Nanjing University is an institution of higher learning with a long history and outstanding reputation. Its predecessor was Sanjiang Normal School, which was founded in 1902. After that, it was renamed Nanjing University in 1950 after historical periods such as Liangjiang Normal School, Nanjing Higher Normal School, National Southeast University, National Fourth Sun Yat-sen University, National Central University and National Nanjing University. In 1952, in the adjustment of colleges and departments in colleges and universities across the country, Nanjing University adjusted some departments such as engineering, agronomy and normal education, and then merged with the School of Arts and Science of Jinling University, which was founded in 1888, and was still named Nanjing University. The school site was moved from Sipailou to the original site of Gulou Jinda.

In the course of running a school for more than a century, Nanjing University and its predecessors shared the same fate with the times and the nation, striving for the prosperity of the country and the progress of science and education, and made important contributions to the prosperity of the country and the rejuvenation of the nation. Especially since the reform and opening-up, Nanjing University, as a key comprehensive university directly under the Ministry of Education, has shown new vitality in the brand-new historical opportunity. It has been selected as the first batch of national "211 Project" and "985 Project" construction sequences, the first batch of national "double-first-class" construction universities, and the first batch of national dual-innovation demonstration bases, and has always been in the first phalanx of China University, gaining recognized social influence and academic reputation.