Hohai University

What Hohai University does

Hohai University (河海大学) is a public research university headquartered at 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing, China, operating under the direct administration of the Ministry of Education of China. Founded in 1915 as Hohai Civil Engineering School, it is China's leading institution dedicated to water resources and hydraulic engineering, with Hydraulic Engineering ranked #1 nationally and Engineering and Environment/Ecology disciplines ranked in the top 1‰ globally on ESI. The university offers a comprehensive academic portfolio spanning 72 undergraduate, 82 master's, 44 doctoral, and 16 post-doctoral programs across 31 colleges covering engineering, science, economics, management, arts, and law, serving approximately 55,000 students including over 1,000 international students from 99+ nationalities.

The university operates three campuses — Xikang Road and Jiangning in Nanjing, and Jintan/Changzhou in Changzhou — totaling 1,641,333 square meters of building area, and hosts national-level research infrastructure including the State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, the National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention, the State Key Engineering Research Center of Efficient Utilization of Water Resources and Engineering Safety, and a Joint International Research Laboratory of Global Change and Water Cycle. It maintains 130+ global university partnerships (including Cambridge, UCLA, Delft, IHE Delft, Waterloo, Aberystwyth, and Western Australia), runs a Confucius Institute in Alsace, France, and holds the UNESCO IHP presidency. Strategic focus areas include water disaster prevention, hydraulic structure engineering, sustainable water development, water-energy-carbon governance, and Lancang-Mekong regional cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The business model combines annual tuition and fees from degree programs (bachelor's, master's, doctoral, Chinese language training, short-term courses), revenue from joint degree programs with international partners (e.g., '3+1+1' with UCLA, '2+2' with Aberystwyth and Waterloo, '3+2' with multiple universities), one-time short-term program fees, and research grants from international collaborations including UNESCO partnerships and Belt and Road projects. Go-to-market is community- and event-driven: international student recruitment via global partnerships, Confucius Institute operations, Belt and Road programs, the 'Discover Jiangsu' International Summer School, and direct admission through the International School. Pricing is subscription/annual for degree programs and one-time for short-term programs, with specific tuition amounts not publicly disclosed.

Name

Hohai University

Legal name

Hohai University

Website

https://en.hhu.edu.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hohai University is a Ministry of Education public research university in Nanjing, China, founded in 1915 and ranked #1 nationally in Hydraulic Engineering. It serves 55,000+ students across water resources, hydraulic engineering, and related disciplines through three domestic campuses and 130+ international university partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education and Research (Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF), Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis (EDAHAAAD), Dual/Joint Degree Programs (International) (EDAIABAD), Public Research Universities with Major Extension & Outreach Missions (EDAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Water resources research
• Hydraulic engineering programs
• International student admissions
• Joint degree partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Nanjing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: International students pay tuition fees for degree programs including Bachelor's (4 years), Master's (3 years), Doctoral (4 years), and Chinese Language Training Programs. Registration fees and physical examination fees for stays over 6 months are also collected.
2. Joint Degree Program Fees: Revenue from joint degree programs with international partners including '3+1+1' programs with UCLA, '2+2' programs with Aberystwyth University, and '3+2' programs with various universities.
3. Short-term Program Fees: Revenue from short-term programs including Chinese Language (2 weeks to 3 months) and Civil Engineering and Water Resources courses (2-4 weeks)
4. Research Grants and Collaborations: Funding from international research collaborations, UNESCO partnerships, and Belt and Road Initiative projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hohai University is a public, state-key Chinese university delivering higher education and applied research with water resources and hydraulic engineering as its principal focus. It offers 72 undergraduate, 82 master's, and 44 doctoral programs across 31 colleges, supplemented by Chinese-language training, short-term programs, joint degrees with 130+ global partners, and research services operated through national-level laboratories and engineering research centers.

Product overview

Hohai University is a comprehensive university with water resources and hydraulic engineering as its main focus. The university offers a portfolio of educational programs (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral degrees across 72 undergraduate programs, 82 master programs, and 44 PhD programs), research services and facilities (including State Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention and State Key Engineering Research Center of Efficient Utilization of Water Resources and Engineering Safety), international exchange programs (such as the Discover Jiangsu International Summer School and Confucius Institute in Alsace), and specialized training programs. The institution's offerings span academic education, scientific research, and international collaboration in water resources, civil engineering, environmental science, and related disciplines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Four-year bachelor's degree programs across 72 majors at Hohai University, with water resources, hydraulic engineering, civil engineering, and environmental engineering as flagship disciplines, targeting Chinese and international high-school graduates.
• Master's Degree Programs Three-year master's degree programs across 82 master's programs at Hohai University, covering hydrology, water resources, hydraulic engineering, civil engineering, environment, and other disciplines, with Chinese-medium and English-medium tracks for international students.
• Doctoral Degree Programs Four-year doctoral programs across 44 PhD programs at Hohai University, requiring a research plan and recommendation letters, targeting advanced researchers in water-related sciences and engineering.
• Post-Doctoral Programs Post-doctoral research stations at Hohai University, supporting advanced research in water resources, hydraulic engineering, and related disciplines.
• Chinese Language Training Program One-year Chinese-language training program for international applicants aged 16 and above, supporting students preparing for Chinese-medium degree study and cultural exchange.
• Short-term Programs Short-term fee-paying programs in Chinese Language (2 weeks to 3 months) and Civil Engineering and Water Resources (2-4 weeks), including special group options for 8+ students.
• Discover Jiangsu International Summer School Annual international summer school hosted by Hohai University with themed tracks such as Water Disaster Prevention and Sustainable Development, attracting international students from multiple countries.
• Confucius Institute in Alsace Confucius Institute established in Alsace, France in 2010 to promote Chinese language and culture and friendly relations between the Alsace region and Jiangsu Province, with Hohai University faculty serving as Chinese Dean.
• Joint Degree Programs Joint degree pathways with global partner universities, including UCLA '3+1+1' in Water Resources Engineering, Aberystwyth '2+2' BSc in Environmental Science, Waterloo '2+2' and '3+2' programs, and Université Lille 1 MSc/PhD cooperation via Hohai-Lille College.
• State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering National key research laboratory operated by Hohai University focused on hydrology, water resources, and hydraulic engineering research, supporting graduate study and commissioned research.
• National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention National key laboratory conducting research on water disaster prevention and related hydraulic engineering topics, hosted at Hohai University.
• State Key Engineering Research Center of Efficient Utilization of Water Resources and Engineering Safety National-level engineering research center hosted at Hohai University, focused on efficient water resources utilization and engineering safety.
• Water-Supply Carbon Emissions Research Research study analyzing China's water-supply carbon emissions (228 Mt CO2 by 2022) published in Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, with collaborative work involving IHE Delft and Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute.
• Hohai-Lille College Joint educational venture between Hohai University and Université Lille 1 delivering MSc and PhD programs under a long-standing cooperation agreement dating to the 1990s.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hydraulic Engineering ranks No. 1 nationwide at the National Discipline Evaluation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and major.

• University of Transport and Communications (UTC) VietnamflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026Cooperation agreement signed for jointly establishing a New Energy Joint Training and Research Center. Long-term cooperation including Leadership Training Program for Lancang-Mekong Young Professionals in Water Sciences.
• University of CambridgeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026University of Cambridge Academician David Cardwell visited Hohai University to explore expanded cooperation in faculty and student exchanges, joint scientific research, platform co-development. Leveraging Cambridge University - Nanjing Centre of Technology and Innovation (CUNJC) platform for collaboration in water resources, new materials, new energy, and water environment.
• Nanjing Hydraulic Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research collaboration on water resources and hydraulic engineering. Libraries cooperative agreement with all universities in Jiangsu Province including Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute.
• IHE Delft Institute for Water EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research on China's water-supply carbon emissions. Part of international water education network.
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint degree '3+1+1' postgraduate program in Water Resources Engineering. Collaboration in research, student exchange, and faculty exchanges.
• Delft University of TechnologyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for water engineering research and education exchange.
• Aberystwyth UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSc Environmental Science '2+2' Joint Degree Programme. Aberystwyth University offers 10% scholarship of tuition fees for each year of undergraduate study.
• University of WaterlooflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term cooperation including potential joint international lab, joint research funding applications, and '2+2' undergraduate and '3+2' postgraduate degree programs.
• Desert Research Institute (DRI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned MoU for Establishment of International Joint Laboratory of Global Change and Water Cycle. DRI conducts cutting-edge applied research in land, air, and water quality worldwide with $50 million annual revenue.
• Confucius Institute in Alsace, FranceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished September 15, 2010. Promotes friendly relations between Alsace region and Jiangsu Province, enhances mutual understanding between Chinese and French people. Mr. Chen Yue from Hohai University serves as Chinese Dean.
• UNESCO IHPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Yu Zhongbo serves as President of UNESCO IHP. Collaborative research on hydrology and water resources, youth talent development programs for Lancang-Mekong region.
• Thuyloi University (Vietnam)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership for water conservancy cooperation, including Memorandum of Understanding and flagship projects like Leadership Training Program for Lancang-Mekong Young Professionals.
• Georgia Institute of TechnologymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic exchange and potential joint research collaboration in engineering disciplines.
• University of TorontomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration, academic communication and joint postgraduate program opportunities.
• University of MelbournemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExplored collaboration in Sino-Australia Joint Research Center for Disaster Management and Public Safety, and '3+2' degree programmes.
• World Meteorological OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration on water and meteorological research.
• International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual meetings and collaborative research in hydro-environment engineering.
• Belt and Road Water Strategic AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-country collaboration on water resources development along Belt and Road Initiative.
• Université Lille 1 (France)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHohai-Lille College established. MoU signed for MSc and PhD program cooperation. Long history of cooperation since 1990s.
• University of Western AustraliaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for '3+2' and '2+2' joint training modes. Regular student exchange and joint research collaboration.
• Swansea University (UK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic exchange and potential collaboration in interdisciplinary research.
• Nevada Governor's Office and DRImajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoundtable collaboration on water technology, water safety and water management between Nevada state and Hohai University.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IHE Delft Institute for Water Education: The world's largest international graduate water-education institution, with which Hohai has a formal research partnership. Both compete globally for international students in water resources and hydro-environment engineering.
• Dalian University of Technology: A leading Chinese engineering university with research strength in coastal, offshore, and hydraulic engineering that overlaps with Hohai's College of Harbour, Coastal and Offshore Engineering.
• Tianjin University: A leading Chinese engineering university with strong programs in hydraulics, civil engineering, and water resources, directly comparable to Hohai's core offering and historical origin as one of the founding departments of the modern Hohai system.
• Delft University of Technology: A leading European technical university with top global programs in water management and hydraulic engineering, and a long-standing partner of Hohai. Both compete for international students in water-related graduate programs.
• Wuhan University: Wuhan University is one of Hohai's closest domestic peers, with strong programs in water resources, hydraulic engineering, and hydrology, and a history of competing with Hohai in national discipline rankings. Both are comprehensive public research universities with top-tier water-engineering programs.
• China University of Geosciences (Wuhan): A Chinese research university with overlapping strengths in hydrogeology and environmental engineering, competing for students and faculty in adjacent earth- and water-science disciplines.

Broad incumbents

• Zhejiang University: Another top-tier Chinese research university with established water resources and hydraulic engineering research, offering Hohai competition for national talent and research grants despite a broader disciplinary footprint.
• Tsinghua University: China's top comprehensive research university with strong hydraulic and civil engineering programs. It competes with Hohai for top students and faculty but operates across a much broader portfolio of disciplines.
• ETH Zurich: A leading global science and technology university with strong water, environmental, and civil engineering research. While broader in scope, it competes with Hohai for elite international faculty and graduate students in water-related disciplines.

Others

• Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute: A national water-resources research institute in the same city as Hohai and a long-standing research partner. While not a degree-granting university, it is a peer in the broader Chinese water-research ecosystem and competes for the same national research funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hohai-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hohai University