China Admission Center
East China University of Science and Technology campus
East China University of Science and Technology logo
Shanghai, ChinaQS #670

East China University of Science and Technology

World top-10 in chemical engineering — Shanghai’s process industry powerhouse since 1952

Founded in 1952 as East China Institute of Chemical Technology, East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) was China’s first university dedicated to chemical engineering and is directly administered by the Ministry of Education. It is a 211 Project and Double First Class university operating three Shanghai campuses — Xuhui (Meilong Road), Fengxian and Jinshan — with roughly 26,600 students across 15 schools. ECUST ranks 7th in the world for Chemical Engineering in the ShanghaiRanking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, with Biotechnology 31st and Chemistry 40th, and its chemistry, materials science, engineering and biology fields sit in the global top 1% by ESI. For international students it is a focused, industry-connected alternative to broad comprehensive universities, offering three-year English-taught Joint Multi-Degree bachelor’s programs in green energy, biopharmaceutical engineering, intelligent manufacturing, artificial intelligence and international trade, plus English graduate research tracks tied to China’s chemical, pharmaceutical and energy sectors.

Project 211Double First-Class
QS World Ranking
#670
Location
Shanghai, China
Founded
1952
International Students
350+
Teaching Language
English / Chinese
Tuition
CNY 42,000 - 70,000 / year
Intake
September
Application Deadline
July 10
Why Choose

Why Choose East China University of Science and Technology

Key reasons international students choose East China University of Science and Technology for their studies in China.

World Top-10 Chemical Engineering

Ranked 7th globally for Chemical Engineering by ShanghaiRanking, ahead of most Chinese comprehensive universities in the field.

Three-Year Bachelor Degrees

English-taught Joint Multi-Degree programs finish in three years, cutting a full year of tuition and living costs.

Dual Degree Option

Joint Multi-Degree students can graduate with two recognised degrees from ECUST and an international partner university.

Process Industry Partnerships

Deep ties with Sinopec, BASF, Bayer and pharmaceutical groups place students inside real industrial research and production.

National Chemical Laboratories

State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and national chemical engineering centres open to graduate researchers.

Small International Cohort

Around 350 international students means direct faculty access and lab placement rarely available at larger universities.

Rankings & Recognition

Academic Reputation

National designations and world rankings that signal academic strength and prestige.

QS World University Ranking#670
China National Ranking#42
National Designations
Project 211Double First-Class
Programs

Programs for International Students

Explore the degree programs and academic strengths available to international students at East China University of Science and Technology.

Chemical Engineering & Technology (Green Energy)

Bachelor
Language: English
Duration: 3 years
Tuition: CNY 55,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: Shanghai Government Scholarship eligible
Check Eligibility

Bioengineering (Biopharmaceutical)

Bachelor
Language: English
Duration: 3 years
Tuition: CNY 55,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: Shanghai Government Scholarship eligible
Check Eligibility

Intelligent Manufacturing Engineering

Bachelor
Language: English
Duration: 3 years
Tuition: CNY 55,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: ECUST Freshman Scholarship eligible
Check Eligibility

Artificial Intelligence

Bachelor
Language: English
Duration: 3 years
Tuition: CNY 55,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: ECUST Freshman Scholarship eligible
Check Eligibility

International Economics & Trade

Bachelor
Language: English
Duration: 3 years
Tuition: CNY 55,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: ECUST Freshman Scholarship eligible
Check Eligibility

Chemical Engineering & Technology

Master
Language: English
Duration: 3 years
Tuition: CNY 42,000 / year
Intake: September
Scholarship: CSC full scholarship eligible
Check Eligibility
Admission

Admission Requirements

What you need to apply to East China University of Science and Technology as an international student.

  • Academic RequirementsHigh school diploma and at least 16 years of age for bachelor’s programs, with solid mathematics, chemistry and physics results; a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree for graduate study.
  • Language RequirementsEnglish-taught: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 80 or Duolingo 105 — waived for native speakers and prior English-medium degrees. Chinese-taught: HSK Level 4 or above depending on program.
  • Assessment & InterviewApplications are reviewed by the College of International Education, with an online interview for shortlisted bachelor’s and graduate candidates.
  • Required DocumentsPassport, transcripts, graduation certificate or expected graduation letter, study plan, language certificate, two recommendation letters and a non-criminal record certificate.
  • Application DeadlineScholarship applicants: April 30. Self-funded applicants: July 10.
  • Application FeeCNY 600, non-refundable, paid through the ECUST online application system.
  • Medical ExaminationA Foreigner Physical Examination Form is required after admission and re-verified in Shanghai after arrival.
  • Visa DocumentsECUST issues the JW202 form and Admission Notice so you can apply for an X1 student visa at a Chinese embassy.
Tuition & Scholarships

Costs & Funding

Transparent tuition, living costs and scholarship options for international students.

Cost Breakdown

Annual Tuition
CNY 42,000 - 70,000 / year
Accommodation
CNY 80 – 110 / dayLizhi international dormitory, billed per semester
Application Fee
CNY 600 (one-time)
Medical Insurance
CNY 800 / yearMandatory comprehensive insurance for degree students
Estimated Living Cost
CNY 2,500 – 4,000 / monthMeals, transport & personal expenses
Estimated First-Year CostCNY 95,000 – 135,000

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)

Coverage: Full tuition, on-campus accommodation, monthly stipend and comprehensive insurance.
Eligibility: Outstanding non-Chinese applicants for master’s or doctoral degrees at ECUST.
Deadline: April 30

Shanghai Government Scholarship (Class A)

Coverage: Full tuition, free dormitory accommodation, living stipend and medical insurance.
Eligibility: High-achieving degree applicants nominated by ECUST, with priority for chemical engineering and bioengineering fields.
Deadline: April 30

Shanghai Government Scholarship (Class B)

Coverage: Full or partial tuition award without stipend.
Eligibility: Degree-seeking international students with strong academic records studying in Shanghai.
Deadline: April 30

ECUST Freshman & Excellence Scholarship

Coverage: Partial tuition award renewed annually on academic performance.
Eligibility: Self-funded Joint Multi-Degree and graduate students maintaining excellent grades and conduct.
Deadline: April 30
Campus Life

Life on Campus

What daily student life looks like at East China University of Science and Technology.

Lizhi International Dormitory

Dedicated international residence on the Xuhui campus with renovated and standard single and double rooms.

Three Shanghai Campuses

Xuhui for graduate research and international programs, Fengxian for undergraduate teaching, Jinshan for applied training.

Chemistry & Engineering Library

Specialist collections in chemical engineering, pharmacy and materials science with SciFinder and Reaxys access.

Sports & Fitness Facilities

Stadium, indoor gymnasium, swimming pool and tennis courts across the Xuhui and Fengxian campuses.

Metro Line 15 Access

The Xuhui campus sits beside Shanghai Metro Line 15, connecting students directly to the city centre.

Chemistry Innovation Competitions

Student teams compete in national chemical engineering design, biotech and intelligent manufacturing contests.

Research & Innovation

Research Strengths

Research capacity and innovation ecosystem at East China University of Science and Technology.

Bioreactor Engineering Laboratory

The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering leads China’s industrial biotechnology and fermentation research.

Chemical Process Systems

National engineering centres in coal gasification, catalysis and process intensification serve China’s energy industry.

Green Energy & Carbon Reduction

Research in clean coal conversion, hydrogen, carbon capture and low-carbon chemical routes for heavy industry.

Pharmaceutical Engineering

Drug discovery and pharmaceutical manufacturing research linked to Shanghai’s biomedicine industry cluster.

Process Automation & Control

Automation and control ranked 42nd worldwide, applying AI to industrial process optimisation and safety.

International Research Networks

Joint laboratories and exchange with over 60 partner universities and corporate research institutes worldwide.

Career Outcomes

Graduate Outcomes

Where a degree from East China University of Science and Technology can take you after graduation.

Chemical & Energy Employers

Graduates are recruited by Sinopec, BASF, Bayer, Dow and refining, petrochemical and new-energy companies across Asia.

Pharmaceutical & Biotech Careers

Strong placement in drug manufacturing, fermentation, quality control and biopharmaceutical process roles.

Advanced Manufacturing Roles

Intelligent manufacturing and automation graduates enter process engineering and industrial software positions.

Shanghai Business Access

International trade and management graduates recruit into multinational headquarters based in Shanghai.

Research & Doctoral Pathways

Graduates continue to doctoral study at ECUST or leading chemical engineering programs in Europe and Asia.

Industry Alumni Network

Alumni hold senior technical roles across China’s chemical, pharmaceutical, energy and materials companies.

Student Support

International Student Support

How East China University of Science and Technology helps international students settle in and succeed.

Accommodation Assistance

Help reserving a Lizhi dormitory room or 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

College of International Education advisors support course selection, credit planning and laboratory placement.

Chinese Language Support

Mandarin courses for English-track students, plus preparatory Chinese programs for degree entry.

Health Services

Campus clinic access, mandatory insurance enrolment and help with referrals to Shanghai hospitals.

Laboratory Safety Training

Mandatory chemical and biological safety training before laboratory work, delivered in English.

Visa Guidance

Support with JW202 forms, visa renewals, exit-entry procedures and travel documentation.

Student Community

International student association, national societies and cultural festivals across a compact global cohort.

Timeline

Application Timeline

Key dates and milestones for applying to East China University of Science and Technology.

  1. December – January

    Applications Open

    The ECUST international student online application system opens for the September intake.

  2. February – April

    Prepare Documents & Language Test

    Secure your IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo result and assemble transcripts, study plan and recommendation letters.

  3. By April 30

    Scholarship Deadline

    Submit your application to be considered for CSC, Shanghai Government and ECUST scholarship awards.

  4. April – June

    Online Interview

    Shortlisted candidates attend an online interview with the relevant school and admissions committee.

  5. By July 10

    Self-Funded Deadline

    Final date for self-funded applicants to complete their application and upload all documents.

  6. June – July

    Admission Results

    Successful candidates receive Admission Notices along with scholarship decisions.

  7. July

    JW202 & Visa Documents Issued

    ECUST sends your Admission Notice and JW202 form so you can begin your visa application.

  8. 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 East China University of Science and Technology.

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