The School of Mathematics and Statistics is one of the oldest academic units at Wuhan University, carrying the university’s profound historical heritage and distinguished academic tradition. Its origin can be traced back to 1893, when the “Self-Strengthening Academy,” the predecessor of Wuhan University, was established and founded the “Department of Arithmetic,” marking the birth of mathematical education at the university. In 1914, the National Wuchang Higher Normal School established the “Department of Mathematics and Physics,” which was renamed the “Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry” in 1917, and officially became the “Department of Mathematics” in 1922. When the National Wuhan University was founded in 1928, the Department of Mathematics was incorporated into the School of Science, ushering in a new era of modern higher education in mathematics. Since then, the school has undergone several name changes: it was renamed the School of Mathematical Sciences in 1998, the School of Mathematics and Computer Science in 1999, and finally, following the reorganization of Wuhan University in 2001, it received its current name—the School of Mathematics and Statistics.

The School upholds the educational philosophy of cultivating virtue and pursuing excellence, building a solid disciplinary foundation and distinctive strengths in talent training. Approved by the Ministry of Education, the School has successively established the National Base for Basic Research and Teaching in the Sciences, the Mathematics Strengthening Foundation Program, and the National Program for Top-notch Students in Mathematics. The School currently offers four undergraduate majors—Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Information and Computational Science, Statistics, and Data Science and Big Data Technology—among which the first three have been selected as national “Double First-Class” undergraduate programs.

At present, the School has more than 1,000 undergraduate students and has been designated as a “Distinctive Base for Collaborative Education and Teaching” at Wuhan University. The School emphasizes the organic integration of “education for personal growth” and “education for academic excellence,” fostering synergy between teaching and research. Through initiatives such as Party and Youth League development, mentorship programs like Candlelight Navigation, and ongoing educational reform, the School has established a comprehensive talent cultivation system aimed at developing outstanding students with global vision and innovative capabilities.

Wuhan University has long maintained close cooperation with the French mathematical community. In 1980, under an intergovernmental agreement between China and France, the School launched the renowned Sino-French Mathematics Class. Its pioneering educational model became a benchmark for educational reform in China and has produced numerous graduates who have made significant contributions to the international mathematical community. In 2024, Wuhan University spearheaded the establishment of the Sino-French Joint Research Center in Mathematics, further integrating the strengths of both countries to promote substantial collaboration in scientific research, talent cultivation, and academic exchange.

The School is deeply committed to internationalization and has established exchange agreements with world-renowned institutions such as the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and the University of Toulouse III in France. Each year, outstanding students are selected for overseas study and joint training programs. Many graduates have continued their studies at leading universities worldwide, including Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, New York University, Imperial College London, ETH Zurich, and École Polytechnique. Their achievements highlight the School’s high standards of education and its strong international competitiveness.

With its profound historical legacy, exceptional academic and research strength, and an open and inclusive scholarly atmosphere, the School of Mathematics and Statistics at Wuhan University continues to advance steadily toward the goal of building a world-class discipline and cultivating globally competitive talent.