Xiamen University (XMU)

Xiamen University (XMU), colloquially known as Xia Da located in Xiamen, Fujian province, is the first university in China founded by overseas Chinese. Established by Mr. Tan Kah Kee in 1921, the university was originally known as the Xiamen University. The school motto is “Pursue Excellence, Strive for Perfection”. The university is one of many comprehensive universities directly administered by the Chinese Ministry of Education. In 1995 it was included in the list of the 211 Project for the state key construction; in 2000 it became one of China’s higher-level universities designated for the state key construction of the 985 Project. Xiamen University has a strong team of academic and administrative staff, making it possible to provide a full range of educational programmes. It is a key comprehensive university directly affiliated to the Ministry of Education of China, a first-class university with extensive international influence and is ranked in the top 20 of the over 2,000 universities and colleges in China. Xiamen University’s campuses lie on either side of Xiamen Bay, between the feet of green hills and the blue sea, and are recognized as the most beautiful campuses in China. The university has a graduate school and 26 schools or colleges consisting of 66 departments, together with nine research institutes. The university offers 83 undergraduate programmes, 214 academic master’s programmes and 34 professional master’s programmes, and 147 PhD programmes. Its first-class staff includes over 2,500 full-time academic and research staff, among which 23 are academicians of CAS and CAE. The university now has a total enrolment of over 40,000 full-time students, including over 3,000 overseas students. Xiamen University is among the first universities affiliated to Ministry of Education to accept Chinese Government Scholarship students and Confucius Scholarship students； meanwhile Fujian Government Scholarship and Xiamen University Scholarship have been established to fund more high-level exceptional international students to study here.

According to University Undergraduates Teaching Assessment and Chinese Universities Evaluation Standings, the university is ranked 11th in China and has maintained the top 20 ranking in China, among which 6 subjects reach A++ level, including economics and management,fine art, law, chemistry, journalism, communication and mathematics.In addition,the school of management is accredited by EQUIS and AMBA.

The Xiamen University’s main campus is located in Siming District, southwestern Xiamen. Located at the foot of the green mountains, facing the blue ocean and surrounded by Xiamen bay. The main campus is picturesque with beautiful scenery and parks, and is one of the main tourist attractions in the heavily-touristed Xiamen. The university also has campuses at Xiang’an and Zhangzhou.

A new campus is being built in the mainland district of Xiamen, Xiang’an District. Construction began in 2011 and the first phase is scheduled to be completed in 2013. The new campus will cover 243 hectares and is expected to accommodate 30,000 students.

Xiamen University has a built area of 2.6 million square meters and its libraries (the Xiamen University Libraries) hold 3.5 million volumes. The scope and level of its high-speed information network on campus is rated at the top of all universities in China and has become one of the main nodes of CERNET2.

Academic & Department

• College of Humanities


• School of Journalism & Communication


• College of Foreign Languages & Cultures


• Arts College


• Overseas Education College / International College


• School of Economics


• School of Management


• School of Law


• School of Public Affairs


• School of Marxism


• School of International Relations


• School of Continuing Education


• School of Mathematical Sciences


• School of Physics and Mechanical & Electrical Engineering


• College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering


• School of Information Science and Engineering


• Software School


• College of Materials


• School of Architecture & Civil Engineering


• School of Life Sciences


• School of Public Health


• School of Pharmaceutical Sciences


• Medical College


• College of Ocean & Earth Sciences


• College of Environment & Ecology


• Physical Education Department