From 65438 to 0955, Professor Zhu Guangya was appointed to be responsible for the establishment of nuclear physics and radiochemistry specialty in Peking University and Lanzhou University. After three years of intense preparation, 1958 welcomed the first batch of students. At that time, the above-mentioned major was managed by Erji Department (in charge of nuclear industry), code-named "Institute 505", and the administrative department was affiliated to Lanzhou University, tentatively named "Physics Laboratory of Lanzhou University". 1959 After President Jiang Longji took office, he decided to officially name it "Modern Physics Department of Lanzhou University"; In the middle and early 1960s, outstanding graduates from various universities and some returnees from the former Soviet Union joined in one after another, and the nuclear physics major of Nankai University was relocated and merged. These measures have greatly enhanced the teaching and scientific research strength of the discipline. 1998 and 1999, the school merged the disciplines of radiochemistry, particle physics and nuclear physics into the College of Chemical Engineering and the College of Physical Science and Technology. The former Modern Physics Department of Lanzhou University was renamed the Modern Physics Department of the College of Physical Science and Technology of Lanzhou University, referred to as "Modern Physics Department". In February 2006, in order to give full play to the advantages of key disciplines and characteristic disciplines, the College of Nuclear Science and Technology of Lanzhou University was formally established.

Nuclear science and technology is one of the greatest scientific and technological achievements in the 20th century, which is closely related to the survival and development of mankind. Developed countries are also investing a lot of manpower and material resources to develop nuclear science and technology. In China, the energy gap is about 300 million tons of standard coal. As one of the main pillars of energy, nuclear energy has become a key high-tech and energy field of national development, with broad development prospects.

Graduates majoring in nuclear science and technology have become urgently needed talents in the world. In recent years, the domestic demand for graduates of related majors exceeds supply, and the ratio of supply and demand once reached 1: 10. According to the talent demand survey of China National Nuclear Corporation, China Nuclear Construction Corporation, China Academy of Engineering Physics and General Armament Department, by 2020, the total demand for nuclear science and technology professionals will exceed 1.5 million.

Facing the national development strategy and the urgent global demand for nuclear science and technology talents, as the main training base of nuclear science and technology talents in China, the College of Nuclear Science and Technology of Lanzhou University shoulders the heavy responsibility of training national nuclear science talents in different historical periods.