Situated in Guangzhou, “City of Flowers”, South China Agricultural University (SCAU) listed in the Double First-Class Initiative of China. SCAU enjoys pleasant environment. It covers a vast land of about 550 hectares with a total construction area of 1.4 million square meters.

The history of SCAU can be traced back to the Guangdong Agricultural Experimental Station and Training Center founded in 1909. In 1952, South China Agricultural College was founded through the merger of the Agricultural College of National Sun Yat-Sen University, the Agricultural College of Lingnan University , and Veterinary Medicine Department & Pest Pathology Department of Guangxi University, directly affiliated to the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (MOA). Chairman MAO Zedong autographed the original name. In 1984, South China Agricultural College was renamed South China Agricultural University and was transferred to the administration of Guangdong Province in 2000. In 2015 it was selected for the Key-Cultivated High-Level University Project of Guangdong Province, and in 2022 it is listed in the Double World-Class Project initiated by the Ministry of Education of China. The Chairman of the SCAU Committee is Prof. LI Fengliang and the President is Prof. XUE Hongwei.

SCAU is a comprehensive university with agricultural science and life science as its advantages, and the coordinated development of multiple disciplines such as agriculture, engineering, science, literature, history, economics, management, law, art and philosophy. SCAU has 3343 employees, amongst 2328 are full-time teachers. There are 25 colleges (departments). Full-time students total 50,000+, comprising more than 37,000 undergraduates and 13,000 graduates. We offer 95 undergraduate programs, 13 first-level disciplines authorized for doctoral degrees and 30 first-level disciplines authorized for master's degrees.

According to the latest ESI data, Plant and Animal Science, Agricultural Sciences of SCAU rank among Global Top 1‰; 14 disciplines including Chemistry, Materials Science, Microbiology, Environment/Ecology, Biology & Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Genetics, Engineering, Immunology, Computer Science, Pharmacology & Toxicology, Social Sciences, General and Clinical Medicine are listed among the Global Top 1%.

The university gives a strong focus on scientific research, boasting 3 academicians, 14 national research platforms, and 123 provincial and ministerial research platforms. In recent years, the university has won 16 national science and technology awards (comprising the State Natural Science Award, the State Technological Invention Award, and the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award).

Here are our position in major international Rankings:

-No.301-400 in ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities 2025

-Agriculture & Forestry ranked No. 28 in the QS Ranking by Subject 2025

-Veterinary Sciences ranked No. 11 in the ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024

-Agriculture Sciences ranked No. 18 in the ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024

-Food Science and Technology ranked No. 23 in the ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024

The university attaches great importance to international exchange and cooperation. It has signed agreements or MOU with more than 160 renowned universities and research institutions from 48 countries and regions. Guangzhou Dublin International College of Life Sciences and Technology at South China Agricultural University (GDIC), approved by the Ministry of Education of China, is officially inaugurated in 2020. SCAU joined the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance, took the lead in establishing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance for Plant Scientists, and strengthens the academic exchanges with universities in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. It proposed the establishment of the China-Latin America Agricultural Education and Research Innovation Alliance (CLAERIA) in 2020 and so far, 74 universities and research institutions from China and 14 Latin American countries have joined the Alliance. With the support of Center for Language Education and Cooperation, SCAU have joint built the world’s first Chinese Language and Agricultural Science and Technology Development Centers with partners from Brazil and Mexico. 

In the new era, South China Agricultural University will uphold the university motto of Integrity, Erudition, Practicality, Innovation and endeavor to fully shape itself into a world-class university with agricultural characteristics.

(Updated in September 2025)