1967 obtained a bachelor's degree in physics from Taiwan Province Provincial University;

1972 received a doctorate in physics from Harvard University.

1975 received a doctorate in computer science from the University of Illinois; 1975- 1986, has served as a professor in the Department of Mathematics of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Department of Computer Science of Stanford University, the Department of Computer Science of the University of California, Berkeley, Princeton University and other famous universities.

From 1986 to 2004, he served as Wiliam and Edna McRill Professor of Engineering and Applied Science in the Computer Science Department of Princeton University.

1998 was elected as an academician of the American Academy of Sciences;

In 2000, he was elected as an academician of the American Academy of Science and Art;

In 2004, he was elected as a foreign academician of China Academy of Sciences. In 2004, 57-year-old Yao Qizhi decided to return to Chinese mainland, creating a new stage for scientific research. He resolutely resigned from the tenure of Princeton University, sold his house in the United States, and officially joined the Center for Advanced Studies of Tsinghua University as a full-time professor.

On March 16, 2005, he obtained the "green card" of permanent residence in Beijing.

In 2005, the "Software Science Experimental Class" (later renamed "Computer Science Experimental Class", also known as "Yao Ban"), led by Yao Qizhi and cooperated with Microsoft Research Asia, was established in Tsinghua, enrolling two classes, freshmen and sophomores. In March of the following year, Yao Qizhi wrote in a letter to all students in Tsinghua: "Our goal is not to train excellent computer software programmers, but to train first-class computer talents with international standards."

Tsinghua University has successively established Computer Science Experimental Class (Yao Ban), Theoretical Computer Science Research Center (ITCS), Interdisciplinary Information Institute (IIIS) and Quantum Information Center (CQI). Starting from Tsinghua, he gradually established a research team of computer theory science in China, trying to exert an influence in the world.

On March 29th, 2007, Minister of Education Zhou Ji and Minister of Science and Technology Xu Guanhua visited Yao Qizhi in Tsinghua University. Zhou Ji emphasized that Yao Qizhi's full-time return to China is a "banner" to drive a group of talents back to China for development. Xu Guanhua also talked about the "amplification effect" of Yao Qizhi's return to China.