Westlake University is a private research university in Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province, China. The proposal to create it was submitted on 11 March 2015 by Shi Yigong, Chen Shiyi and Pan Jianwei. Its predecessor, the Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, was created on 10 December 2016. The Ministry of Education approved the university on 2 April 2018, and it was inaugurated on 20 October 2018.
The university lies in the Xihu District of Hangzhou. The Yunqi campus served as an interim site and covers 11.5 acres, with a floor area of 106,000 square metres. The Yungu campus, in the Zijingang Science and Technology City, is the main development, and its third phase of expansion was completed in June 2025. The location, near the lake that gives the university its name, combines a research setting with the cultural weight of Hangzhou.
The academic structure has four schools: Life Sciences, Science, Engineering and Medicine. The profile is research-oriented, with a focus on postgraduate and doctoral training, and the university presents itself as a place where scientists can build laboratories and pursue basic research. The record used here does not state the number of students, the number of faculty members or the funding.
The president is Shi Yigong, elected on 16 April 2018. The vice presidents are Tian Xu, Min Qiu and Xiaoyun Zhu. Yingyi Qian chairs the board, and Yang Chen-Ning, Nobel laureate in Physics, was the honorary chair.
The rankings show a rapid rise for such a young institution. The Nature Index 2025 places Westlake 52nd in China and 124th in the world. The Academic Ranking of World Universities 2025 puts it in the 301 to 400 band, and U.S. News Best Global Universities 2025 gives the 308th place. As of 2026, the clinical medicine programme is not listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, so its students cannot yet register for the USMLE. Fees and scholarships depend on the programme. Check the current tariff.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Chemistry, Data Analytics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Microbiology and Genetics, Physics
Diplomas*:
Doctor, Master
Status:
Private
Partnerships:
Yunqi Campus and Yungu Campus in Hangzhou, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study.
Research:
Life sciences, science, engineering and medicine.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
N/A
Current students***:
N/A
Foreign students***:
N/A%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Young research university founded in 2018, four schools, ARWU 301 to 400 in 2025, Nature Index 124th in the world in 2025.
Cons
Very young institution, postgraduate focus, clinical medicine programme not listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools in 2026.
Best For
Researchers and doctoral students looking for a new, research-focused private university in Hangzhou.
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Most Similar Schools Locally
Also strong in chemistry, physics and life sciences, Nanjing University makes a sensible second look at home; it also offers bachelor's programmes and covers astroscience and mathematics as well.
Also strong in microbiology and genetics and life sciences, Peking Union Medical College makes a sensible second look at home; it covers bioinformatics and bioengineering as well, and is public, whereas this university is private.
Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine follows much the same lines as this institution, with microbiology and genetics, chemistry and life sciences as common ground, and it enrols about 20,000 students, and is public, whereas this institution is private.
For students who like the chemistry, physics and life sciences focus of this institution but want another option nearby, Northwest University Xi'an fits well: it is public, whereas this institution is private, and also offers bachelor's programmes.
Another national school that puts microbiology and genetics and life sciences at the centre is Southern Medical University, and it is public, whereas this institution is private, and also offers bachelor's programmes.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Harvard University offers an international parallel to this university, with chemistry, physics and life sciences as common ground; it covers bioengineering and statistics as well, and enrols about 21,200 students.
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology brings a Saudi Arabia setting to the same core fields, chemistry, physics and life sciences, and it is public, whereas this university is private, and also offers graduate diploma programmes.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine offers an international parallel to this university, with microbiology and genetics and life sciences as common ground; it covers bioinformatics as well and enrols about 789 students.
Charles University (the Czech Republic) works on the same fields as this institution, chiefly microbiology and genetics, chemistry and physics; it covers mathematics and software engineering as well, and enrols about 51,438 students.
On content, Complutense University of Madrid in Spain and this institution are close, as both teach microbiology and genetics, chemistry and physics; it also offers bachelor's programmes and covers finance and mathematics as well.
*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
Where is Westlake University?
In the Xihu District of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China.
When was it inaugurated?
On 20 October 2018.
When did the Ministry of Education approve it?
On 2 April 2018.
Who founded it?
The proposal was submitted by Shi Yigong, Chen Shiyi and Pan Jianwei.
Who is the president?
Shi Yigong.
What was its predecessor?
The Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, created on 10 December 2016.
How many schools does it have?
Four: Life Sciences, Science, Engineering and Medicine.
How is it placed in the Nature Index 2025?
124th in the world and 52nd in China.
Is it private?
Yes.
What does it cost?
Fees and scholarships depend on the programme. Check the current tariff.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Biology, Innovation, Physics, Research and Development
*: 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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