East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL, 华东政法大学) is one of the first law universities established in the People's Republic of China. Today it is a Shanghai high-level local university focused on law, with further programmes in economics, management, languages and literature, and engineering. Thanks to its strong law school it is known as the «Oriental Pearl of Legal Education».

ECUPL in numbers

• 3 campuses in Shanghai: Songjiang, Changning and Putuo
• 25 undergraduate majors, 20 schools and departments, more than 180 research institutes and centres
• more than 18,000 students and more than 1,400 staff
• about 800 international students from more than 70 countries
• 3 first-level doctoral disciplines (law, public administration, discipline inspection and supervision) and a professional Doctor of Law (JD) programme
• 10 first-level master's disciplines and 11 professional master's programmes
• more than 1,000 graduate supervisors

Studying at ECUPL as an international student

International students are admitted and supported by the university's International School. Options include:

• Chinese language courses for 1–2 semesters with HSK preparation;
• Chinese-taught bachelor's programmes in 14 majors and the English-taught bachelor's programme in International Commercial Law;
• Chinese-taught master's programmes (3 years) in law, political science, public administration, economics, journalism and sociology;
• English-taught master's programmes: the Juris Master in International Economic Law (2 years) and one-year YES China programmes;
• Chinese-taught doctoral programmes (3 years) and an English-taught PhD in International Law (4 years).

Tuition fees (2027 intake)

The application fee is CNY 400 and is non-refundable.

Application periods (2027 intake)

Degree programmes start in September.

Language and test requirements

Applicants whose previous education was taught in Chinese or English usually do not need an HSK or English test certificate. The CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) is compulsory for all bachelor's applicants: everyone takes mathematics, and applicants to Chinese-taught programmes also take professional Chinese. Applicants to Business Chinese Communication with a valid HSK 4 certificate are exempt from professional Chinese. The mathematics paper is available in Chinese or English.

Selection process

• there are no written entrance exams;
• the university reviews the application documents and holds an online or phone interview if necessary;
• results are sent by email;
• admission letters and visa forms are sent to scholarship students in July–August and to self-funded students in July–October.

Songjiang Campus

The main campus is in Songjiang University Town in south-western Shanghai. It opened in 2003, and in August 2005 most of the university moved here. The International School, which admits international students, also works on this campus.

• Mingzhu Building (明珠楼) — the campus library and information centre; its name refers to the university's nickname, the «Oriental Pearl of Legal Education»;
• teaching buildings Mingfa, Mingde, Mingli, Mingjing, Mingzhi, Chongfa, Shangjie, the Yang Yongman Building and the Mingshi practical training building;
• Futian Sports Center and the Liuyi cultural centre.

Changning Campus

A historic campus on the Suzhou Creek in Changning District, next to the Zhongshan Park business area and about a 10-minute walk from a hub of several metro lines. From 1879 it was home to St. John's University, the first modern missionary university in China.

• 27 campus buildings are protected as national key cultural heritage sites;
• about 40,696 m² of historic buildings have been restored, including Building No. 4 (the former Hogg villa, 1863–1864), the Taofen and Gezhi buildings, which now house museum and cultural spaces;
• since September 2021 more than 900 m of the Suzhou Creek waterfront has been open to the public.

Putuo Campus

The university's third campus. The three campuses cover more than 684,000 m² in total. Chinese language course students study on the Songjiang and Changning campuses.

Where international students live

International students can live in university housing. On the Changning Campus there is a Guest House for international students with twin rooms, a laundry room and a common area; another option is Building No. 20, a century-old historic building. The International School notes that accommodation and living facilities on campus are comfortable and inexpensive.

Cost and benefits

Accommodation prices for the 2027/2028 academic year have not yet been published on the university's official website.

Medical insurance

Medical insurance is compulsory for international students. Under the 2026/2027 Chinese Government Scholarship standard it costs CNY 800 per year; for CSC, YES China and Shanghai Government Scholarship holders it is covered by the scholarship.

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)

ECUPL accepts Chinese Government Scholarship students. The university reviews the application and issues a pre-admission letter, after which the candidate applies for the CSC scholarship. Applications to the university are accepted until 30 April 2027; Chinese embassies set their own deadlines.

YES China scholarship (Youth of Excellence Scheme of China)

A full Chinese Government Scholarship for one-year English-taught master's programmes. ECUPL is one of seven Chinese universities approved by the Ministry of Education to run such programmes and offers one of only two YES China law programmes in the country.

• Application deadline: 28 February 2027.
• Good English is required: non-native speakers submit an English test report.
• After reviewing the documents, the university issues a pre-admission letter, and the candidate then applies for the Chinese Government Scholarship.

Shanghai Government Scholarship

• Conditions: non-Chinese citizenship, good health, outstanding academic performance; generally HSK 4 for Chinese-taught programmes; holders may not receive another Chinese government scholarship at the same time.
• Application period: 1 November 2026 — 30 April 2027.
• The scholarship is also available for the English-taught bachelor's programme in International Commercial Law.
• Recipients must register at the university on time, otherwise the scholarship is cancelled; an annual review is held, and the scholarship may be suspended or cancelled if it is failed.
• Recipients generally may not change their major or extend their study period.

Key milestones

Today ECUPL is a Shanghai high-level local university and one of China's leading law schools.

Ranking positions

ECUPL is not listed in the overall QS, THE or ARWU world rankings: as a specialised law university, its strengths show in subject and sector rankings.

Recognition

• Shanghai high-level local university;
• Ministry of Education base for training outstanding legal professionals and part of the first group of Ministry of Education bases for training specialists in foreign-related rule of law;
• in recent years ECUPL has ranked among China's top three universities by publications in core law journals;
• the university has passed China's Higher Education Quality Certification for International Students.

Partnerships

According to the university, as of April 2026 ECUPL had signed agreements with 230 universities and institutions in 50 countries and regions, as well as with 11 international and regional organisations, including the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia are on the official list of partner countries.

• 2 joint programmes approved by China's Ministry of Education;
• credit-recognised student exchanges with more than 60 overseas universities;
• partners that sent video greetings for the 70th anniversary include the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, the University of Leeds, Leiden University, the University of Fribourg, the University of Graz, the University of Queensland, the University of Western Australia, the University of Hong Kong and Far Eastern Federal University.

International projects

• since 1984 ECUPL has taught English-language courses on Chinese law to US law school students; its Chinese Law Program, developed with Willamette University, made ECUPL the first Chinese university whose credits are recognised by the American Bar Association (ABA);
• in 1994 China's Ministry of Justice and the State Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs set up the Chinese International Lawyer Training Center at ECUPL;
• in 2015 ECUPL hosted the first WIPO–China Summer School on Intellectual Property and hosted it again in 2018 and 2019; ECUPL students have interned at WIPO;
• ECUPL is a co-founder of the BRICS Legal Forum: in 2015 it hosted the 2nd forum with more than 150 delegates and runs a BRICS Legal Institute;
• ECUPL is one of seven Chinese universities approved by the Ministry of Education to run one-year English-taught YES China master's programmes.

For international students

• about 800 international students from more than 70 countries study in bachelor's, master's, PhD, language and short-term programmes;
• Shanghai Summer School in Chinese Political and Legal Culture — a short-term programme on China's political and legal culture;
• exchange programmes for students of partner universities with English-taught courses.

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Студентам Шанхай предлагает образование мирового класса (Fudan University и Shanghai Jiao Tong University — неизменно в топ-3 страны), самую большую в мире сеть метро и уникальные возможности для карьеры в штаб-квартирах транснациональных корпораций. Город кипит энергией: здесь проходят международные выставки, фестивали и спортивные события, создавая идеальную среду для нетворкинга и культурного обмена.

Для родителей важно: доступность передовой международной медицины, наличие двух огромных аэропортов с прямыми рейсами по всему миру и развитая инфраструктура для иностранцев, облегчающая адаптацию. Несмотря на масштабы, город остается безопасным, чистым и предлагает высочайшие стандарты жизни, гарантируя ребенку перспективное будущее в центре мировой экономики.