On March 12, the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject were released. The discipline of mathematical sciences of Tsinghua University has soared from the 96th position in 2009, when the mathematical sciences center was first established, to the 11th place in the latest 2025 rankings, making it the highest-ranked mathematics program among Chinese universities around the globe.
As remarked by Professor Shing-Tung Yau, Director of the Tsinghua University Yau Mathematical Sciences Center and Dean of Qiuzhen College, “After sixteen years of dedicated efforts, the mathematics program of Tsinghua University has eventually reached the 11th place globally, which is indeed a remarkable achievement. The introduction of world-class faculty and the outstanding students recruited by Qiuzhen College have each played a crucial role, and success could not be achieved without either of the above factors. Amid the increasingly fierce competition of scientific and technological progress in contemporary days, technological advancements are equivalent to castles built on sand without a solid foundation in mathematical sciences.”
Established in December 2009, the Tsinghua University Mathematical Sciences Center appointed the world-renowned mathematician Shing-Tung Yau as its director. Under his leadership, the center has made remarkable progress in attracting top-tier talent, cultivating outstanding mathematicians, conducting high-level studies, and developing the mathematics discipline. The center now boasts two Fields Medal winners, four academicians, and varying studies across six major fields, establishing itself as a world-class institution in terms of mathematical research. Under the guidance of Professor Yau and other top international scholars, the discipline of mathematical sciences of Tsinghua University has reached unprecedented heights. In 2024, scholars at the center published over 160 research papers, including three in top journals including Advances in Mathematics and Annals of Mathematics, achieving groundbreaking advancements in multiple research fields and positioning China as a major force in the global mathematical community.
At the end of 2020, the “Shing-Tung Yau Mathematical Sciences Leaders Program” (referred to as “the Program”) was approved and implemented at Tsinghua University. In April 2021, Qiuzhen College was established to select and nurture students with exceptional mathematical talent from around the globe. The college admits no more than 100 students annually and follows a unique “3+2+3” integrated training model throughout eight years of studying from undergraduate to PhD, pioneering a new approach to mathematics and applied mathematics education. Over the past four years, Professor Yau, along with Professor Caucher Birkar and other world-class educators, has mentored Qiuzhen College students, who have demonstrated extraordinary capabilities. Numerous students in their third or fourth undergraduate year have already passed their PhD qualification exams, showcasing their strong academic proficiency.
With the vision of “cultivating world-class mathematicians”, Professor Yau has spearheaded a comprehensive, multi-faceted talent development system, including: the Shing-Tung Yau High School Mathematics Award, which aims to foster interest and innovative capacity among high school students; the Shing-Tung Yau University Student Mathematics Competition, which aims to evaluate undergraduate students’ professional knowledge, expertise and capabilities; the Shing-Tung Yau Female High School Student Mathematics Competition, which is designed to encourage more female students to pursue mathematical sciences; the Best Paper Award (formerly the New World Mathematics Award), which recognizes outstanding research made by young ethnic Chinese mathematicians and inspires the spirit of innovation; awards for young mathematicians at the International Congress of Chinese Mathematicians; outstanding contributions in fundamental sciences worldwide showcased at the International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS). Through the framework of stimulating interest in high school students, strengthening foundation in undergraduate mathematical studies, and encouraging research innovation at the graduate level, Tsinghua University has established a unique training model oriented towards driving comprehensive reform in mathematics education in China, from high school to university.
