National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (Chinese: 國立陽明交通大學; NYCU) is a public research university located in East District, Hsinchu City, Taiwan. It was established on February 1, 2021, through the merger of National Chiao Tung University (originally founded in 1896, re-established in Taiwan in 1958) and National Yang-Ming University (founded in 1975). NYCU offers a comprehensive range of academic disciplines across the fields of science and engineering, medicine, and the humanities, and is organized into 20 colleges.^[8]

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) is headquartered at the Guangfu Campus in Hsinchu. The university operates with a dual main campus system: the Guangfu Campus in Hsinchu and the Yangming Campus in Taipei. NYCU also maintains several other campuses, including the Beimen Campus in Taipei, the Liujia and Bo’ai Campuses in Hsinchu, the Tainan Campus, and the Lanyang Campus in Yilan, which houses the NYCU hospital. Including planned expansions in Shilin, Taipei, and Qingpu, Taoyuan,^[9] NYCU’s campus network spans ten locations across six cities and counties in Taiwan.

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) is one of four universities—along with National Taiwan University, National Cheng Kung University, and National Tsing Hua University—selected by the Ministry of Education for the Globalink Program under the Higher Education SPROUT Project. NYCU is also a member of the University System of Taiwan (UST), which includes National Tsing Hua University, National Central University, and National Chengchi University.

The idea of merging National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) can be traced back to 1998–2000, although the earliest initiative toward integration was led by National Tsing Hua University (NTHU). At the time, National Yang-Ming University (NYMU), Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and NTHU had already established long-standing collaborations in biomedical research. In 1998, then-NYMU President Luke S. Chang proposed the concept of a university merger to NTHU President David Chung-Laung Liu.

On November 24, 1999, NTHU formally established a merger task force, led by Vice President Chen Hsin-Hsiung. Meanwhile, National Taiwan University (NTU) was planning to establish a hospital in Zhubei, sparking intense public discussion about healthcare accessibility in the Hsinchu area and creating a biomedical science park.

Given that neither NTHU nor National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) had a medical school, and that NYMU was also interested in establishing a hospital, former NYMU President Ovid J. L. Tzeng, upon becoming Minister of Education (MOE) in 2000, quickly facilitated a consensus among the three university presidents. A federated “university system,” modeled after the University of California, was proposed.

This system would include a joint headquarters and a new campus in Hsinchu, co-developed with the National Health Research Institutes while maintaining each university's existing campuses.^[10]After years of discussions among the three universities, NCTU moved ahead with a merger independently with NYMU, while NTHU turned its focus to establishing a medical school in partnership with Mackay Memorial Hospital. In March 2001, the merger was ultimately shelved due to insufficient support from NCTU's University Affairs Meeting.

Although the merger discussions around 2000 did not come to fruition, they planted the seeds for future integration. In 2015, several universities—including NTHU, NCTU, and National Chengchi University (NCCU)—renewed their interest in deepening collaboration and exploring merger possibilities with then-NYMU President Liang Kung-Yee. Considering the history of past discussions and the institutions' complementary strengths, Liang prioritized resuming talks with NCTU.^[11]Although the merger appeared imminent, inadequate communication left many faculty and students unaware of its background, ultimately causing the merger to fail.^[12]

Roughly a year after the failed merger, NYMU appointed alumnus and former Director-General of the Centers for Disease Control, Steve Hsu-Sung Kuo, as president. Kuo’s earlier openness to a merger with NTHU, combined with positive assessments from the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education SPROUT Project, helped create renewed momentum for advancing the merger.

In 2018, NYMU failed to qualify for the Global Taiwan Whole-School program under the Higher Education SPROUT Project. The evaluation cited the university’s relatively small size and biomedical focus, with a weak presence in science, engineering, and humanities, which restricted its potential to become an international top-tier institution. In response, the NYMU University Affairs Meeting authorized President Steve Hsu-Sung Kuo to convene the Mid-to Long-Term Strategic Planning Task Force. During the summer, the Task Force visited NCTU, NTHU, where the possibility of a merger was reconsidered as a strategic option for the university’s future development.^[13]

Based on the Task Force’s report, NYMU’s University Affairs Meeting on September 26 approved the initiation of the merger process, with NTHU and NCTU expressing interest in participation.^[14] On November 28, NCTU’s Extraordinary University Affairs Meeting approved a unilateral letter of intent to merge with NYMU, reaffirming the name “National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University.” This decision played a pivotal role in NYMU’s subsequent decision, a month later, to prioritize merging with NCTU.^[15]

On June 24, 2020, the Ministry of Education (MOE) completed its review and forwarded the merger plan to the Executive Yuan.^[16] On August 12, NYMU and NCTU jointly announced that both institutions had approved the establishment of the new “National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University,” to be officially founded on February 1, 2021.^[17] On January 10, 2021, the selection committee appointed Lin Chi-Hung as the inaugural president of NYCU.^[18]

New Units

To promote liberal education, a reform of general education was carried out in 2021, merging the Center for Human Sciences, Center for Physical Education and Sports, Arts Center, and Sustainable and Peer Education Center into a new first-level administrative unit called the “Liberal Arts College.

In line with the “Innovation Act for Industry-Academia Collaboration and Talent Cultivation in National Key Fields,” which allows national universities to jointly establish research institutes with industry partners, NYCU became Taiwan’s first university to establish an Industry-Academia Innovation School with enterprises. The School includes the Institute of Pioneer Semiconductor Innovation and the Institute of Artificial Intelligence Innovation.

To support the government’s space technology initiatives, the Ministry of Science and Technology began discussions with NYCU in 2021 on the feasibility of establishing a space research institute. In 2023, the College of Engineering officially launched the Institute of Space Systems Engineering, focusing on satellite and communications systems, rocket systems, and systems engineering management and applications. On August 31, NYCU’s fourth application to establish a School of Chinese Medicine was finally approved by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare through additional enrollment quotas. The School began admitting students in 2024, making NYCU the first national university in Taiwan to offer a Chinese medicine program.”

In September 2023, NYCU launched the Electronics and Photonics Post-Undergraduate Second Degree Program to equip non-STEM graduates for the semiconductor industry. With sponsorship from TSMC, the university integrated its Undergraduate Honors Program in Nano Science and Engineering to establish the Department of Microelectronics, comprising two programs: Solid-State Electronics and Nano-Sciences. The first cohort enrolled in September 2024.

Affiliated Senior High School

In 2023, NYCU invited National Chu Pei Senior High School to affiliate as its High School. Chu-pei High approved the proposal during its January 2024 school affairs meeting, and the two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on April 29. The MOU and affiliation assessment report were then submitted to the MOE for review, officially initiating the legal process for affiliation. Chu-pei High plans to rename “The Affiliated Chu Pei Senior High School of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University” in 2025.

The Yangming Campus in Taipei and the Guangfu Campus in Hsinchu are the two largest campuses of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. Several additional campuses are either under construction or in the planning stage, including the Shilin Campus (Taipei), Qingpu Campus (Taoyuan), and Kaohsiung Campus. The basic information for each campus, listed from north to south, is as follows.

• Lanyang Campus

The Lanyang Campus is home to the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Hospital, which comprises the Lanyang Branch and the Xinmin Branch, serving as the teaching hospital for the university’s medical-related departments. Originally known as “Yilan Hospital” under the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, the facility was reorganized in 2008 to become the “National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Hospital,” ending its affiliation with the Department of Health and its management by Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Initially, the Xinmin Branch functioned as the main facility. However, following the opening of the Lanyang Branch in 2016, it became the primary medical service provider. In late 2023, a second-phase expansion project was launched on the parking lot behind the Lanyang Branch, featuring facilities such as a medical building and a teaching and research building, with completion expected in 2027.

• Yangming Campus

The campus was originally established with the support of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, following the directive of then Minister of National Defense Chiang Ching-kuo to train medical professionals. It became Taiwan’s first national medical school founded after World War II and was also the site where human chromosome 4 was decoded. The Rong-Yang Tunnel connects the campus directly to Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Today, the campus serves as the academic and research base for NYCU’s medical-related departments, housing the School of Medicine, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, College of Nursing, College of Life Sciences, College of Dentistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Shilin Campus

Located near the Shilin Official Residence, the Shilin Campus held its groundbreaking ceremony in 2018. The plan envisioned a building with six floors above ground and two underground, intended to house an Innovation Incubation Center along with related teaching and research units.

• Beimen Campus

A defining feature of the Beimen Campus is its location within the historic Taipei Beimen Post Office, a designated municipal heritage site. Completed in 1930 and designed by architect Kuriyama Shunichi (栗山俊一), the building is now shared by Chunghwa Post’s Beimen Branch and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. Beimen Campus currently serves as the teaching and research base for the Institute of Business and Management and the Department of Transportation and Logistics Management under the College of Management.

• Qingpu Campus

On April 16, 2019, the Taoyuan City Government and National Chiao Tung University signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Taoyuan Educational R&D and Medical Park. Located just a five-minute walk from Taoyuan Metro’s A19 Taoyuan Sports Park Station, the Qingpu Campus spans 2.7 hectares and has been designated as the site for the park. Future plans include establishing a Global Business School, a School of Healthcare Development, and a hospital with medical center-level capabilities.

• Liujia Campus

Designed by architect Hsieh Ying-chun, the Liujia Campus features a distinctive circular “Hakka round house,” reflecting traditional Hakka architectural styles. This building is known as the home of the College of Hakka Studies, founded around 2000 as part of a government initiative to advance Hakka-oriented higher education. In addition to the round house, the campus includes two historical buildings: Xiaowen Auditorium, which supports academic research and hosts visiting scholars, and Zhongxiao Hall, which functions as a venue for workshops, salons, and static exhibitions.

• Bo’ai Campus

The Bo’ai Campus was the original site of National Chiao Tung University’s re-establishment in Taiwan in 1958. It is also where Taiwan’s first transistor was developed, marking it as one of the earliest birthplaces of the nation’s semiconductor industry. The land was acquired by the government, and the first building was constructed with support from the alumni association as well as U.S. aid. This building, now known as Chu-Ming Building, was named after the courtesy name of former university president Ling Hong-Xun.

The Bo’ai Campus currently serves as the primary base for the College of Engineering Bioscience and as a central hub for the university’s research involving laboratory animals. It also houses the simulation ward of the Smart Healthcare Research Center. The Chu-Ming Hospital, funded through alumni donations, is currently under construction. According to the Bo’ai Campus Revitalization Plan, the campus will become the leading center for NYCU’s engineering biology and smart healthcare initiatives.

• Guangfu Campus

As NYCU’s main campus and official address, Guangfu Campus is strategically located near the Hsinchu Science Park, the Industrial Technology Research Institute, the National Center for High-performance Computing, and the Taiwan Space Agency, the campus plays a central role in advancing Taiwan’s tech industry and fostering industry-academia collaboration. The campus currently houses the College of Engineering, College of Management, College of Science, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, School of Law, College of Computer Science, International College of Semiconductor Technology, and the Industry-Academia Innovation School.

At the early stage of its re-establishment in Taiwan, National Chiao Tung University was based at the Boai Campus. Due to limited space, the university considered relocating to the shores of Chengcing Lake in Kaohsiung. After several unsuccessful negotiations, Premier Chiang Ching-kuo’s remark, “Science is also national defense,” prompted the Army to offer the Weiwuying military base as the new campus site—what is now known as the Guangfu Campus.

• Gueiren Campus

Also known as the Tainan Campus, the Gueiren Campus is located within the Shalun Green Energy Science City. As the first institution set up in the science city, NYCU currently houses the College of Photonics and the College of Artificial Intelligence. The campus currently comprises two main buildings: the Chimei Building and the Zhiyuan Building. Jointly donated by Chimei Optoelectronics and CHIMEI Corporation, the Chimei Building serves as the primary venue for academic instruction. The Zhiyuan Building, reopened in 2020, is dedicated to vertically integrated industry-academia collaboration. In 2024, Wistron and Phison Electronics donated two additional industry-academia buildings.

• Kaohsiung Campus

On January 2, 2024, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-Mai announced in a press conference that NYCU’s Kaohsiung Campus would be established at the existing Garden Villa Kaohsiung and the Civil Service Development Institute. Located beside Lotus Pond in Zuoying, the site has been designated by the Kaohsiung City Government as the National Inter-University Research and Education Park, which will also host the campus for National Tsing Hua University. NYCU’s Kaohsiung Campus was officially inaugurated on July 4, 2025, in a ceremony attended by Premier Cho Jung-Tai and Mayor Chen Chi-Mai. While the Guangfu Campus in Hsinchu focuses on academic and research development, the Kaohsiung Campus is dedicated to continuing education and part-time programs, with an emphasis on cultivating talent to meet the needs of local industries.

The National Chiao Tung University (the predecessor of the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University) was considered one of the top-tier universities in Taiwan.

In the 2021 Academic Ranking of World Universities rankings, the university ranked 401st – 500th in the world and 3rd - 6th in Taiwan.^[26] The 2023 QS World University Rankings ranked the university 202nd in the world, 47th in Asia, and 3rd in Taiwan.^[27] The 2023 Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked the university 501st – 600th in the world.^[28] The 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking ranked the university 587th in the world, and 3rd in Taiwan.^[29]

NYCU reached 401st-500th under The World University Ranking in 2024, 50th place in the world and 2nd in Taiwan under The Impact Ranking 2024, 49th place in The Young University Ranking in the world and 1st in Taiwan in 2024. The QS ranking in 2025 is 219th in the world and the 4th in Taiwan.

QS rankings by subject 2023:

QS rankings by broad subject area 2023:

Times Higher Education subject rankings 2023:

Residence halls are available at the Yangming Campus (Taipei), Guangfu Campus (Hsinchu), Boai Campus (Hsinchu), and Gueiren Campus (Tainan). Specifically, the Yangming Campus offers 7 dormitory buildings, the Guangfu Campus 12, the Boai Campus 6, and the Gueiren Campus 1. Room types vary from single to quadruple occupancy.

NYCU’s two main libraries are located in the Library, Information and Research Building on the Taipei Yangming Campus and the Chiaotung Campus Library on the Hsinchu Guangfu Campus. In addition, reading rooms are available at the Beimen Campus in Taipei, the Liujia Campus in Hsinchu, the Gueiren Campus in Tainan, and the NYCU hospital in Yilan. Book circulation services are accessible across all campuses.

As a member of the University System of Taiwan (UST), NYCU also offers interlibrary borrowing and return services in collaboration with National Tsing Hua University, National Central University, and National Chengchi University. The Space for Yang-Ming Memories and the NYCU Museum, located within the two main libraries, are dedicated spaces for preserving and presenting the university's history.

In cooperation with the Taipei City Hospital System and National Chengchi University, the three institutions formed a health care system which covers medical education, healthcare, and management.

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University fields varsity teams in ten sports, including basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis, table tennis, baseball, soccer, track and field, swimming, and archery. In addition, students from the Yang Ming Campus participate in the Medical Cup with dedicated teams in basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis, table tennis, and soccer.

The university-wide student self-governance body, the NYCU Student Association, was established on February 1, 2021, through the merger of the Chiaotung Branch (formerly the Student Union of National Chiao Tung University) and the Yangming Branch (formerly the Student Association of National Yang-Ming University). Prior to the official merger of the two universities, both student associations collaboratively drafted a unified organizational charter to ensure a smooth transition of student governance.

According to the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Regulations on Establishing and Advising Student Self-Governing Organizations and in the spirit of branch-level autonomy, the Yangming and Chiaotung Branch independently manage student affairs within their respective campuses.

Established in 1978 by Professor Pesus Chou, the Yang-Ming Crusade was originally known as the Yang-Ming Crusade Club—has been recognized with a Medical Contribution Award. In its first decade, the organization focused on cervical cancer prevention and health education in Kinmen. It later transitioned into community-based preventive medicine.

Originally launched as an athletic competition between National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) and National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), the Meichu Games are held annually from late February to early March. Events span a wide range of sports, including board games, basketball, volleyball, soccer, table tennis, badminton, baseball, bridge, tennis, and more. Since the first Meichu Games in 1969, the Games have evolved into a major annual highlight for both universities.

The Yangmingshan Grand Traverse is an annual event co-organized by the university’s Mountain Climbing Club and the school administration, typically held in April or May. The event features traverse routes that span the main hiking trails of Yangmingshan National Park. Faculty and students can choose from routes of varying difficulty levels based on their physical fitness.

The Campus Run was first held in 2005 by the former National Chiao Tung University, with the Guangfu Campus serving as the race venue. Participants originally completed two laps totaling approximately 4.4 kilometers. In 2013, the route was modified: the first lap follows the campus perimeter road, while the second lap extends to include the Western Campus Area, increasing the total distance to about 5 kilometers.

The Arts Festival was first launched in 2000 by the former National Chiao Tung University and is organized annually by the university’s Arts Center. Each year features a unique program with diverse content, including lectures, theater performances, and art exhibitions.

The Jacaranda Awards is a university-level competition at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University that encourages student participation in literary and artistic creation. The awards include categories for literature, photography, and film. The literature category is further divided into poetry, prose, and novel subcategories. Award-winning works are exhibited annually in March at the Yang Ming campus.

The Center for Healthy Longevity and Aging Sciences, formerly known as the Aging and Health Research Center, is a key research institute at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University dedicated to addressing the challenges of an aging society. The center is led by Dr. Liang-Kung Chen, a renowned gerontology expert and the current Superintendent of Taipei Municipal Guandu Hospital.

Research Center on International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and Assistive Technology (RICFAT) is a national-level assistive technology resource and promotion center established under the commission of Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare. The center organizes the annual “Assistive Technology for Life (ATLife),” which is currently the largest technology care exhibition in Taiwan.

Originally established in 2000 as the Rong-Yang Genomics Research Center, a collaboration between Taipei Veterans General Hospital and the former National Yang-Ming University, it was one of the earliest genomics research centers in Taiwan. The center was founded following the announcement by the Rong-Yang team on May 8, 2000, of the successful sequencing of ten million base pairs on human chromosome 4—a landmark achievement in Taiwan's genomic research. In recent years, the center has gradually shifted its research focus toward cancer and immunology, becoming one of the most important collaborative research centers between National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

ewant Education Network, developed by HERO, is Taiwan’s largest and leading Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform, offering diverse courses for the general public and AP-style self-directed learning programs for senior high school students.

Located on the Hsinchu Guangfu Campus, the connection between National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) and renowned sculptor Yuyu Yang (Yang Ying-Feng) began with the installation of Enlightenment (緣慧潤生) in 1996, commemorating the centennial anniversary of National Chiao Tung University. Building on this relationship, the university collaborated with the Yuyu Yang Art Education Foundation to establish the Yuyu Yang Art Research Center, aiming to advance the study of Yang’s artistic philosophy and works, foster aesthetic education, and enhance the unique value of Taiwanese art.

The Guangfu Campus also features 13 additional sculptures by Yang, including Justice (正氣), Bright Moon (明月), Seagull (海鷗), Soaring Dragon Offering Auspice (翔龍獻瑞), Flowing Sleeves (水袖), Sprouting Life (茁生), Favorable Weather (風調雨順), Dragon Ode (龍賦), Phoenix Soaring to the Sky (鳳凌霄漢), Morning Light of Nanshan (南山晨曦), Dragon Roar into the Void (龍嘯太虛), and Tower of Dreams (夢之塔) — totaling 13 works on campus. Although these sculptures are labeled as original works, they are reportedly reproductions.

The sculpture Advent of the Phoenix (鳳凰來儀), located in front of the National Chiao Tung University Library on the Guangfu Campus, is also one of Yuyu Yang’s creations. In addition, the university has curated and documented prominent campus landscapes, organizing into two thematic collections: the Eight Scenic Spots of the Library and the Sixteen Scenic Spots of Chiao Tung University.

During the redevelopment of the Guangfu Campus in 1978, plans were made to construct an artificial lake. Completed the following year, the lake was named “Zhuhu” (Bamboo Lake) in honor of former university president Hung-Hsun Ling, whose courtesy name was Zhumin (竹銘). Over time, Bamboo Lake has become an iconic landmark of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University—a favorite place for nearby residents to stroll, and a popular gathering spot for students.

Located next to the College of Computer Science near Engineering Building 3 on the Hsinchu Guangfu Campus, this Computer Pioneer Ox Cart Statue commemorates a historic moment in 1962, when Taiwan’s first vacuum tube computer—the IBM 650—was transported from Keelung Port to National Chiao Tung University in Hsinchu.^[35]

Before the university merger, faculty and students of National Yang-Ming University voted to select nine iconic campus landmarks, known collectively as the Yang-Ming Nine Scenes. These include: Battleship Rock, Banyan Park, Han Garden, the Mountain-top Sports Ground and Wooden Walkway, the Pedestrian Zone in Front of the Auditorium, Alternate Dimension, Space for Yang-Ming Memories, Art Gallery, and Shennongpo.

The large granite stone inscribed with the name of “National Yang-Ming University” stands in Banyan Park, was a gift from the Kinmen County Government in appreciation of the Yang-Ming Crusade’s dedicated service. It was transported to Taiwan by naval ship at the time.^[35] Han Garden serves as the memorial site (cenotaph) for the late university president Paul Han, and features an inscription of eight Chinese characters: “Not to be served, but to serve.”

Shen Nong Po, located along a hillside path beside the 1st Men’s Dormitory, features large Chinese characters carved into a cliffside boulder in 1978 by a campus worker named Ao-Han Deng. The inscription encourages students to embody the spirit of Shennong, who tasted hundreds of herbs to heal and save others.^[35]

Located on the Liujia Campus in Hsinchu, Xiaowen Auditorium and Zhongxiao Hall were designated as historic buildings by Hsinchu County in 2007. These structures are part of the Liujia Ancient Houses, originally established around 1749 (the 14th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign during the Qing Dynasty).

The site traces its origins to Lin Sun-Chang, who migrated from Raoping, Guangdong to Taiwan, where his descendants gradually established the Lin clan settlement. Xiaowen Auditorium also served as the former residence of Lin Bao-Ren, a former magistrate of Hsinchu County. Although ownership rests with the Hsinchu County Government, the buildings are currently maintained and managed by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University.^[35]

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