Guangxi University of Science and Technology Edinburgh Napier Joint College

Approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education in 2025, the Guangxi University of Science and Technology – Edinburgh Napier Joint College is a Sino-foreign cooperative education institution jointly established by Guangxi University of Science and Technology (GXUST) and Edinburgh Napier University. It operates as a college under GXUST.

About Guangxi University of Science and Technology Edinburgh Napier Joint College

Guangxi University of Science and Technology Edinburgh Napier Joint College (License No.: MOE45UKA02DNR20252506N)

The Joint College is committed to cultivating interdisciplinary engineering talents with an international perspective and strong practical abilities. It offers three undergraduate programmes:

Electronic Information Engineering (Programme Code: 080701H)
Measurement & Control Technology and Instruments (Programme Code: 080301H)
Industrial Design (Programme Code: 080205H)

The College fully integrates high-quality educational resources from the UK partner university and adopts a "4+0 Dual Degree" model, under which students complete all four years of study in China. Upon meeting the graduation and degree requirements, students will be awarded:

A Bachelor's Graduation Certificate and a Bachelor's Degree Certificate from Guangxi University of Science and Technology, and a corresponding Bachelor's Degree Certificate from Edinburgh Napier University.

Accreditation information

For more detailed accreditation information on Guangxi University of Science and Technology Edinburgh Napier Joint College degree programmes, please visit the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China Information Platform for the Supervision of Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education webpage:

About Guangxi University of Science and Technology (GXUST)

GXUST Buildings

Located in Liuzhou — a renowned national historical and cultural city, as well as a key industrial hub, transportation junction, and commercial logistics centre in Southwest China — Guangxi University of Science and Technology (GXUST) is a regular institution of higher education directly under the administration of the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The University is authorised to confer master's degrees and has been designated as a project unit for the granting of doctoral degree authorisation.

GXUST has always taken engineering as its core discipline. In alignment with Guangxi's pillar industries such as construction machinery, automobiles, and food processing, the University strategically plans and optimises its academic programmes. Its Engineering and Materials Science disciplines have entered the top 1% globally in the ESI rankings.

Throughout its long history of running schools, GXUST has adhered to the principle of "rooted in Guangxi, serving the whole country, and radiating to ASEAN", anchoring itself to the needs of local economic development and industrial upgrading while engaging with the building of the China–ASEAN Community with a Shared Future. This has given rise to a distinctive school-running characteristic of "university-city integration and university-industry cooperation". In serving national strategies and industrial development, both faculty and students consciously pursue the value of "revitalising the city through industry, strengthening Guangxi through manufacturing, and serving the nation through science and technology". Over time, the University has cultivated a spirit of craftsmanship marked by continuous improvement, along with a pragmatic and innovative research ethos, producing and nurturing a large number of outstanding engineers and application-oriented innovative talents.

About Edinburgh Napier University

Merchiston Campus

Named after John Napier — the 16th-century eminent mathematician, physicist, and astronomer who invented logarithms — Edinburgh Napier University is one of the largest public comprehensive universities in Scotland, with approximately 22,000 students from over 150 countries.

Edinburgh Napier University is particularly renowned for its strengths in engineering education and the integration of industry and academia. Its School of Engineering, Computing and Creative Industries demonstrates strong capabilities in translating research into practice across fields such as intelligent systems, digital technologies, and innovative design. Over the past decade, Edinburgh Napier has successfully incubated several unicorn-level tech start-ups and has been ranked among the UK's top ten universities for research commercialisation.

Situated in Edinburgh — a leading hub for science, technology and innovation in the UK — Edinburgh Napier maintains deep collaborations with numerous globally renowned technology companies, offering students rich opportunities for hands-on industry experience.

Solid foundation of cooperation between both institutions

Image of colleagues at GXUST and ENU meeting to discuss their collaboration Since launching the cooperative Mechanical Engineering programme in 2015, GXUST and Edinburgh Napier have enrolled students for eleven consecutive cohorts, training approximately 860 students in total. The programme has twice passed the Ministry of Education's evaluation of Sino-foreign cooperative education with outstanding results, and has been granted three extensions to its enrolment validity period.

Through more than a decade of in-depth collaboration, the two universities have built a solid and mutually trusting partnership, forming a multi-level, all-round cooperation framework covering academic exchanges, teacher training, research collaboration, and joint PhD supervision, yielding fruitful outcomes. In 2023, the two universities were awarded the "Education Partnership of the Year" at the 6th China-Scotland Business Awards hosted by the China-Britain Business Council, a testament to the excellence and broad influence of their international cooperative education efforts.

Both institutions have consistently upheld the principle of equally prioritising teaching quality and students' international experience. In 2019 and 2020, Edinburgh Napier delivered a one-year UK higher education training programme in two phases to nearly 100 GXUST faculty members, significantly enhancing their international teaching capabilities. On student exchanges, the two universities have actively built a two-way platform: over 200 GXUST students and staff have travelled to the UK for short-term practice exchange programmes and degree courses; meanwhile, Edinburgh Napier students have made multiple visits to Liuzhou, touring leading enterprises such as Liuzhou's NEV production base and LiuGong, and participating in "reverse study abroad" activities.

Research collaboration has progressed steadily. In 2019, the two universities led a consortium of eight institutions from Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Hungary and China to successfully secure a joint funding project from the British Council and China's Ministry of Education, focusing on international education and research cooperation in the context of Industry 4.0. In 2020, together with Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, the two partners received British Council funding to explore the application of modern UK bio-building techniques to the preservation of architectural heritage in China's ethnic regions. In 2023, supported by the Turing Fund, approximately 60 Chinese and UK students and staff completed the world's first bamboo-wood composite grid shell structure in Guangxi. The project was listed as a Turing Fund demonstration project and received extensive media coverage both in China and internationally.

The joint PhD supervision programme was launched in 2020, and to date six students and staff members have gone to the UK to pursue doctoral degrees.

Programme strengths

1. Collaborative Teaching with Outstanding Faculty – A Powerful Alliance

The Joint College brings together the best teaching staff from both universities. The UK team consists of faculty members who hold PhDs, possess extensive industry experience, and rank among the world's top 2% in scientific research. This ensures that students receive an authentic British-style engineering education grounded in cutting-edge research concepts. Meanwhile, GXUST selects its core faculty members and academic leaders to join the teaching team. Through joint delivery of courses and shared supervision, the two sides achieve a deep integration of internationally advanced engineering theories with local industrial practices.

2. High-Quality Curriculum with Deep Integration – Leading Programmes

The programme curriculum is jointly developed by both universities, deeply integrating their respective strengths in areas such as electronic information, measurement, control and sensing, and industrial design. It comprehensively introduces core courses from the UK partner in artificial intelligence, electronic and electrical engineering, product design, and more. Project-Based Learning (PBL) and case-based teaching methods are adopted, incorporating real-world industry challenges to strengthen students' engineering practice skills and ability to solve complex problems.

3. Internationally Aligned Talent Development – Seamless Access to Resources

In the first year, intensive Academic English (EAP) instruction is delivered jointly by Chinese and foreign teachers to comprehensively enhance students' English proficiency. During their studies, students may voluntarily apply for exchange study at the UK campus for one semester or one academic year. Each student is provided with an Edinburgh Napier University account, granting access to its Moodle virtual learning environment, digital library, and various engineering software resources, ensuring they receive the same online learning support as home students at the UK campus.

4. Diverse Development Pathways – Smooth Progression to Further Study

The UK degree awarded is globally recognised, significantly enhancing graduates' competitiveness when applying for master's programmes at overseas prestigious universities. The Joint College provides professional study-abroad planning guidance. The dual-degree background gives students a distinct advantage whether they choose to pursue further study abroad, sit the domestic postgraduate entrance examination, or seek employment.

5. Rooted in Industry, Aligned with Demand – Broad Career Prospects

The programme offerings are closely aligned with the development of regional industries:

Electronic Information Engineering (UK counterpart: Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence)) supports the intelligent vehicle and robotics industry;

Measurement & Control Technology and Instruments (UK counterpart: Electronic and Electrical Engineering) serves the smart terminal and high-end equipment industry;

Industrial Design (UK counterpart: Product Design) underpins the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing sector.

Graduates possess both local practical expertise and global competitiveness.

Recruitment programmes and enrolment plan

Programme	Planned Enrolment	Tuition Fee (CNY/Year)	UK Counterpart Programme	Degree Awarded by Edinburgh Napier University
Electronic Information Engineering (Sino-foreign Cooperative Education)	100	60,000	Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence)	BSc (Bachelor of Science)
Measurement and Control Technology and Instruments (Sino-foreign Cooperative Education)	100	60,000	Electronic and Electrical Engineering	BEng (Bachelor of Engineering)
Industrial Design (Sino-foreign Cooperative Education)	100	60,000	Product Design	BDes (Bachelor of Design)

Note: The above programmes, planned enrolment numbers, and tuition fee rates are provisional. The final figures shall be subject to the announcements made by the provincial (municipal/autonomous region) admissions authorities and the approval of the higher competent authorities.

Programme introduction

(I) Measurement & Control Technology and Instruments (UK Counterpart: Electronic and Electrical Engineering)

1. Programme Positioning and Educational Objectives

This programme is jointly offered by Guangxi University of Science and Technology and Edinburgh Napier University. Oriented towards the development needs of frontier industries such as automobiles, new energy vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, and construction machinery, it combines the UK's world-class engineering education advantages with Liuzhou's strong industrial foundation. The programme is dedicated to cultivating high-calibre talent with an international vision, solid professional foundations, and outstanding engineering practice capabilities. Upon graduation, students will obtain an internationally standard educational background in electronic and electrical engineering.

2. Disciplinary Directions and International Platform

Electronic and Electrical Engineering provides the core technological support for modern industry and intelligent equipment. Located in Edinburgh — a major UK hub for technological innovation — Edinburgh Napier University's Electronic and Electrical Engineering programme focuses on areas including power systems, control engineering, embedded systems, intelligent sensing, industrial automation, and new energy electronics, offering students a high-level, international, and practice-oriented training platform.

3. Curriculum System and Competency Development

The curriculum covers core content including power systems, electronic technology, embedded systems, control engineering, communication technology, PCB design, hardware development, intelligent sensing, industrial automation, and new energy electronics, with equal emphasis on theoretical learning and engineering practice. Through project-based training, case analysis, and practical teaching, students will progressively master key knowledge and technical methods in the field of electronic and electrical engineering, enhancing their ability to solve complex engineering problems, and laying a solid foundation for entering industries such as automotive electronics, new energy control, industrial robotics, and intelligent manufacturing.

4. Industry Integration and Locational Advantages

A distinctive feature of this programme is its deep alignment with the industrial ecosystem of Liuzhou, a nationally recognised industrial city. As the largest industrial centre in Guangxi, Liuzhou boasts leading clusters in automobiles, new energy vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, and construction machinery. Students can directly engage with real-world engineering scenarios at leading enterprises such as SAIC-GM-Wuling and LiuGong, undertaking project practice, corporate internships, and final-year projects in areas including automotive electronics, new energy control, battery management systems, industrial robot control, intelligent manufacturing production lines, and digital factories.

5. Employment and Further Study Prospects

Graduates may gain priority entry into key industrial enterprises in Liuzhou and the wider Guangxi region, including SAIC-GM-Wuling, LiuGong, Wuling New Energy, and related component and intelligent equipment companies. According to data published by Edinburgh Napier University, the proportion of its graduates in employment or continuing their studies remains at a high level. This programme also provides a solid foundation for students wishing to pursue a master's degree in the UK, forming a dual-pathway development route combining local employment and international further study.

(II) Electronic Information Engineering (UK Counterpart: Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence))

1. Programme Positioning and Educational Objectives

Oriented towards the development needs of frontier industries such as intelligent vehicles and robotics, this programme integrates the high-quality educational resources of both universities and is dedicated to cultivating high-calibre talent with an international vision, solid professional foundations, and outstanding practical and innovative capabilities. Choosing Artificial Intelligence means standing at the core track of future technological development.

2. Disciplinary Directions and International Platform

Located in Edinburgh — a major UK hub for technological innovation — Edinburgh Napier University's Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) programme focuses on cutting-edge directions including artificial intelligence, data science, intelligent software, robotics and autonomous systems, offering students a high-level, international, and practice-oriented training platform.

3. Academic Strength and Research Support

This programme is underpinned by Edinburgh Napier University's strong academic strength and research advantages in the field of computer science. In the UK's Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF 2021), the University's Computer Science discipline was ranked 3rd in Scotland and within the top 30 nationally, with 100% of its research impact outputs achieving the highest rating of Four Star (4)*

4. Curriculum System and Competency Development

The curriculum systematically covers core content including programming fundamentals, algorithm design, machine learning, data analysis, natural language processing, and intelligent system development. Through project-based training, case analysis, and practical teaching, students will progressively master key knowledge and technical methods in the field of artificial intelligence, laying a solid foundation for entering industries such as intelligent vehicles, robotics, and intelligent manufacturing.

5. Research Platforms and Learning Environment

Edinburgh Napier University houses the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), providing students with a platform to engage with cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary innovation. Supported by advanced laboratory facilities and a strong research environment, students can stay abreast of the latest developments in AI, robotics, and intelligent systems, broadening their international academic horizons and enhancing their career competitiveness.

6. Employment and Further Study Prospects

According to data published by Edinburgh Napier University, up to 97% of its undergraduate graduates are in employment or pursuing further study. Graduates can find wide-ranging employment in areas such as AI application development, software engineering, data analysis, and intelligent system design. They may also continue to pursue master's or doctoral degrees for more in-depth academic research or specialised professional work.

(III) Industrial Design (UK Counterpart: Product Design)

1. Programme Positioning and Educational Objectives

This programme adopts Edinburgh Napier University's international curriculum system, deeply integrating China's manufacturing strengths with British design innovation philosophy. It is dedicated to cultivating professional design talent with creative ability, cross-cultural design competence, and an international perspective.

2. Curriculum System and Core Competencies

The curriculum integrates knowledge of design creativity, engineering manufacturing, materials, and user needs, covering directions such as global supply chains and production systems, cost control and product feasibility, brand building, and sustainable design. Throughout their studies, students participate in real design projects and industry briefs, systematically developing core competencies including user research and design thinking, computer-aided design modelling and product development, teamwork, and professional communication.

3. Learning Pathway and Teaching Facilities

Year One: Focuses on engineering and digital skills including computer-aided design, hand sketching, and Adobe software to build a solid practical foundation, while simultaneously strengthening English proficiency.

Years Two to Four: Follows Edinburgh Napier University's curriculum, studying design research and innovation methods, completing team projects and design briefs, and developing independent design capability and leadership skills.

The University provides state-of-the-art engineering and design laboratories, technical workshops, design studios, and digital modelling spaces, supporting the full-cycle practical learning journey from concept design to prototype creation.

4. Practice-Oriented Training

This programme adopts a studio-based teaching model emphasising teamwork and division of responsibilities, driven by user testing and research-informed design. Students are encouraged to participate in international design competitions, cross-cultural design projects, and the solving of real-world industry problems. The Major Project requires students to conduct in-depth primary research and literature review, comprehensively demonstrating their integrated design capabilities.

5. Locational Advantages and Career Prospects

As a major industrial and manufacturing centre in China, Liuzhou boasts a well-developed automotive and manufacturing industry while maintaining a relatively low cost of living. Studying in Liuzhou allows students to enjoy the unique advantage of "global design concepts applied under local manufacturing conditions". Graduates can pursue careers in international design and manufacturing sectors including product design, industrial design, user experience design, service design, and design consultancy, or may choose to start their own businesses.

6. Pathway to Overseas Further Study

This programme lays a solid foundation for overseas study. Through Edinburgh Napier University's curriculum system, students will progressively enhance their academic English proficiency, design research capabilities, critical thinking, and independent learning skills, establishing a strong basis for continuing to pursue master's degrees in fields such as Product Design, Innovation Design, and Design Management. For students who choose to continue their master's studies at Edinburgh Napier University, additional advantages include a familiar teaching system, closely aligned academic foundations, and alumni tuition fee discounts.