Shantou University (STU), a key comprehensive university in Guangdong Province, was founded in 1981 with the approval of the State Council. It is jointly supported by the Ministry of Education, the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Li Ka Shing Foundation. The University campus is located in the northwestern part of Shantou, a seaside city, covering a total area of 1.3 square kilometers with a floor space of 564,800 m².

Since its inception, Shantou University has received a generous support from the distinguished philanthropist and international entrepreneur, Mr. Li Ka-shing. The Li Ka Shing Foundation has earmarked grants of HK$8 billion through 2018 to support Shantou University (Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business included).

Currently, the University has 1 National Key Discipline, offers Cheung Kong Scholar Professorships, provides 5 Postdoctoral Programs, 1 Doctoral Program for first-level discipline and 25 Doctoral Programs for second-level disciplines, 10 Master’s Programs for first-level disciplines and 83 Master’s Programs for second-level disciplines, as well as 8 Professional Master's Degree Programs. It also has 1 National Key Laboratory, 6 Provincial Key Laboratories, 7 National Featured Programs, 4 Guangdong Provincial Branded Programs, 8 Guangdong Provincial Key Disciplines and 2 MOE(National) Pilot Sites for Innovative Talent Training. The University now offers a comprehensive education system from bachelor to doctorate programs, including a 5+3 Joint Bachelor-Master program in Clinical Medicine, Currently, STU has a staff of 1,602 and over 10,294 students and has nurtured nearly 100,000 graduates. The University’s colleges and schools include College of Liberal Arts, College of Sciences, College of Engineering, Medical College, Law School, Business School, Cheung Kong School of Art and Design, Cheung Kong School of Journalism and Communication, and School of Continuing Education. It enrolls qualified students for Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degree programs from all over the country (including Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Taiwan).
Five affiliated hospitals of the Medical College, including the First Affiliated Hospital, a tertiary hospital that was awarded the “Nation’s 100 Best Hospitals”, with a total of 5,523 patient beds, provide ample opportunities for student training.
Under the auspices of the Li Ka Shing Foundation, STU has achieved rapid progress in all aspects. Three projects received grants under the Top-tier University Development Funding Program of Guangdong, and focusing on these three major projects, efforts have been made to promote the development of other disciplines. The University also has strengthened international collaboration and academic exchange, establishing close cooperative academic communications with 56 institutions in 16 countries and regions including U.S.A., UK, Canada and Ireland, and set up undergraduate and postgraduate student exchange programs.
In September 2013，the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and Shantou University signed a Memorandum of Understanding for jointly establishing Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), an institution of higher learning in Shantou. On April 9th 2015, the Ministry of Education approved the preparation for the establishment of GTIIT. On December 16th, the inaugural ceremony of GTIIT was held.
Committed to the student-centered reform in terms of university administration and talent development, Shantou University has won National Award for Teaching Achievements. The University has conducted a profound reform for improving the efficiency of educational management, and overseas talents have been recruited to serve as provost, vice president and deans.
Keeping abreast of the educational development trend of the country, and continuing to play the role of “a pilot site for higher educational reform”, Shantou University embarks on a series of comprehensive educational reforms that focus on the “Advanced Undergraduate Education based on Integrative Thinking”. Through these reforms, the University is striving hard to become a top-tier university that values innovation, creation and entrepreneurship, and develops quality education, advanced governance mechanism and unique feature of internationalization. It is always ready to meet the major demands of the nation and Guangdong province for economic and social development.