Shanghai University

Programmes at a glance

Apply online at apply.shu.edu.cn.

Bachelor's: entry requirements

Chinese-taught programmes

Chinese level

New HSK 4, 180 or above (taken within the last two years)For: Chinese Language and Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL) majors

Chinese level

New HSK 5, 180 or above (within two years)For: Arts, science and engineering, economics and management majors

Chinese level

New HSK 5, 210 or above (within two years)For: Humanities majors

HSK waiver

No HSK needed if Chinese is your native or everyday language, or if you completed a full degree programme taught in Chinese (official letter from that school and the diploma required)

English-taught programmes (SILC Business School)

English level

Any one of: IELTS Academic 6.5; TOEFL 90 (MyBest scores and TOEFL Essentials accepted); Duolingo 120; Cambridge CAE 180; Cambridge CPE 180 (within two years)

English waiver

No English score needed if English is your native language, or if you completed a full degree programme taught in English (official letter on the school's letterhead, or the original certificate)

Bilingual programmes (Lisbon School)

Chinese level

HSK 5, 180For: Lisbon School (里斯本学院) bilingual programmes

English level

IELTS 5, TOEFL 60 or an equivalent recognised English test, plus HSK 5 at 180For: Lisbon School (里斯本学院) bilingual programmes

For everyone

Subject background

Science and engineering: passing grades in high-school maths and physics, and some majors also require a programming course. Economics and management: a passing grade in high-school maths. Arts: a portfolio.

Not graduated yet

Submit a pre-graduation letter from your school and a personal commitment that you will graduate and receive your diploma by 31 July 2026For: Applicants still in their final year

Bachelor's: how you're selected

Shanghai University reviews your documents, CSCA results, the school's own assessment and an interview, then admits the strongest applicants.

CSCA

Shanghai University requires the CSCA for bachelor's applications. Your scores are a compulsory part of the application, count toward admission and scholarships, and help decide which major you are admitted to

Eligibility test

Shanghai University's own online admission test, taken in the application system; its result is an important basis for admissionFor: International students applying on their own for degree programmes

Interview

Video interview (may include an AI interview), 10–15 minutes, in the programme's teaching language; the format is sent by email

Background check

Questions about your life, study background and health, which you must answer truthfully; the result is kept on file

Which CSCA subjects you need depends on your major. See the subject list

Bachelor's: documents

Passport

Information page of a valid ordinary passport

Visa page

Your current valid visa pageFor: Applicants who are in China now

CSCA score report

Upload your CSCA score report. If you don't have scores yet, upload a screenshot of your test registration, then email the official report to the programme officer by 15 May (scholarship applicants) or 30 June (self-funded applicants)

Video

Short video introducing yourself and your study plan: AVI, MOV or MP4, under 50 MB, in the programme's teaching language

High-school diploma

Scan of your diploma (final-year students may submit the original pre-graduation letter and a personal commitment)

Transcripts

Scan of all high-school transcripts

Study plan

Study and research plan, in Chinese or English to match the programme's teaching language

Financial support

Proof of financial support (template in the online application system)

Police record

Certificate of no criminal record; if your country cannot issue one, you may sign Shanghai University's no-criminal-record commitment instead

Portfolio

Paintings, scripts, short films or similar workFor: Arts majors

Extra for SILC Business School

Personal statement

Personal statement or study plan in English, no set template

CSCA score report

CSCA mathematics. No scores yet? Submit your registration screenshot and send the official scores by 30 June 2026

How to prepare files

Document rules

Documents not in Chinese or English need a notarised (or issuer-provided) Chinese or English translation. Scan in colour with a scanner; phone or camera photos are not accepted. Bring originals at registration.

Foundation year

A one-year route into the Chinese Language or TCSOL bachelor's majors. No Chinese needed to apply.

Programme

Foundation year for the Chinese Language and TCSOL bachelor's majorsFor: Leads into the College of International Education's Chinese Language and TCSOL majors

Length

36 weeks

Dates

14 September 2026 – 2 July 2027For: Autumn 2026 intake

Education

High-school diploma or higher, with good grades

Passport

Valid ordinary foreign passport with more than one year left, and in good health. Don't renew your passport before registration, or the electronic documents issued for it stop being valid

Moving on to a degree

If you finish in July, reach HSK 4 at 180 or above and pass the CSCA, you can apply that September for the Chinese Language or TCSOL bachelor's major

Course credit

Passing courses such as poetry recitation and Chinese-character culture can exempt you from the matching bachelor's courses. Reaching HSK 5 at 180 or above during the year can exempt you from the intermediate Chinese course series (39 credits or more)

Application deadline

30 June 2026

How to apply

How to apply

Register at apply.shu.edu.cn and choose Non-degree programme, then Foundation programme (one year). Upload your documents and submit. Pay the application fee online within two weeks of passing the first review (late payment is not accepted). Wait for the result. After the e-admission letter arrives, pay full tuition, and the school emails your formal admission documents

Documents

Passport

Passport information page

Photo

Passport-style photo, larger than 295×413 pixels, up to 200 KB

Diploma

Scan of your highest diploma (final-year students may first send a pre-graduation letter)

Transcripts

Scan of your transcripts

HSK

Scan of your HSK certificate or a screenshot of the score page; bring the original at registrationFor: If you have HSK scores

Financial support

Proof of financial support (template at apply.shu.edu.cn/application/index)

Document rules

PDF or JPG files. Documents not in Chinese or English need a notarised or issuer-provided translation. Upload scans when applying and bring originals at registration

Chinese language programmes

The Chinese Language Programme and Business Chinese share the same semester dates and basic requirements. Business Chinese also asks for HSK 4.

Semester dates

Autumn semester

14 September 2026 – 15 January 2027

Spring semester

1 March – 2 July 2027

Who can apply

Passport

Non-Chinese citizen with a valid ordinary foreign passport (more than one year left); don't renew it before registration

Education

High-school diploma or higher

Age

Usually 18 to 60

Business Chinese level

HSK 4 at 180 or above, or an equivalent level. Not there yet? Start with the Chinese Language Programme and apply once you reach it

Documents

Photo

Larger than 295×413 pixels, up to 200 KB

Passport

Passport information page

Study plan

Study plan

HSK (Business Chinese only)

HSK score report

Housing

Rates for the Yanchang campus residence, from the foundation-year brochure:

Scholarships

SILC students

Shanghai Government Scholarship

SILC students

SILC New International Student Scholarship

At Shanghai University

Partial scholarships for bachelor's students; full or partial for master's and PhD

Programmes at Shanghai University

International Chinese Language Education bachelor's and master's; one-year, one-semester and four-week programmes

Foundation special scholarship

Students who finish the foundation year on time and are admitted to a Shanghai University bachelor's major, judged on grades and overall performance

What each scholarship covers