In 1913, the “WuLi Men” (physics division) was established at Peking University, and this was later renamed the Department of Physics in 1919. With the reorganization of the Chinese system of higher education in 1952, the new Physics Department of Peking University was created from the merger of the physics departments of Peking University, Tsinghua University and Yenching University. This became the premier center for physics in China. The School of Physics was established in 2001, and includes not only the traditional fields of study in physics, but also related physical sciences. Today, the School of Physics includes Physics, Astronomy, Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, and Nuclear Science & Technology and consists of eleven divisions and seven related research institutes, including the State Key Laboratory for Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics and the State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology.
Today, the School of Physics has about 200 faculty and staff, including 15 Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (double employment included), 8 “Qianren” Scholars, 15 “Cheung Kong” Scholars and 21 National Distinguished Young Scholars. There are 3 innovative research groups sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC): QCD & Hadron Physics, Femtosecond Optical Physics & Mesoscopic Optics, and Biological Networks.
The School of Physics grants Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Around 200 undergraduate students and 200 graduate students are admitted each year by the School of Physics (100 for PhD degrees and 100 for Master degrees). Most undergraduate students pursue advanced studies after finishing their Bachelor degrees, and about one-third of them go to leading international universities for their advanced study.
The College consists of two teaching centers（Teaching Center for General Physics 、Teaching Center for Experimental Physics），8 institutes（Institute of Theoretical Physics 、Institute of Condensed Matter and Material Physics 、Institute of Modern Optics 、Institute of Heavy Ion Physics 、Institute of Plasma Physics and Fusion Study、Department of Technical Physics、Department of Astronomy 、Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences），established Electron Microscopy Laboratory、State Key Laboratory for Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics 、State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology 、Beijing Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Engineering 、Center for High Energy Physics 、International Center for Quantum Materials 、Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics 、Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology and other institutes relying on the college, which cover the physical sciences and related key areas，And built a professional laboratory of electron microscope.
Scholars in the School were awarded three National Prizes and two National Science & Technology Progress Awards in the past five years. During this period, the School has more than 300 on-going and completed research projects, including five national basic research programs (“973” projects), seven national high technology research and development programs (“863” projects) and more than 20 key projects of the NSFC. Research funding in the School has progressively increased in recent years。
To study the nature of things in order to acquire knowledge is a mission that the School of Physics, Peking University has undertaken for nearly a hundred years. Today, our school will continue to extend our great scholarly tradition of "Diligence, Rigorousness, Truth, and Innovation". We will make down-to-earth, united and active efforts in order to build our school into a leading institute of physics education and research that not only plays a leading role in China but also exerts an important impact on all over the world.
For more details, please refer to: http://www.phy.pku.edu.cn
