Yunnan University Scholarship

About the university

Yunnan University (YNU), located in Kunming, Yunnan Province, is a national key university jointly established by the Ministry of Education and the Yunnan Provincial Government. It is under the administration of the Yunnan Provincial Government. As a member of the national "Double First-Class" (first-class university) initiative, one of the first batch of universities under Project 211, and a key university supported by Yunnan Province for national first-class university development, YNU has been selected for programs such as "One Province, One University," the Basic Capacity Building Project for Central and Western Universities, the 111 Project, the Outstanding Legal Talent Education and Training Plan, the Outstanding Engineer Education and Training Plan, and the National High-Level University Graduate Scholarship Program. It is a host institution for Chinese Government Scholarship international students and a national demonstration university for deepening innovation and entrepreneurship education reform. YNU serves as the leading unit of the "One Province, One University" National Key Construction University (Z14) Alliance for Central and Western China and the South and Southeast Asia University Alliance. Founded in 1922 as private Donglu University, it was renamed provincial Donglu University in 1930, provincial Yunnan University in 1934, national Yunnan University in 1938, and officially Yunnan University in 1950. In 1978, it was designated by the State Council as one of the 88 national key universities; in 1996, it was among the first batch of universities under Project 211; in 2017, it became one of the first 42 universities in the national "First-Class University" construction; in 2018, it joined the 14 central and western universities under the "ministry-led, ministry-province co-construction" model; and in 2022, it was re-selected for the second round of the national "Double First-Class" construction. As of June 2025, the university covers an area of 4,351.88 mu, with Chenggong Campus and Donglu Campus, a building area of over 1.44 million square meters, teaching and research equipment valued at over 2 billion yuan, a library collection of over 4.45 million paper books, 29 schools, 85 undergraduate programs, 22 first-level doctoral degree authorization points, 4 professional doctoral degree authorization points, 43 first-level master's degree authorization points, 30 professional master's degree authorization points, over 3,700 faculty and staff (excluding affiliated hospitals), and nearly 18,000 full-time undergraduates. In 1912, following the establishment of universities in many Chinese provinces, the provincial military and civil authorities placed great emphasis on university construction. Governor and Military Commander Tang Jiyao decided to "abolish military governance, reduce troops, and promote culture and education," leading to the founding of Yunnan's first modern university. In 1915, the National Education Administration Conference approved Yunnan's plan to establish a university, but it was shelved due to funding shortages. In 1918, at a joint meeting of Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guizhou provinces, representatives proposed establishing a joint university in Yunnan, but cross-provincial challenges prevented its realization. In 1919, local dignitaries and intellectuals led by Gong Zizhi submitted a petition to the provincial council urging the establishment of a provincial university. In 1920, the first group of Yunnan students returning from abroad, including Dong Ze, Yang Kerong, Xiao Yangxun, He Yao, and Duan Wei, actively proposed founding a university to Tang Jiyao, who strongly supported the idea. In October of the same year, a university preparatory office was formally established, with Tang appointing provincial councilor Wang Jiuling and military government secretary Dong Ze to oversee preparations. Local ethnic capitalists donated funds in support. Wang and Dong set up the preparatory office at Cuihu Shuixuan and drafted the "Outline Plan for Donglu University," detailing methods for establishment, funding sources, and academic disciplines. However, in early 1921, the Second Army commander Gu Pinzhen rebelled against Tang, occupied Kunming, and forced Tang to flee to Hong Kong, with Dong accompanying him, halting preparations. In March 1922, Tang returned to Yunnan, regained power, and ordered Wang and Dong to resume the preparatory office. On July 1, Tang appointed Dong as director of the preparatory office, which moved to the provincial industrial school at Pingzheng Street Shuangta Temple. After Dong became director of the Education Department, the office moved again to the department premises for convenience. The new preparatory office formulated documents such as the "Preparatory Office Regulations" and the "Organizational Outline of Donglu University," establishing the university's mission: "Promote Eastern culture, study Western scholarship, and cultivate specialized talents." The university was named "Private Donglu University" after Tang's alias "Master of the Eastern Continent." The site chosen was the Yunnan Examination Hall, described as "located to the right of Gongchen Gate, backed by the city wall, facing south to Cuihai, commanding a view like a crouching tiger." On December 8, 1922, the provincial government approved the establishment of Donglu University, appointing Dong Ze as president and Tang Jiyao and Wang Jiuling as honorary presidents, and issued official seals. Thus, Donglu University was formally established. On April 20, 1923, the foundation-laying ceremony and opening ceremony were held, with April 20 designated as the university's anniversary. In spring 1925, Donglu University began offering undergraduate programs, initially in liberal arts and engineering. The liberal arts division included departments of political economy and education, while the engineering division included civil engineering and mining and metallurgy. In August 1930, Yunnan Provincial Chairman Long Yun proposed at the 177th provincial council meeting to reorganize the university into provincial Donglu University. The council approved the change from private to provincial status, renaming it provincial Donglu University. The following year, the university decided to discontinue preparatory courses and focus on undergraduate liberal arts and engineering. In 1932, the provincial government passed the "Plan for Reorganizing Higher Education in Yunnan," merging the provincial Normal College into provincial Donglu University as the College of Education, with an education department; expanding the College of Liberal Arts into the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, adding a mathematics and physics department; and planning a medical college, but due to a lack of faculty and facilities, a medical preparatory program was established first.