About the university

Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) was founded in December 1949 and is one of China's leading universities specialising in foreign languages, international studies and global communication. It is a member of Project 211 and of the national «Double First-Class» initiative, and its discipline of Foreign Languages and Literatures received the top A+ grade in the national evaluation of the Ministry of Education.

SISU teaches 54 languages, including 39 modern languages and 15 classical and constructed languages. Around 3,000 international students enrol every year in its Chinese language and degree programmes, and more than 230 foreign academics work at the university.

Campuses

• Hongkou Campus — the historic campus in central Shanghai: Chinese language programmes and the Hongkou bachelor's majors (Chinese Language, International Economics and Trade, TCSOL).
• Songjiang Campus — the main undergraduate campus in Songjiang District: most bachelor's majors (languages, economics, law, politics, journalism, data science, management).

Programmes for international students

• Chinese language programme and intensive Chinese programme (spring and autumn semesters), summer programme.
• Chinese-taught bachelor's programmes (4 years).
• Chinese-taught and English-taught master's programmes.
• Chinese-taught and English-taught PhD programmes (4 years).

Application fee (one-time, non-refundable)

Key admission requirements

• Bachelor's: high school diploma, age 18–35 (applicants under 18 need a guardian's guarantee letter), HSK 4 (180+) for Hongkou or HSK 5 for Songjiang, and CSCA test results (Chinese and Mathematics; Physics or Chemistry for some majors).
• Master's and PhD: bachelor's or master's degree, HSK 5 (180+) for Chinese-taught programmes or IELTS 6.0 for English-taught programmes.
• Self-funded applicants for the September 2027 intake apply by 15 April (Songjiang bachelor's), 30 April (master's and PhD) and 20 July (Hongkou bachelor's); scholarship applicants apply earlier.

Two campuses in Shanghai

SISU has two campuses with a total area of 74.7 hectares.

• Hongkou Campus — the historic campus in central Shanghai, home to the Chinese language programmes, the Hongkou bachelor's majors and graduate residences.
• Songjiang Campus — the large modern campus in Songjiang District, where most bachelor's students study and live.

Facilities

• Museum of World Languages — one of the few language museums in the world and the first in China dedicated to global linguistic diversity.
• University canteens, cafes and halal restaurants on both campuses.
• Sports and fitness facilities and an active arts scene on campus.

Accommodation for international students

International students live in on-campus residences. Payment is made per semester for long-term students and is not refunded if the student leaves mid-semester. Rooms are limited, so the university cannot guarantee on-campus housing for every self-funded student; short-term transfer students are not given on-campus rooms.

Room types and prices

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), Type B — SISU independent enrolment

Conditions: non-Chinese citizens in good health. Deadline for applications to SISU: 20 November 2026; entrance assessment from late November to mid-December; results in July–August 2027.

Shanghai Government Scholarship (SGS)

Conditions: outstanding academic record, no other scholarship. Not available for the Hongkou TCSOL bachelor's major, professional master's programmes and the PhD in International Chinese Education. Application period: 1 January – 31 March 2027, written examination in April, results in late June or July. Applicants submit the SGS application form together with the standard admission documents.

Chinese Government Scholarship — China Link Program

All academic fields except Chinese Language. Candidates apply at least 3 months before the planned start date.

Other scholarships

SISU also accepts International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship students and offers the SISU award for outstanding students; details are published by the university each year.

History of SISU

SISU was founded in December 1949 and was one of the first institutions of higher education established after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

SISU in rankings

International cooperation

• Partnerships with more than 440 universities and institutions in 62 countries and regions.
• 8 Confucius Institutes in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America.
• More than 230 foreign academics; about 90% of faculty have international experience.
• Ties with international organisations including the United Nations and the European Union.
• Exchange, research and short-term study opportunities for students of partner universities, including the CSC China Link Program for 1–12 month stays.

Шанхай (上海) — экономическое сердце Китая и один из крупнейших мегаполисов мира, известный как «Восточный Париж». Город контрастов, где историческая набережная Вайтань с европейской архитектурой смотрит на футуристические небоскребы района Пудун. Это глобальный финансовый центр и главные международные ворота страны.

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.