Second Ranked Language University
ShanghaiRanking 2026 places SISU second nationally among China’s language universities and 81st overall.
Shanghai, China
Shanghai International Studies University
Interpreting China to the world — Shanghai’s university of languages, diplomacy and global communication
Founded in December 1949 as the Shanghai Russian School, Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) was one of the first two foreign-language universities established in New China and is jointly administered by the Ministry of Education and the Shanghai Municipal Government. It is a 211 Project and Double First Class university, with Foreign Languages and Literatures designated as its Double First Class discipline, and ShanghaiRanking 2026 places SISU 81st nationally and second among all Chinese language universities. Teaching runs across the historic Hongkou campus in central Shanghai and the larger Songjiang campus in the university town, covering more than 40 foreign languages alongside international relations, international business, journalism and law. SISU’s Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation is one of only a handful of Chinese members of the CIUTI network and trains conference interpreters to UN and EU standards, while the university is a designated training partner for the United Nations language services. For international students, SISU offers English-taught master’s degrees in international relations, China studies, global communication, finance and comparative education, Chinese-taught bachelor’s degrees, and one of China’s most established Chinese-language programs, hosting over 2,000 international students each year from more than 60 countries.
Project 211Double First-Class
- Location
- Shanghai, China
- Founded
- 1949
- International Students
- 2,000+
- Teaching Language
- English / Chinese
- Tuition
- CNY 22,000 - 104,000 / year
- Intake
- September
- Application Deadline
- June 30
Why Choose
Why Choose Shanghai International Studies University
Key reasons international students choose Shanghai International Studies University for their studies in China.
CIUTI Interpreting Institute
Its Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation trains conference interpreters to UN and EU professional standards.
More Than Forty Languages
Teaching in over 40 foreign languages, including rare Eurasian, Middle Eastern and African languages few universities offer.
United Nations Training Partner
A designated UN language-services training partner, feeding graduates into international organisations and diplomatic missions.
Shanghai Multinational Pipeline
Located in China’s business capital, giving direct access to multinational headquarters, consulates and global media bureaus.
English-Taught Graduate Degrees
Full English master’s programs in international relations, China studies, global communication and finance — no Chinese required.
Rankings & Recognition
Academic Reputation
National designations and world rankings that signal academic strength and prestige.
China National Ranking#81
National Designations
Project 211Double First-Class
Programs
Programs for International Students
Explore the degree programs and academic strengths available to international students at Shanghai International Studies University.
Chinese Language
BachelorLanguage: Chinese
Duration: 4 years
Tuition: CNY 22,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: Confucius Institute Scholarship eligible
International Economy & Trade
BachelorLanguage: Chinese
Duration: 4 years
Tuition: CNY 24,800 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: Shanghai Government Scholarship eligible
Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages
BachelorLanguage: Chinese
Duration: 4 years
Tuition: CNY 24,800 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: Confucius Institute Scholarship eligible
International Relations
MasterLanguage: English
Duration: 2 - 3 years
Tuition: CNY 30,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: CSC full scholarship eligible
Global Communication & Journalism
MasterLanguage: English
Duration: 2 - 3 years
Tuition: CNY 30,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: Shanghai Government Scholarship eligible
Foreign Languages & Literatures
DoctorLanguage: Chinese
Duration: 3 - 4 years
Tuition: CNY 33,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: CSC full scholarship eligible
Admission
Admission Requirements
What you need to apply to Shanghai International Studies University as an international student.
- Academic RequirementsHigh school diploma with a strong academic record for bachelor’s programs; a relevant bachelor’s degree for master’s and a master’s degree for doctoral programs.
- Language RequirementsEnglish-taught master’s: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL equivalent, or prior education in English. Chinese-taught programs: HSK Level 4 or 5 depending on the major, with the required subtest scores.
- Entrance AssessmentGraduate applicants sit a written and oral entrance examination set by the host school, held online or on campus after document screening.
- Required DocumentsPassport, transcripts, graduation certificate, study plan or research proposal, language certificate, two recommendation letters and a non-criminal record certificate.
- Application DeadlineSongjiang campus programs: April 15. Hongkou campus programs and Chinese language: June 30.
- Application FeeCNY 800, non-refundable, paid through the online application system at apply.shisu.edu.cn.
- Medical ExaminationA Foreigner Physical Examination Form is required, and the check is re-verified in Shanghai after arrival.
- Visa DocumentsSISU issues the JW202 form and Admission Notice so you can apply for an X1 student visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate.
Tuition & Scholarships
Costs & Funding
Transparent tuition, living costs and scholarship options for international students.
Cost Breakdown
- Annual Tuition
- CNY 22,000 - 104,000 / year
- Accommodation
- CNY 850 – 1,700 / monthSongjiang campus double and single rooms
- Application Fee
- CNY 800 (one-time)
- Medical Insurance
- CNY 800 / yearMandatory comprehensive insurance for international students
- Estimated Living Cost
- CNY 2,800 – 4,500 / monthMeals, transport & personal expenses in Shanghai
Estimated First-Year CostCNY 60,000 – 95,000
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)
Coverage: Full tuition, on-campus accommodation, monthly stipend and comprehensive medical insurance.
Eligibility: Outstanding non-Chinese applicants for master’s or doctoral degree programs at SISU.
Deadline: April 15
Shanghai Government Scholarship (SGS)
Coverage: Full or partial tuition, with stipend and insurance for full-award recipients.
Eligibility: Degree-seeking international students with strong academic records; professional master’s programs are excluded.
Deadline: April 15
Confucius Institute Scholarship
Coverage: Tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend and insurance for Chinese language and teaching majors.
Eligibility: Applicants for Chinese language, Chinese international education or teaching Chinese programs with valid HSK results.
Deadline: May 10
SISU International Student Scholarship
Coverage: Partial tuition award renewed annually on academic performance.
Eligibility: Enrolled self-funded degree students maintaining excellent grades and conduct.
Deadline: June 30
Campus Life
Life on Campus
What daily student life looks like at Shanghai International Studies University.
Two Distinct Campuses
The historic Hongkou campus in central Shanghai and the spacious Songjiang campus in the university town.
International Dormitories
Single and double rooms for international students on the Songjiang campus, with guesthouse options at Hongkou.
Language Exchange Culture
Students from over 60 countries make everyday language partnerships and multilingual conversation clubs part of campus life.
Debate And Model UN
Model United Nations, public speaking and interpreting competition teams that regularly compete internationally.
Songjiang Sports Facilities
Stadium, indoor gymnasium, swimming and courts on the Songjiang campus, plus fitness spaces at Hongkou.
Metro Linked Shanghai
Metro Line 9 connects Songjiang to central Shanghai, while Hongkou sits minutes from the Bund and Lujiazui.
Gallery
Campus Gallery
A visual tour of Shanghai International Studies University.
Research & Innovation
Research Strengths
Research capacity and innovation ecosystem at Shanghai International Studies University.
Interpretation And Translation Studies
A CIUTI-member graduate institute researching conference interpreting, translation technology and professional training standards.
Middle East And Area Studies
Ministry-recognised institutes for Middle East, European Union, British, Russian and Latin American area studies.
Global Governance Research
Research on diplomacy, global governance and China’s international communication informing government and think-tank policy.
Corpus And Language Technology
Corpus linguistics, computational language resources and machine-translation research applied to multilingual communication.
Foreign Language Education Science
National-level research on second-language acquisition, language testing and foreign-language curriculum design in China.
Intercultural Communication Studies
Research on cross-cultural communication, international journalism and public diplomacy across Chinese and global media.
Career Outcomes
Graduate Outcomes
Where a degree from Shanghai International Studies University can take you after graduation.
Diplomacy And Foreign Affairs
Graduates enter foreign ministries, embassies, consulates and international organisations including United Nations agencies.
Professional Interpreting Careers
SISU-trained conference interpreters and translators work at international summits, agencies and language-service companies.
Multinational Business Roles
Shanghai’s multinational headquarters recruit graduates for international trade, marketing and cross-border business roles.
Global Media And Journalism
Alumni work for international news organisations, broadcasters and communication agencies covering China and Asia.
Education And Academia
Strong pathways into Chinese-language teaching, international schools and doctoral study in linguistics and area studies.
Diplomatic Alumni Network
An alumni network of ambassadors, interpreters, journalists and executives spanning China and international institutions.
Student Support
International Student Support
How Shanghai International Studies University helps international students settle in and succeed.
Accommodation Assistance
Help reserving an on-campus room at Songjiang or arranging nearby housing before you arrive in Shanghai.
Residence Permit
Guided assistance converting your X1 visa into a residence permit within 30 days of arrival.
Orientation
Orientation covers registration, campus systems, safety, banking and settling into life in Shanghai.
Academic Advising
School-level advisors support course selection, thesis supervision and credit planning across both campuses.
Chinese Language Support
Mandarin courses through the School of Chinese Studies, plus HSK preparation and long-term language programs.
Health Services
Campus clinic access, mandatory insurance enrolment and referral help for Shanghai hospitals.
Emergency Assistance
Round-the-clock campus security and international office contacts for urgent situations.
Visa Guidance
Support with JW202 forms, visa renewals, exit-entry procedures and travel documentation.
Student Community
International student associations, national societies and cultural festivals spanning more than 60 countries.
Timeline
Application Timeline
Key dates and milestones for applying to Shanghai International Studies University.
- December – January
Applications Open
The SISU international student portal at apply.shisu.edu.cn opens for the September intake.
- February – March
Prepare Documents & Language Tests
Secure your IELTS or HSK certificate, transcripts, study plan and recommendation letters.
- By April 15
Scholarship & Songjiang Deadline
Final date for CSC and Shanghai Government Scholarship applicants and Songjiang campus programs.
- April – June
Entrance Examination
Shortlisted graduate applicants sit the school’s written and oral entrance examination.
- By June 30
Hongkou & Self-Funded Deadline
Final date for Hongkou campus programs and Chinese language applicants to submit documents.
- June – July
Admission Results
Schools confirm decisions and successful candidates receive Admission Notices and scholarship results.
- July – August
JW202 Issued & Apply For X1 Visa
SISU sends your Admission Notice and JW202 form so you can apply for an X1 student visa.
- Early September
Arrival & Registration
Arrive in Shanghai, move into your dormitory, register, complete the medical check—then classes begin.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions international students ask most about Shanghai International Studies University.
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