Xi’an Shiyou University (XSYU) stands out as the only one characterized by its disciplines in petroleum and petro-chemistry in the northwestern part of China. Today, it operates with the joint support of both the local provincial government and the three major oil companies in China ( CNPC, SINOPEC, and CNOOC ). It is also one of the universities selected by the provincial government for its “12th Five-Year Plan” project of high-level university development.

The school was founded in 1951 as Northwest Oil Industry Secondary School. To meet the demands for more talents as a result of the rapid development of China’s oil industry, in 1958, Xian Petroleum College was founded with the approval of the State Council. In 1969 (the Great Cultural Revolution), the school was transformed into a factory. In1980, the school was resumed .In 2000, it was transformed from a school attached to CNPC to a regular provincial one co-funded by central and local government. In 2003, the school was upgraded from college to university, renamed as Xi’an Shiyou University (XSYU) .In 2009, Shannxi provincial government and the three major oil companies in China signed an agreement on their joint efforts for the development of the school. In 2011, the school was included as one of the universities selected by the provincial government for its “12th Five-Year Plan” project of high-level university development.