Southern Medical University; formerly known as First Military Medical University, affiliated to the People's Liberation Army of China, is a Chinese institution of higher learning, located in Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province, China. It was founded in 1951 and became one of national key universities in 1979. Approved by the State Council and the Central Military Commission of the PLA, the university came under the jurisdiction of Guangdong Province in August 2004, whereupon it was renamed Southern Medical University. This University offers courses in Clinical Medicine at the Bachelors and Masters levels, in Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, economics and medical-related fields. Students are also taught English (for Chinese students) and Mandarin Chinese (for foreign students) at the basic level. Southern Medical University is recognized by the World Health Organization and by the Medical Council of India. The University is a rich haven for research and development in the field of medicine.