Also referred to as HEU, was founded in 1953 in Harbin, China. It offers over 150 degree programs, 48 of which are conducted in English. Designated Project 211 university, HEU traces its origins to the PLA Military Engineering Institute established in Harbin on September 1, 1953. In 1970 the university was renamed Harbin Shipbuilding Engineering Institute. The current name has been in use since 1994. HEU was one of the first universities authorized by the state to award master's and doctoral degrees.