At the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), the School of the Gifted Young (SGY) is specially designed for the most talented young students. Proposed by Professor Tsung-Dao Lee, a Nobel Prize laureate, SGY was established in 1978, and has since grown in both size and recognition as the premiere honors program in Chinese academia. The School admits mainly students who are ready for college before the senior year of high school, and some exceptional students from the high school graduating classes. Because SGY provides one of the best educational environments in China, admissions are extremely competitive.

Our program is unique in China for offering a wide range of opportunities for students to grow and explore their self-directed interests. In the freshman year, students follow a curriculum emphasizing a solid foundation in mathematics, physics, languages, and computer programming. In the following years, a student can choose any major within USTC, including double-majors. While taking rigorous courses, the students are also actively involved in scientific research, take part in scientific and computing competitions, and do industry internships. SGY students of different ages and majors share dorm rooms together, fostering an interdisciplinary environment.

The majority of our graduates (>80% historically) go on to post-graduate studies. Many of our alumni take leadership positions in academia and industry. They are fellows of the APS, AAAS, IEEE and other learned societies. They are recipients of Breakthrough Prizes, HHMI awards, McArthur Grants, PECASEs and other academic honors. They are leaders in high tech companies such as Microsoft, Baidu, Honor and others.