Top Universities in Shanghai Beyond Fudan & SJTU
September 19, 2026 · CSCA Gateway Team
Shanghai isn’t just home to Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (already covered in full in our "Campus Deep-Dive" series) — the city also has 2 other 985 campuses plus a few strong non-985 schools, including one remarkably young but elite institution.
1. Tongji University (同济大学)
Founded in 1907 (originally a German-founded medical school), a Project 985 and 211 member. QS 2026: #177 globally — the best QS figure among Shanghai’s non-Fudan/SJTU campuses; ARWU: #101-150 band; EduRank 2026: #344 globally. According to ARWU’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, its Civil Engineering ranks #1 in the world. Also strong in Architecture & Urban Planning and Automotive Engineering (strong ties to German industry). Admits roughly 2,000-3,500 international students (varies by year).
2. East China Normal University (华东师范大学)
Founded in 1951, a Project 985 and 211 member. QS 2026: #433 globally; ARWU: #201-300 band; EduRank 2026: #559 globally. Strong in Education (China’s best for pedagogy/teacher training), Psychology, and Geography/Environmental Sciences. Admits around 5,000 international students — the largest cohort among the campuses on this list.
3. ShanghaiTech University (上海科技大学)
Founded in 2013 (a joint venture between the Shanghai Municipal Government and the Chinese Academy of Sciences) — the youngest university on the Double First-Class list (added February 2022). Not a 985 member, but a small, elite research university with 80%+ of courses taught in English/bilingually. Pure STEM focus: Information Science & Technology, Physical Science & Technology, Life Science & Technology — nearly all senior students are active in research groups. An interesting pick for STEM-minded applicants who want intensive research experience despite the campus’s small size.
4. Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (上海财经大学)
A Project 211 member (not 985). Its global rankings are notably behind the three campuses above (QS 2026: #1201-1400 band), but its domestic reputation for finance/economics is among the strongest in China — often considered the country’s #1 specialist finance/business school. A strong pick specifically for applicants set on a finance/economics track, though not a comprehensive research university like Tongji or ECNU.
How This Relates to CSCA
Tongji weighs CSCA Mathematics and Physics scores strictly for its civil engineering/architecture majors. East China Normal places more weight on CSCA Chinese language scores for education/humanities tracks. ShanghaiTech, with its pure STEM focus, likely weighs CSCA Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry scores all strictly at once — similar to USTC or SUSTech’s pattern. Shanghai University of Finance and Economics weighs CSCA Mathematics scores strictly, given the quantitative nature of its finance/economics majors.