Campus Deep-Dive: Nanjing University — A Classic Humanities and Science Legacy
September 6, 2026 · CSCA Gateway Team
Nanjing University (南京大学, NJU), founded in 1902 in Nanjing, is one of China's oldest and most academically respected universities, known for a School of Liberal Arts that forms its historical identity in Chinese language, literature, history, and philosophy. On the science side, NJU is also very strong in Chemistry, Astronomy, and Physics.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Nanjing
- Founded
- 1902
- Membership
- C9 League, Project 985, Project 211
- Strengths
- Chinese Literature, Chemistry, Astronomy
Latest Rankings
- QS World University Rankings 2026
- #103 globally
- Shanghai Ranking / ARWU 2025
- #70 globally
- EduRank 2026
- #241 globally, #10 in China
Top Programs
NJU's School of Liberal Arts is one of the oldest and most respected Chinese language and literature programs in the country — a strong choice for international students seriously pursuing advanced Mandarin studies. On the science side, NJU Chemistry consistently ranks among the world's best, supported by strong Astronomy and Condensed Matter Physics programs.
How This Relates to CSCA
Given NJU's strength in Chinese language and literature, this is one of the C9 campuses most relevant for applicants with a high CSCA Chinese language score (Humanities track), especially those targeting advanced Chinese language/literature studies. For the science track, a strong CSCA Chemistry score is a significant plus.
What to Prepare
- A high CSCA Chinese language score (Humanities track) if targeting Chinese language/literature/history majors
- A strong CSCA Chemistry score for science majors, since it’s one of NJU’s core research strengths
- A clear interest in Chinese culture/language in your application essay, since NJU is known to value specific academic motivation over raw exam scores alone