Hangzhou Normal University started as a teacher training college in 1908. It then went through numerous changes of name before becoming Hangzhou Teachers College in 1978. The merger of six other institutions in 2001 gave it its current shape, and university status was attained in 2007.
There are 27 schools and 80 research centres including the Alibaba Business School, backed by the Alibaba Group, China’s largest e-commerce enterprise founded by the university's English graduate Jack Ma.
There are three campuses, Cangqian, Xiasha and Yuhangshan, with a combined area of around 240 hectares.
It was among the first universities accredited for international students by the China Education Association for International Exchange. It runs centres in conjunction with Middle Tennessee State University and Kharkiv National University and a joint master's with the University of Canberra.
International programmes which are offered in English include international digital trade, computer science and technology, and nursing.
