Yunnan University is one of the first 42 universities in China to build a world-class university. Joined the double-class, 2 1 1 project, the comprehensive strength improvement project of central and western universities, the overseas high-level talent introduction plan, the national innovative experiment plan for college students, and the national postgraduate plan for building high-level universities. It is a member of the Midwest University Alliance and a scholarship recipient institution of the China Municipal Government for international students in China, with independent enrollment qualifications.

Yunnan University has 86 undergraduate majors, 12 national characteristic majors. It has four national key disciplines, including ethnology, ecology, special history and microbiology, and 52 provincial key disciplines. There are 2/kloc-0 first-class doctoral degrees, 42 first-class master's degrees and 22 professional master's degrees.