Xi'an Jiaotong–Liverpool University

Xi'an Jiaotong–Liverpool University (XJTLU; Chinese: 西交利物浦大学; pinyin: Xījiāo Lìwùpǔ Dàxué) is a private, not-for-profit Chinese-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. 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 Aethera ac lucem petimus, Light and Wings, and 博学明道，笃行任事 respectively. XJTLU identifies dark blue and magenta as its standard colours. Rankings and reputation 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. See also Higher education in China Transnational education Chinese-foreign cooperative universities University Alliance of the Silk Road Suzhou Industrial Park Dushu Lake Taicang University of Nottingham Ningbo China Duke Kunshan University NYU Shanghai References External links Official website