Qiushi College, the predecessor of Zhejiang University, was founded in 1897 and named as National Zhejiang University in 1928. 1937 Zhejiang university moved westward, running schools in Zunyi and Meitan, Guizhou, and 1946 moved back to Hangzhou in the autumn.

1952, when the departments of colleges and universities in China were adjusted, some departments of Zhejiang University were placed under the China Academy of Sciences and other universities, and the main parts were reorganized into several colleges and universities in Hangzhou, which later developed into the original Zhejiang University, Hangzhou University, Zhejiang Agricultural University and Zhejiang Medical University respectively. 1998, four universities with the same roots merged to form the new Zhejiang University.

In the course of running a school from 65438 to 025, Zhejiang University has always adhered to the fine tradition of "seeking truth and innovation" as its motto, taking the world as its own responsibility and taking truth as its foundation, and gradually formed the core words of "diligent administration of Xiu De, clear discrimination and incorruptibility", "all rivers run into the sea, enlighten the truth, cherish morality, enlighten people's wisdom and build the country".

Zhejiang University is a comprehensive, research-oriented and innovative university with distinctive characteristics and great influence at home and abroad.

Subjects cover philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, art, science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, management, interdisciplinary and other 13 categories. There are 7 departments, 39 specialized colleges (departments), 1 engineering colleges, 2 Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools and 7 directly affiliated hospitals.