University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) is an innovative university whose educational model integrates research and education, whose principal activity is postgraduate education and whose distinctive offering is elite undergraduate education. Founded in 1978 as the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, it was the first graduate school in the People’s Republic of China, established with approval from the CPC Central Committee and State Council. It trained the People’s Republic’s first Doctor of Science, first Doctor of Engineering, first female doctoral graduate and first dual-degree doctoral graduate. UCAS is a distinctive research university centered on postgraduate education and the integration of science and education. Its management, faculty, training system and research are deeply integrated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ research institutions. At the end of December 2025, it had 19657 postgraduate supervisors, including 10262 doctoral supervisors, 205 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and 31 of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. As of December 2025, it had 1858 undergraduates and 68096 postgraduate students, nearly 50% of whom were doctoral students. It had 1837 international students, including 1281 international doctoral students, placing it among China’s leading universities for international doctoral enrollment.

UCAS has abundant literature resources and modern teaching facilities. It shares the resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ National Science Library and has extensive collections and electronic literature. Building on the academy’s broad international research cooperation platform, it has close ties and partnerships with the Max Planck Society in Germany, the French National Centre for Scientific Research, the Russian Academy of Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and over 60 renowned universities worldwide. With Denmark’s Ministry of Science and Education and 8 universities, it jointly established the Sino-Danish College. UCAS also has a strong educational culture. Carrying forward the academy’s traditions of “Science, Democracy, Patriotism and Dedication” and its ethos of “Practicality, Truth-Seeking, Collaboration and Innovation,” it develops students’ solid knowledge and research abilities while emphasizing an innovative scientific spirit, rigorous and pragmatic research character, and a willingness to shoulder social responsibility.

Looking ahead, UCAS will uphold its socialist educational direction and draw on the development of the Huairou Comprehensive National Science Center to attract first-class faculty, build a first-class discipline system, produce first-class innovations and cultivate first-class innovative talent. By 2035, it aims to join the world’s top universities, establishing a mature, distinctive path for China’s higher education and scientific innovation through integrated research and education and collaborative innovation, and making outstanding contributions to national rejuvenation and global scientific and technological progress.