Guangzhou University is a comprehensive university approved by the Ministry of Education. The implementation of provinces and cities to build a * * * and city-based school system. It is a high-level university in Guangdong Province, a "first-class" university in Guangdong Province and a high-level university in Guangzhou.

The school was formed in 2000 by the merger of Guangzhou Normal University, South China Institute of Architecture (West Campus), Guangzhou Institute of Education, former Guangzhou University and Guangzhou Normal University. The history of the former Guangzhou University can be traced back to the private Guangzhou University founded by 1927, the former Guangzhou Institute of Education founded by 1953, the former Guangzhou Teachers College founded by 1958, the former South China Institute of Architecture (West Campus) founded by 1984 and the former Guangzhou Teachers College founded by 1985.

There are 27 colleges in the school, covering ten disciplines such as philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, science, engineering, management and art. In 2020, there will be 69 undergraduate enrollment majors, including 37 in science and engineering, 24 in humanities and social sciences and 8 in art.