Having evolved from a college specializing in the chemical industry, it is now a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary university offering academic degrees in Science, Technology, Humanities, Business, Management, Medicine, Law and Arts.

Since being run by the Christian Church meant that the Wenhui School had soon to close, an agreement was reached beforehand in order to ensure the transition of both the teaching staff and the students.

In accordance with the economic needs of the time, chemistry, paper making and rubber production made up the core curriculum for the higher education branch, while the former middle school continued its operation under the auspices of this new institution.

In December 1954, the Ministry of Light Industry decided to move the whole institution to Qingdao, where more expertise was needed to further the development of the local rubber-industry.

Thus, in September 1956 the Qingdao Rubber Industry School (青岛橡胶工业学校) opened its gates, having moved teachers, students and equipment from Liaoning to Shandong Province.

The length of studies was also shortened to only two years, and in 1972, it was required for the school to recruit workers, peasants and soldiers as students (工农兵学员).

Things started to look brighter in 1977, when the Gaokao was reinstated as prerequisite to higher education, and the college was able to enroll 443 new students for Bachelor-level studies.

Since 1985 the college was called Qingdao Institute of Chemical Industry (青岛化工学院), a change of name that was considered a downgrade by a lot of students and teachers alike and thus not warmly welcomed.

[1] The establishment of a Middle School Affiliated to Qingdao University of Science and Technology in Laoshan district (青岛科技大学附属学校) commenced in 2014.

The oldest campus of the university is located in Sifang district near the eastern end of Jiaozhou Bay Bridge.

It is located in near many tourist hotspots, including Mount Lao (Lauschan) (崂山) and the Shilaoren Beach (石老人海水浴场).

In addition to the faculties that were added as part of the transition into a comprehensive university, Laoshan Campus also includes the main administration and library.

Several branches of the main faculties are located at Gaomi Campus, with most majors offered in Economics, Chemical and Computer sciences.