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.
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 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.
In 2015, the China Academy of Financial Inclusion was established at Renmin University. The academy is a government think-tank tasked with developing financial inclusion mechanisms for China.
On 25 October 2017, Renmin University established a Xi Jinping Thought research center, the first of its kind.:29
On 25 May 2024, Renmin University opened The Research Center for Shiology. The current director is Liu Guangwei, the founder of Shiology and director-general of the World Shiology Forum.
Rural Reconstruction Center
The 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.
Campuses
The university currently has two active campuses, one campus under construction and one former campus.[needs update]
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.
Quadrangle in front of Number 2 Teaching Building.
East campus under construction in July 2018
The English Corner by day
Cultural tradition
The rock holding the engraved motto of the university, "seeking truth from facts"
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 10000m from 1993 with a time of 29:31:78.
Liang Yan – National Women's volleyball team member
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.
↑Studdart, Amy (16 June 2017). "How China Sees the World in the Age of Trump". Medium. I'm back in beautiful Stockholm for the 10th anniversary of the Stockholm China Forum where I just concluded an interview with Shi Yinhong, professor at Renmin University.
.jpg)
