en.xmu.edu.cn Updated: May 8, 2025

The video of Xiamen University

Xiamen University (XMU), established in 1921 by the renowned patriotic overseas Chinese leader Mr. Tan Kah Kee, holds the distinction of being the first university founded by an overseas Chinese in the history of modern Chinese education.

XMU is recognized as one of China's leading universities and has been included in the national 211 Project, 985 Project, and the Double First-Class Initiative—major government programs aimed at elevating selected universities to world-class status.

The university is comprised of four campuses: Siming Campus, Zhangzhou Campus, Xiang'an Campus, and the Malaysia Campus. It is structured into six academic divisions, including 35 schools and colleges, as well as 17 research institutes. This comprehensive academic structure covers 12 disciplines, including philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, science, engineering, medicine, management, arts, and interdisciplinary studies. Furthermore, XMU maintains 36 postdoctoral research stations to support advanced research initiatives.

The university employs nearly 3,000 full-time faculty and researchers, with professors and associate professors accounting for 74 percent of the academic staff. It is home to 15 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, along with three academicians of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).

Since its founding, XMU has educated more than 500,000 talented individuals. Currently, the University has over 47,000 enrolled students, including more than 21,000 undergraduates, 20,000 master's students, and 6,000 doctoral students. XMU's internal quality assurance system was recognized as a model case in UNESCO's project Exploring Good and Innovative Options in Internal Quality Assurance in Higher Education, making it the only university from China—and the broader East Asia region—selected for this honor.

XMU has signed inter-institutional cooperation agreements with 277 universities worldwide and has established substantive partnerships with 54 prestigious international institutions. It initiated and leads the university consortium of the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road". Globally, XMU has established 14 Confucius Institutes and one Chinese Language and Culture Research Center across 12 countries on five continents, overseeing a total of 34 Confucius Classrooms.

Established in 2014, Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) represents the first, and thus far the only, overseas branch campus entirely established by a Chinese university under the Double First-Class Initiative. The university features a fully autonomous campus and offers a comprehensive array of academic programs, having evolved into a multidisciplinary institution that provides 24 undergraduate, 12 master's, and seven doctoral programs. Four of its disciplines are recognized among the global top 1 percent according to Essential Science Indicators (ESI). Currently, XMUM accommodates over 8,500 students alongside more than 500 faculty and staff members, with its student body comprising individuals from more than 40 countries and regions along the Belt and Road.

Nestled between lush green hills and the blue sea, XMU is considered the most beautiful university in China. Its scenic surroundings, combined with state-of-the-art educational facilities, provide an exceptional environment for teaching, learning, and research.

  History of Xiamen University 

  1921: founded by Mr. Tan Kah-Kee

  1937: given its charter as a public university

  1952: designated a comprehensive university for the social and natural sciences

  1963: designated a national key university

  1986: initial trials of the Graduate School

  1995: put on "211 Project" list

  1996: authorised by the Education Ministry as one of the first group of universities to
            set up a graduate school

  2001: listed under the "985 Project"

  2004: granted status of "National vice-ministerial university"

  University Motto: "Pursue excellence, strive for perfection"

  University Crest

  University Song

(The above data is as of December 31, 2024)