The school was established in 2001 by the merger of the former Nanjing University of Chemical Technology and the former Nanjing Institute of Architecture and Engineering. Its origins can be traced back to the Sanjiang Normal School founded in 1902, and later through the historical periods of Liangjiang Normal School, Nanjing Higher Normal School, National Southeast University, National Fourth Sun Yat-sen University, Jiangsu University, National Central University, National Nanjing University, Nanjing University, Nanjing Institute of Technology and Nanjing Institute of Chemical Technology. Another source can be traced back to the establishment of the Pilot Department by Tongji Medical Engineering School in 1915, and then through the historical periods such as the Advanced Vocational School Attached to National Tongji University, the Advanced Industrial Vocational School Attached to National Tongji University, the Tongji Advanced Industrial School, and the Nanjing Architecture and Engineering School.