Wuhan University

Public university in Wuhan, Hubei, China

Wuhan University

武汉大学

Motto|

自强 弘毅 求是 拓新[1]

Motto in English

| Self-improvement, Perseverance, Truth-seeking, Innovation[2]
Type| Public
Established| 1893; 131 years ago (1893). Reformed as university in 1923.
President| Zhang Pingwen

Academic staff

| 7,325
Students| 58,720
Location|

Wuhan

Hubei

China

Campus| Urban, 3.5 km2
Website| en.whu.edu.cn
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese| 武汉大学
Traditional Chinese| 武漢大學
| Transcriptions

Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin| Wǔhàn Dàxué

Wuhan University (WHU; 武汉大学) is a public university in Wuhan, Hubei, China. It is affiliated with and funded by the Ministry of Education of China. The university is part of Project 985, Project 211, and the Double First-Class Construction.

## History

[edit]

In 1926, National Wuchang University, National Wuchang University of Commerce, Hubei Provincial Medical University, Hubei Provincial University of Legislation, Hubei Provincial University of Liberal Arts, and the private Wuchang Zhonghua University were merged into National Wuchang Sun Yat-sen University (also known as National Second Sun Yat-sen University). The school has an undergraduate department and 6 subjects including liberal arts, science, law, economics, medicine, and preparatory courses, 17 departments, and 2 departments.[3][4][5][6]

In 1928, the Nanjing National Government officially established the National Wuhan University based on the former National Wuchang Sun Yat-sen University, with four colleges: liberal arts, law, science, and engineering.[3][4][5][6]

A congratulation calligraphy given to the first class of graduates of National Wuhan University by Cai Yuanpei

In 1949, National Wuhan University was taken over by the Communist Party and renamed Wuhan University.[3][4]

Former library situated on top of the old dorms, as depicted in the university's logo. Qing Guangxu Emperor's approval of establishing the Ziqiang Institute.

## Academics

[edit]

In 2018, Wuhan University's student body consisted of 29,405 full-time undergraduates and 19,699 full-time master's degree candidates, 7,163 Ph.D candidates and 2,453 international students.[7]

### Reputation and rankings

[edit]

University rankingsBCUR National[8]|  Domestic|  9

|
|

Wu Shulian National[9]|  Domestic|  6
CUAA National[10]|  Alumni|  10
QS National[11]|  General|  8
THE National[12]|  General|  10
QS Asia
(Asia version)[13]|  General|  36
THE Asia
(Asia version)[14]|  General|  =30
ARWU World[15]|  Research|  101–150
QS World[16]|  General|  194
THE World[17]|  General|  =164
USNWR World[18]|  General|  108

Wuhan University is ranked in the top 200th global universities by major international universities rankings, including the Academic Ranking of World Universities, the QS World University Rankings, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the Center for World University Rankings, and the U.S. News & World Report.[19][20][21][22][23]

#### China

[edit]

Wuhan University is ranked among the top 10 universities in China.[24]

In 2016, CUAA ranked it the 4th.[25]

In 2015, CUAA ranked it the 4th[26] and Wu Shulian ranked it the 7th.[27]

In 2014, CUAA ranked it the 5th[28] and Wu Shulian ranked it the 7th.[29]

#### World

[edit]

In 2022, QS World University Rankings ranked it 194th in the world and 8th in China.[30]

In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked it 108th in the world, 21st in Asia and 11th in China.[31]

In 2022, Academic Ranking of World Universities ranked it between # 101-150 in the world and 15th in Asia.[32] In 2020, it ranked 23rd in Greater China (including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan).[33]

It came 157th in the 2022 Times Higher Education World University Rankings where it ranked 25th in Asia and 8th in China.[34][35]

Internationally, Wuhan University is regarded as one of the most reputable Chinese universities by the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings where it ranked 126th globally in 2023.[36]

In Q4 2020, it was ranked 7th globally and 1st among Asia and Oceania universities by the amount of venture capital funding raised by unicorn startups founded by its alumni.[37]

#### Research

[edit]

Regarding scientific research output, the Nature Index 2023 ranked Wuhan University the No.14 university in the Asia Pacific region, and 33rd in the world among the global universities.[38] The 2023 CWTS Leiden Ranking ranked Wuhan University 22nd in the world by total publications and 45th in the world based on the number of their scientific publications belonging to the top 1% in their fields for the time period 2018–2021.[39]

Former library situated on top of the old dorms, as depicted in the university's logo. The administrative building houses the president's office.School of Law The building that housed the College of Chinese Language and Literature and School of History School of Economics and Management (previously known as the School of Business) College of Foreign Languages and Literatures

## Campus

[edit]

Campus map of Wuhan University (excluding the Medical Campus) Cherry blossoms in Wuhan University

The university has rolling physical features with the scenic Luojia Hill and the beautiful East Lake. Its campus is heavily wooded and green, with fragrant flowers everywhere year-round. Wuhan University is widely known as one of the most beautiful universities in China, especially for its cherry blossom garden. A cherry blossom festival is held every spring.[40]

Most stylish old buildings were designed by F. H. Kales (1899–1979).[41] Educated in MIT, Kales was a pioneer to blend western architectural styles with traditional Chinese elements, which is most evident from his roof designs.

Wuhan University boasts a campus covering an area of 5508 mu and has a floor area of 2.42 square kilometres. The university's libraries have a collection of approximately 5.4 million volumes and subscriptions to more than 10,000 Chinese and foreign periodicals.[42]

* Luojia Hill (Luojiashan)

* Former School of Science

* Administration Building, Former School of Engineering

* Former Dorm for male students

* Wuhan's blue roof tiles

* 2nd Classroom Building

* 3rd Classroom Building

* Former Law School Building

* Student Club

* Student Union and Debate Team

## Cooperation

[edit]

Wuhan University has established cooperative relationship with more than 300 universities and research institutes in over 40 countries and regions.

* School of Information Management at Wuhan University signed a cooperation agreement with Royal School of Library and Information Science in Denmark in 2009.[43][44]
* Wuhan University has collaborated with Duke University and the city of Kunshan to establish Duke Kunshan University.[45][46]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

As of 2017 at least 29 billionaires had graduated from Wuhan University, ranking third place in the South Central China region and 9th nationally.[47]

* Guo Moruo, Chinese author, poet, historian, archaeologist, and government official from Sichuan, China
* Bin Jiang, professor, in GIS at Högskolan i Gävle (HIG)
* Chen Tanqiu, Chinese revolutionary, founding member of the Chinese Communist Party
* Shen Congwen, Chinese writer
* Wen Yiduo, Chinese poet and scholar
* Li Long Lam, archaeologist
* Li Siguang, founder of geomechanics
* Ling Shuhua, Chinese modernist writer whose short stories became popular during the 1920s and 30s
* Wan Exiang, professor of international law at Wuhan University, vice president of the Supreme People's Court of China, and vice president of the Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang
* Wang Yanyi, Chinese immunologist and current Director General of the Wuhan Institute of Virology
* Su Xuelin, Chinese author and scholar
* Xiaokai Yang, Chinese-Australian economist
* Wang Tieya, eminent Chinese jurist and former judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
* Li Haopei, Chinese jurist, diplomat and academic
* Chao Yao-dong, Taiwanese politician, economist and former Minister of Economic Affairs (1981–84)
* Wu Mi, one of the founders of Chinese comparative literature
* Chi Li, contemporary Chinese writer
* Zheng Lihui, Chinese gymnast, was part of the Chinese team that won the gold medal in the team event at the 2000 Summer Olympics
* Xiao Hailiang, Chinese diver who became an Olympic champion in the 3m Springboard Synchronized event at the 2000 Summer Olympics
* Li Da, Chinese marxist philosopher
* Karim Massimov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan (2007–2012)
* Lei Jun, founder of Xiaomi Tech, one of China's largest technology companies
* Liu Jingnan, GPS engineer, member of Chinese Academy of Engineering, former president of Wuhan University
* Xiaolin Wu, computer engineer[48][49][50]
* Yi Zhongtian, writer, historian and professor at Xiamen University
* Tiare Aguilera Hey, Rapa Nui politician
* Wang Zhi'an, journalist and former China Central Television television host
* Chiao-Min Chu, engineer and a fellow member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 校训释义 (in Simplified Chinese). Wuhan U. Archived from the original on July 4, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
2. ^ "Overview". Wuhan U. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
3. ^ a b c "历史上的今天｜国立武汉大学建立_腾讯新闻". Tencent News. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
4. ^ a b c "武汉大学校史争议_光明网". Guangming Daily. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
5. ^ a b "武大教师驳"武大120年校史依据充分" 称存论证缺陷--教育--人民网". edu.people.com.cn. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
6. ^ a b "武大教师批驳武大校史做假：吾爱吾校吾更爱真理". www.cernet.edu.cn. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
7. ^ "Facts & Figures". Wuhan University. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
8. ^ "2024 Best Chinese Universities Ranking". Shanghai Ranking. 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
9. ^ "Wu Shulian University Ranking". Chinese Academy of Management Science. 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
10. ^ Chinese Universities Alumni Association (2024). "Alumni Association (22nd Edition): Chinese University Rankings 2024". Retrieved January 16, 2024. Alternative URL
11. ^ "QS University Rankings 2025 - China (Mainland)". Top Universities. 2025. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
12. ^ "THE University Rankings 2024 - China". Times Higher Education (THE). 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
13. ^ "QS World University Rankings: Asia 2024". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
14. ^ "Asia University Rankings 2024". Times Higher Education. 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
15. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities". Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
16. ^ "QS World University Rankings". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 2025. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
17. ^ "THE World University Rankings". Times Higher Education. 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
18. ^ U.S.News & World Report (2024). "2024-2025 Best Global Universities Rankings". Retrieved June 24, 2024.
19. ^ "Wuhan University". US News. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
20. ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities". www.shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
21. ^ "Wuhan University". Top Universities. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
22. ^ "Wuhan University". Times Higher Education (THE). 2022-06-11. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
23. ^ "World University Rankings 2023 | Global 2000 List | CWUR". cwur.org. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
24. ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Best Chinese Universities Ranking". www.shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
25. ^ 《2016中国大学评价研究报告》出炉 2016中国大学排行榜700强. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2016-01-28 - via www.cuaa.net.
26. ^ 《2015中国大学评价研究报告》-2015中国大学排行榜700强揭晓. 中国校友会网. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
27. ^ 武书连2015年中国大学排行榜_腾讯教育_腾讯网. edu.qq.com. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
28. ^ 中国校友会网2014年中国大学排行榜-新浪教育. edu.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
29. ^ 武书连2014年中国大学排行榜. 新浪教育. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
30. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2023: Top Global Universities". Top Universities. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
31. ^ "Wuhan University". US News. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
32. ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities 2022". www.shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
33. ^ "Ranking of Top Universities in Greater China - 2020". www.shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
34. ^ "Wuhan University". Times Higher Education. 2021-09-02. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
35. ^ "Asia University Rankings". Times Higher Education. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
36. ^ "World Reputation Rankings". Times Higher Education. 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
37. ^ "Rating of unicorn universities in Q4 2020". 23 February 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
38. ^ "2023 tables: Institutions - academic | Annual tables | Nature Index". www.natureindex.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
39. ^ Studies (CWTS), Centre for Science and Technology. "CWTS Leiden Ranking". CWTS Leiden Ranking. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
40. ^ "Hubei:Wuhan University—Cherry blossom". Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
41. ^ Sir Banister Fletcher's a history of architecture, Architectural Press, 1996.
42. ^ 学校简介. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
43. ^ "Det Informationsvidenskabelige Akademi – Københavns Universitet". Archived from the original on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
44. ^ "Det Informationsvidenskabelige Akademi – Københavns Universitet". Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
45. ^ "Duke Names Senior Leadership for Its Campus in China", The Chronicle of Higher Education Sept 20, 2012 [1]
46. ^ Duke Chronicle Wuhan steps in to sponsor China campus
47. ^ "Top 10 Chinese universities with most billionaire alumni". www.chinadaily.com.cn. 2017-08-29. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
48. ^ arXiv, Emerging Technology from the. "A deep-learning machine was trained to spot criminals by looking at mugshots". technologyreview.com. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
49. ^ arXiv, Emerging Technology from the. "How a Single Screen Can Show Several Interactive Perspectives". technologyreview.com. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
50. ^ "Xiaolin Wu". www.ece.mcmaster.ca. Retrieved 5 April 2018.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wuhan University.

* Official website (in English)
* Official website (in Chinese)
* Official BBS (in Chinese)

30°32′27″N 114°21′40″E﻿ / ﻿30.54083°N 114.36111°E﻿ / 30.54083; 114.36111

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