Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) was founded in 1896 and is one of China’s oldest and strongest universities for engineering, medicine and business. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 36th in the world and fourth in mainland China. Its main Minhang campus is in southwest Shanghai.
SJTU’s main English-taught route for international school-leavers is its Undergraduate Engineering Cluster Program in English, and its early deadline is 1 November 2026. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s own guidance and official Chinese government information.
1. Understand the Engineering Cluster Program
All major courses in the programme are taught in English, and the 2027 intake starts in early September 2027. You also take courses in Chinese culture and language, and you need at least HSK level 4 to graduate, so plan to learn Chinese while you study. SJTU also offers Chinese-taught degrees, with separate requirements.
2. Apply by 1 November 2026 or 31 March 2027
The Early Action deadline is 1 November 2026 and the Regular deadline is 31 March 2027 (Beijing time). Admission notices are issued on a rolling basis during July 2027, and you must confirm your place within two weeks of receiving your result. The application fee is US$75 and isn’t refundable. Shanghai Jiao Tong University: 2027 Undergraduate Engineering Cluster Program in English.
3. Take the CSCA, including mathematics
SJTU requires a score from the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) that includes mathematics. If you haven’t taken it yet, you can apply first with other test scores, but admitted students must send their CSCA results by 30 June 2027. SAT, ACT, A Level, IB and other results can’t replace the CSCA.
4. Show very strong maths
SJTU expects at least an A in A Level Mathematics, or a 5 in IB Mathematics Higher Level (7 at Standard Level). For 2026, the middle half of admitted students scored 1390 to 1500 on the SAT, with 750 to 790 in Maths, or 30 to 34 on the ACT, with 33 to 35 in Maths. SJTU looks closely at your maths, physics and chemistry grades in your transcripts. Its SAT code is 6563 and its ACT code is 6983.
5. Meet the English requirement
You need TOEFL iBT 90 (or 4.5 on the new scale for tests from 21 January 2026), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 120. You’re exempt if you scored 650 or more in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, 27 or more in both ACT Reading and English, or recently studied for at least four years in one of the English-speaking countries SJTU lists. SJTU’s TOEFL code is 6210. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests.
6. Arrange two recommendation letters
You need two letters: one from your high school counsellor and one from a teacher of a core academic subject. Ask teachers who know your maths and science work well, and give them plenty of time before your deadline.
7. Prepare your transcripts and proof of funds
Send official English transcripts from every high school you’ve attended. You also need to show a bank deposit of at least RMB 100,000, or the same amount in another currency, to prove you can pay for your studies.
8. Understand the fees and scholarships
Tuition is RMB 150,000 a year, subject to approval by the authorities, plus insurance of RMB 800 a year. SJTU doesn’t provide free campus housing, but it gives a housing subsidy of RMB 1,100 a month. Its scholarships last four years: the First-Class Scholarship covers full tuition, RMB 2,500 a month for living costs, the housing subsidy and insurance; the Second-Class covers half of tuition; and the Third-Class covers a quarter. You can also apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship through the Chinese embassy in your country, choosing SJTU first.
9. Get your X1 visa and residence permit
Once you’re admitted, Shanghai Jiao Tong University sends you an Admission Notice and a Visa Application for Study in China form (JW201 or JW202). You take these with your passport to the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country to apply for an X1 student visa. Within 30 days of arriving in China, you must apply, through the university, to convert it into a residence permit for study. If you live off campus, you must register with the local police within 24 hours of moving in. You also have to buy the compulsory Comprehensive Insurance for International Students (about RMB 800 a year) before you can register, and the university will check your original passport, diploma and other documents when you arrive. National Immigration Administration of China.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
A student residence permit doesn’t let you work freely. To do an internship or part-time job off campus, you need approval from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and an internship annotation added to your residence permit by the immigration authorities, and working without it can lead to fines or removal from China. After graduating, international students with a master’s or doctoral degree from a Chinese university and good grades can apply for a work permit within a year of graduating without the usual two years’ work experience; bachelor’s graduates usually need work experience, although some cities run their own schemes for talented graduates. Fluent Chinese makes a big difference to your job prospects. Peking University: internship and employment policies for international students.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at SJTU?
SJTU’s graduate schools admit international students separately, with many English-taught master’s and doctoral programmes in engineering, business and other fields. Check each programme’s dates and requirements, and contact a potential supervisor before applying for a research degree. The Chinese Government Scholarship is also available for graduate students. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
SJTU’s English-taught engineering programme is selective, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University and Zhejiang University. Our guide to studying in China explains how the Chinese system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s official 2027 Undergraduate Engineering Cluster Program in English page, Chinese government information and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on SJTU’s international admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University.