Shandong University traces its origins to 1901, when Imperial Shandong University, also rendered as Shandong Imperial College, was established. The institution later became National Qingdao University and then National Shandong University before taking its present name. Its central campus stands at 27 Shanda South Road in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province.
In 2000 the university merged with Shandong Medical University and Shandong University of Technology, which gave it its present multi-campus form. It now has eight campuses: six in Jinan, one in Weihai and one in Qingdao.
ShanghaiRanking lists the university in the 101-150 band of the 2026 Academic Ranking of World Universities. In the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects it is ranked in 46 subjects, with instruments science and technology 15th, chemical engineering 22nd and metallurgical engineering 24th.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Automation, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Geotechnics, Industrial Design, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Marine Science, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Microbiology and Genetics, Nanotechnologies, Optics, Physics, Process Control, Robotics, Signal Processing, Software Engineering, Statistics, Structural Engineering, Telecommunications, Thermodynamics, Transportations
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Strong regional influence in Shandong province. Growing international partnerships.
Research:
Advanced Materials & Crystal Growth, Intelligent Control & Robotics, AI & Big Data, Marine Technology (Qingdao campus), Energy & Environmental Science.
Famous Alumnis:
Mo Yan (honorary doctorate)
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
4000
Current students***:
60000
Foreign students***:
N/A%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Large comprehensive university, strong in materials science and specific engineering fields, multiple campuses offering diverse environments.
Cons
Geographically dispersed campuses, traditional academic environment.
Best For
Comprehensive university with strong programs in materials science, control engineering, and computer science.
Sichuan University in Chengdu is a public university listing materials science and engineering and polymer science and engineering among its main fields, in a large multi-discipline setting like Shandong's.
Zhengzhou University, public and located in Zhengzhou, offers medicine, engineering, law and economics together, resembling Shandong's comprehensive mix.
Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou pairs life sciences with materials science and computer science as a public comprehensive university.
Nankai University in Tianjin is a public university whose main fields are chemistry, physics and life sciences, suited to applicants focused on the basic sciences.
Jilin University in Changchun, public, combines automotive engineering, chemistry and geosciences, and like Shandong it took its present form in a 2000 merger.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Kyodai in Kyoto, Japan, is a public university listing chemistry, physics and life sciences among its main fields.
University of Vienna in Austria is a public comprehensive university covering law, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences.
Universiteit Gent in Belgium is public and joins life sciences, engineering and biotechnology.
Pusan National University, a public university in South Korea, has engineering, life sciences and materials among its main fields.
University of Wisconsin, Madison in the United States is a public university in Madison listing life sciences, engineering and social sciences.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When was Shandong University founded?
Its origins lie in 1901, when Imperial Shandong University, also called Shandong Imperial College, was established. The university marked its 120th anniversary in October 2021.
What names has the institution carried over time?
The institution later became National Qingdao University and then National Shandong University before it took the name Shandong University.
Which institutions joined it in 2000?
Shandong Medical University and Shandong University of Technology merged with Shandong University in 2000, which produced its present multi-campus form.
How are the campuses distributed?
There are eight campuses, six in Jinan, one in Weihai and one in Qingdao. ShanghaiRanking names the Jinan campuses as Central, Hongjialou, Baotuquan, Qianfoshan, Software and Xinglongshan.
Where is the central campus?
The central address is 27 Shanda South Road in Jinan, Shandong Province.
Which subjects stand out in rankings?
The 2026 ShanghaiRanking subject results place instruments science and technology 15th, chemical engineering 22nd and metallurgical engineering 24th, among 46 ranked subjects. In the 2026 Academic Ranking of World Universities the university is in the 101-150 band.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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