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CHINA · SHANGHAI

East China Normal University

public · Founded 1951 · Languages: en, zh

In short

East China Normal University (ECNU) is a leading public research university in Shanghai, offering a range of programs with several disciplines ranked globally. It provides an affordable education with scholarship opportunities in a vibrant international city.

Key facts

Type: Public
Founded: 1951
Students: 36,026
International students: 3,500
Acceptance rate: 35%
Tuition (intl): €4–8k/yr
Languages: EN, ZH
Location: Shanghai, China

East China Normal University (ECNU) is a prestigious public research university in Shanghai, founded in 1951 and ranked among China's top universities under the Double First-Class University programme. With over 36,000 students across two scenic campuses in Putuo and Minhang districts, ECNU is renowned for its strengths in education science, geography, mathematics, and Chinese studies. Multiple ECNU disciplines rank in the world's top 50. The university plays a leading role in teacher education for the Yangtze River Delta and has forged hundreds of international academic partnerships.

Why study here

Study at a Double First-Class university in Shanghai — China's global financial and cultural hub.
Multiple disciplines ranked in the world's top 50, including education, geography, and mathematics.
Affordable tuition compared to Western universities, with generous Chinese government and ECNU scholarships for international students.
Beautiful 'Garden University' campuses with lakes, greenery, and modern research facilities.
Rich cultural immersion in Shanghai with unmatched career access to China's tech, finance, and trade ecosystems.

Student life

Campus life at ECNU's two campuses offers a rich mix of academic clubs, cultural societies, sports facilities, and international student centres. Shanghai provides endless opportunities for cultural exploration, internships, and social activities. International students are supported by dedicated offices assisting with visa, accommodation, language study (HSK), and cultural adjustment. The city's metro network makes both campuses easily accessible from any part of Shanghai.

Fees

InternationalInternational tuition at ECNU typically ranges from CNY 26,000–55,000 per year (approx. EUR 3,400–7,200) for undergraduate programmes, varying by discipline. Postgraduate tuition is CNY 28,000–60,000 per year.

HomeChinese domestic students pay subsidised rates under the Ministry of Education fee schedule, typically CNY 5,000–6,000 per year.

LivingMonthly living costs in Shanghai are approximately CNY 3,000–5,000 (EUR 390–650), or EUR 4,700–7,800 per year, covering accommodation, food, transport, and personal expenses.

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), Shanghai Government Scholarship, and ECNU institutional scholarships can fully or partially cover tuition and living costs for international students.

Admissions

Undergraduate entryCompleted senior secondary education with relevant academic results

Postgraduate entryBachelor degree with minimum GPA 3.0 or equivalent, research proposal for doctoral programmes

Chinese-taught programmesHSK 4 (undergraduate) or HSK 5 (postgraduate) required

IELTS Academic (English-taught programmes)6.0 overall

TOEFL iBT (English-taught programmes)80

HSK (Chinese-taught programmes)HSK Level 4 or above

Rankings

QS World University Rankings 2025433

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025Top 601-800

ARWU Shanghai Rankings 2024Top 201-300

University scholarships

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)Full tuition + CNY 3,000–3,500/month stipend

Shanghai Government ScholarshipCNY 40,000–60,000/year

ECNU President ScholarshipFull or partial tuition waiver

Accreditation

ECNU is a national '985 Project' and '211 Project' university, and is listed in the 2017 Double First-Class University Programme. It is directly under the supervision of China's Ministry of Education.

Scholarships

for China

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full funding

Tsinghua University

Schwarzman Scholars

Open to applicants of any nationality who hold (or will hold) a bachelor's degree by the programme start and are under ~29 years old at the deadline. English proficiency is required; Chinese is not. Selection seeks demonstrated leadership, academic strength, and the potential to bridge China and the world.

Tsinghua University (sponsored by Siemens Ltd., China)

Siemens China Scholarship at Tsinghua University

International students who meet Tsinghua University's PhD admission requirements, hold a strong academic background in computer science, engineering or AI, apply to one of the approved Siemens research fields, and do not hold another major PhD scholarship at Tsinghua. Applicants should be willing to collaborate on industry-focused research with Siemens.

China Scholarship Council (CSC), Ministry of Education, People's Republic of China

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)

Open to non-Chinese citizens in good health who meet the academic and age requirements for their level (under ~25 for bachelor's, ~35 for master's, ~40 for doctoral, as a guideline). Applicants apply via a Chinese university, a Chinese embassy, or another dispatching authority, depending on the programme.

Tsinghua University / China Scholarship Council (CSC)

Tsinghua University Chinese Government Scholarship (CGS)

For non-Chinese citizens in good health who apply for a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The Chinese Government Scholarship is administered by Tsinghua as a designated host university; applicants apply both to the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and for Tsinghua admission, and must meet the relevant age and academic requirements.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SHSMU)

SJTU School of Medicine Chinese Government Scholarship

Open to non-Chinese citizens in good health who are not currently studying in China. Master's applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and be under 35; doctoral applicants must hold a master's degree and be under 40. Applicants must show excellent academic records and must not hold any other Chinese government or organisation scholarship.

Soochow University Chinese Government Scholarship

Open to non-Chinese citizens in good health with a valid passport. Master's applicants need a bachelor's degree with good grades and should preferably be under 35; doctoral applicants need a master's degree with strong academic results and should preferably be under 40. Applicants must not already hold another Chinese government or university scholarship.

Frequently asked questions

What are the tuition fees for international students at East China Normal University (ECNU)?

International tuition at ECNU ranges from CNY 26,000–55,000 per year for undergraduate programs and CNY 28,000–60,000 per year for postgraduate programs, varying by discipline. These fees are generally more affordable compared to Western universities.

Are there scholarships available for international students at ECNU?

Yes, ECNU offers several scholarships for international students, including the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), Shanghai Government Scholarship, and ECNU institutional scholarships. These can fully or partially cover tuition and living costs.

What are the living costs for students in Shanghai?

Monthly living costs in Shanghai are estimated to be around CNY 3,000–5,000, covering accommodation, food, transport, and personal expenses. This equates to approximately EUR 4,700–7,800 per year.

What academic programs is ECNU known for?

ECNU is renowned for its strengths in education science, geography, mathematics, and Chinese studies, with multiple disciplines ranking in the world's top 50. It also plays a leading role in teacher education.

What are the English and Chinese language proficiency requirements for admission?

For English-taught programs, applicants generally need an IELTS Academic score of 6.0 or a TOEFL iBT score of 80. For Chinese-taught programs, HSK Level 4 or above is typically required for undergraduate studies, and HSK Level 5 for postgraduate studies.

Last updated 3 July 2026