Xiamen, Fujian · Founded 1921 · Project 985 · Project 211 · Double First Class
Xiamen University 厦门大学
Xiamen University has the most photographed campus in China: it sits directly on the coast at the foot of Nanputuo Temple, with its own beach. It is a comprehensive university with exceptional strength in economics, finance, accounting, chemistry and oceanography.
Overview
Xiamen University has the most photographed campus in China: it sits directly on the coast at the foot of Nanputuo Temple, with its own beach. It is a comprehensive university with exceptional strength in economics, finance, accounting, chemistry and oceanography.
XMU was founded with money from Tan Kah Kee, an overseas Chinese industrialist, and retains an unusually strong connection to Southeast Asia — which is reflected in its large Malaysian, Indonesian and Thai student populations.
History
XMU was founded in 1921 by Tan Kah Kee, the Singapore-based rubber magnate and philanthropist, as the first university established by an overseas Chinese. He funded it personally through the Great Depression.
It was the first Chinese university to establish a School of Economics and a School of Journalism, and its Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, founded in 1956, was China's first dedicated area-studies institute for the region.
XMU joined Project 211 and Project 985 and is part of Double First Class. It established China's first overseas campus, Xiamen University Malaysia, in 2013, and in 2021 celebrated its centenary.
World rankings, 2017–2026
| Edition | QS | ARWU | THE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 401 | 301–400 | 801–1000 |
| 2018 | 411 | 301–400 | 601–800 |
| 2019 | 412 | 201–300 | 601–800 |
| 2020 | 451 | 201–300 | 501–600 |
| 2021 | 432 | 201–300 | 451–500 |
| 2022 | 407 | 151–200 | 401–500 |
| 2023 | 422 | 151–200 | 351–400 |
| 2024 | 392 | 151–200 | 301–350 |
| 2025 | 362 | 151–200 | 251–300 |
| 2026 | 355 | 151–200 | 251–300 |
Compilations such as this one can lag a publisher's revisions; verify the current figure at source.
Campuses
| Campus | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Siming Campus (Main) | 422 Siming South Road, Xiamen, Fujian | The seaside campus next to Nanputuo Temple with its own beach; economics, humanities and international student services. |
| Xiang'an Campus | Xiang'an District, Xiamen | New campus for medicine, life sciences, oceanography and engineering. |
| Xiamen University Malaysia | Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia | China's first overseas university campus, teaching in English and awarding XMU degrees. |
Faculty and research
Xiamen University employs around 3,800 academic staff, including about 22 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering. 22 national academy members. The Wang Yanan Institute for Studies in Economics teaches in English and attracts international graduate students and faculty.
Discipline strength
| Discipline | National grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | A+ | One of the strongest chemistry departments in China; spectroscopy and electrochemistry. |
| Marine Sciences / Oceanography | A+ | Ranked first in China; runs research vessels in the South China Sea. |
| Applied Economics | A+ | Finance, statistics and econometrics with a strong international faculty. |
| Business Administration | A+ | Accounting and management, historically China's best. |
| Statistics | A | Economic statistics and econometrics. |
| Journalism & Communication | A+ | China's first journalism school, founded with XMU. |
| Public Administration | A | Public policy and international relations. |
| Law | A | International law and maritime law. |
Grades follow China's national discipline evaluation scheme (A+ is the highest). Consult the university for the most recent evaluation results.
Programmes open to international students
| Programme | Level | Language | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese Language and Literature | Bachelor | Chinese | 4 years |
| International Economics and Trade | Bachelor | English | 4 years |
| Clinical Medicine (MBBS) | Bachelor | English | 6 years |
| Applied Economics | Master | English | 2 years |
| Marine Sciences | Master / PhD | English | 3 / 4 years |
| Chinese Language Programme | Language | Chinese | 0.5–2 years |
Admissions, tuition and deadlines
Requirements
Bachelor: high school diploma, XMU entrance examination or interview, IELTS 6.0 or HSK 5. Graduate: degree, transcripts, two references and a study plan; economics master's programmes may require a quantitative test.
Deadlines and fees
Deadlines: Bachelor: December – April. Graduate: December – March.. Application fee: CNY 500. Tuition: CNY 24,000–30,000 per year for bachelor's; CNY 30,000–45,000 for master's; MBBS around CNY 65,000 per year.
Scholarships
Chinese Government Scholarship, Confucius Institute Scholarship, Fujian Provincial Government Scholarship, XMU Tan Kah Kee Scholarship.
Notable alumni
| Alumnus | Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chen Jingrun | Mathematician | Proved Chen's theorem on Goldbach's conjecture; XMU graduate. |
| Lu Jiaxi | Chemist | Academician and structural chemist. |
| Tan Kah Kee | Philanthropist | Founder of the university. |
| Goh Keng Swee | Economist and statesman | Architect of Singapore's economic policy; XMU-linked alumnus. |
Why students choose this university
- Ideal climate and lifestyle on China's southeast coast
- Best Chinese university for students from Southeast Asia
- Applied economics and accounting are nationally elite