Its precursor, Sanjiang Teachers College, was established in 1902 as a modern university on the campus of an academy which dates back to 258.

[5][6] At the end of the 19th century, under the domination of the Qing dynasty, the Chinese society was under the situation of domestic trouble and foreign invasion.

In 1901, the Qing government began to reform under this situation, and in 1902 issued 'The imperial rules for colleges', and adapted the new modern education system.

In February 1903, the following Liangjiang governor Zhang Zhidong submitted a proposal to open Sanjiang Normal College to government, and authorize Miao Quansun as a representative to Japan for investigation, who later was nominated as the inspector of Sanjiang Normal College and responsible for the project preparation.

At the end of 1911, due to the outbreak of Xinhai Revolution, Liangjiang Normal College was almost closed.

[9] On 15 July 1914, Governor Han Guojun appointed Jiang Qian as principal, who was responsible for the starting up of Nanjing Higher Normal School in the same site of Liangjiang Normal College.

Jiang employed the US-educated scholar Guo Bingwen as the dean of teaching, Chen Rong as the advisor, and sent both to Europe to investigate the education system and recruit teachers.

On 7 April 1920, Guo proposed the foundation of the "Southeast University Preparatory Committee".

In September, Guo proposed to the State Council and the Ministry of Education to apply for the establishment of Southeast University, and in December it was approved.

Southeast University, based on the foundation of Nanjing Normal Higher School, until 1923, had possessed arts and sciences, Education, engineering, agriculture, business totaling more than 20 lines in 5 subjects.

In 2006, the research funds for the university is 600 million Chinese Yuan, which lists the 7th place in the country.

Over the last decade, it has completed more than 1000 research projects, of which over 500 have been awarded the national, provincial or municipal science and technology prizes.

The SEU-affiliated Zhongda Hospital was set up in 1935 and rated as "Class A Grade 3" by the Ministry of Public Health.

However, in 2008 Pukou Campus was separated from Southeast University and was then acquired by Cheng Xian Institute.

Nanjing Railway Medical College became the School of Medicine at Southeast University after it merged with SEU.

The architecture design of Jiulonghu Campus follows the basis of Southeast University's culture, characterized in the combination of public teaching and research which compromises the merit of Chinese and Western styles, forming a green and active university community.

The total building area in Jiulonghu Campus is 574 thousand square meters with the investment of 1.6 billion yuan.