Yunnan University was founded in 1922 and officially opened in 1923. At that time, it was a private Tohoku University. 1934 was renamed provincial Yunnan university, and 1938 was renamed national Yunnan university. It is one of the earliest comprehensive universities in the western frontier of China. From 65438 to 0937, Xiong Qinglai, a famous mathematician and educator, became the president, and a large number of famous scholars were employed to teach in the school, which laid a high foundation for the development of the school and created the first glorious period in the history of Yunnan University.

In the 1940s, Yunnan University has developed into one of the large-scale and internationally influential multidisciplinary universities in literature, law, science, engineering, agriculture and medicine. 1946, Encyclopedia Britannica listed Yunnan University as one of the most influential universities in the world in 15.

In 1950s, with the adjustment of departments, some important and distinctive departments of Yunnan University, such as aviation, civil engineering, law and railway, were transferred and merged into the then Beijing Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Sichuan University, Southwest University of Political Science and Law and Changsha Railway Institute. Industry, medicine, agriculture, etc. have independently established schools, and gradually developed into today's Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming Medical University, Yunnan Agricultural University, Southwest Forestry University and other universities.

From 65438 to 0958, Yunnan University was placed under the management of Yunnan Province by the Central Ministry of Higher Education. 65438-0978 Yunnan University was identified as one of the 88 key universities in China by the State Council.