南开大学是教育部直属重点综合性大学，是敬爱的周恩来总理的母校。学校肇始于1904年，成立于1919年，由近代爱国教育家严修、张伯苓秉承教育救国理念创办。1937年校园遭侵华日军炸毁，学校南迁，与北京大学、清华大学组建国立长沙临时大学，1938年迁至昆明改名为国立西南联合大学。1946年回津复校并改为国立。 新中国成立以来，学校发展始终得到党和国家的亲切关怀。毛泽东主席题写校名、亲临视察；周恩来总理三回母校指导；邓小平同志会见数学大师陈省身，批示成立南开数学研究所；江泽民同志、胡锦涛同志先后视察南开。特别是党的十八大以来，习近平总书记多次对南开的发展给予肯定，并对相关工作回信和勉励，更在百年校庆之际亲临南开视察。 1952年全国高等学校院系调整后，学校成为文理并重的全国重点大学。改革开放以来，经教育部与天津市共建支持，学校发展成为国家“211工程”和“985工程”重点建设的综合性研究型大学。2015年9月，新校区建成启用后，初步形成了八里台校区、津南校区、泰达校区“一校三区”办学格局。2017年9月，学校入选国家“双一流”建设高校。 学校坚持“允公允能，日新月异”的校训，弘扬“爱国、敬业、创新、乐群”的传统和“文以治国、理以强国、商以富国”的理念，以“知中国，服务中国”为宗旨，以杰出校友周恩来为楷模，作育英才，繁荣学术，强国兴邦，传承文明，努力建设世界一流大学。 学校占地443.12万平方米，其中八里台校区占地121.60万平方米，津南校区占地245.89万平方米，泰达校区占地6.72万平方米。校舍建筑总面积202.17万平方米。 学校是国内学科门类齐全的综合性、研究型大学之一，在长期办学过程中，形成了文理并重、基础宽厚、突出应用与创新的办学特色。学校有专业学院29个，学科门类覆盖文、史、哲、经、管、法、理、工、农、医、教、艺等。有国家“双一流”建设学科6个，一级学科国家重点学科6个（覆盖35个二级学科），二级学科国家重点学科9个，一级学科天津市重点学科32个。在全球学科评价体系中，前1%学科18个，材料科学、工程科学和环境科学与生态学进入前1‰，化学进入前1‱。

Since its founding in 1919, Nankai University has forged a strong academic reputation. Known as the alma mater of the esteemed Premier Zhou Enlai, it has gathered many academic leaders over the years and inspired generations of students, building a model for higher education in China. Committed to making an impact on society, the university has achieved significant results that have contributed to substantial socio-economic benefits. At Nankai University, the emphasis on public values, capabilities and innovation is at the core of its educational mission. The university provides a quality environment for over 30,000 students, offering the broadest range of disciplines, allowing them ample freedom for academic exploration. The university actively encourages its world-class researchers to participate in undergraduate teaching, resulting in many popular and well-received classes. Now Nankai University comprises 29 colleges, covering a wide array of disciplines, including literature, history, philosophy, economics, management, law, science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, education, arts, etc. Nankai University boasts 6 disciplines (chemistry, material science and engineering, mathematics, statistics, world history and applied economics) selected for the national Double First-Class initiative, 6 first-level disciplines (covering 35 second-level disciplines) designated as national key disciplines, 9 second-level national key disciplines, and 32 first-level key disciplines in Tianjin. In global discipline evaluation systems, 18 of its disciplines rank within the top 1%, with chemistry, materials science, engineering, and environment/ecology placing in the top 0.1% and chemistry placing in the top 0.01%. With 84 undergraduate programs, 39 first-level disciplines authorized to offer master’s degree programs and 33 spots for offering professional master’s degree, 33 first-level disciplines authorized to offer doctoral degree programs and 7 spots for offering professional doctoral degree, Nankai University has one of the most comprehensive academic programs in the country. Being able to participate in research innovations, Nankai’s undergraduates have won numerous competitions. They are also encouraged to pursue entrepreneurship, and are provided with opportunities to secure funding for their startups.