Located in Lanzhou, Gansu, Northwest Normal University is the key university jointly sponsored by the People's government of Gansu province and the Ministry of Education. It is also one of the 14 state-supported universities in western China. At present, the University has 9 postdoctoral research centers for Pedagogy, Chemistry, Chinese Language and Literature, Histology, Mathematics, Physics, Geography, Marxist Theory, Psychology; 7 first-grade disciplines （Pedagogy, Chemistry, Chinese Language and Literature, H
Located in Lanzhou, Gansu, Northwest Normal University is the key university jointly sponsored by the People's government of Gansu province and the Ministry of Education. It is also one of the 14 state-supported universities in western China. At present, the University has 9 postdoctoral research centers for Pedagogy, Chemistry, Chinese Language and Literature, Histology, Mathematics, Physics, Geography, Marxist Theory, Psychology; 7 first-grade disciplines （Pedagogy, Chemistry, Chinese Language and Literature, Histology, Mathematics, Physics, Geography）, 57 second-grade disciplines and 1 specialty with Doctorate granting authority； 30 first-grade disciplines,164 second-grade disciplines, 77 Bachelor programs.
The University also boasts a strong scientific research capability. In recent years, the SCIE-included research papers concerning the basic theory of natural sciences continuously ranked within the top 10 among the national normal universities. The social sciences boast several distinctive and superior disciplines such as Western History and Geography, Ethnic Education, Curriculum and Teaching Theories, Ancient Books Systematization and Dunhuang Studies.
The University has conducted international exchanges and cooperative studies constantly, established academic cooperation and exchange agreement with more than 70 scientific research institute abroad and educated more than 1,400 international students. Presently, NWNU has established the Confucius institute in Sudan Khartoum University, Free International University of Moldova and University of Sarajevo respectively.
As early as 1982, NWNU commenced to accept international students as one of the first group of northwest universities validated by government to enroll international students. In 2008, it has been brought into the independent enrollment list of Chinese government scholarship. In 2009, it has also been affirmed to recruit international students with scholarship granted by Confucius Institute Headquarters. At present there are more than 405 international students from 26 countries at NWNU.
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