Shanghai, Shanghai · Founded 1896 · C9 League · Project 985 · Project 211 · Double First Class
Shanghai Jiao Tong University 上海交通大学
Shanghai Jiao Tong University is China's oldest engineering-led university and today one of its two strongest in engineering, medicine and computer science. Its name — "Jiao Tong" — is shared with Xi'an Jiaotong University, reflecting a common origin.
Overview
Shanghai Jiao Tong University is China's oldest engineering-led university and today one of its two strongest in engineering, medicine and computer science. Its name — "Jiao Tong" — is shared with Xi'an Jiaotong University, reflecting a common origin.
SJTU runs the largest English-taught engineering portfolio in Shanghai, including the UM–SJTU Joint Institute (with the University of Michigan), the SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology and the Antai College of Economics and Management, which is triple-accredited.
History
Founded in 1896 as Nanyang Public School, SJTU is one of the three oldest modern universities in China. It was renamed Nanyang College, then Jiaotong University, and in 1959 took its present name after the Jiaotong system split into Shanghai and Xi'an branches.
The university produced many of China's pioneering scientists and engineers of the republican era, and after 1949 became a national centre for shipbuilding, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. It merged with Shanghai Second Medical University in 2005, creating the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.
SJTU joined Project 211 (1994), Project 985 (1999) and Double First Class (2017). Its internationalisation accelerated with the Michigan–SJTU Joint Institute (2006), the SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology (2012) and the USC–SJTU Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry.
World rankings, 2017–2026
| Edition | QS | ARWU | THE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 61 | 101–150 | 201–250 |
| 2018 | 62 | 101–150 | 188 |
| 2019 | 59 | 82 | 189 |
| 2020 | 60 | 63 | 157 |
| 2021 | 47 | 59 | 100 |
| 2022 | 50 | 54 | 84 |
| 2023 | 46 | 46 | 52 |
| 2024 | 51 | 38 | 43 |
| 2025 | 45 | 30 | 52 |
| 2026 | 47 | 30 | 40 |
Compilations such as this one can lag a publisher's revisions; verify the current figure at source.
Campuses
| Campus | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Minhang Campus (Main) | 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai | The principal teaching and research campus, with the School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering and the UM–SJTU Joint Institute. |
| Xuhui Campus | 1954 Huashan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai | The historic original campus in central Shanghai; hosts Antai College of Economics and Management and continuing education. |
| Qibao Campus (Medical) | 227 South Chongqing Road / 280 South Chongqing Road, Huangpu District | School of Medicine and its affiliated Ruijin, Renji and Xinhua hospitals. |
| Zhangjiang Science and Technology Park | Pudong New Area, Shanghai | Biomedicine, integrated circuits and artificial intelligence research platforms. |
Faculty and research
Shanghai Jiao Tong University employs around 6,800 academic staff, including about 55 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering. About 55 national academy members. The UM–SJTU Joint Institute, Antai College and Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance all teach in English, and around a fifth of new faculty hires in engineering are recruited from overseas.
Discipline strength
| Discipline | National grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | A+ | Ranked first nationally for many years; strong automotive and manufacturing links. |
| Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering | A+ | China's leading shipbuilding school, closely tied to the national shipbuilding industry. |
| Clinical Medicine | A+ | Ruijin and Renji hospitals are among China's top referral centres. |
| Biomedical Engineering | A | Interdisciplinary medical devices and imaging. |
| Computer Science & Technology | A | Fast-growing, with a strong AI and systems group. |
| Electrical Engineering | A+ | Power electronics and smart grids. |
| Business Administration | A | Antai College of Economics and Management, triple-accredited. |
| Materials Science & Engineering | A | Metallic materials and additive manufacturing. |
| Mathematics | A | Strong applied mathematics tradition. |
| Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Science | A | Linked to Shanghai's biomedical cluster. |
Grades follow China's national discipline evaluation scheme (A+ is the highest). Consult the university for the most recent evaluation results.
Programmes open to international students
| Programme | Level | Language | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| UM–SJTU Joint Institute — Mechanical / Electrical & Computer Engineering | Bachelor | English | 4 years |
| SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology — Engineering | Bachelor / Master | English / French | 4–6 years |
| Clinical Medicine (MBBS) | Bachelor | English | 6 years |
| Antai College Global MBA | MBA | English | 2 years |
| Master of International Business (MIB) | Master | English | 2 years |
| Chinese Language Programme | Language | Chinese | 0.5–2 years |
Admissions, tuition and deadlines
Requirements
Bachelor: high school diploma, HSK 5 for Chinese-taught or IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90 for English-taught programmes, plus an entrance test for engineering tracks. Graduate: bachelor's degree, transcripts, two recommendation letters and a research statement; engineering PhD requires supervisor agreement.
Deadlines and fees
Deadlines: Bachelor: December – March. Graduate: December – April.. Application fee: CNY 600. Tuition: CNY 24,800–40,000 per year for bachelor's; CNY 40,000–60,000 for English-taught master's; MBBS around CNY 75,000 per year.
Scholarships
Chinese Government Scholarship, Shanghai Government Scholarship (Type A and B), Confucius Institute Scholarship and SJTU Presidential Scholarship.
Notable alumni
| Alumnus | Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Qian Xuesen (Tsien Hsue-shen) | Father of Chinese rocketry | Graduated from SJTU in 1934 before studying at MIT and Caltech. |
| Jiang Zemin | Engineer and statesman | SJTU electrical engineering graduate. |
| Yang Yuanqing | Chairman of Lenovo | Earned a master's in computer science from SJTU. |
| Chen Zhu | Haematologist | Pioneer of targeted leukaemia therapy; former minister of health. |
| Wang Jianlin | Founder of Wanda Group | Studied at the SJTU-affiliated management programme. |
Why students choose this university
- Study engineering with a fully US-accredited dual-degree option
- Shanghai location for internships in automotive, semiconductor and finance
- Very large Chinese-language centre with beginner-to-advanced tracks