Xi'an Jiaotong–Liverpool University

Xi'an Jiaotong–Liverpool University (XJTLU; ) is a private, not-for-profit Sino-foreign cooperative university in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. It was established in 2006 through a partnership between Xi'an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool, and was approved by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China.

Undergraduate students normally receive two degrees: one from XJTLU, recognised by China's Ministry of Education, and one from the University of Liverpool. Postgraduate students receive a University of Liverpool degree recognised by China's Ministry of Education. The university provides degree programmes primarily in English across fields including architecture, business, engineering, finance, language and culture, science, and urban planning.

XJTLU is primarily based in Suzhou Industrial Park, with an additional campus, XJTLU Entrepreneur College, in Taicang. As of 2026, the university reported around 26,000 students and more than 2,400 staff.

History

In September 2004, Xi'an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool jointly agreed to establish a new autonomous institution in Suzhou. XJTLU was approved by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and opened on 22 May 2006, with 164 students in its first cohort.

The university was established as a Chinese-foreign cooperative institution involving a Chinese university, a British university and support from Suzhou Industrial Park. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education described XJTLU as a private university operating on a not-for-profit basis within China's transnational higher education system.

XJTLU later expanded outside its main campus in Suzhou Industrial Park. XJTLU Entrepreneur College in Taicang admitted its first students in 2019 and the Taicang campus opened in September 2022.

Governance and partnership

XJTLU was created through a partnership between Xi'an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool. The institution is governed in China as a Chinese-foreign cooperative university, while also delivering programmes that can lead to University of Liverpool awards.

The partnership allows undergraduate students to receive both an XJTLU degree and a University of Liverpool degree in most cases. It also provides a route for some students to transfer to Liverpool during their studies, commonly referred to by the universities as the "2+2" route.

As of 2026, XJTLU's chair of the board of directors was Zhiwei Shan, its president was Wenquan Tao, and its executive president was Youmin Xi.

Campus

Suzhou Industrial Park campus

XJTLU's main campus is located at 111 Ren'ai Road in Suzhou Industrial Park, within the Dushu Lake Science and Education Innovation District of Suzhou.

The Suzhou Industrial Park campus developed in phases. Its early development focused on the North Campus, whose plan was designed by the American architecture firm Perkins+Will.

The Central Building, designed by Aedas, contains the university library, museum and administrative facilities. Its design was inspired by Taihu stone, and the building was nominated at the 2014 World Architecture Festival.

The South Campus was designed by BDP and developed as the university's second major phase of campus expansion. BDP describes the project as a campus masterplan including teaching, laboratory and research facilities.

Taicang campus

XJTLU also operates XJTLU Entrepreneur College in Taicang, a county-level city administered by Suzhou. The college admitted its first cohort of students in 2019, and the Taicang campus opened in September 2022. The campus was designed around seven specialist school buildings connected by a circular hub.

Academics

Degree structure

XJTLU offers undergraduate, master's and doctoral programmes. Undergraduate students normally receive both an XJTLU degree, recognised by China's Ministry of Education, and a University of Liverpool degree. Postgraduate students receive a University of Liverpool degree recognised by China's Ministry of Education.

Schools and academies

XJTLU is organised into schools, academies and teaching centres across its Suzhou Industrial Park and Taicang campuses. As of 2026, the university listed undergraduate programmes across fields including architecture, artificial intelligence, business, engineering, film and creative technology, finance, language and culture, microelectronics and intelligent manufacturing, pharmacy, robotics, science, urban planning.

+ Undergraduate programmes by academic unit Academic unit Campus or college Undergraduate programmes School of Advanced Technology Suzhou Industrial Park Artificial Intelligence; Computer Science and Technology; Digital Media Technology; Electrical Engineering; Electronic Science and Technology; Information and Computing Science; Mechatronics and Robotic Systems; Telecommunications Engineering Design School Suzhou Industrial Park Architecture; Civil Engineering; Industrial Design; Urban Planning and Design School of Humanities and Social Sciences Suzhou Industrial Park Applied Linguistics; China Studies; English and Business; English and Communication Studies; English Studies in Global Context; International Relations; Media and Communication Studies; Translation and Interpreting International Business School Suzhou Suzhou Industrial Park Accounting; Business Administration; Digital and Intelligent Marketing; Economics; Economics and Finance; Human Resource Management and People Analytics; Information Management and Information Systems; International Business with a Language School of Mathematics and Physics Suzhou Industrial Park Actuarial Science; Applied Mathematics; Applied Physics; Financial Mathematics School of Science Suzhou Industrial Park Applied Chemistry; Bioinformatics; Biological Sciences; Biomedical Sciences; Environmental Science; Materials Science and Engineering XJTLU Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy Suzhou Industrial Park Biomedical Statistics; Biopharmaceuticals; Pharmaceutical Sciences Academy of Film and Creative Technology Suzhou Industrial Park and Taicang Arts, Technology and Entertainment with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism; Digital Media Arts; Filmmaking; TV Production School of AI and Advanced Computing XJTLU Entrepreneur College, Taicang Data Science and Big Data Technology with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism School of CHIPS XJTLU Entrepreneur College, Taicang Microelectronic Science and Engineering with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism School of Intelligent Finance and Business XJTLU Entrepreneur College, Taicang Intelligent Supply Chain with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism School of Intelligent Manufacturing Ecosystem XJTLU Entrepreneur College, Taicang Intelligent Manufacturing Engineering with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism School of Internet of Things XJTLU Entrepreneur College, Taicang Internet of Things Engineering with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism School of Robotics XJTLU Entrepreneur College, Taicang Intelligent Robotics Engineering with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism

Accreditations

XJTLU has received professional accreditations and recognitions for several schools, departments and degree programmes. Its architecture programmes are validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) at Part 1 and Part 2 levels.

The Design School has also received accreditation from the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) for civil engineering-related programmes and from the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) for industrial design programmes.

The School of Advanced Technology has programmes accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

Within the School of Science, the BSc Applied Chemistry programme is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the BSc Biological Sciences programme by the Royal Society of Biology, and the BSc Environmental Science programme by the Institution of Environmental Sciences.

International Business School Suzhou is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), EQUIS, the Association of MBAs (AMBA), and the Business Graduates Association (BGA). Its accounting, finance and project-management programmes have also received recognition from professional bodies including ACCA, CIMA, CPA Australia, ICAEW, the CFA Institute and the International Project Management Association.

The university's English Language Centre has accreditations from BALEAP and the Chartered Institute of Linguists.

Identity

The university's motto is given in Latin, English and Chinese as , Light and Wings, and respectively. XJTLU identifies dark blue and magenta as its standard colours. Rankings and reputation +Selected rankings for Xi'an Jiaotong–Liverpool UniversityRanking bodyRankingScopeYearPlacementQSQS World University RankingsWorld20271001–1200QS World University Rankings by SubjectSubject2026551–700QS Sustainability RankingsWorld20261051–1060QS Asian University RankingsAsia2026=326Times Higher EducationWorld University RankingsWorld2026601–800China rankingChina2026=45Arts and HumanitiesSubject2026501–600Business and EconomicsSubject2026501–600Computer ScienceSubject2026501–600Education StudiesSubject2026401–500EngineeringSubject2026501–600Life SciencesSubject2026501–600Physical SciencesSubject2026601–800Social SciencesSubject2026401–500ShanghaiRankingBest Chinese Universities Ranking: Chinese Cooperation UniversitiesChina20265th

XJTLU is included in major international university rankings, including QS and Times Higher Education, and in ShanghaiRanking's ranking of Chinese cooperation universities.

Affiliations

XJTLU is affiliated with Xi'an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool through its founding partnership. It is also listed as a member of the University Alliance of the Silk Road.

Xi'an Jiaotong–Liverpool University

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