Anhui University is the first batch of "world-class discipline construction universities" in China. The Ministry of Education and the People's Government of Anhui Province set up universities, the State Bureau of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and the People's Government of Anhui Province set up universities, and so on. Three universities in Anhui were selected for the second round of double-class construction universities, including Anhui University, so Anhui University is a double-class university, but the double-class construction discipline is only 1.

The school was founded in April 1928 in Anqing, then the provincial capital. During the period of 1958, Anhui University was rebuilt on the basis of Hefei College and the former Physics Department of Anhui University. On September 16, President Mao Zedong wrote the name of the school.