Nanjing University (also known as NJU), one of China`s key comprehensive universities under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Education, dates from 1902 when it was known as Sanjiang Normal School. During the following decades, it evolved as Liangjiang Normal School, Nanjing Higher Normal School, National Southeast University, the Fourth Zhongshan University, and National Central University. On August 8, 1949, National Central University was renamed National Nanjing University. In October 1950, as required by the Ministry of Education, the name was changed to Nanjing University (NJU). In 1952, due to the nationwide restructuring of colleges and universities, some academic units such as the School of Engineering and the School of Agriculture were separated from the university; meanwhile, it merged with the School of Liberal Arts and the School of Sciences of the University of Nanking founded in 1888. Its name remained while its campus moved from Sipailou to Gulou.

In its over 100 years` history, NJU has cultivated a great number of prominent and learned figures, and thus has greatly contributed to the nation`s revitalization and development. Many famous scientists and scholars have studied or worked here, such as Li Ruiqing, Wu Youxun, Zhu Kezhen, Mao Yisheng, Liu Yizheng, Hu Xiaoshi, Tao Xingzhi, Guo Bingwen, Chen Heqin, Tang Yongtong, Ma Yinchu, Li Shutong, Xiong Qinglai, Tong Dizhou, Jin Shanbao, Wen Yiduo, Zhang Daqian, Xu Beihong, Fu Baoshi, Yan Jici, Wu Jianxiong, Li Guoding, Luo Jialun, Gu Yuxiu, Li Fangxun, Wu Mi, Zhu Guangya, Zhao Zhongyao, Pearl S. Buck, Yang Xingfo, Lu Shuxiang, Liang Xi, Dai Anbang, Chen Baichen and Kuang Yaming, to name just a few. Of the twenty-three distinguished scholars recognized by the nation for their pioneering work on the founding of the country`s high-tech system, six are from NJU.

Since China`s reform and opening-up in the late 1970s, NJU has gradually developed multi-disciplinary programs in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, technological sciences, life sciences, modern engineering and management. Presently, NJU is comprised of 21 schools with 59 departments. It runs 78 undergraduate programs, 213 master`s programs, 9 professional master`s programs, 147 Ph.D. programs (under 23 primary disciplines), and 23 post-doctoral research stations. In addition, NJU has one national laboratory and six national key laboratories, 5 key laboratories of the Ministry of Education, 2 engineering centers of the Ministry of Education, 2 Jiangsu provincial key laboratories, 21 national key disciplines, 24 provincial key disciplines; It also houses 8 national bases for teaching and researching in basic sciences and applied sciences, 3 national bases for basic disciplines education and research, and 4 key bases for researching in humanities and social sciences of MOE. Among its over 2,000 faculty, there are 716 professors and 649 associate professors , including 27 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, three members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, four members of the Third-World Academy of Sciences, one member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and one fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Along the years, the NJU faculty has won various titles and awards, such as Chief Scientists in the “National Key Basic Research and Development Program” (4), Young and Middle-aged Experts with Distinguished Contributions in Science, Technology and Management (18), National Outstanding Youth Fund Award (87), Chair or Lecture Professors of "Cheung Kong Scholars Program" (50), Scholars in the “New Century Outstanding Talents Supporting Project” (74), and National distinguished Teachers (7), “Talents Cultivation Program” (9), “New Century Talents Cultivation Program” (8).