国立中央大学是中华民国时期中国最高学府，也是当时国立大学中系科设置最齐全、规模最大的大学。其前身可追溯至1902年张之洞创办的三江师范学堂，历经国立南京高等师范学校、国立东南大学等阶段，1928年正式定名为国立中央大学。1937年因抗战西迁至重庆、成都等地办学，1946年复员回南京。1949年8月更名为国立南京大学，翌年定名南京大学，其部分院系后发展为东南大学等高校。

National Central University was the highest institution of learning in the Republic of China and the most comprehensive and largest national university with the most complete departments at that time. Its predecessor can be traced back to Sanjiang Normal School founded by Zhang Zhidong in 1902, going through stages such as National Nanjing Higher Normal School and National Southeast University, and was officially named National Central University in 1928. In 1937, it moved west to Chongqing, Chengdu and other places for running schools due to the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and returned to Nanjing in 1946. In August 1949, it was renamed National Nanjing University, and the following year it was named Nanjing University. Some of its departments later developed into universities such as Southeast University.

在台湾地区，国立中央大学于1962年在桃园市中坜区复校，延续其学术传统。学校现有8所学院、26个学系及19个独立研究所，以理工、管理等学科见长，校园占地面积达62公顷，环境优美，师资力量雄厚，在校学生万余人，是台湾地区知名高等学府。

In Taiwan, National Central University was re-established in Zhongli District, Taoyuan City in 1962, continuing its academic tradition. The university currently has 8 colleges, 26 departments and 19 independent research institutes, excelling in disciplines such as science, engineering and management. The campus covers an area of 62 hectares with a beautiful environment and strong faculty, and has more than 10,000 students, making it a well-known institution of higher learning in Taiwan.