Being one of the most prestigious universities in China, Shandong University（SDU）traces its history to 1901 when it began as Shandong Grand School, the second public school founded in China after the establishment of Beijing Grand School.

In July 2000, the original Shandong University, Shandong Medical University and Shandong University of Technology merged to form the present SDU, a key national multidisciplinary university under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education in China. SDU was among the first group of key institutions of higher learning in China that were granted financial support by the national Project 211, and in February 2001, the university was designated as one of the top-ranking universities and accorded special funds allocated by the central government, which positions the university for greater academic excellence both nationally and internationally.

SDU encompasses 30 academic schools. There are 82,144 students in total, 55,333 are full-time students. Among 7,898 faculty and staff members, 3,631 are teaching and research faculty, which contains 3 academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences and 3 academicians of Chinese Academy of Engineering. Twenty five disciplines are authorized to confer 181 Doctoral programs, 36 disciplines are authorized to confer 253 Masters Programs and 106 undergraduate specialties. Some of its research and education facilities include 15 post-doctoral research stations, 4 state personnel training bases for fundamental science, 6 national key disciplines and 2 national key laboratories.

SDU has been concentrating on international exchange and cooperation and has entered into exchange agreements with over 70 universities from over 50 countries. The university community includes more than 350 foreign teachers, both long-term and short-term, as well as about 1，500 international students from 57 countries and regions.

The University has been committed to carrying out the national strategy of invigorating the country through science and education, and fully using its advantages to achieve the goal of building a university of excellence with national and international recognition.