In December1984, Sir Yue-Kong Pao decided to donate foreign exchange worth of 5,000,000 RMB to set up Ningbo University. He signed a Memorandum in Beijing with Mr. Di Dianhua, mayor of Ningbo city .
In January 1985, Zhejiang Provincial Government approved the report about setting up Ningbo University made by Ningbo Municipal Government. According to the approval document, it is approved to set up Ningbo University, which should be situated in Ningbo city and the number of its in-residence students should reach 2,000 before 1990”.
In September 1985, Dengxiaoping autographed the school name for Ningbo University.
In October 1985, Ningbo Municipal government held a foundation stone laying ceremony for Ningbo University, with the deputy premier Wanli and Sir Yue-Kong Pao present.
In April 1986, the former State Education Commission decided that Zhejiang University, Fudan University, Chinese University of science and technology, Beijing University and Hangzhou University should support the establishment and assist the teaching of Ningbo University.
In September 1986, Ningbo University enrolled its first group of students.
In November, 1986, Ningbo University held the Opening ceremony. Mr. Wanli, deputy premier of the State Council, leaders from related departments of central government, provincial government and municipal government, as well as Yue-Kong Pao couple attended the ceremony.
In October 1988, Ningbo University held inauguration ceremony for the first phase of the school building. Mr. Tianjiyun, Vice premier of the State Council and other leaders were present.
In July 1990, Ningbo University was approved to award bachelor’s degree. The first group of undergraduates graduated and was awarded bachelor’s degree.
In May 1992, Mr. Jiangzemin General Secretary of CCCPC inscribed for Bao Yugang Library of Ningbo University. The inscription reads: “love your country and hometown, benefit your hometown”.
In September 1992, Ningbo University held the inauguration ceremony for Baoyugang Library and Sports Centre, and the unveiling ceremony for the bronze status of Baoyugang.
In 1995*,* with an outstanding achievement, Ningbo University was a member of the first group of colleges to pass the Undergraduate Education Level Evaluation held by the former State Education Commission.
In March 1996, Zhejiang provincial government decided that former Ningbo University, Ningbo teachers college, Zhejiang marine products Institute Ningbo Campus combined to establish a new Ningbo University. The three schools were merged and the establishment of the new school was supported by both the municipal and the provincial government.
In June 1998, Academic Degree Committee of the State Council authorized Ningbo University to award master’s degree. The first three graduate programs of Ninbo Universiy are International trade, engineering mechanics, and aquiculture.
In June 1998, the Medical School of Ningbo University was established. The buildings of the Medical School were donated by Dr. John Tang, the famous Hong Kong scientist, medical scientist, fellow of royal college of physicians of London, fellow of royal college of physicians of Edinburgh.
In April 1999, College of Science & Technology, Ningbo University---the first state-owned and non-governmental secondary college in Zhejiang Province was established.
In April 2000, eighteen secondary colleges of Ningbo University were set up and six academicians were appointed as deans of these colleges successively.
In May 2000, according to 2000 #94 document issued by Zhejiang provincial government, former Ningbo Sea School of National Bureau of Oceanography and Ningbo Forestry School of the Department of Forestry were integrated with Ningbo University.
In June 2000, Mr.Lilanqin, Vice Premier of the State Council came to visit Ningbo University, and said that “I hope that Ningbo University will be a new star among Chinese universities in the near future”.
In June 2000, according to 2001 #100 document issued by Zhejiang Provincial Education Department, former Ningbo Teachers’ College and Ningbo Shaoyifu Art Normal school were integrated into Ningbo University. According to 2001 #254 document issued by Ningbo Municipal Education Committee, in July 2001, Ningbo Teachers’ College and Ningbo Shaoyifu Art Normal school combined to establish the Elementary Education Department of the Teacher’s College of Ningbo University.
In March 2001, according to 2001 #55 document issued by Zhejiang Provincial Education Department, Ningbo Health School was integrated into Ningbo University to establish the Health Vocational School of Ningbo University.
In February 2002, the Provincial Government ranked Ningbo University among the three key construction universities in Zhejiang Province.
In March 2003, according to 2003 #48 document issued by Zhejiang Provincial Government, the Provincial Government agreed to construct an independent Ningbo City College of Vocational Technology, which is based on the college of vocational and technical education of Ningbo University and managed by Ningbo Municipal Government.
In December 2003, Ningbo University passed the Undergraduate Education Level Evaluation held by the Ministry of Education with an outstanding achievement
In July 2004, according to 2004 #109 document issued by Zhejiang provincial government, the Provincial Government agreed that the Health Vocational School of Ningbo University be transformed into Ningbo Tianyi vocational-technical College, which is independent and managed by Ningbo Municipal Government.
In November 2004, the college of Science and Technology was acknowledged as an independent College by the Ministry of Education.
In January 2005, substantially integrated into Ningbo University, the Elementary Education Department of the Teacher’s College of Ningbo University was renamed as Faculty of Elementary Education and moved to North Campus of Ningbo University.
In 2006, Ningbo University won the second prize of National Science and Technology Progress Award.
In June 2007, Academic Degree Committee of the State Council authorized Ningbo University to award Ph.D.degree. Three disciplines: Engineering Mechanics, Communication and Information System, and Aquaculture were in the list to award Ph.D.degree.