Renmin University of China

History

The origins of Renmin University of China date back to Shanbei Public School (陕北公学), established in 1937 by the Chinese Communist Party to "bring up hundreds of thousands of revolutionary comrades to meet the needs of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression." It was later renamed North China United University, and then North China University.

In 1950, several institutions were merged to form a single Renmin University of China. In 1954, Renmin University of China was established as one of China's six national key universities, the youngest institution on that list.

Wu Yuzhang, Cheng Fangwu, Guo Yingqiu, Yuan Baohua, Huang Da, Li Wenhai, Ji Baocheng, and Chen Yulu had successively served as president of the university. As of 2022 the president is Lin Shangli.

Present

As of 2022, Renmin University consists of 25 schools, 13 research institutes and the graduate school, with 63 specialties for undergraduate, 8 specialties for the second-bachelor's degree students, 149 specialties for the master's degree candidates, 100 specialties for the Doctor's degree candidates and 33 national key disciplines.

The university library has 2.5 million holdings, and is recognized as the Information Center of Arts Literatures by the Ministry of Education. A new library building opened in the second half of 2011. The Renmin University of China Press is one of the most famous publishers and the first university press in China which has published a large number of academic works in humanities and social sciences. The library of the university covers a total area of 26,000 square meters. It has 15 reading rooms and an economics hall, with more than 2,000 seats.

Renmin University has established its communications and cooperative relationships with 125 universities and research institutions of 32 countries and regions, which enables the university to be the center of academic and cultural communications between China and foreign countries.

Schools and departments

The School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

The School of Arts

The School of Business

The School of Chinese Classics

The School of Continuing Education

The School of Economics

The School of Education

The School of Environment and Natural Resources

The School of Finance

The School of Foreign Languages

Department of English Studies

Department of French Studies

Department of German Studies

Department of Japanese Studies

Department of Russian Studies

Department of Spanish Studies

The School of History

The School of Information

The School of Information Resource Management

The School of International Studies

Department of International Politics

Department of Foreign Affairs

The Rural Reconstruction Center of Renmin University

Rural Reconstruction Center of Renmin University was established in 2005 and is based in Beijing. Its main mission is to explore the theory and practice of rural reconstruction. It partakes in fair trade advocacy, coordination of urban and rural green energy initiatives , and the promotion of fair education.

Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China (RDCY)

1. General Introduction

The Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China (RDCY) was officially established on January 19, 2013. It was built on the education fund set up by Shanghai Chongyang Investment Management Co., Ltd. through a donation to Renmin University of China, and it is the core achievement of this donation project.

As a think tank, RDCY has invited former politicians, senior bankers, and scholars from around the world to serve as senior fellows. It aims to focus on reality, advise the country, and serve the people. Currently, RDCY has 7 departments and operates 4 research centers: the Center for Eco-Financial Studies, the Global Governance Research Center, the China-US People-to-People Exchange Research Center, and the China-Russia People-to-People Exchange Research Center. RDCY conducts research in fields such as financial development, global governance, major power relations, and macro policies.

In terms of operation and research, RDCY has built a capable and efficient full-time team. In research work, RDCY's research in areas such as global governance, macro finance, major power relations, and public diplomacy is at the forefront level in China. As of 2025, it has published over a hundred related works and released hundreds of research reports. Its research results have been repeatedly approved and affirmed by General Secretary Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders. On May 17, 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over a symposium on philosophy and social sciences. Prof. Wang Wen, the dean of RDCY, was invited to participate and speak, and was immediately recognized by the General Secretary.

At the international cooperation level, RDCY actively expands international exchanges and has established a stable cooperation mechanism with major think tanks in more than 40 countries around the world. It has successfully carried out a series of related activities in more than 20 countries such as the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Russia, Malaysia, and Iran, playing a positive role in promoting China's public diplomacy.

Campuses

The university currently has two active campuses, one campus under construction and one former campus.

The main campus is located at No.59 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian district, Beijing. Most of the university's schools, departments and institutes are located here.

The campus's English Corner is well known in Beijing. Every Friday evening, people gather at the Qiushi Garden near the east gate to practice English.

The campus is host to about 1,165 international students, many of them from South Korea. There are so many South Korean students that the International Students Dining Room has a separate Korean menu aside from its traditional Chinese menu.

The university has a secondary campus located in Suzhou Industrial Park, in the eastern province of Jiangsu. It is home to the RUC Sino-French Institute (IFC Renmin) and its 900 Chinese and international students. In addition, a number of Chinese and sino-foreign Master-level programs from several RUC faculties are also located on the same grounds under the supervision of RUC International College. RUC Suzhou campus is part of the Suzhou Dushu Lake Higher Education Town, together with other international Sino-Foreign oriented graduate and post-graduate schools such as Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University or the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School.

Renmin University is currently building its future main campus in Lucheng, Tongzhou district, currently named "Eastern Campus", to the east of central Beijing. It will be located in the same town as the soon-to-be relocated Beijing municipal government facilities. Completion date is expected by the end of 2017.

The former main campus of Renmin University of China is located east of the Forbidden City, in the Dongcheng district. Although the property still belongs to the university, it is no longer used for educational purposes.

Cultural tradition

The motto of Renmin University is "Seek truth from facts"; the spirit of Renmin University is "Establishing learning for the people, and governing the country"; the goal of talent training of Renmin University is "a national example, a social pillar"; and the idea of running Renmin University is "people, people-oriented, and humanistic", which is also the meaning of the three parallel "人" characters in the seal script on Renmin University's emblem.

School Song

The school song of Renmin University of China has gone through multiple versions, including the "Song of Northern Shaanxi Public School" created in Yan'an in 1937, "The School Song of North China Associated University" in Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei border area in 1937, and "School Song of North China University" in Zhengding, Hebei in 1948, "Song of Renmin University of China" written by Wu Yuzhang, "Song of Renmin University of China" written by Cheng Fangwu, and "Song of Renmin University of China" written by Ji Baocheng.

"The Song of Renmin University of China", written by Ji Baocheng, was identified as the school song in 2007, replacing the old school song that has been adopted since 1980 with strong political overtones.

In 2017, "Song of Northern Shaanxi Public School" was identified as the representative school song of Renmin University of China.

Rankings and reputation

In 2022, Renmin University, along with Nanjing University, became the first batch of elite institutions in China to drop out of all international rankings. The university was selected as a pilot program to test a new system of local rankings that reflect "Chinese characteristics" and are representative of their Chinese traits. It is expected that more Chinese institutions will drop out of international rankings as China aims to create its own benchmark for elite institutions.

In 2015, the Chinese University Alumni Association (CUAA) in partnership with China Education Center ranked it 5th among all Chinese universities. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2014 placed Renmin 5th in China (after Peking, Tsinghua, University of Science and Technology of China, and Fudan), 13th in emerging countries, 32nd in Asia, and inside the top 250 in the world.

In 2020, the QS World University Rankings had the university as one of the top 300 worldwide for academic reputation and employer reputation. Renmin graduates are highly desired in China and worldwide, with its Graduate Employability rankings placed in the top 181–190 universities globally and a crop of high-achieving graduates every year, according to the 2022 QS Graduate Employability Rankings.

Subject rankings

According to the latest evaluation by the Chinese Ministry of Education RUC ranked No. 1 among all Chinese universities for 9 disciplines, which include theoretical economics, applied economics, law and legal studies, political science, sociology, journalism, statistics, business management and public administration. RUC is also entitled 25 national key disciplines (ranked number 5 in China), 13 national key research bases of humanities and social sciences (ranked number 1 in China), and 6 national teaching and research bases of fundamental arts disciplines (ranked number 1 in China). Renmin has taken a leading position among Chinese universities in the number of social science and arts and humanities-related majors. For example, in the 2022 rankings of Chinese universities by undergraduate majors in 92 professional categories, Renmin had 25 majors ranked as the best in the country, 48 majors in the top 5, and 57 majors in the top 10.

According to the 2021 QS World University by subject, RUC was ranked among the top 100 in the world in "Arts and Humanities" & "Social Sciences & Management" related subjects. According to the 2021 QS World University by subject, the university was ranked among the top 40 in the world for philosophy, top 80 in social sciences and management and top 51 in legal studies and law.

According to the Financial Times, its business school, the Renmin Business School, is one of the top 50 in the world, with its global MBA ranked 38th, Executive MBA ranked 43rd, and its executive education ranked 11th internationally (the best in Asia).

As of 2026, the U.S. News & World Report ranked Renmin 3rd in China & Asia, and 11th globally in economics and business.

As of 2024, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities, RUC ranked No. 9 in the world in "public administration", #31 in "finance", #43 in "Library & Information Science", #51 in "management" & "statistics", and #76 in "business administration" & "economics".

Notable faculty

Huang Da – Professor Emeritus, School of Finance; President, Renmin University of China (1991–1994).

Jin Canrong – Professor, School of International Studies.

Liu Xiaofeng – Professor, School of Liberal Arts.

Manuel Pérez García – Former associate professor, School of International Studies (2013–2017).

Mao Shoulong – Professor, School of Public Administration.

Pan Suiming – Professor, School of Sociology and Population Studies, scholar of sexology.

Shi Yinhong – Professor, School of International Studies, see zh:时殷弘

Song Xinning (宋新宁) – Jean Monnet Professor, School of International Studies.

Wang Liming – Professor and former dean (2005–09), School of Law, scholar of civil law.

Wen Tiejun – Professor and dean, School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.

Wu Xiaoqiu (吴晓求) – Professor, School of Finance.

Yang Ruilong (杨瑞龙) – Professor and dean, School of Economics.

Baron von Pfetten – Visiting professor, School of Economics.

Zeng Xianyi – Professor Emeritus and former dean (1990–2005), School of Law, scholar of legal history.

Notable alumni

Academics

Liu Yu – Political scientist at Tsinghua University

Wu Shuqing – President of Peking University (1989–1996), economist

Zhao Tingyang – Political philosopher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Law and politics

Han Xu – Ambassador to the United States (1985–1989).

Liu Yandong – Current highest-ranking female politician in China, and the only woman with a seat on the Politburo.

Ma Kai – Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (2003–2008).

Xiao Yang – Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court (1998–2003, 2003–2008).

Xie Feng – Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs (2021–2023) and current Ambassador to the United States.

Wang Ju-hsuan – Minister of Council of Labor Affairs of the Republic of China (2008–2012).

Chen Yulu – Deputy governor of People's Bank of China (2015–2022) and current president of Nankai University.

You Quan – Director of the United Front Work Department (2017–2022)

Grace Mugabe – Former First Lady of Zimbabwe (1996–2017)

Liu He – A member of the politburo of the Chinese Communist Party, one of the vice premiers of the People's Republic of China and the director of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission

Zhou Dan – First openly gay lawyer in mainland China to speak out for LGBT rights

Business and media

Duan Yongping – Entrepreneur and investor, founder of Subor (English: Xiao Ba Wang; Chinese: 小霸王; pinyin: Xiǎo Bàwáng) and BBK (Chinese: 步步高; pinyin: Bù Bù Gāo)

Hu Shuli – Founder and editor-in-chief of business magazine Caijing

Pan Gongsheng – Executive Vice President, Agricultural Bank of China

Xiang Junbo – chairman, Agricultural Bank of China (2009–)

Xiao Gang – chairman, Bank of China (2003–)

Zhang Lei – Founder and President of Hillhouse Capital Group

Liu Qiangdong – Founder and President of JD.com

Human rights activists

Bob Fu – One of the organizers of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, he founded ChinaAid to provide legal aid to dissidents in China.

Zeng Jinyan – Human rights activist, one of the Time 100, 2007; wife of Hu Jia, recipient of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2008.

Zhang Zhixin – Dissident imprisoned and executed for criticising the idolisation of Mao Zedong during the Cultural Revolution.

Writers

Wang Xiaobo – Modern writer, popular and influential among China's youth. He is also the husband of Li Yinhe, renowned sociologist and sexologist.

Zhang Jie – Writer, graduated from RUC in 1960. Her work has won many prizes.

Others

James Veneris and Samuel David Hawkins – American soldiers in the Korean War who were captured by the North, then defected to China at the time of armistice.

Guo Jingjing – Gold medalist in the 3 m Springboard and Synchronized Springboard at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Wang Junxia – Winner of a gold medal and a silver medal in woman's track in the 1996 Summer Olympics; record holder of the woman's 10000 m from 1993 with a time of 29:31:78.

Liang Yan – National Women's volleyball team member

Dai Yi – Historian

Lin Yue – Gold medalist, Olympian, 10 m platform Diving

Huo Liang – Gold medalist, Olympian, 10 m Platform Diving

Li Ting – Gold medalist, Olympian, 10 m Platform Diving

Peng Bo – Gold medalist, Olympian, 3 m Springboard Diving

Wu Minxia – Gold medalist, Olympian, 3 m Springboard Diving

Sang Xue – Gold medalist, Olympian, 10 m platform Diving

Vivian Kong – Hong Kong gold medalist, Olympian, women's individual épée fencing

Shi Yan – Farmer and founder of the first Community Supported Agriculture farm in China

Global reach

Renmin University maintains collaborative relationships and exchange programs with many well-known universities around the world, such as Singapore Management University, Queen's University, Boston College Law School, Columbia University, LMU Munich, Princeton University, University of Geneva, McGill University, Queen Mary University of London, King's College London, Waseda University, Carleton University, the University of Chicago, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, the University of Michigan and Yale University. In January 2010, Zhang Lei, a graduate of Renmin University and Yale School of Management (SOM), donated US$8,888,888 to the SOM, the largest alumni gift the school had received.

It is also a member of Worldwide Universities Network, the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education, and Beijing-Hong Kong Universities Alliance.

Renmin University School of Labor and Human Resources maintains an exchange relationship with the Huamin Research Center and the School of Social Work at Rutgers University. Every year since 2010, study abroad students and faculty from Rutgers exchange with their Renmin University counterparts. Renmin University is a popular destination for visiting foreign dignitaries. During his state visit to China in January 2008, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited Renmin University with Premier Wen Jiabao to talk with students, scholars, athletes and entrepreneurs.

The School of International Studies offers a Double Masters in Asian and International Affairs with King's College London.

Renmin University students are actively engaged in academic and exchange programs overseas, such as the National Model United Nations conference held annually in New York City.

The University of Chicago Center in Beijing, which opened in September 2010, is located at the Culture Plaza on the Renmin University campus.

Affiliated schools

The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China is a high school in Beijing, and is a sister school of Phillips Academy in Massachusetts, Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and Punahou Academy in Honolulu.

The Elementary School Affiliated to Renmin University of China is a primary school in Beijing, and is a sister school of Mandarin Immersion Magnet School in Houston, Texas.