Chongqing University is a national famed comprehensive university in China, directly under the Ministry of Education, also a university listed among the group of "211 Project" and "985 Project" universities, gaining preferential support in their construction and development from the Central Government of China.

    Founded in October 1929, and on May 31, 2000, Chongqing University merged with Chongqing Jianzhu University and Chongqing Architectural College, forming a new Chongqing University. In maintaining its previous disciplinary advantage in mechanical and electrical engineering, energy, material science, information technology, bioengineering and business administration, the merger upgrades the new Chongqing University's academic status in the fields of architecture, civil engineering and environmental protection, At present, Chongqing University runs 25 colleges or faculties, plus a Graduate School, the City College, the College of Continuing Education, and the College of Networking Education. The university now has a total enrollment of 57,472 students, among which 12,000 are master and doctor degree candidates.

    Chongqing University has established inter-school exchange links with 32 institutions of higher education in 13 countries such as the U.S, Japan, France, Germany, Canada, South Korea, Russia, etc. Since 1970s, Chongqing University has started to receive self- supported overseas students. It is a university specified by the Ministry of Education to receive overseas students who are granted the Chinese Government Scholarship in the mean time. In 2005, there were more than 130 overseas students enrolled to Chongqing University for study, doing PhD degrees, or Master's degrees, or bachelor's degrees, or just studying Chinese language. These students come from more than 30 countries in the world, including South Korea, Thailand, the U.S, Japan, Vietnam, Syria, Ghana, Yemen, Iraq. In order to attract more overseas students to study here, Chongqing University offers overseas student who are studying at CQU a free basic medical insurance. Meanwhile, Chongqing University has also established "Chongqing University Foreign Students Scholarship" for excellent overseas students.