xi’an Jiaotong University homepage: http://www.xjtu.edu.cn

School of International Education homepage: http://sie.xjtu.edu.cn

Application website: http://isso.xjtu.edu.cn/recruit/login