Tsinghua University

Tsinghua University (THU) is a public university in Haidian, Beijing, China. It is supported by the Ministry of Education of China and is part of important national projects like the Double First-Class Construction, Project 211, and Project 985. Tsinghua University is also a member of the C9 League, a group of leading universities in China.

The university's campus is in northwestern Beijing. It has beautiful gardens from the old Qing dynasty. Tsinghua has 21 schools and 59 departments. They teach many subjects such as science, engineering, humanities, law, medicine, history, philosophy, economics, management, education, and art.

Since it opened in 1911, Tsinghua University has helped many important people become leaders in science, engineering, politics, business, and teaching.

History

Main article: History of Tsinghua University

Further information: Boxer Indemnity Scholarship Program

Early 20th century (1911–1949)

Tsinghua University began in Beijing during a time of big changes. After an uprising called the Boxer Rebellion, the Qing dynasty had to pay money to some countries. The United States said part of this money, US$30 million, was too much. The US reduced it by US$10.8 million in 1909, and this money helped Chinese students study in the United States.

With this fund, Tsinghua College started on April 29, 1911, on the site of an old royal garden. It prepared students to study in the United States. Teachers for science subjects came from the United States through the YMCA, and graduates could go directly to American schools. The school’s motto, “Self-Discipline and Social Commitment,” came from a 1914 speech by a famous teacher, Liang Qichao.

In 1925, the school began its own four-year program and a research institute on Chinese studies. In 1928, it changed its name to National Tsinghua University.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, many universities moved to stay safe from fighting. In 1937, Tsinghua joined with Peking University and Nankai University to form a new university in Changsha, Hunan. Later, it moved to Kunming, Yunnan, and became the National Southwestern Associated University. After World War II, Tsinghua returned to Beijing.

Later 20th century (post-1949)

After 1949, China changed greatly. Tsinghua’s leader and many teachers moved to Taiwan to start a new university.

In 1952, China reorganized universities, and Tsinghua became focused on engineering and natural sciences.

In 1953, Tsinghua started a program where graduates who were members of the Communist Party helped guide students.

During a political movement called the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976, Tsinghua stopped working for a while. It began taking students again in 1978 and became important in Chinese society.

In the 1980s, Tsinghua grew to include many areas of study, like law, economics, and the arts.

In 1996, Tsinghua’s School of Economics and Management began working with the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They started an MBA program called the Tsinghua-MIT Global MBA in 1997.

In 1998, Tsinghua became the first Chinese university to offer a Master of Laws program in American law, working with Temple University Beasley School of Law.

21st century

Tsinghua has many famous alumni, including Xi Jinping, the current leader of China, who studied chemical engineering, and Hu Jintao, a former leader, who studied hydraulic engineering.

As of 2018, Tsinghua University has many schools, departments, research institutes, centers, and laboratories. In 2006, Peking Union Medical College became “Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University,” though they stay separate institutions. Tsinghua also runs its own press.

In 2014, Tsinghua created Xinya College, a special college modeled after universities in the United States and Europe. Xinya lets students choose their major at the end of their first year.

In 2016, the Schwarzman Scholars program started with a large donation. It brings students from around the world to study leadership for one year at Schwarzman College on Tsinghua’s campus.

In 2024, Tsinghua changed its leadership so that the university is now directly managed by its Chinese Communist Party committee.

Academics

Tsinghua University offers many programs in subjects like science, engineering, arts, social sciences, law, and medicine. It has many colleges and departments. The university is part of important academic groups and works on research projects supported by the government.

Getting into Tsinghua University is very hard. Students in China take a big national exam to apply. The university does a lot of research and works on special projects with other universities around the world.

Tsinghua University is known as one of the best universities in China and Asia. It ranks high in many international lists for teaching, research, and how well students can get jobs after they finish their studies. The university is especially strong in subjects like engineering, computer science, and business.

Campus

The campus of Tsinghua University is in northwest Beijing, in the Haidian district. In 2010, the campus was named one of the most beautiful college campuses in the world by architects and designers from Forbes. It was the only university in Asia to get this honor.

Many talented architects helped design the buildings. American architect Henry Killam Murphy designed important buildings such as the Grand Auditorium and the Roosevelt Memorial Gymnasium. Other architects like Yang Tingbao and Shen Liyuan also helped design many buildings, including student dorms and libraries. The campus has a special area for the university's Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, located north of Beijing.

The Tsinghua History Museum shows the university's past through old documents, pictures, artworks, and more. The university also has its own art museum, the Tsinghua University Art Museum, which started with the Academy of Arts & Design in 1956. The campus has many beautiful and historic buildings and gardens, such as the Old Library and a Qing dynasty garden.

Notable people

Main article: People associated with Tsinghua University

Tsinghua University has many famous graduates who became leaders in politics, science, and business. Some of China’s important leaders went to this university, including current and past presidents like Xi Jinping and Hu Jintao.

The university helped shape many scientists and thinkers. One graduate won a Nobel Prize in Physics, and others made important discoveries in math, biology, and space science. Many successful business leaders also studied at Tsinghua.

Tsinghua clique

Main article: Tsinghua clique

Some of the university’s graduates became important leaders in China’s government. They started gaining power around 2008 and had new ideas about how the country should change.

Canteens

Tsinghua University has many places where students and staff can eat. The Zijingyuan Canteen is in the Zijing Student Apartments and can seat over 3,500 people at once. The Taoliyuan Canteen started serving food in 2004 and covers a large area. Qingfenyuan Canteen opened in 2015 and is placed where many students walk between classes.

There are also smaller canteens like Tīngtaoyuan, which was renamed in 2006, and Rongyuan, located in the School of Finance. The Guanchouyuan Canteen is a big dining area for staff and students. There are special dining halls like Qingqing Fast Food, which offers quick meals, and Qingqing Leisure Dining, a casual spot for students to relax.