Zhang Kaiyuan was admitted in by the History Department of Nanjing University in October 1946, and graduated there. In December 1948, Zhang went to the Central Plains Liberated Areas in Central China University of Political Research as a graduate student. In July 1949 he went to Wuhan together with the school, and became an assistant professor in the Department of History, College of Education faculty. September 1951 into the Huazhong University (from August 1985 - March 1991 was the Central China Normal University, and Huazhong Normal University), He has been successively lecturer, associate professor, professor, and finally President of former President (of Huazhong Normal University). He was also President of the Research Center for the History of Chinese Christian Colleges and Universities.
