The origin of Yanshan University can be traced back to the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) founded in 1920. In 1978, it was accredited as one of the eighty-eight national key institutions of higher learning. Starting in 1985, it began to relocate southward to the historic seaside city of Qinhuangdao in Hebei Province. YSU has 9 postdoctoral research stations, 10 disciplines of 48 sub disciplines conferring doctoral degrees, 24 disciplines of 139 sub disciplines conferring master degrees, 18 masters of engineering programs, one Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, one Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, as well as 61 undergraduate programs. With such a wide range of programs, YSU has become a multiversity with emphasis laid on engineering studies and importance attached to liberal arts, sciences, economics, management, law and education.