Beiyang University, the predecessor of Tianjin University, was founded after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. Sheng Xuanhuai, the governor of Zhili at that time, told Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty that a new school would be established. In the 21st year of Guangxu (1895 10.02), on August 14th, Emperor Guangxu approved the establishment of Tianjin Beiyang Western School, with Sheng Xuanhuai as the first inspector. The school is located in the former site of Dayingmen Bowen College on the north bank of Tianjin. Since then, the first modern university in China was born.

In the 22nd year of Guangxu (1896), Beiyang Western School was officially renamed Beiyang University Hall. In the 26th year of Guangxu (1900), Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Tianjin, the school building was occupied by enemy soldiers, the equipment and documents were destroyed, and the school was forced to close. The school is not allowed to resume classes in the future. In the 29th year of Guangxu (1903), classes were officially resumed in Xigu. 19 12, 1, Beiyang University was renamed as Beiyang University, directly under the Ministry of Education, and 19 13 was renamed as National Beiyang University. Since then, the name of the school has been used until 1928 was renamed as the Second Institute of Technology of National Peking University.

1On July 7, 937, the Japanese aggressor troops launched a full-scale war of aggression against China. On July 30th, Tianjin fell. 10 In September, the Ministry of Education ordered the establishment of Xi 'an Temporary University based on Beiping University, Beiping Normal University, Beiyang Institute of Technology and Beiping Research Institute. 1938 In March, Xi 'an Temporary University was renamed National Northwest United University. In July, the Ministry of Education instructed Northwest United University to be reorganized into Northwest University, Northwest Institute of Technology, Northwest Normal University and Northwest Medical College.

1August, 945, Tianjin was recovered after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War. Beiyang teachers and students and alumni from all over the world put forward strong demands for the restoration of the National Beiyang University. At the beginning of 1946, the Ministry of Education officially ordered the restoration of the National Beiyang University, focusing on the restoration of the former site of Tianjin Xigu Beiyang University. Since then, teachers and students from Taishun Beiyang Institute of Technology, Beijing Branch of Beiyang Institute of Technology, Northwest Institute of Technology and Beiping Department (Chen Jinmin, Dean of the School of Science, accepted the "fifth resettlement of Beiping Linda" and established Beiping Department of Beiyang University) have returned to Tianjin to attend the resumption of studies.

1945101On October 22nd, Beiyang University officially resumed its studies.

1949 1 month, Tianjin was liberated, and in April, Beiyang University officially started classes in the original campus.

1951September, Beiyang University merged with Hebei Institute of Technology and changed its name to Tianjin University.

1952, moved into the current Qilitai campus.