National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU; Chinese: 國立陽明交通大學) is a national research university in Taipei, Taiwan, and Hsinchu, Taiwan. It was created in 2021 through the merger of National Chiao Tung University and National Yang-Ming University. At present, there are 19 colleges, 74 university/college level research centers, and 1 hospital in Yilan.

NYCU is one of six national universities in research selected by the Ministry of Education. The university is also one of four universities selected by the Ministry of Education to participate in the Global Taiwan Program.

History

The university was established on February 1, 2021, as the result of the merger of National Yang-Ming University (NYMU) in Beitou District, Taipei, and National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) in Hsinchu. NYMU focused on biomedical research and NCTU specialized in electronics research. Biologist Chi-Hung Lin (林奇宏) became the newly-merged university's first president.

The university council of NCTU approved a proposal to merge with NYMU in 2015. The university council of NYMU held a hearing on October 8, 2018, to discuss the possibility of merging with NCTU and initially also considered merging with neighboring National Tsing Hua University (NTHU). On September 27, 2018, NYMU officially began merger proceedings after its university council voted 73 to 89 to merge with either NCTU or NTHU. The university council of NYMU ultimately voted on December 26, 2018, to complete the merger with NCTU under a shared name. Both universities approved to merge into a new shared university, "National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University," in September 2019. The Ministry of Education approved the merger plan on June 24, 2020, and allocated a budget of NT$400 million (US$13.5 million) to complete the merge.

Academic developments after the merger

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, 2023, NYCU’s application to establish a School of Chinese Medicine was 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

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. The affiliation took effect on August 1, 2025, when the school became The Affiliated Chu Pei Senior High School of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University.

Campus Overview

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) and Qingpu Campus (Taoyuan). The Kaohsiung Campus was inaugurated in July 2025. The university also has campuses in Yilan, Zhubei and Tainan.

Lanyang Campus

Address: No. 169, Xiaoshe Rd., Yilan City, Yilan County

Address: No. 52, Xinmin Rd., Yilan City, Yilan County

Home to National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Hospital, a teaching hospital for School of Medicine.

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 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.

Yangming Campus

Address: No. 155, Sec. 2, Lignon Street, Beitou District, Taipei

Former Main Campus of NYMU, mostly hillside.

With nearly 80% of the Yangming campus situated on hillside terrain, the facilities are built along the slopes. Classrooms are located in the teaching building situated midway up the hill, while the track and field is located at the hilltop. This unique layout defines the character of the 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. 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.

Rankings and reputation

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.

Overall rankings

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

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 2024The QS ranking in 2025 is 219th in the world and the 4th in Taiwan.

Rankings by Subject/Area

QS rankings by subject 2023:

QS rankings by broad subject area 2023:

Times Higher Education subject rankings 2023:

Partners health care system

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.

Campus life

Dormitories and guest houses

Student dormitories 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.

Libraries

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.

Varsity Sports Teams

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.

Student Self-Governance

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.

Yang-Ming Crusade

Established in 1978 by Professor Pesus Chou, the Yang-Ming Crusade later became a formal student club and received the 13th Medical Contribution Award in the group category. In its first decade, the organization focused on cervical cancer prevention and health education in the Kinmen. It later transitioned into community-based preventive medicine.

In collaboration with local public health centers, members conducted door-to-door visits to provide blood pressure checks and urine glucose tests for residents, referring those in need to health centers for follow-up care and medical record documentation. Its activities focused on community preventive healthcare.

Research centers

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University has university-level and college-level research centers and R&D units. These include the following:

Center for Healthy Longevity and Aging Sciences

The Center for Healthy Longevity and Aging Sciences, formerly known as the Aging and Health Research Center, is a 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 gerontology researcher affiliated with Taipei Municipal Guandu Hospital.

ICF and assistive technology

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),” an exhibition of assistive technology and care services.

Cancer and Immunology Research Center

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 Rong-Yang team worked on sequencing human chromosome 4. In recent years, the center has gradually shifted its research focus toward cancer and immunology, continuing research collaboration between National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

Advanced Rocket Research Center (ARRC)

The Advanced Rocket Research Center (ARRC) at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) was established in 2012 with support from corporate sponsors and private donations. The founding director was Professor Jong-Shinn Wu, widely known as "Rocket Uncle" (火箭阿伯). ARRC develops sounding rockets and rocket propulsion technology.

Research Center for Open Resources in Higher Education (HERO)

ewant Education Network, developed by HERO, is a 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.

Campus landscape

Yang-Ming Nine Scenes

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. 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 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.

Yuyu Yang sculptures

Located on the Hsinchu Guangfu Campus, the connection between National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) and sculptor Yuyu Yang (Yang Ying-Feng) began with the installation of The Wisdom of the Universe (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, support aesthetic education.

The university museum lists the following twelve works in addition to The Wisdom of the Universe: 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) The museum describes The Wisdom of the Universe as an original and reports that the other works in this group are reproductions despite labels identifying them as originals.

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, bringing the museum’s list to fourteen works. 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.

Эх сурвалж: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)