Universities

Chang’an University (CHD) in Xi’an, founded in 1951, is administered by the Ministry of Education and is a Project 211 university. It is especially known for highway transportation and construction engineering, with broader engineering and related programmes. International students study on degree pathways across its Xi’an campuses.

Northwest University, established in 1902 in Xi'an, is one of China’s oldest institutions of higher learning. It operates across multiple campuses in the city and offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programmes through schools including History, Law, Geology, and Life Sciences. The university has a long-standing role in regional education and research, with particular strengths in humanities, earth sciences, and law. Its location in Xi'an places it at the heart of China’s northwest, supporting academic engagement with local and national development priorities. NWU enrolls several thousand students and maintains active teaching and research programmes across disciplines.

Northwestern Polytechnical University is based in Xi’an, a city with deep historical roots as the seat of thirteen Chinese dynasties. Established in 1938, it has grown into a research-intensive university focused on science and technology, particularly in aeronautics, astronautics, and marine engineering. The university comprises 16 academic schools and delivers undergraduate, postgraduate, and postdoctoral programmes across technical and non-technical disciplines including humanities, economics, management, and law. It offers 54 undergraduate, 101 postgraduate, and 12 postdoctoral programmes. With over 28,000 students and more than 3,500 faculty members—including scholars from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering—NPU maintains a strong emphasis on technological innovation and interdisciplinary education. Its campus community reflects long-standing contributions to national scientific development since its founding.

Xi'an Jiaotong University, founded in 1896, is situated in Xi’an—a historic city that served as capital to thirteen Chinese dynasties. Its three campuses—Xingqing, Yanta, and Qvjiang—form a connected academic presence across the city. The university hosts nearly 30,000 full-time students, over half of whom are enrolled in postgraduate programmes. It offers a broad range of study options, including 82 undergraduate, 242 master’s, and 154 doctoral programmes. English-medium master’s degrees have been available since 2011, with fields such as management science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering among those taught entirely in English. The clinical medicine programme for international students, launched in 1995, remains one of its longest-running English-language offerings.

Xidian University, established in 1931 in Xi'an, operates across north and south campuses and is one of China’s national key universities under the Ministry of Education. It holds a foundational role in the country’s electronic information sector, having launched China’s first academic programmes in radar technology and cybersecurity. Its strengths lie in Information and Communication Engineering and Computer Science and Technology, both ranked among the highest nationally. The university delivers 35 national-level first-class undergraduate programmes, covering fields such as artificial intelligence, microelectronics, and network security. With more than 40,000 full-time students—including over 800 from overseas—it maintains a long-standing focus on international education and technical training. Research activity supports major national initiatives including BeiDou and Chang'e, facilitated by dedicated national laboratories and collaborative platforms.