Founded in 1905 and located in Shanghai, China, Fudan University takes its name from the classic Chinese text Shangshu Dazhuan, which reads "the sun and moon shine, and dawn follows dawn," symbolizing continuous self-improvement. Originally named Fudan Public School, it was officially renamed Fudan University in 1917 as the first institution of higher education established independently by Chinese scholars. In 2000, Fudan merged with Shanghai Medical University. After more than a century of development, it has grown into a globally renowned, top-tier comprehensive research university in China.

Fudan boasts a comprehensive academic structure encompassing 12 disciplinary categories, including philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, science, engineering, medicine, management, arts, and interdisciplinary studies.

The university is home to a world-class faculty. Fudan currently has over 3,700 teaching and research staff, including academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, senior professors in the humanities and social sciences, and more than a thousand scholars selected for various national talent programs. This elite faculty provides a solid foundation for the university's teaching and research endeavors.

In terms of educational scale, Fudan comprises 41 schools and departments, along with 17 affiliated hospitals. It offers 87 undergraduate programs, 46 first-level doctoral degree authorization points, 49 first-level master's degree authorization points (including those with doctoral authorization), 10 professional doctoral degree authorization points, 41 professional master's degree authorization points, and 39 postdoctoral research stations.

Fudan enjoys a world-class reputation. It ranks within the top 30 globally and 3rd among mainland Chinese universities in international rankings. All five major academic disciplines—humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and medicine—rank within the top 100 worldwide. Furthermore, 12 disciplines, including Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Medicine, Chemistry, Materials Science, Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Engineering, Environmental Sciences and Ecology, Immunology, Microbiology, Physics, and Neuroscience and Behavior, rank in the top 1‰ of the ESI global rankings.

Fudan is equipped with state-of-the-art research infrastructure, including the Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences and the Shanghai Center for Applied Mathematics. It currently hosts 12 State Key Laboratories (including 7 co-built), 1 National Laboratory base in Shanghai, 1 National Engineering Laboratory, 1 National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, 2 National Clinical Research Centers, 4 National Medical Centers, 1 National Manufacturing Innovation Center, 3 National Industry-Education Integration Innovation Platforms, 1 Frontier Science Center of the Ministry of Education, 1 Key Integrated Research Platform of the Ministry of Education, 3 International Science and Technology Cooperation Bases of the Ministry of Science and Technology, 15 Key Laboratories of the Ministry of Education, 8 Engineering Research Centers of the Ministry of Education, 9 Key Laboratories of the National Health Commission, 30 Shanghai Key Laboratories, 29 Shanghai Engineering and Technology Research Centers, and 2 Shanghai Engineering Research Centers.

Fudan has signed cooperative agreements with 427 universities and institutions across 59 countries and regions. Annually, over 8,000 faculty members and students study or conduct research abroad, the university welcomes approximately 5,000 international visitors, and hosts around 100 international conferences. As one of the earliest universities in China to provide education for international students, Fudan is dedicated to cultivating high-quality talents with a global perspective. Currently, the university hosts over 4,000 international students. To support them, Fudan has established a "One-Stop" International Student Service Center, providing comprehensive services and diverse cultural activities. This enables international students to actively participate in various clubs and academic practices, achieving outstanding growth and development through cross-cultural integration.

The university spans four campuses: Handan, Fenglin, Zhangjiang, and Jiangwan, covering a total area of approximately 2.3617 million square meters.