Ningbo University Ningbo Municipal Government Scholarship

About the university

Ningbo University (NBU), located in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, is a provincial public university jointly administered by the People's Government of Zhejiang Province and the Ningbo Municipal People's Government. It is a national Double First-Class university, a university jointly built by the province, ministry, and city, one of the first key construction universities in Zhejiang Province, a high-level university construction university in Zhejiang Province, one of the first construction units of the Zhejiang International Characteristic University program, and the Ningbo International Cultural Exchange Base. Founded in 1986 with a donation from Yue-Kong Pao, it was included in the first batch of national college admissions in 1992. In 1996, the original Ningbo University, Ningbo Normal College, and the Ningbo Branch of Zhejiang Fisheries College merged to form the new Ningbo University. Subsequently, the National Oceanic Administration Ningbo Ocean School, the Ministry of Forestry Ningbo Forestry School, Ningbo Normal School, and Ningbo Run Run Shaw Art and Preschool Normal School were successively merged into Ningbo University. As of September 2025, the main campus is located in the north area of Ningbo Higher Education Park, and the Meishan campus is on Meishan Island, Beilun, covering a total area of 3,117 mu. Additionally, the Cixi campus of the Science and Technology College covers 796 mu. The university has 23 colleges (schools) and one independent college (the Science and Technology College), 59 undergraduate programs, 13 first-level doctoral programs, 1 professional doctoral program, 32 first-level master's programs, 31 professional master's programs, 9 postdoctoral research stations, 22,548 full-time undergraduates, 12,609 master's students, 809 doctoral students, 1,169 international students, and 3,525 faculty and staff, including 2,401 teaching and research personnel. In December 1984, world-renowned shipping magnate and Ningbo native Yue-Kong Pao decided to donate foreign exchange equivalent to 50 million RMB to establish Ningbo University, and signed a memorandum of discussion with then Ningbo Mayor Geng Dianhua in Beijing. In January 1985, the Zhejiang Provincial Government approved the Ningbo Municipal Government's report on preparing for the establishment of Ningbo University. In September, Deng Xiaoping inscribed the university's name. In October, the Ningbo Municipal Government held the foundation ceremony for Ningbo University, attended by then Acting Premier Wan Li and Yue-Kong Pao. In April of the following year, the State Education Commission decided that Zhejiang University, Fudan University, the University of Science and Technology of China, Peking University, and Hangzhou University would support the construction and teaching of Ningbo University. In September 1986, the first batch of new students registered at Ningbo University. In November, the opening ceremony was held, attended by then Acting Premier Wan Li, officials from central departments and the province and city, and Mr. and Mrs. Yue-Kong Pao. In October 1988, the completion ceremony for the first phase of campus buildings was held, attended by then Vice Premier Tian Jiyun and other leaders. In July 1990, Ningbo University was approved as a bachelor's degree-granting institution, and the first batch of undergraduates graduated and were awarded bachelor's degrees. In the same year, the university began jointly training graduate students with other universities and research institutes. In 1992, Ningbo University was listed among the first batch of national enrollment institutions. In May, then General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Jiang Zemin inscribed a message for the Yue-Kong Pao Library. In September, the completion ceremonies for the Yue-Kong Pao Library and the Ningbo University Sports Center, along with the unveiling of the Yue-Kong Pao bronze statue, were held. In 1995, Ningbo University was among the first to pass the undergraduate teaching qualification evaluation organized by the former State Education Commission. In March of the following year, the Zhejiang Provincial Government decided to merge the original Ningbo University, Ningbo Normal College, and the Ningbo Branch of Zhejiang Fisheries College to form the new Ningbo University, with joint construction by the province and city. In June 1998, the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council approved Ningbo University as a new master's degree-granting institution, with three master's programs in International Trade, Engineering Mechanics, and Aquaculture. Around the same time, the Ningbo University School of Medicine was established, initiated and funded by Hong Kong scientist and medical expert Tang Yu-han. In April 1999, the first state-owned private secondary college in Zhejiang Province, the Ningbo University Science and Technology College, was established. In 2000, Ningbo University was designated by the Zhejiang Provincial Government as a provincial key construction university. In April, 18 secondary colleges were established, and six academicians were successively appointed as college deans. In May, the former National Oceanic Administration Ningbo Ocean School and the Ministry of Forestry Ningbo Forestry School were merged into Ningbo University. In July, the former Ningbo Normal School and Ningbo Run Run Shaw Art and Preschool Normal School were merged into Ningbo University to form the Elementary Division of the Ningbo University Normal College.