As autumn gently arrives in the southern region and lychee trees flourish with lush greenery, the grand opening ceremony for the 2026 freshmen of the School of Psychology at Shenzhen University was held on the afternoon of September 8, 2026. Twenty-one new students, filled with aspirations and passion for psychological science, gathered together with the school's leadership, faculty representatives, counselors, academic administrators, and class advisors to officially begin their academic journey at Liyuan Campus. The ceremony was presided over by Gao Liang, Deputy Party Secretary of the school.
The national anthem resounds, and the horn of departure is sounded.
The ceremony opened solemnly with the national anthem. After Deputy Secretary Gao Liang introduced the attending college leaders and faculty members, he announced the beginning of the event. Everyone stood up to sing the national anthem; its powerful melody resonated throughout the hall, marking the official start of this new cohort's university journey.
A New Look for Undergraduates: Diverse Student Body, Clear Pathways
Vice Dean Guo Tianyou of the School of Psychology introduced the undergraduate admissions for the class of 2026. A total of 101 new undergraduate students were admitted, including 45 in Psychology, 36 in Psychology (Excellence Program), and 20 in the dual-degree program in Psychology and Artificial Intelligence. The diverse student background and clear development pathways fully reflect the school's talent cultivation strategy in foundational psychology, applied psychology, and interdisciplinary innovation.
Setting Sail on the Research Journey: Together from Undergraduate to Graduate, Advancing Toward Liyuan
Vice Dean Li Peng of the School of Psychology introduced the graduate admissions for the class of 2026. A total of 117 new graduate students will be enrolled, including 7 doctoral candidates, 38 academic master's students in Psychology (including 1 international student), 50 professional master's students in Applied Psychology, and 22 part-time professional master's students in Mental Health Education. Together with undergraduate students, this brings the total number of new students to 218, who will now join the vibrant and warm academic community of Shenzhen University's School of Psychology—where scientific inquiry meets humanistic care.
A letter of appointment, lighting the lamp for growth
Psychology Department Party Secretary Zhang Lunan presented appointment letters to the new undergraduate class advisors for the 2026 cohort. Teachers Han Chuanliang, Zhou Ying, Sun Rongqian, and Geng Shuang have been appointed as advisors for the Psychology (Psychology × AI Dual Bachelor's Class), Psychology (Excellence Class), and two other psychology classes respectively. These appointment letters carry great responsibility and trust, serving as guiding lights illuminating the journey of growth for the new students.
Voices Converging: Threefold Messages from New Student, Current Student, and Faculty Member
Ye Mengqi, a representative of the new postgraduate students, affectionately recounted the origins of her choice to study psychology. She spoke of how her undergraduate studies made her understand that psychology "is not what is popularly described as 'reading minds,' but a science that values evidence, emphasizes empirical verification, and maintains rigorous logic." It was precisely the school's strong research platforms, its truth-seeking and pragmatic academic atmosphere, and its research directions at the frontiers of the field that solidified her determination to pursue advanced studies at the School of Psychology at Shenzhen University. She encouraged her fellow students with the words: "Hold fast to the original aspiration of scholarship, and maintain a heart of reverence; preserve the passion for exploration, and bravely tread upon the frontiers; first cultivate one's own mind, and then illuminate others." She hoped everyone would calm their minds to conduct research and open their hearts to see the world.
Liu Jia, a representative of current students and a 2023 undergraduate, wove together her personal growth journey using three words—"allowing," "initiating," and "understanding." She admitted feeling anxious during her freshman year due to uncertainty, but gradually learned through constant attempts that answers are not discovered by thinking alone, but by doing. She encouraged new students to "attend a lecture, join a project, or proactively reach out to a professor" to move closer to their passions through action. The most precious gift of psychology, she said, is teaching us to "ask one more 'why' when facing others, and be less self-critical and more understanding toward ourselves." Quoting Carl Rogers, she concluded: "When I honestly accept myself, I am able to change."
Han Chuanliang, a faculty representative and head teacher of the undergraduate Class of 2026, reflected on his own transitions—from high school to university, from undergraduate to graduate study. He emphasized that in college, academic grades are no longer the sole measure of success, and everyone has the freedom to shape their future—whether becoming a psychology teacher, working on brain-computer interfaces, joining state-owned enterprises, or delving into neuroscience. "Each path holds equal value; what matters is whether you truly love it from the bottom of your heart." He urged students not to underestimate simple questions, to build a solid foundation, start small, and strive toward the frontier. With great hope, he added that over the past decade, they have been witnesses to the school’s development, and in the next ten years, they will become active participants themselves.
Dean's Address: Ten Years of Dedication, Writing a New Chapter
Dean Chen Qi delivered an address and systematically introduced an overview of the school's development. Over the past decade since its founding, the School of Psychology has anchored itself to national needs and adhered to the philosophy of "small scale, interdisciplinary, simultaneous advancement of applied and basic research, and balanced development across the arts and sciences." It has established a first-level doctoral and master's degree program in psychology and a postdoctoral research station in psychology, and its psychology major was approved as one of the first national first-class undergraduate programs. In the 2026 ShanghaiRanking subject rankings for psychology, the school ranked 16th nationwide. Neuroscience and Behavior, as well as Psychiatry and Psychology, have entered the top 5‰ of the ESI global rankings. The school has a faculty team of 61 full-time teachers, 100% of whom hold doctoral degrees and 53% of whom hold senior professional titles. It has undertaken over 270 research projects in total, published more than 600 high-level papers, and its experimental center's equipment assets amount to 124 million yuan. Looking to the future, the school is steadily advancing toward the goal of "building a nationally renowned and distinctive first-class psychology discipline."
Chase the wind and the moon, do not pause; beyond the vast plain lies the spring mountain. With the guidance of mentors and encouragement from peers, 218 new students have officially begun their academic journey at Liyuan Campus. May they receive thoughtful mentorship and mutual support during their time here, stay focused on research, open their hearts to the world, honor the school’s investment in them, and remain true to their passion, writing their own unique stories in psychology.
