Sichuan University (SCU) is one of the national key universities directly under the State Ministry of Education (MOE) in China and one of the State "211 Project" universities receiving privileged government support in the Ninth Five-Year Plan period. The University went through two mergers, first with Chengdu University of Science and Technology (CUST), another national key university under the MOE in1994, and then with West China University of Medical Sciences (WCUMS) in 2000, a key university directly subordinated to the State Ministry of Health. The President in office is Prof. Xie He-ping, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

At present, SCU has the widest coverage of disciplines and the largest scale of operation in West China. There are 37 key disciplines at the national level, 14 "211 Project" key disciplines, 66 key disciplines at the provincial and ministerial level, 6 national bases for personnel training in basic disciplines and scientific research, and a teaching base for engineering courses. Besides, it has 27 first-class disciplines to grant Doctor's degree and Master's degree, 228 second-class disciplines to grant Doctor's degree, 345 Master programs, 9 specialized degree programs, and 26 post-doctor stations. The 121 bachelor programs cover the major fields in liberal arts, sciences, engineering, medicine and agriculture. SCU has more than 70 thousand students.

SCU enjoys a long history, glorious traditions and a firm strength in operation. The former Sichuan University was one of the earliest institutes of higher learning in China, with a history dating back to Sichuan Zhong-Xi Xuetang (Sichuan Chinese and Western School), established in 1896, which was in a direct line of succession with Jinjiang Shuyuan and Zunjing Shuyuan, places for classical learning, set up in 1704 and 1875 respectively. By the eve of New China, Sichuan University had developed into the biggest national multidisciplinary university with 6 colleges of literature, science, engineering, agriculture, law and teachers training, and 25 departments. Sichuan University is one of the pioneers of modern Chinese higher education, playing an important role in the development of the modern higher education in West China. After the birth of New China, through the nationwide adjustment of colleges and departments, Sichuan University grew out to be a key comprehensive university in literature, historiography, religion, math, biology, etc. In 1958, it was the only one (the other six in Beijing) that was identified by the Central Government as university directly under the State administration. The predecessor of CUST is Chengdu Engineering College, set up in 1954 as the result of the nation-wide college and department adjustment, with disciplines in materials, chemical engineering, hydroelectricity, mechanics, textile and light industry, etc. West China University of Medical Sciences (WCUMS) originated from the private West China Union University, established in 1910 by five Christian missionary groups from U.S.A., UK and Canada, with disciplines in stomatology, biomedicine, basic medicine and clinical medicine greatly influential at home and abroad.

Throughout its centennial history, SCU has been the cradle for a great number of celebrated revolutionaries, educators as well as scientists and men of letters enjoying a high reputation both at home and abroad. Among them, both Zhang Lan, the famous social activist, educationist, and the former Vice-chairman of the Central Government, and Wu Yuzhang, the noted revolutionary and educationist, once took up office as the president successively. Marshal Zhu De, one the founding fathers of the People's Republic China and the People's Liberation Army; Guo Moruo, a literary giant and the previous president of Chinese Academy of Science; Ba Jin, a leading authority in literature, once studied here. Up to now, there are 45 academicians among the alumni.

SCU has a competent teaching force. It has a total staff of 11,357, among whom 1323 are professors, 2192 associate professors, 11 academicians of Chinese Academy of Science and Chinese Academy of Engineering, 434 tutors of doctor students, and 17 members of the Academic Degrees Committee and the Discipline Appraisal Group under the State Council. Besides, the university has 22 Cheung Kong Scholars.

SCU has great potentiality in scientific research. There are in function 9 national key laboratories and national engineering centers, 5 ministerial (MOE) key laboratories, 45 provincial key laboratories, 10 ministerial and provincial centers, 4 key research bases for humanities and social sciences, and 4 clinical research bases at the national level. SCU has undertaken and completed a considerable number of national, ministerial and regional major research projects, and has made many achievements, which are rated first class in China and bear significant international influence. The total value of the equipment applied to teaching, scientific research and medical treatment amounts to about 530 million RMB yuan and the annual publications of research papers exceed 4,000. In 2008, the university was supported with a total of 1.02 billion RMB yuan for scientific research in social science, natural science, engineering and medicine.

SCU enjoys favorable facilities. The University Library (with 3 sub-divisions), with about 6.99 million volumes, serves as the Collection Center for English Publications under the National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, MOE Information Center for Liberal Arts Literature and CALIS Southwest Sub-center, National University Scientific and Technological Projects and Achievements Consulting Center, and Center for Medical Literature Retrieval in Southwest China as well. The University Museum is the only one of its kind in China with a comprehensive collection of cultural relics over 40,000 pieces, and animal and plant specimens over 600,000 pieces, ranking first in its holdings among the others in China. The University Stadium is fully and sophisticatedly equipped and once served as the main field for the Sixth National Collegiate Sports Meet. Other sub-divisions available are Campus Web Center, Analytic and Testing Center, University Archive Establishment, University Press, National Foreign Language Examination Center, Intensive Language Training Center, 4 attached hospitals, and 1 attached health school. So far the university has published 42 academic periodicals to domestic and overseas subscribers.

SCU is located in Chengdu, a culturally and historically noticeable city, adjacent to the Jinjiang River and its tributary Jiang'an River. The University consists of 3 Campuses of Wangjiang, Huaxi and Jiang'an, covering an area of over 7,000 Chinese mu (about 4.7 km2), with a total floorage of more than 2.7 million square meters. SCU is the ideal place for academic studies and researches with the campuses set in agreeable environments of green plants, lawns and trees.