Northwest University was founded in Shaanxi University Hall in 1902, and was called Northwest University in 19 12. 1923 changed its name to National Northwest University in August. 1937 After the outbreak of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the National Peiping University, the National Peiping Normal University and the National Beiyang Institute of Technology moved to Shaanxi to form the National xi 'an Temporary University. 1938 was renamed the National Northwest United University, and in August 1939 it was renamed the National Northwest University.

Tsinghua Peking University moved to Kunming during the Anti-Japanese War and established Southwest United University.