Xiamen University (XMU), established in 1921 by the renowned patriotic overseas Chinese leader Mr Tan Kah Kee, holds the distinction of being the first university founded by an overseas Chinese in the history of modern Chinese education.
XMU is recognized as one of China's leading universities and has been included in the national 211 Project, 985 Project, and the Double First-Class Initiative — major government programs aimed at elevating selected universities to world-class status.
The university comprises four campuses: Siming Campus, Zhangzhou Campus, Xiang'an Campus, and Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM). It is structured into six academic divisions, including 36 schools and colleges, as well as 18 research institutes. This comprehensive academic structure covers 12 disciplines, including philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, science, engineering, medicine, management, arts, and interdisciplinary studies. Furthermore, XMU maintains 36 postdoctoral research stations to support advanced research initiatives.
The university employs nearly 3,000 full-time faculty and researchers, with professors and associate professors accounting for 73 percent of all academic staff. It is home to 14 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, along with three academicians of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).
Since its founding, XMU has educated more than 500,000 talented individuals. Currently, the university has over 48,000 enrolled students, including more than 21,700 undergraduates, 20,000 master's students, and 6,800 doctoral students. XMU's internal quality assurance system was recognized as a model case in a UNESCO project titled "Exploring Good and Innovative Options in Internal Quality Assurance in Higher Education", making it the only university in China — and the broader East Asia region — selected for this honor.
XMU has signed inter-institutional cooperation agreements with 283 universities worldwide and has established strong partnerships with 55 prestigious international institutions. It also initiated and led the University Consortium of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Globally, XMU has established 14 Confucius Institutes and one Chinese Language and Culture Research Center across 12 countries on five continents, overseeing a total of 34 Confucius Classrooms.
Established in 2014, XMUM represents the first, and thus far the only, overseas branch campus entirely established by a Chinese university under the Double First-Class Initiative. The university features a fully autonomous campus and offers a comprehensive array of academic programs, having evolved into a multidisciplinary institution offering 25 undergraduate, 15 master's, and eight doctoral programs. Five of its disciplines rank among the global top 1 percent in the Essential Science Indicators (ESI). XMUM currently accommodates over 10,000 students alongside more than 600 faculty and staff, with its student body comprising individuals from more than 50 countries and regions.
Nestled between lush green hills and the blue sea, XMU is considered the most beautiful university in China. Its scenic surroundings, combined with state-of-the-art educational facilities, provide an exceptional environment for teaching, learning, and research.
(Data as of December 31, 2025)
