Tianjin University Scholarship for International Students

About the university

Tianjin University (TJU), commonly known as TJU, is located in Tianjin. It is a national key university directly under the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, a central-government-administered university, and one of the first batch of national key universities designated by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. It is also among the first universities to be included in the national "985 Project" and "211 Project," and is a Class A university in the "Double First-Class" initiative. Founded on October 2, 1895, originally as Peiyang University, it is the first modern university in China, marking the beginning of modern higher education in the country. Tianjin University is the leading unit of the national Emerging Engineering Education (EEE) initiative, proposed the "TJU Action" for EEE, and spearheads the construction of the International Alliance for Emerging Engineering Education and the National Emerging Engineering Education Innovation Center. It has been selected for the National Strengthening Basic Disciplines Plan, the 2011 Plan, the 111 Plan, the Excellence Plan, the National Excellent Engineer Education and Training Program, the Future Technology College construction program, the implementation of the National High-Level Talents Training Program for Energy Storage Technology, the independent audit of degree authorization, the base for the Top-Notch Student Training Program 2.0 in Basic Disciplines, the World-Class Cybersecurity College Demonstration Project, the National Excellent Primary and Secondary School Teacher Training Program, the Emerging Engineering Education Research and Practice Project, the New Liberal Arts Research and Reform Practice Project, the University Science and Technology Achievement Transformation and Technology Transfer Base, the National College Student Cultural Quality Education Base, and the National Language Promotion Base. It is one of the "Old Eight Schools of Architecture." In the 2024 QS World University Rankings, it ranked 285th (13th domestically); in the THE World University Rankings, it ranked 201-250th (16th domestically); in the 2024 ARWU Chinese University Rankings, it ranked 20th, and 10th in the Engineering University Rating. As of December 2024, the university has three campuses covering a total area of 4,033,500 square meters, offers 76 undergraduate programs, has 48 first-level master's degree programs, 38 first-level doctoral degree programs, and 37 postdoctoral research stations. It has 4,871 faculty and staff members, and 40,277 full-time students. As of June 2025, the university has 33 colleges (departments). On January 22, 2026, Tianjin University established the Center for Earth System Engineering Research. The predecessor of Tianjin University, Peiyang University College, was founded after the First Sino-Japanese War. Following the defeat, the whole nation sought to strengthen itself. Sheng Xuanhuai, a representative of the industrial faction in the Westernization Movement, realized that "self-strengthening first requires talent cultivation, and talent cultivation must begin with education." In 1892, Sheng Xuanhuai became the Tianjin Customs Daotai. Seeing Tianjin's favorable economic and transportation conditions, he resolved to establish a new-style school there. On October 2, 1895, Emperor Guangxu approved by imperial edict the establishment of Tianjin Peiyang Western School, with Sheng Xuanhuai as its first Superintendent. The school was located at the Bowen Academy in Liangjiayuan, outside the Daying Gate of Tianjin. In 1896, the school was officially renamed Peiyang University College. Sheng Xuanhuai, the founder and first Superintendent of Peiyang University College; Charles Daniel Tenney, the founder and first Academic Dean of Peiyang University College. In 1899, the first class of Tianjin Peiyang School graduated. In January 1900, the school issued the first university diploma in Chinese history. Due to his outstanding academic performance, Hong Kong student Wang Chonghui received the "Imperial Certificate No. 1." Peiyang University College followed the modern American model, fully introducing Western educational models and establishing a relatively complete set of educational and teaching management systems. It set up a Senior School (undergraduate) and a Junior School (preparatory), each with a four-year program. The Senior School offered four specialized fields (departments): Engineering, Mining, Machinery, and Law. In 1897, a Railway specialization was added, and in 1898, a Railway School was established. These fields were all urgently needed by Chinese society at the time, reflecting the founding purpose of Peiyang University: "Revitalize the nation through education." In early 1900, the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing and Tianjin, and the school buildings were occupied by enemy troops, with equipment and archives destroyed, forcing the school to close. Charles Daniel Tenney personally went to Germany to negotiate compensation. With the approval of Yuan Shikai, Peiyang University College was rebuilt at the Xigu Arsenal on the north bank of the Tianjin Canal. In April 1903, the school resumed classes at the Xigu Arsenal in Tianjin (now the east campus of Hebei University of Technology's Hongqiao campus). In the same year, the first batch of Peiyang University College graduates went to study in the United States. When Peiyang University College reopened in 1903, it offered three departments: Law, Civil Engineering, and Mining and Metallurgy. Later, to meet diplomatic needs, French and Russian classes were added. In 1907, a Normal School was established. By then, Peiyang University had become a comprehensive new-style university encompassing liberal arts, law, engineering, and teacher education. In 1910, Peiyang University student Feng Ximin won first place in the imperial examination.