Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) Admission Guide for International Students

What SJTU is known for

Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) is a comprehensive research university in Shanghai, particularly known for engineering, the sciences and medicine — the last through the SJTU School of Medicine and joint institutes such as the UM–SJTU Joint Institute. It is often chosen by international students for its technical and research strengths.

This guide covers how an international student applies to SJTU through the university's own system. All programme details, fees and deadlines live on SJTU's official pages and change each intake, so verify them there before you apply.

The International Student Center and its portals

International admissions at SJTU are run by the International Student Center (ISC), whose English site publishes admission guides, programme lists and the online application system; SJTU also maintains an English admissions site under its main university domain.

Apply directly through the official portal rather than a paid agent — no third party can guarantee a place, and a demand to pay for "guaranteed" admission is a red flag.

Undergraduate vs postgraduate channels

SJTU runs distinct application channels for degree-seeking international undergraduates and for postgraduates (master's and PhD), each with its own eligibility rules, documents and deadlines.

Undergraduate applicants typically apply on the strength of their secondary-school qualifications plus a language result. Postgraduate applicants apply to a specific programme and, often, a specific research direction. Check which channel and which intake (usually autumn, sometimes spring) apply to you on the ISC site.

The graduate supervisor and pre-admission route

For research master's and PhD study, SJTU applicants are usually expected to identify a potential supervisor whose research fits their interests, and some programmes ask for a pre-admission notice or acceptance from that supervisor before or alongside the formal application.

A clear research proposal and early, specific contact with the department help. The exact expectation varies by school, so follow the individual programme's official instructions rather than assuming a single process.

Scholarships: SJTU scheme and CSC hosting

SJTU offers its own scholarship scheme for international students and is a host university for the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC). Under CSC's Chinese University Program, an applicant routes through SJTU as the host institution (the Type B / Type C channels), applying to both SJTU and CSC.

Coverage, quotas and deadlines differ between the SJTU scholarship and CSC and change each year — confirm current terms on SJTU's official scholarship pages and the CSC portal, and never pay for a "guaranteed" award.

Language of instruction and proficiency evidence

SJTU teaches in Chinese and in English depending on the programme; a growing set of graduate programmes are English-taught. Chinese-taught programmes generally require an HSK result; English-taught programmes generally require IELTS or TOEFL, with possible exemptions for English-medium prior study.

The precise test and level are set per programme on SJTU's official pages, so check the requirement for the exact programme you are targeting.

• Choose a specific programme and the correct UG/PG channel on the ISC site.
• For research degrees, contact a suitable supervisor early and prepare a research proposal.
• Prepare documents (passport, transcripts, certificates, statement, references, language proof), notarised and translated where required.
• Submit on SJTU's official online application system by the programme deadline, then use the admission paperwork to apply for a student visa — general information only; verify current steps on official sources.