About us

Renmin University of China (RUC) is a comprehensive research university directly administered by the Ministry of Education and jointly supported by the Ministry of Education and the Beijing Municipal Government.

The university traces its origins to Shaanbei Public School, North China United University, Northern University and North China University. Since its founding, RUC has established itself as a leading institution in the humanities and social sciences, educating generations of graduates who have contributed to China's national development. The university has played an important role in advancing philosophy and social sciences in China and in shaping the country's modern higher education system.

Since 1950, RUC has consistently been designated a key national university. In 2017, it was selected as one of the first institutions in China's "Double First-Class" initiative for world-class universities and disciplines.

Currently, the university has eight national key first-level disciplines and eight national key second-level disciplines, ranking first nationwide in the humanities and social sciences. RUC's 14 disciplines are included in the "Double First-Class" initiative.

RUC has long been home to distinguished scholars and outstanding faculty members. Professors Wei Xinghua and Gao Mingxuan were among the first recipients of the national honorary title of People's Educator. The university has 165 faculty members selected for the National Major Talent Program, 533 recipients of State Council Special Allowances, and 197 scholars selected for the National Major Young Talent Program.

Since the period of Shaanbei Public School, the university has educated more than 408,000 high-level professionals and outstanding talents across a wide range of fields. China's first PhD graduates in law and journalism, first foreign PhD graduate in the humanities and social sciences, and the first cohorts of PhD graduates in political economy, world economy, monetary and banking studies, statistics and other disciplines all graduated from Renmin University of China.

RUC provides strong theoretical foundations and intellectual support for national economic development and social progress and has become an important national think tank. Experts and scholars from the university have participated in the drafting and revision of major national laws, including the Constitution, the Civil Code and the Criminal Law, as well as in formulating key national policies such as successive fiscal and taxation system reforms.

The university has made foundational and leading contributions to the development of philosophy and social sciences in China. Many disciplines - such as economics, law, journalism, and Marxist theory - were first established at Renmin University of China and later developed nationwide. The university continues to advance innovation in knowledge, theory and methodology, and it actively promotes Chinese perspectives and scholarship, contributing to the development of a distinctive philosophy and social sciences system rooted in China's intellectual traditions.

Renmin University of China has led the establishment of international academic platforms, including the Economics Discipline Construction Community of the China–CEEC Higher Education Institutions Consortium, the Social Sciences Universities Network, and the Academic Association for International Cultural Exchange (AAICE). It launched the world's first international triple bachelor's degree program in management.

As of November 2025, the university has established partnerships with universities and international organizations in 63 countries and regions across six continents, including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. It has also participated in the joint establishment of seven overseas Confucius Institutes and has successively established six overseas Research Centers for Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations, including the China–Greece, China–France, China–Hungary, China–Africa, China–Spain and China–Brazil centers.