Shantou University is located in the northern part of the special economic zone of Shantou, a seaside city with attractive scenery.

Founded in the early 1980s, Shantou University's mission is to nurture an aspiring, knowledgeable, determined, and promising elites. Aiming at this goal, with the generous support and assistance of the Li Ka Shing Foundation and government officials at all levels, comprehensive and profound reforms on academic management, human resources, financial system and internal management structure are being pursued by the University, creating an incubating environment for tertiary education of the 21st century, nurturing students with integrity, uprightness, and critical thinking skills so that they are well-suited to the demands of China's development in the new century.

STU Campus Planning: Merging Humanity with Nature:
In line with its student-oriented education mission, Shantou University has started a series of reforms focusing not only on the areas of teaching and learning, finance, management and human resources, but also including the re-planning of the entire campus in order to construct an environment that is conducive to the nurture of creative thinking and a sense of belonging among students. Such reforms and innovations will illustrate the strong academic excellence of the University and its status as a pioneer of reforms among China's leading tertiary institutions.

Herzog and de Meuron, co-winners of the Nobel Prize in Architecture – the Pritzker Architecture Prize 2001, have been commissioned as the chief designers of the campus. The greenery of the campus will be retained, and new space will be created or re-structured from existing resources. The design principles are simplistic and practical with emphasis on aesthetics and functional orientation, constructing a campus space that unites humanity and nature. The emerging building of the new library will mark greet visitors at the new entrance of the University. The major avenue will be re-positioned to become the axis of the campus: the walking avenue footpath will be the "Garden Avenue" with beautiful greenery alongside; and the "Life Essentials Avenue" will be the center of amenities and shopping facilities for students and teachers. The original architecture and facilities of the campus will be revamped in phases so that students and teachers will enjoy a quality space for learning and living.