The Sichuan University has a long history that dates back to Sichuan Zhong-Xi Xuetang (Sichuan Chinese and Western School), which was established in 1896. At present, SCU has 12 first-class disciplines to grant Doctor’s degree and Master’s degree, 111 second-class disciplines to grant Doctor’s degree, 178 Master programs, 6 specialized degree programs, and 16 post-doctor stations. The 109 bachelor programs cover the major fields in liberal arts, sciences, engineering, medicine and agriculture. SCU has a current student population of more than 70 thousand. Ever since the birth of New China, it has cultivated over 200 thousand students, and therefore it has been identified by the MOE as the Collegiate Cultural Quality Education Base.
 
As one of the national key universities directly under the State Ministry of Education (MOE) as well as one of the State “211 Project” universities enjoying privileged construction in the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, the present Sichuan University (SCU) was first incorporated with Chengdu University of Science and Technology (CUST), another national key university under the MOE in1994, and West China University of Medical Science (WCUMS), a key university directly subordinated to the State Ministry of Health in 2000.

SCU has a competent teaching force. It has a current total staff of 11,357, among whom 969 are professors, 2192 associate professors, 6 academicians of Chinese Academy of Science and Chinese Academy of Engineering, 434 tutors of doctor students, and 17 members of the Academic Degrees Committee and the Discipline Appraisal Group under the State Council. Besides, the university has 14 posts of the "Yangtze River Scholar Award Plan” for specially engaged professors (9 engaged plus 1 lecture professor).

SCU has great potentiality in scientific research. There are in function 2 national key labs, 6 national engineering centers, 5 ministerial (MOE) key labs, 35 provincial key labs, 10 ministerial and provincial centers, 4 key research bases for humanities and social sciences, and 4 clinical research bases at the national level. SCU has undertaken and completed a considerable number of national, ministerial and regional major research projects, and has made many achievements, which are rated first class in China and bear significant international influence.
 
SCU enjoys favorable facilities. The University Library (with 3 sub-divisions), which comprises about 4.8 million volumes, serves as the Collection Center for English Publications under the National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, MOE Information Center for Liberal Arts Literature and CALIS Southwest Sub-center, National University Scientific and Technological Projects and Achievements Consulting Center, and Center for Medical Literature Retrieval in Southwest China as well. The University Museum is the only one of its kind in China with a comprehensive collection of cultural relics over 40,000 pieces, and animal and plant specimens over 600,000 pieces, ranking first in its holdings among the others in China. The University Stadium is fully and sophisticatedly equipped and once served as the main field for the Sixth National Collegiate Sports Meet. Other sub-divisions available are Campus Web Center, Analytic and Testing Center, University Archive Establishment, University Press, National Foreign Language Examination Center, Intensive Language Training Center, 4 attached hospitals, and 1 attached health school. So far the university has published 37 academic periodicals to domestic and overseas subscribers.