The non-solvent phase separation (NIPS) is a highly efficient membrane preparation method which was invented in 1960s. Membranes prepared by NIPS method always possess asymmetric structure with a denser top layer and looser support layer which gives the membranes excellent selectivity and permeability. What’s more， the structure of the membranes could be easily controlled By NIPS method. So it has been widely used in research and commercial manufacture of membranes. Poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) has excellent chemical and mechanical properties and has been widely used. PVDF ultrafiltration (UF) membranes could be easily prepared by NIPS method. Owing to the excellent separation properties， PVDF UF membranes have been widely used in wastewater treatment， pure water production， pretreatment of seawater desalination， etc. The preparation process， the control method of the micro-pores and the application of PVDF UF membranes have gained most attentions and became worldwide research hot area. In this paper， we made a brief introduction about the research progress on the phase separation theory of PVDF UF membranes prepared by NIPS， membrane structure control method and its application， etc.