Chongqing University is a nationally famed comprehensive key university in China, directly under the State Ministry of Education, also a university listed among the first group of "211 Project" universities gaining preferential support in their construction and development from the Central Government of China. Currently, Chongqing University runs a graduate school and offers a wide range of undergraduate programs covering diverse branches of learning such as sciences, engineering, liberal arts, economics, management,law and education.

Founded in 1929, Chongqing University had become a national comprehensive university consisting of six colleges in liberal arts, science, engineering, law science and medical science early in 1940s, thus earned a prestige both domestic and abroad then for its outstanding performance in schooling. A large number of famous scholars such as Li Siguang, Ma Yinchu, He Lu, etc., have dedicated to the establishment of a solid academic foundation as well as a religious schooling tradition of Chongqing University. In 1952, the nationwide restructuring of higher learning institutions turned Chongqing University into an engineering-orientated multi-disciplinary university under the State Ministry of Education. In 1960, Chongqing University was designated as one of the first key national universities. Since the implementation of reform and opening-up policy in China, Chongqing University has stressed the development of disciplines like humanities, business management, art, sports education, which further speeds up the process of developing itself into a comprehensive institution of higher learning. To suit the needs of higher education development in the 21st century, and to further promote the university's overall strength, in accordance with the State resolution on institutional reform of universities, Chongqing University merged with Chongqing Jianzhu University and Chongqing Architectural College on May 31 2000, forming a new Chongqing University. In maintaining its previous disciplinary advantage in mechanical and electrical engineering, energy, material science, information technology, bioengineering, business administration, the merger upgrades the new Chongqing University's academic status in China in the fields of architecture, civil engineering and environmental protection. For its further construction and development, and with the greater support of the State Ministry of Education and Chongqing Municipal Government in terms of capital investment, the new Chongqing University has readjusted its education philosophy, formulated its development scheme during the tenth "five-year plan" period. Correspondingly, the university has revised its talent-cultivation scheme and teaching program by laying stress on fostering students' innovation ability, improving students' allround quality. Thus, the university has carried out a series of new measures in its teaching reform, including: renowned professors giving lectures for undergraduate students, bilingual teaching project, innovative talent training program, the system for outstanding students to conduct a consecutive study of bachelor's degree and master's degree programs, etc. Besides, the university has perfected its credit system by adding and strengthening the major and minor specialty program, the flexible schooling system, the second-degree program, and the outstanding students training program, etc. The university has also reformed its standards and modes of choosing undergraduate students for conducting postgraduate programs without taking the entrance exam.