Jilin University (often called JLU) is a big public university located in Changchun, a city in Jilin province, China. It works closely with China's Ministry of Education. JLU is also part of special national programs like Project 211, Project 985, and the Double First-Class Construction, which help make it one of the best universities in the country.

History of Jilin University
Academics and Learning at JLU
University Rankings and Reputation
People Connected to Jilin University
- Notable Alumni
- Notable Faculty
Colleges and Schools at Jilin University
See also

History of Jilin University

Jilin University started in 1946 as the Northeast College of Administration in Harbin, Heilongjiang. Over the years, it joined with many other universities and colleges, and its name changed several times.

In May 1948, it merged with Harbin University and was called the Northeast Academy of Science. Later that year, it moved to Shenyang, Liaoning, and went back to being the Northeast Administration College.

In 1950, it was renamed Northeast People's University. During the Korean War, the university moved to Changchun, Jilin. In 1958, it officially became Jilin University.

A big change happened in 2000 when Jilin University combined with several other schools. These included Jilin University of Technology, Norman Bethune University of Medical Sciences, Changchun University of Science and Technology, and Changchun Institute of Posts and Telecommunications. This merger created the Jilin University we know today. In 2004, the University of Military Logistics also joined Jilin University.

In 2006, a special institute was created within Jilin University to work on projects related to military interests.

Academics and Learning at JLU

Jilin University is known as a comprehensive and national key university. This means it offers a wide range of subjects and is very important to the country's education system.

The university has many talented teachers and researchers. There are 6,657 faculty members in total. Among them, 2,110 are professors, and 1,618 are advisors for students working on their doctoral degrees. Also, 43 members of the faculty are part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or the Chinese Academy of Engineering, which are very high honors for scientists and engineers in China.

University Rankings and Reputation

University rankings

BCUR National	Domestic	26
Wu Shulian National	Domestic	15
CUAA National	Alumni	26
QS National	General	29
QS Asia (Asia version)	General	90

ARWU World	Research	101–150
QS World	General	=473
USNWR World	General	=296

Jilin University is highly regarded around the world. Here are some of its recent rankings:

In 2024, the CWTS Leiden Ranking placed Jilin University at 19th globally for its research publications between 2019 and 2022.
Also in 2024, the SCImago Institutions Rankings ranked it 55th among universities worldwide.
The university was ranked 15th globally in the Nature Index 2025 Annual Tables by Nature Research. This index measures high-quality research published in top science journals.
The University Ranking By Academic Performance for 2024/25 ranked Jilin University 74th worldwide.
The Center for World University Ranking (CWUR) 2025 placed Jilin University 194th globally and 42nd in Asia.

People Connected to Jilin University

Notable Alumni

Many successful people have studied at Jilin University. Here are a few examples:

Du Qinglin - a politician who served as vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Hu Huaibang - a former chairman of the China Development Bank.
Li Congjun - the former president of China's Xinhua News Agency.
Liu Qibao - a former head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee.
Liu Xiaobo - the winner of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize.
Liu Yandong - a former Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China.
Lü Fuyuan - the first minister of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China.
Wang Gang (politician) - a former Director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party.
Wang Gongquan - a liberal activist and leader of the New Citizens' Movement.
Wang Yongqing - a Secretary-General of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission.
Wang Jiarui - a Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Xu Shaoshi - a former chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission.
Xu Xianming - a leading expert on human rights law in China.
Yin Weimin - a former Minister of Human Resources and Social Security.
Zhang Jun (politician) - a Chinese politician and former judge, now serving in a top anti-corruption body.

Notable Faculty

Jilin University has also been home to many famous teachers and researchers:

Andrey Baykov - a Russian scholar in international relations.
Barry Buzan - a professor at the London School of Economics.
Yury Gogotsi - a Ukrainian scientist in material chemistry.
Chen Jia'er - a nuclear physicist and academician.
Han Dayuan - a President of the Chinese Constitutional Law Society.
Huai Jinpeng - a computer scientist.
Loide Kasingo - a member of the National Assembly of Namibia.
Kai Li - a professor of Computer Science at Princeton University.
Li Siguang - the founder of China's geomechanics.
Lawrence Lau - a Hong Kong economist.
Long Yifei - an Associate dean at Renmin University of China Law School.
Alan MacDiarmid - a winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Wilma Olson - a professor at Rutgers University.
Helmut Ringsdorf - a polymer chemist.
Steve Smith (academic) - an international relations theorist.
Song Yuquan - a materials scientist.
Sun Weiguo - a president of Xihua University.
Tang Aoqing - a theoretical chemist and former President of Jilin University.
Wang Xianghao - a mathematician known for the Grunwald–Wang theorem.
Yevgeny Yasin - a prominent Russian economist.
Ying Xu - a computational biologist.
You Xiaozeng - a Chinese inorganic chemist.
Zhou Ji (Tsinghua University) - a distinguished Professor at Tsinghua University.
Zhou Qifeng - a Chinese chemist and former President of Peking University.
Zhu Wenxiong - a Chinese linguist.
Zhu Guangya - a renowned Chinese nuclear physicist.

Colleges and Schools at Jilin University

Jilin University has 47 colleges and schools, plus other organizations, spread across 9 main divisions. Here are some of them:

Division of Humanities

School of Philosophy and Sociology
College of Humanities
School of Archaeology
College of Foreign Languages
Art College
Physical Education College
School of Foreign Languages Education

Division of Social Sciences

School of Economics
School of Law
School of Public Administration
Business School
School of Marxism
Northeast Asian Studies College
School of Finance
School of International and Public Affairs

Division of Sciences

Mathematics School and Institute
College of Physics
College of Chemistry
College of Life Sciences

Division of Engineering

School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
College of Automotive Engineering
School of Material Science and Engineering
School of Transportation
College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
School of Management
College of Food Science and Engineering

Division of Information Sciences

College of Electronic Science and Engineering
College of Communication Engineering
College of Computer Science and Technology
Software Institute
Public Computer Education and Research Center

Division of Earth Sciences

College of Earth Sciences
College of Geo-exploration Science and Technology
Construction Engineering College
College of New Energy and Environment
College of Instrumentation and Electrical Engineering

Norman Bethune Health Science Center

College of Basic Medical Science
School of Public Health
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
School of Nursing
Clinical Medical College
The First Bethune Hospital
The Second Hospital
China-Japan Union Hospital (The Third Bethune Hospital)
Hospital of Stomatology

Division of Agricultural Sciences

College of Veterinary Medicine
College of Plant Science
College of Food Science and Engineering
Public Education Center
College of Animal Science
Institute of Zoonosis

Division of Interdisciplinary Research

School of Artificial Intelligence

Other Affiliated Colleges

Applied Technology College
College of Economical Information
College of Business Administration
Zhuhai College
Dongrong College
Lambton College

Jilin University facts for kids

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