Tianjin University Opens First International Undergraduate Class in Pharmaceutical Science

On September 16, students from Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, and other countries gathered at the Weijin Road Campus of Tianjin University to attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 international undergraduate cohort of the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (SPST), Faculty of Medicine, Tianjin University. This marks the first international undergraduate class in the school's history.

Attending the ceremony were officials from the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission, the Faculty of Medicine, the Office of International Cooperation, the School of International Education, and the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, along with representatives from Lunan Pharmaceutical Group, faculty members from China and abroad, and all international freshmen. The event was hosted by Xiuyun Liu, Dean of SPST.

In his speech, Zonglei Shen of the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission said that Tianjin is continuing to strengthen its "Study in Tianjin" education brand and improve support for international students. He encouraged the students to immerse themselves in their studies and become young ambassadors for international exchange between China and other countries.

Dong Ming, Vice President of Tianjin University, noted that the university has made steady progress in internationalization in recent years. He said the launch of the international undergraduate class was an innovative step in cultivating global pharmaceutical talent, and that the university will provide comprehensive support to help students deepen their expertise, understand China, and promote international friendship.

Qiang Li, Dean of the School of International Education, outlined the university's support for students, including admissions, preparatory training, and daily management. He encouraged them to build a solid academic foundation, improve their Chinese, follow university rules and regulations, and experience China beyond the classroom.

International faculty representatives and student representatives also shared their expectations and experiences. Benjamin Robert Clark, an international faculty representative, expressed his commitment to supporting students' academic development, while Malaysian student Tang Hui Xin shared her experience at Tianjin University and her hope to promote cultural and technological exchanges between Malaysia and China.

Xiuyun Liu, Dean of SPST, reviewed the school's more than two decades of international education and said that the launch of the first international undergraduate class marks a new chapter in the school's internationalization. She encouraged the students to serve as ambassadors for SPST and as bridges connecting China with the world in pharmaceutical, technological, and cultural exchange.

After the ceremony, the new students gained an in-depth understanding of the school's educational heritage, research strength, and international development journey through panel discussions, a tour of the school's history exhibition, and visits to research platforms.

The School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology at Tianjin University has established China's first full-English bachelor's-master's-doctoral talent training system in pharmacy and has been approved for a "Pharmacy + Artificial Intelligence" dual-degree program. This international undergraduate class is an important initiative supporting global health cooperation and a concrete example of Tianjin's efforts to strengthen the "Study in Tianjin" brand.

By Yu Boyang