Nankai University was founded in 1919 by Mr. Yan Xiu and Mr.Zhang Boling on the principle of education to strengthen the country. When the University was founded, there were only three disciplines, Arts, Sciences and Business. In accordance with its motto of dedication to the public interests, acquisition of all-round capability and aspiration for daily progress, the University has been dedicated to the tradition of patriotism, conscientiousness, innovation and agreeableness and the principles of art to regulate the country, science to strengthen the country, and business to richen the country. Having put forward the principle of knowing China to serve China, the University has made a name for its high-level academic environment, prudent scientific training and down-to-the-earth style and has produced batches of prominent talents for China.

Nankai has consists of 12 schools in the field of humanities and social sciences, including School of Liberal Arts, College of History, Faculty of Philosophy, Law School, Zhou Enlai School of Government, College of Foreign Languages, College of Ideological and Cultural Education, School of Economics, School of Business, College of Chinese Language and Culture, College of Tourism and Service Management and School of Finance.

The nine specialized research institutions are China APEC Institute, Institute of Economic and Social Development, Binhai Development Institute, Institute of Japan Studies, Institute of State Economy, Institute of Intercultural Communication, Institute of Finance and Development, Institute of China Contemporary Problems and Institute of Ecological Civilization.

Nankai offers eight key research bases for humanities and social sciences Managed by the Ministry of Education which include the APEC Study Center, The Research Center on Multinational Corporations, The Research Center for Human Rights, The Research Center for the History of Modern World, The Research Center for Political Economy, Center for Chinese Social History, Institute of China Corporate Governance and Center for Management Innovation of Chinese Philosophy and Social Science.

In addition, there are over 100 non-entity research institutions. Thus, the University has developed a scientific research system with academic schools as its root, specialized research institutions its basis and non-entity research institutions its extension. With the aim of developing the academic center with Chinese characteristics, Chinese manner and Chinese style, the University focuses on the researches concerning the national economy and people's livelihood and serving the development of economy and society, and it becomes the research center of humanities and social sciences in China.

Nankai University now has 1061 full-time teachers in Arts schools, among which there are 714 professors, 449 associate professors, 8 lecture professors invited on Yangtze River Scholar Award program and 81 recipients of the Cross Century Talents Foundation under Ministry of Education. In recent years, the actual scientific research funds of the Arts have increased by 30% continuously, exceeding 100 million yuan for the first time in 2013. Since 2011, Nankai has won the bids of in total 44 major projects of the National Social Sciences Fund and Humanities and Social Research supported by Ministry of Education. In the year 2014 and 2015, Nankai is one of the top 3 universities among all China's higher education institutions in terms of the major projects of National Social Sciences Fund.

In the new historical period, Nankai University holds fast to its academic tradition of knowing China to serve China and carries forward the characteristic advantages of its solid foundation, prominent application and innovation. It adheres to the principles of serving for decision-making, preserving culture, innovating theory and educating people for governance. Nankai seizes the developmental opportunity for the humanities and social sciences discipline to build China's characteristic think tank. It serves for the Communist Party of China, helps with the scientific and democratic decision-making, solves the developmental problems and builds a think tank group based on the key research bases for humanities and social sciences, research institutions and non-entity research centers serving for the national, regional and industrial development.