Shanghai, China

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

上海交通大学 · SJTU

A leading C9 university with major strengths in engineering, technology, science and medicine

Everything you need to know before applying to Shanghai Jiao Tong University — from entry requirements and language requirements to programmes, costs, scholarships and student life.

Check language fit Compare admission routes

✓ Verified against official SJTU admissions sourcesLast updated 13 July 2026

QS ranking#=47World University Rankings

LocationShanghaiMinhang and Xuhui campuses

Main languageChinese and EnglishConfirm by programme

Degree length4-6 yearsVaries by programme

Tuition guideRMB 24,800-120,000/yearDepends on programme

Application status2026 closedAll published deadlines passed

2026 entry

Is Shanghai Jiao Tong University a realistic choice?

✓Good fitYou have excellent grades, strong preparation in relevant subjects, and the language skills needed for your chosen programme.
!CompetitiveYou are applying to one of China’s most selective universities.
×Probably not suitableYou want a wide choice of English-taught programmes outside engineering and medicine, or prefer a lower-cost city.

Application status2026 applications closedUse the published dates only to plan for the next intake

Build my checklist Official sources View official admissions page

About Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Overview

Shanghai Jiao Tong University is a leading public research university and a member of China's C9 League. It is particularly known for engineering, computer science, medicine, natural sciences and management, while its Shanghai location provides access to one of China's largest commercial and technology centres.

Most undergraduate programmes are taught in Chinese. Selected English-taught options include Engineering Cluster, Civil Engineering, two GIFT programmes and MBBS. Each follows its own application process, deadline, tuition and entry requirements.

Why choose Shanghai Jiao Tong University

A top C9 university with outstanding strengths in engineering, science, medicine and management, based in one of China's most international cities.

What to watch

SJTU does not use one application process for every programme. Deadlines, CSCA subjects, assessments, tuition and application systems vary.

Best-fit student

You have excellent grades, strong preparation in relevant subjects, and the language skills needed for your chosen programme.

Not ideal for

You want a less competitive application, a wide choice of English-taught programmes outside engineering and medicine, or a lower-cost city.

Study language

Language requirements

Chinese language

HSK Level 5 or Level 6

Chinese-taught programmes normally require HSK 5 with 200 or above and at least 60 in Writing, or HSK 6 with 180 or above and at least 60 in Writing. Approved alternative evidence or conditional Chinese-language preparation may be available in limited cases.

English language

IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 90 for main English routes

Engineering Cluster, Civil Engineering and GIFT normally require IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 90, unless an approved exemption applies. MBBS accepts additional qualifications and applies its own minimum score rules.

Important for planning Choose your programme before booking a language test. Requirements vary between Chinese-taught, English-taught and MBBS routes.

Academic fit

Entry requirements

Qualification	Official SJTU guidance	Our estimated competitive target
A-Level	No general minimum published	*AAA to AAA, with strong relevant subjects**
IB	No general minimum published	36-39+ overall, with strong Higher Level subjects
SAT / AP	No general minimum published	SAT 1400-1450+ with strong Maths and relevant AP evidence
UEC	No general minimum published	Strong distinctions in relevant subjects
Other	No general minimum published	Excellent results in your national curriculum

SJTU does not publish a general minimum for these qualifications. The competitive targets are ChinaStudyGuide planning guidance, not official admission requirements. Some routes publish additional rules: Engineering Cluster requires A-Level Mathematics at grade A or above, IB Mathematics at HL 5 or SL 7, or equivalent evidence; it does not accept predicted A-Level or IB results. Its 2025 middle 50% SAT range was 1350-1450, with SAT Mathematics at 730-790. UEC and other national or regional qualifications are reviewed in their route-specific context.

Admissions assessment

CSCA

CSCA forms part of SJTU's 2026 undergraduate admissions process. Required subjects and submission deadlines vary by programme.

Do I need CSCA?

Main SJTU undergraduate routesRequired

English-taught MBBSRequired

Required subjects by programme

Chinese-taught STEM and humanities routes: Chinese and Mathematics
English-taught engineering routes: Mathematics
English-taught MBBS: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry

Engineering Cluster, Civil Engineering, and GIFT applicants without a result could submit other scores first and supplement CSCA by 30 June 2026 if pre-admitted. MBBS required results by the application deadline. No general minimum score is published.

Choose your route

Admission routes

12026 applications closed

Chinese-taught programmes

Covers SJTU's main Chinese-taught undergraduate catalogue across engineering, science, business, humanities, design and selected medical subjects.

Application: Study@SJTU
Early round: 8 Dec 2025-5 Feb 2026
Regular round: 6 Feb-10 Mar 2026
Assessment: Online entrance exam for regular-round applicants, then interview if shortlisted
Language: HSK 5/200+ or HSK 6/180+
CSCA: Chinese + Mathematics according to the programme list
Tuition: Usually RMB 24,800/year

Official route details ↗

22026 applications closed

English-taught programmes

Includes Engineering Cluster, Civil Engineering, the two GIFT programmes and the six-year MBBS degree.

Application systems: Common App first for Engineering Cluster, Study@SJTU for Civil Engineering and GIFT, and the School of Medicine system for MBBS
Deadlines: 31 Mar for Engineering Cluster, 31 Mar / 31 May / 30 Jun for Civil Engineering and GIFT, and 30 Apr for MBBS
CSCA: Mathematics for engineering routes, or Mathematics + Physics + Chemistry for MBBS
Assessment: Document review, interview, and SJTU entrance test where applicable
Tuition: RMB 75,000-120,000/year

Official route details ↗

Important: English-taught programmes are grouped here for comparison, but each has its own application system, CSCA requirements, deadline, assessment and tuition. All published 2026 deadlines have passed.

From application to arrival

Application process

1
Choose your teaching language
Decide whether a Chinese-taught or English-taught programme best matches your current language ability and academic goals.
2
Select your programme
Confirm the exact programme, application system, campus, deadline and tuition before preparing your application.
3
Check programme requirements
Confirm the required qualifications, subjects, language result, CSCA papers and assessments for your chosen programme.
4
Prepare your supporting documents
Prepare a focused personal statement, recommendation letters, school information and supporting results relevant to your chosen programme.
5
Complete the required assessment
Regular Chinese-taught applicants take SJTU's entrance exam; other applicants may be invited to interview or further review.
6
Complete the pre-admission requirements
Pre-admitted students normally confirm their place and prepay tuition within two weeks. Some routes may also require a later CSCA submission.
7
Prepare for Shanghai
After final admission, arrange your visa, insurance, accommodation and registration for the campus where your programme is taught.

Documents to preparePersonal statement, recommendations, transcripts, language results, and supporting documents

Start early

Required documents vary by programme and nationality background. Prepare them early so you have time to check translations and programme-specific requirements.

01Personal statement or study plan

Explain why you chose the programme, why SJTU suits your academic goals, and how your previous studies have prepared you.

02Recommendation letters

Choose teachers who know your academic performance well and can give specific examples of your strengths, motivation and potential.

03School profile

Provide information about your school’s curriculum, grading system and academic context where required.

04Passport and nationality-background documents
05High-school diploma or expected-graduation certificate
06Complete high-school transcripts
07National, regional, or international exam results
08CSCA score report for the required subjects
09HSK or English-language certificate, or approved exemption evidence
10Financial or guardian guarantee evidence where relevant
11Awards, projects, competitions, research, or other supporting evidence
12Route-specific health and no-criminal-record documents for MBBS

Documents not issued in Chinese or English may need a notarised translation.

Before you submit

Your readiness checklist

0 ready

Choose your programme and application routeChinese-taught, Engineering Cluster, Civil Engineering, GIFT, or MBBS Check the next intake noticeAll 2026 deadlines have passed Confirm and book your CSCA subjectsRequirements change by route Obtain the required language resultHSK for Chinese-taught or English evidence for English-taught study Prepare for the required assessmentSJTU entrance exam, interview, or both Plan the route-specific budgetAnnual tuition ranges from RMB 24,800 to RMB 120,000 Prepare an accommodation backupOn-campus places depend on campus, programme, and availability

Academic choice

Subjects

Popular searches

Search by subject, school or teaching language.

Major / option	Admissions category / programme	School / college	Teaching language
Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering	Ocean Engineering and Civil Engineering	School of Ocean and Civil Engineering	Chinese
Civil Engineering (Smart and Green Construction)	Ocean Engineering and Civil Engineering	School of Ocean and Civil Engineering	Chinese
Mechanical Engineering	Mechanical Engineering	School of Mechanical Engineering	Chinese
Power and Energy Engineering	Mechanical Engineering	School of Mechanical Engineering	Chinese
Industrial Engineering	Mechanical Engineering	School of Mechanical Engineering	Chinese
Energy Storage Science and Engineering	Mechanical Engineering	School of Mechanical Engineering	Chinese
Electric Power Engineering and Automation	Direct major	School of Electrical Engineering	Chinese
Automation	Direct major	School of Automation and Intelligent Sensing	Chinese
IntelliSense Engineering	Direct major	School of Automation and Intelligent Sensing	Chinese
Computer Science and Technology	Direct major	School of Computer Science	Chinese
Software Engineering	Direct major	School of Computer Science	Chinese
Information Engineering	Direct major	School of Integrated Circuits	Chinese
Electronic Science and Technology	Direct major	School of Integrated Circuits	Chinese
Microelectronics Science and Engineering	Direct major	School of Integrated Circuits	Chinese
Artificial Intelligence	Direct major	School of Artificial Intelligence	Chinese
Materials Science and Engineering	Direct major	School of Materials Science and Engineering	Chinese
Aerospace Engineering	Direct major	School of Aeronautics and Astronautics	Chinese
Environmental Science and Engineering	Direct major	School of Environmental Science and Engineering	Chinese
Biomedical Engineering	Direct major	School of Biomedical Engineering	Chinese
Smart Energy	Direct major	College of Smart Energy	Chinese
Sustainable Energy	Direct major	Global Institute of Future Technology	Chinese
Health Science and Technology	Direct major	Global Institute of Future Technology	Chinese
Mathematics and Applied Mathematics	Science (Mathematics)	School of Mathematical Sciences	Chinese
Statistics	Science (Mathematics)	School of Mathematical Sciences	Chinese
Physics	Science (Physics)	School of Physics and Astronomy	Chinese
Astronomy	Science (Physics)	School of Physics and Astronomy	Chinese
Chemistry Engineering and Technology	Chemistry	School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering	Chinese
Chemistry (including Polymer)	Chemistry	School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering	Chinese
Chemical Biology	Chemistry	School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering	Chinese
Marine Science (Physical Oceanography)	Direct major	School of Oceanography	Chinese
Marine Science (Chemical, Biological and Geological Oceanography)	Direct major	School of Oceanography	Chinese
Biotechnology	Biotechnology	School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology	Chinese
Bioengineering	Biotechnology	School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology	Chinese
Agricultural Resources and Environment	Nature Conservation and Environmental Ecology	School of Agriculture and Biology	Chinese
Food Science and Engineering	Nature Conservation and Environmental Ecology	School of Agriculture and Biology	Chinese
Animal Science	Nature Conservation and Environmental Ecology	School of Agriculture and Biology	Chinese
Plant Science and Technology	Nature Conservation and Environmental Ecology	School of Agriculture and Biology	Chinese
Smart Agriculture	Nature Conservation and Environmental Ecology	School of Agriculture and Biology	Chinese
Pharmacy	Pharmacy	School of Pharmacy	Chinese
Clinical Pharmacy	Pharmacy	School of Pharmacy	Chinese
Finance	Economics and Management	Antai College of Economics and Management	Chinese
Economics	Economics and Management	Antai College of Economics and Management	Chinese
Business Administration (Marketing)	Economics and Management	Antai College of Economics and Management	Chinese
Accounting	Economics and Management	Antai College of Economics and Management	Chinese
Human Resource Management	Economics and Management	Antai College of Economics and Management	Chinese
Big Data Management and Applications	Economics and Management	Antai College of Economics and Management	Chinese
Law	Direct major	KoGuan School of Law	Chinese
English (Language Science and Engineering)	Direct major	School of Foreign Languages	Chinese
Japanese	Direct major	School of Foreign Languages	Chinese
German	Direct major	School of Foreign Languages	Chinese
Chinese Language (Sino-foreign Cultural Exchange)	Direct major	School of Humanities	Chinese
Business Chinese	Direct major	School of Humanities	Chinese
Public Administration	Direct major	School of International and Public Affairs	Chinese
Communication	Direct major	School of Media and Communication	Chinese
Broadcasting and Television Editing	Direct major	School of Media and Communication	Chinese
Cultural Industries Management	Direct major	School of Media and Communication	Chinese
Industrial Design (Intelligent Human-Machine Interaction)	Direct major	School of Design	Chinese
Visual Communication	Direct major	School of Design	Chinese
Human Habitat Design	Direct major	School of Design	Chinese
Clinical Medicine	Direct major	School of Medicine	Chinese
Stomatology	Direct major	School of Medicine	Chinese
Engineering Cluster	English-taught Engineering Cluster	Global College and participating engineering schools	English
Civil Engineering (Smart and Sustainable Construction)	English-taught Civil Engineering	School of Ocean and Civil Engineering	English
Sustainable Energy	English-taught GIFT	Global Institute of Future Technology	English
Health Science and Technology	English-taught GIFT	Global Institute of Future Technology	English
Clinical Medicine (MBBS)	English-taught MBBS	Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine	English

How major selection works:Applicants choose a direct major or an admissions category from the current catalogue. Majors marked with an asterisk in the official Chinese-taught list begin in a general-studies category, with the school assigning the specific major after enrollment.

Budget planning

Fees & funding

TuitionAnnual tuition reference

Degree lengthChoose a planning period

AccommodationRMB 24,000Upper planning reference based on SJTU semester dormitory fees

MealsRMB 30,000Estimated monthly cost: about RMB 2,500

TransportRMB 5,000Annual estimate

MiscellaneousRMB 3,800Insurance, books, and setup allowance

Planning total for year oneExcludes flights, visa costs and private-rental deposits

RMB 0

Indicative full-degree budgetBefore inflation or tuition changes

RMB 0

Funding your degree

Scholarships

Scholarship	Typical cover	Difficulty	CSCA?	Key note
Chinese Government Scholarship	Tuition, accommodation, insurance, and living allowance	Very high	Yes	Usually applied for through the home-country dispatching authority; confirm the current scholarship route and subject rules.
Shanghai Government Scholarship	Full or partial support depends on award class	High	Confirm	Competitive municipal funding; this is also the named scholarship route in the 2026 MBBS notice.
SJTU and programme scholarships	From partial tuition support to tuition, accommodation subsidy, insurance, and living allowance	High	Programme-specific	SJTU, Civil Engineering, and GIFT awards vary by programme and selection performance.

Check scholarship deadlines separatelyScholarship eligibility, coverage and deadlines may differ from the undergraduate application process.

Where you may live

Accommodation

On-campus option

International student dormitories

International student accommodation is available on several campuses. Room type, location and availability depend on where your programme is taught. The 2026 Chinese-taught guide lists RMB 6,600-12,600 per semester; MBBS lists RMB 40 per day per bed in a double room.

Best for: Students who want easier access to classes and campus services
Plan for: Reservation dates, the campus attached to the degree, room type, and limited availability

Off-campus option

Private rental in Shanghai

Private rental offers more flexibility, but costs and commuting times vary considerably across Shanghai. Check your teaching location before choosing an area.

Best for: Students who want flexibility or do not secure a dormitory
Plan for: Deposit, contract checks, commute, local address registration, and a larger monthly budget

On-campus accommodation is not guaranteed for every student. The School of Medicine explicitly warns that dormitory places are limited, so all applicants should keep an off-campus backup plan.

Life in Shanghai

Student life

Student life varies by campus. Minhang offers a large, self-contained campus environment, while Xuhui and medical teaching locations place some students closer to central Shanghai and major hospitals.

园

Campus

Your daily experience will depend on whether your programme is based in Minhang, Xuhui, a medical campus or another specialist location.

生

Student life

Shanghai offers diverse food, cultural attractions, student societies, live events and one of China’s largest international communities.

地

Transport

Shanghai’s metro connects the city well, but commuting time can vary considerably depending on your campus and accommodation.

业

Career exposure

The city offers opportunities across engineering, technology, healthcare, finance, manufacturing and international business. Internships still depend on language ability, visa rules and programme requirements.

Compare choices

Compare other universities

Not sure whether SJTU is the right fit? Compare it with other leading Chinese universities by city, subject strengths, teaching language, costs and student life.

BeijingPeking University

A highly selective comprehensive university with exceptional humanities, social sciences, science, and research strength and a mainly Chinese-taught undergraduate model.

Broader humanities and social sciences
Mainly Chinese-taught
Beijing location

BeijingTsinghua University

A top C9 university with outstanding engineering, technology, science, architecture, design, and management strengths in Beijing.

Similar engineering strength
Similar selectivity
Beijing location

ShanghaiFudan University

A major C9 university in the same city, with particularly strong humanities, social sciences, business, medicine, and selected English-taught routes.

Same Shanghai setting
Stronger humanities and social sciences
Selected English-taught routes