Education, psychology, geography and a well-regarded Chinese language centre for foreigners.
East China Normal is the Shanghai counterpart to Beijing Normal, with a strong education and psychology faculty and one of the longest-running Chinese language centres for foreigners in the country. It is a common choice for students who want a language year in a major city without Beijing winters.
Everything here is taken from the same dataset that drives the university comparison table, so the numbers match across the site.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| City | Shanghai |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Status | Project 985 · 211 · Double First-Class |
| Degree levels offered | Language programme, Bachelor's, Master's, PhD |
| Teaching language | English and Chinese |
| Indicative tuition | CNY 20,000–32,000 per year |
| Chinese requirement | None for English-taught · HSK 4–5 for Chinese-taught |
| CSC Type B host | Yes — apply directly to the university |
| Living cost in this city | CNY 2,800–5,200 per month |
Figures are indicative reference ranges compiled by EduTourChina for planning purposes. Tuition, stipends and requirements are set by each university or awarding body and change annually — confirm current amounts before you commit.
Discipline families recorded for this university, with the programmes international applicants most often take and the tuition band those programmes sit in.
| Discipline family | Example programmes | Levels offered | Tuition band / yr (CNY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humanities & Social Sciences | Chinese Language & Literature, History, Education | Bachelor, Master | 16,000–34,000 |
| Chinese Language | Intensive Chinese (long-term), Short-term Chinese (summer / winter), Business Chinese | Non-degree, Master | 3,000–30,000 |
| Sciences | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics & Applied Maths | Bachelor, Master, PhD | 18,000–36,000 |
Families are drawn from the discipline strengths recorded for this university; the example programmes are the ones international students most often apply for. Confirm the current catalogue with the international office before you apply.
English-taught options at this university, as recorded in its programme profile. Availability changes by intake, so confirm the current list with the international office.
| Level | Monthly stipend | Verdict in Shanghai |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 2,500 CNY | Tight — The 2,500 CNY stipend does not cover this city on its own; expect to top it up. |
| Master's | 3,000 CNY | Workable — A 3,000 CNY stipend covers a dorm place and canteen food, but little beyond that. |
| PhD | 3,500 CNY | Workable — A 3,500 CNY stipend covers a dorm place and canteen food, but little beyond that. |
Living cost in Shanghai is CNY 2,800–5,200 per month. A funded student still pays for travel, clothing and anything outside insurance.
| Item | Indicative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | CNY 20,000–32,000 per year | Paid to the university, usually by semester. Scholarship holders have this waived. |
| Dormitory | CNY 900–2,000 per month | On-campus shared room. A single room costs more and is limited. |
| Food | CNY 1,300–2,400 per month | Canteen-based. Cooking or eating out changes this significantly. |
| Transport and misc | CNY 500–900 per month | Metro, phone, printing, clothes, occasional travel. |
| Insurance | CNY 800 per year | Student medical insurance, required for registration in most provinces. |
The estimate assumes twelve months of living costs, because rent and food continue outside term time. Figures are indicative planning ranges for 2026.
Requirements by level, plus the one practical caution specific to this university.
| Level | Academic requirement | Language requirement | Age guidance (CSC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language programme | High-school completion | None — placement test | 17+ |
| Bachelor's | High-school diploma with strong grades in relevant subjects | HSK 4–5 (Chinese) or IELTS 6.0 (English) | Usually under 25 for CSC; universities are more flexible |
| Master's | Bachelor's degree in a related field, usually GPA 3.0/4.0 equivalent | HSK 5 (Chinese) or IELTS 6.0–6.5 (English) | Usually under 35 for CSC |
| PhD | Master's degree and a publication or strong research record | HSK 5 (Chinese) or IELTS 6.5 (English) | Usually under 40 for CSC |
Age guidance reflects scholarship limits; universities are usually more flexible for self-funded applicants.
| What a full award covers | Full scholarship | Partial scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and registration | Fully waived | Waived fully or partially |
| On-campus accommodation | Provided (shared room; single room sometimes costs extra) | Usually not included |
| Monthly living stipend | Bachelor 2,500 · Master 3,000 · PhD 3,500 | Rarely included |
| Comprehensive medical insurance | Provided | Sometimes provided |
| International airfare | Not included (except some bilateral programmes) | Not included |
Stipend rates are the national standard. International airfare is normally excluded.
| Local scheme | Covers | Levels | How it is administered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Government Scholarship | Type A full (tuition + accommodation + stipend + insurance), Type B partial tuition, Type C partial for outstanding students | Bachelor / Master / PhD | One of the most generous municipal schemes; Type A is genuinely competitive. |
Municipal and provincial schemes are usually selected by the university after admission, so the application is often a checkbox rather than a separate portal. · All Shanghai schemes →
| University-level award | Level | Covers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSC host universities — first-year tuition waiver | 25–100% of first-year tuition | Tuition only | Common recruitment tool for high-achieving applicants; often automatic if your grades are strong. |
University awards are frequently decided at admission and are not always advertised. Ask the international office which ones you are automatically considered for.
Chosen for overlapping discipline strengths, not for ranking. Read two or three before you commit to one.
Beijing · Education, psychology and Chinese teaching
Tuition CNY 22,000–34,000 / yr · CSC host
Shanghai · Medicine, economics and international relations
Tuition CNY 26,000–42,000 / yr · CSC host
Beijing · Chinese language specialist
Tuition CNY 16,000–26,000 / yr · CSC host
Send us your level, field and budget. We will tell you which programmes at this university are realistic for your background, what the funding route looks like, and what to fix in your file first.