MOFCOM Scholarship

About the university

Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), located in Wuhan, Hubei Province, is a national key comprehensive university directly under the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. It is guided by the health administrative department of the State Council in medical education, healthcare, scientific research, and social services. HUST is a member of the national "211 Project" and "985 Project," and is among the first batch of universities selected for the national "Double First-Class" initiative. It is also a central-government-managed university. HUST has been admitted to programs such as the "Top-Notch Student Training Program," "Strengthening Basic Disciplines Program," "101 Plan," "111 Plan," "Elite Talent Program," the Excellent Engineer Education and Training Program, the Excellent Doctor Education and Training Program, the National College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program, the National High-Level University Graduate Scholarship Program, and the National New Engineering Research and Practice Project. It is an independent degree-granting institution, a national demonstration university for deepening innovation and entrepreneurship education reform, a host institution for Chinese Government Scholarship international students, and a demonstration base for international students under the Ministry of Education. HUST is a member of the Sino-European Engineering Education Platform, the Medical "Double First-Class" Construction Alliance, the International Association for Science and Technology Cooperation, the Global Energy Interconnection University Alliance, and the "Double First-Class" University Alliance of the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River. The university was formed in 2000 through the merger of the former Huazhong University of Science and Technology (originally founded in 1952 as Huazhong Institute of Technology), Tongji Medical University (originally founded in 1907 as the German Medical School by Erich Paulun), and Wuhan Urban Construction Institute (originally founded in December 1952 as the Central South Construction Engineering School). As of December 2024, the university covers an area of over 7,000 mu (approximately 467 hectares), has 49 schools and departments, offers 119 undergraduate programs, 47 first-level master's degree authorization disciplines, 46 first-level doctoral degree authorization disciplines, 42 postdoctoral research stations, 7 national key first-level disciplines, 15 national key second-level disciplines (with internal medicine and surgery counted at the third level), and 7 national key (cultivation) disciplines. It has over 3,600 full-time faculty members. Huazhong University of Science and Technology was established on May 26, 2000, through the merger of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical University, and Wuhan Urban Construction Institute. The predecessor of Huazhong University of Science and Technology was Huazhong Institute of Technology. In November 1952, the Central South Military and Political Committee, following the central government's directive on the adjustment of university departments nationwide, decided to establish "Huazhong Institute of Technology" in Wuhan. The institute was founded based on the entire mechanical engineering departments and the electrical power sections of the electrical engineering departments from Wuhan University, Hunan University, Guangxi University, and Nanchang University, as well as the power sections of the mechanical engineering departments and the electrical power sections of the electrical engineering departments from South China Institute of Technology, along with some basic course faculty and equipment from these institutions, aiming to build a high-level polytechnic university. In January 1953, Huazhong Institute of Technology was established, with Zha Qian appointed as professor. In May of the same year, the Ministry of Higher Education of the People's Republic of China, following instructions from Mao Zedong, decided to merge the planned Huazhong Mechanical Engineering Institute and the Central South Power Engineering Institute into one institution, abolishing the latter. The new institution was named Huazhong Institute of Technology, combining mechanical and electrical disciplines. It was formed by merging the entire mechanical engineering departments and the electrical power sections of the electrical engineering departments from Wuhan University, Hunan University, Nanchang University, and Guangxi University, as well as the power sections of the mechanical engineering departments and the electrical power sections of the electrical engineering departments from South China Institute of Technology. The institute initially offered eight undergraduate programs: Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering, Metal Cutting Technology and Tools, Automobiles, Internal Combustion Engines, Hydraulic Power Devices, Thermal Power Devices (Thermal Power Plant Equipment), Electrical Machines and Apparatus, and Power Plant Distribution Networks and Power Systems. It also offered four specialized courses: Metalworking, Foundry, Automobile Repair and Maintenance, and Power Plant Distribution Networks and Power Systems. Meanwhile, the preparatory committee for Huazhong Institute of Technology was established, with Zha Qian as director and Liu Qiancai and Zhu Jiusi as deputy directors. On September 11, 1953, construction of the campus began at the southern foot of Yujia Mountain in Wuchang. On October 15 of the same year, the founding ceremony and opening ceremony of Huazhong Institute of Technology were held in Wuchang. Former President Zha Qian delivered a speech at the founding ceremony. In mid-August 1954, all faculty, staff, and students gathered at Yujia Mountain in Wuchang, completing the relocation and consolidation. In 1955, Professor Zha Qian became the first president of Huazhong Institute of Technology and began to preside over the work of the institute. In September of the same year, the automobile program was transferred to Changchun Automotive and Tractor Engineering Institute (the predecessor of Jilin University of Technology, one of the predecessors of Jilin University). In 1957, programs such as Automobiles and Internal Combustion Engines were restored. In 1958, programs including Automobiles, Tractors, and Internal Combustion Engines were entirely transferred to the newly established Wuhan Institute of Technology (one of the predecessors of Wuhan University of Technology). In October 1960, Huazhong Institute of Technology was approved as a national key university. From 1966 to 1976, due to the efforts of Liu Kunshan, the commander of the military propaganda team in the early stage of the Cultural Revolution, and Zhu Jiusi, the vice president of the institute, three "no's" were achieved: the main leadership of the institute remained unchanged, the faculty team was not dispersed, and scientific research and teaching equipment were not abused. Faculty and cadres suffered relatively little harm. In 1971, Wuhan Mechanical Institute was closed, and some of its programs and over 300 faculty and staff were merged into Huazhong Institute of Technology. From 1972 to 1979, the institute accepted over 600 expert professors from various parts of the country.