Zhejiang University is a comprehensive national university. Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University was initially known as “Qiushi Shuyuan” (Qiushi Academy), one of the earliest modern academies of higher learning established in China. In 1952, because of the nationwide restructuring of universities, Zhejiang University underwent a reshuffling of disciplines and some departments merged into other universities.
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In September 1998, a new Zhejiang University was established on the basis of the amalgamation of the four former individual universities, namely Zhejiang University, Hangzhou University, Zhejiang Agricultural University and Zhejiang Medical University, which were all located in the garden city of Hangzhou. Approved by the State Council, the founding of the new Zhejiang University has been a significant move in the reform and development of China's higher education. The four universities have grown out of the same ancestry, the Qiushi (with the literal meaning of "seeking truth" in Chinese) Academy, which was founded a century ago as one of the earliest institutions of higher learning in China. As a result, they have all inherited from it the spirit of "Qiushi" and at the same time, built up their own distinctive features in teaching and research.
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Under the direct administration of China's Ministry of Education, the new Zhejiang University is a key comprehensive university whose fields of study cover eleven branches of learning, namely philosophy, literature, history, education, science, economics, law, management, engineering, agriculture and medicine. The university has 112 specialties for undergraduate studies at present, and it is entitled to confer master degrees in 317 programs and doctoral degrees in 283 programs. Under its administration there are 14 Nation Key Laboratories, 2 National Engineering Research Centers and 3 National Engineering Technology Centers. Besides, it has set up 35 nation key specialties and 43 post-doctor stations.
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Endowed with a pleasant climate, picturesque surroundings and a favorable academic atmosphere, Zhejiang University is an ideal place for teaching, research, and learning. With five campuses, namely Zijingang, Yuquan, Xixi, Huajiachi, and Zhijiang, the university now occupies a total area of 518 hectares and a floor space of over 2,000,000 square meters. At present, the total number of full time students has reached over 39,000, including more than 22,900 undergraduates, over 9,500 postgraduates working for master's degrees and over 6,600 Ph.D. candidates. There are also nearly 37,000 students taking courses in degree and non-degree programs in adult education. Among its 8,400 staff members and workers, there are 13 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 13 members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, over 1,200 full professors and over 2,400 associate professors. With a total space of 83,000 square meters, the university library has a collection of more than 5,840,000 volumes. In addition, the university has 6 affiliated hospitals, providing medical services of various kinds for people from all over Zhejiang province.
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The university also provides the overseas students with good study and living conditions. The International College of Zhejiang University is a special teaching and administrative institute responsible for the enrollment, service and Chinese as Second Language (CSL)?program, consisting of Office of General Affairs, Office of International Promotion of Chinese Language, Office of Degree Student Affairs,?Office of CSL program, and?Foreign Experts and Overseas Students Service Center, whose head office is located in Yuquan Campus with two other administrative offices located in Zijianggang Campus and Huajiachi Campus respectively.
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The university had its first enrollment of international students in 1979 and since then, more than 20,000 international students have come to study in the school. In 2008, the International College gave admission to, both long-term and short-term, more than 3,500 overseas students coming from?115 countries across the world, including 116 doctoral candidates, 158 graduate students,?1006 undergraduate students, 158 visiting students, more than 1,400 long-term Chinese language students and about 640 students of short-term programs. The college has a strong teaching faculty composed of more than 30 full-time teachers and over 40 part-time teachers, including 9 full professors and 22 associate professors.
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At the turn of the century, the university is taking full advantage of the opportunities brought by the amalgamation, and will continue to give priority to education and research. It seeks to offer service to the nation's economic development, and to make every effort to build itself into an institution on a par with the first-class university in the world.