2026 SJTU International Graduate Admissions Guide
Founded in 1896, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) is one of China’s most prestigious and time-honored institutions of higher education. Directly administered by the Ministry of Education and co-sponsored by the Shanghai Municipal Government, SJTU has grown into a comprehensive, innovative, and globally oriented university, committed to excellence in education, research, and social service.
With nearly 130 years of history, SJTU has established itself as a world-class university—currently ranked 47th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026. The university has 6 campuses located in Xuhui, Minhang, Huangpu, Changning, Pudong, and Chongming, covering a total area of over 3 million square meters.
The university currently offers 56 first-level doctoral degree programs across 11 academic disciplines—Economics, Law, Education, Literature, History, Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Medicine, Management, and Interdisciplinary Studies—and 60 first-level master’s degree programs covering 12 disciplines. In addition, SJTU has 15 professional doctoral and 35 professional master’s degree programs, forming a complete and well-structured postgraduate education system.
SJTU offers over 100 graduate programs taught in English and Chinese, attracting international students from different countries around the world. Details of available programs and admissions can be found in the SJTU 2026 International Graduate Programs Catalogue.
The typical duration of master’s programs is two to three years, while doctoral programs generally take three to four years to complete. Upon fulfilling academic requirements, completing their thesis defense, and meeting professional standards, students will be awarded the corresponding graduation and degree certificates.
* Data as of October 2025
ELIGIBILITY
The following are the general requirements for applicants to SJTU International Graduate Programs.
* Applicants should be non-Chinese citizens with a valid private ordinary passport.
Note: Whether an applicant who holds foreign nationality also possesses the nationality of the People’s Republic of China shall be determined by the nationality appraisal issued by the Exit and Entry Administration of the Chinese public-security authorities. If an applicant is determined to hold Chinese nationality or is otherwise ineligible at any point during the application, admission, or enrollment process, their application, offer of admission, or student status will be revoked.
* Applicants should be in good physical and mental health, and meet the medical examination requirements of both the country and the university. Applicants should not have criminal record and maintain a friendly attitude towards China. Furthermore, applicants must be well-behaved and willing to comply with Chinese laws and regulations, as well as the rules of SJTU.
* Master’s degree program applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree (or above) accepted in China. Doctoral degree program applicants should have a Master’s degree or an equivalent degree (or above) accepted in China. Certain schools/departments accept Bachelor’s degree holders for direct entry into doctoral programs. For specific qualifications and requirements, please refer to the program admission information of the respective schools.
* The applicant’s Chinese or English proficiency must satisfy the relevant requirements specified in the Language Requirement for SJTU International Graduate Programs.
ONLINE APPLICATION
Application Dates (Beijing Time):
October 15, 2025 Opening of 2026 applications
December 15, 2025 Deadline for 1st Round of Chinese Government Scholarship (apply through SJTU) applications
February 15, 2026 Deadline for the Final Round of Chinese Government Scholarship (apply through SJTU) applications
March 31, 2026 Deadline for the SGS Scholarship and SJTU Scholarship applications
May 31, 2026 Deadline for self-supported applications
Application Method: Applicants must log in to http://apply.sjtu.edu.cn, truthfully and completely fill in the application information, upload the corresponding application materials, and then submit to complete the application process.
MATERIALS TO PREPARE
1. Degree Certificates: Please provide scanned copies of your degree certificates. Applicants for master’s programs must submit a bachelor’s degree certificate; applicants for doctoral programs must submit both bachelor’s and master’s degree certificates. Applicants who have not yet graduated at the time of application should submit an official letter from their current university stating the expected graduation date. All admitted students must obtain a valid degree or an official Certificate of Accreditation and Evaluation issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) before online registration. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of admission.
Note: Before online registration, all 2026 entrants must obtain a degree officially issued by Chinese academic units (for domestic graduates) or a Certificate of Accreditation and Evaluation of Foreign Academic Degrees issued by the CSCSE (for overseas graduates).
2. Transcripts: Please submit scanned copies of your transcripts. Applicants for the Master’s program are required to provide their undergraduate transcripts, while Doctoral program applicants must submit both undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
3. Proof of language proficiency: Please refer to Language Requirement for SJTU International Graduate Programs for specific standards.
4. Scanned copy of passport: Applicants are required to submit a clear scanned copy of the photo page of their private ordinary passports. If the validity period of the currently held passport is less than 12 months (calculated from the registration date), please renew the passport and use it to complete the scholarship application.
5. ID Photo: JPG format, less than 200 KB, with a minimum resolution of 295x413.
6. Personal Statement and Study Plan.
7. Two Letters of Academic Recommendation: Please provide two recommendation letters from associate professors or above, or from senior professionals in a related academic field.
8. Supervisor Acceptance Letter (for specific schools/programs):
Applicants to the following schools must contact a potential supervisor in advance and obtain an acceptance letter:
Doctoral Programs of:
School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Computer Science, School of Integrated Circuits (School of Information Science and Electronic Engineering), School of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Mathematical Sciences, School of Physics and Astronomy, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Biomedical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Foreign Languages, School of Agriculture and Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, KoGuan School of Law, the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, School of Design, and the College of Smart Energy
Master’s Programs of:
School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Computer Science, School of Integrated Circuits (School of Information Science and Electronic Engineering), School of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Mathematical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Biomedical Engineering, School of Agriculture and Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Tsung-Dao Lee Institute
Contact information for the relevant schools/departments can be found in the School/Department Contact Information of SJTU.
Note: If your documents are not in English or Chinese, please have them translated into either English or Chinese by an authorized translation agency. Afterward, upload both the original and translated versions to the application system.
FEES
SCHOLARSHIPS
SJTU offers a range of scholarship opportunities for outstanding international students:
Doctoral Programs: SJTU Fellowship, Chinese Government Scholarship (CGS), Shanghai Government Scholarship (SGS), and SJTU Scholarship.
Master’s Programs: CGS, SGS, SJTU Scholarship, SJTU Tuition Waiver Scholarship, and School/College Scholarships.
Specific information regarding scholarship coverage and funding duration can be found at http://apply.sjtu.edu.cn/.
Eligibility Requirements
· Applicants must meet the general eligibility criteria for SJTU international graduate programs.
· Applicants must not have received any other forms of scholarship support.
· For doctoral degree applicants: must be under 40 years old.
· For master’s degree applicants: must be under 35 years old.
Application Dates
October 15, 2025 Opening of 2026 applications
December 15, 2025 Deadline for 1st Round of Chinese Government Scholarship (apply through SJTU) applications
February 15, 2026 Deadline for the Final Round of Chinese Government Scholarship (apply through SJTU) applications
March 31, 2026 Deadline for the SGS Scholarship and SJTU Scholarship applications
How to Apply
Applicants may choose to apply through one of two channels: via SJTU or via Chinese Embassies/Consulates. Eligible applicants can only select one of these channels for their application.
1. Apply for Scholarships through SJTU (Type B)
When applying at http://apply.sjtu.edu.cn/, applicants should select “Apply for Scholarship through SJTU” (Type B) and follow the online instructions. It is important to complete the scholarship application procedures on time, according to the university’s requirements. The agency code for SJTU is 10248.
If an applicant is not recommended for the CGS Scholarship, they will be automatically considered for other available scholarships, including SGS, SJTU, or School/College Scholarships — there is no need to make multiple selections in the system.
2. Apply for Scholarships through Chinese Embassies/Consulates in the Home Country (Type A)
Applicants may also apply for scholarship opportunities through the Chinese Embassies or Consulates in their home countries. The application schedule varies by country (typically from November to April).
Please consult the Chinese Embassy/Consulate regarding its application schedule, eligibility, requirements, procedures, necessary documents, agency number, program categories, and other relevant information in advance.
For contact information of Chinese Embassies and Consulates, please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China
at http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/.
Please note that applicants applying for scholarships through Chinese Embassies/Consulates must also complete an online application on the university’s website following the HOW TO APPLY guidelines outlined in Article 3 of this 2026 SJTU International Graduate Admission.
Scholarship Notice
Important Notes
* In general, the duration of scholarships cannot be extended. All scholarship recipients are required to participate in the annual scholarship review.
* The allocation of the CGS scholarship may be adjusted according to the policies and regulations issued by higher authorities.
* The SJTU Scholarship, the SJTU Tuition Waiver Scholarship, as well as the School/College Scholarships, may cover either full or Partial tuition fees; please consult the university and respective school for details in advance.
* Regarding accommodation, students may choose to reserve on-campus accommodation or live off-campus. SJTU offers an accommodation subsidy based on your scholarship coverage.
CONTACTS
Email: gs.admission@sjtu.edu.cn
Tel: +86-21-34208238
Application Website: http://apply.sjtu.edu.cn/
Address:
International Affairs Office, Graduate School
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Room 331, Chen Ruiqiu Building
800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
Attachments:
2026 Master's Programs in English
2026 Master's Programs in Chinese
2026 Doctoral Programs in English
2026 Doctoral Programs in Chinese
Language Requirements for SJTU International Graduate Programs
School/Department Contact Information of SJTU