Co-established by Wuhan University and Duke University, Duke Kunshan   University is a Chinese-American joint non-profit institution with   independent legal status. Based on the principle of high-quality and   international "elite education", it has introduced high-level   curriculum system and interdisciplinary education model from Duke   University. It combined China's   national conditions and made good use of Wuhan University's academic   advantages to build a world-class higher education institution.

On August 17, 2012, the Ministry of Education approved Wuhan University   and Duke University’ s collaboration in co-establishing a university in   Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province.

On December 19, 2012, the inauguration of Kunshan Duke University was   held.

On September 17, 2013, the Ministry of Education officially approved   the co-establishment of Kunshan Duke University by Wuhan University and   University of Duke. The first president of the university was Liu Jingnan, an   academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

In the fall of 2014, Duke Kunshan University began its global   enrolment.