Why STEM Applications Should Start with Choosing a Career Direction
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Shanghai, China
Fudan University is one of the leading universities in China and Asia, founded in 1905. It is part of the C9 League, an elite association of nine leading Chinese universities, which is often compared to the American Ivy League. For foreign applicants, Fudan in Shanghai is a combination of a high academic level, an international student environment and direct access to one of the largest financial and business centers in Asia. About 4,000 foreign students from more than 100 countries study at Fudan at the same time — the university is one of the most international in China.
Fudan University was founded in 1905 in Shanghai as one of the first independent higher educational institutions in China that was not under the control of missionaries or the government. The name “Fudan” comes from the ancient Chinese text “Shang Shu” and means “every day is renewed” – a principle that reflects the academic culture of the university to this day.
Today, Fudan is a large research university with more than 30,000 students, 35 schools and faculties, 70 bachelor’s programs and about 250 master’s programs. The university manages 17 affiliated hospitals and 5 key state laboratories; the library fund includes more than 5.5 million volumes. Fudan received the status of “Class A Double First Class University” — one of eight universities in the country with this highest classification.
Shanghai is the financial and business capital of China and one of the most international cities in Asia. For a student planning a career in finance, technology, international business or medicine, this means direct access to internships, networking and a professional environment while still studying.
| Degree of study | bachelor's degree, master's degree, doctoral degree, and professional programs |
| Scholarships | Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), Shanghai Government Scholarship, university grants |
| Areas of study | economics, finance, medicine, computer science, humanitarian and natural sciences, law, politics |
| Type | public research university; member of C9 League (Chinese Ivy League) |
| Size of the student campus | more than 30,000 students; about 4,000 foreign students from 100+ countries |
| % of international students | about 15% of the number of undergraduate students |
| Student town | 4 campuses in Shanghai: Handan (main), Fenglin, Jiangwan, Zhangjiang |
The cost of training is indicated in yuan (RMB) and varies depending on the program and level of training. Indicative data for the 2024–2025 academic year:
Undergraduate: RMB 23,000 to 40,000 per hour (about USD 3,200-5,500) — medical and technical programs tend to be more expensive
Master’s degree: about 28,000 to 50,000 RMB per hour (about 3,900-7,000 USD)
Doctoral studies: about 30,000 to 55,000 RMB per hour (about 4,100-7,600 USD)
Application processing fee: about 800 RMB for most programs
The full annual budget of a foreign student (excluding stipend) is approximately 50,000–90,000 RMB per hour (about 7,000–12,500 USD), depending on the program and lifestyle. This is significantly lower than the cost of education in most Western universities of a comparable level.
Fudan University unites 35 schools and faculties in 11 broad areas. The most popular among foreign students:
Fudan University School of Economics is one of the strongest in China and Asia. It offers undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programs in economics, international economics and trade, and finance. Additionally, Fudan University School of Management offers MBA and specialized master’s programs, including the Fudan IMBA (International MBA), one of the few fully English-language business programs in China with international accreditation from AACSB. QS Global MBA 2026: #82 in the world.
The School of Computer Science is one of the university’s most actively developing areas. It offers programs in AI, data analysis, cybersecurity, and financial technologies. Some of the master’s programs are available in English, particularly in Data Science and AI.
In 2000, Fudan merged with Shanghai Medical University. The School of Medicine is one of the strongest in China: 17 affiliated hospitals, programs in clinical medicine, dentistry, pharmacology, and public health. ARWU 2025: Pharmacy is #4 in the world, and Nanotechnology is #9 in the world.
School of International Relations and Public Affairs (SIRPA) is one of the leading political science departments in Asia. QS Subject Rankings 2025: Fudan’s political science is ranked #20 in the world, one of the highest subject rankings among Chinese universities.
The program in literature, history, philosophy, physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics covers a wide range of subjects through the Arts and Sciences College.
Fudan Law School is one of the leading law schools in China, offering programs in Chinese with the opportunity to exchange with international partners.
Fudan University работает на четырёх кампусах в разных частях Шанхая:
Студенты-бакалавры проживают в 5 жилых колледжах (Zhide, Tengfei, Keqing, Renzhong, Xide) — каждый с собственным деканом и самоуправлением; студенты остаются в одном колледже на все четыре года. Для аспирантов и докторантов доступно отдельное жильё на кампусе. Общежития разного класса — от бюджетных многоместных комнат до отдельных блоков для иностранных студентов.
На кампусе работают университетские столовые (одни из самых доступных в Шанхае), спортивные комплексы, библиотеки, медицинские пункты. Более 300 студенческих клубов, включая около 20 организаций, ориентированных на иностранных студентов. Около 40% студентов бакалавриата участвуют в программах международного обмена.
Шанхай предлагает то, чего нет у большинства университетских городов: развитую транспортную сеть (метро с 20 линиями), богатейшую культурную жизнь, международную гастрономическую сцену и прямой доступ к региональным и глобальным работодателям.
The admission process for international students at Fudan University consists of several consecutive steps:
Decide on the level (bachelor’s, master’s, PhD), field, and language of study. Make sure that the program is open to international students by checking the specific set on the website iso.fudan.edu.cn.
A certificate or diploma with a transcript and an official translation into Chinese or English. Fudan does not publish a single minimum GPA, but a high average score and specialized training significantly increase your chances.
For English-language programs: IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL 80–90 iBT (depending on the program). For Chinese-language programs: HSK 4 or HSK 5. Always check the specific threshold for the chosen program, as requirements may vary.
For master’s and PhD programs: CV, letters of recommendation (usually two), study plan, or personal statement. For PhD programs, a research proposal and a preliminary contact with a potential supervisor are also required.
Through the official portal of Fudan University’s International Office – iso.fudan.edu.cn. Processing fee: approximately 800 RMB.
Approximately: for the autumn semester, applications are accepted from February to May; for the spring semester, applications are accepted from October to November. Deadlines for CSC scholarships are much earlier (March-December, depending on the route). It is recommended to start preparing documents 4-6 months before the deadline.
Fudan University does not officially publish a single acceptance rate for international students. The competition varies significantly depending on the program: it is traditionally higher for medical, technical, and economic programs than for a number of humanities programs. According to available data, the acceptance rate for certain programs (such as Software Engineering or Pharmacy) can be around 17%.
What strengthens the application:
Important for international students: the primary language of instruction at Fudan is Chinese. It is crucial to understand this before submitting the application. If you plan to study in Chinese, confirmation of the HSK level (usually 4-5) is mandatory. English-language programs focus primarily on the Master’s and PhD levels; the choice of bachelor’s degrees is limited.
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) is the main government funding program for international students in China. It is implemented through the China Scholarship Council. For scholarship recipients, it covers:
Applying for CSC is possible through the Chinese embassy in the country of origin or directly through the university (Chinese University Program). The deadlines are significantly ahead of the university deadline — as a rule, December-April, depending on the route and recruitment. Not all countries have CSC quotas – check with the embassy.
Shanghai Government Scholarship (SGS) is a program of the Shanghai government for international students in Shanghai universities. Coverage varies depending on the category: from partial payment of tuition to a more complete package. Current conditions are specified at the time of admission.
Fudan University Grants are our own scholarship programs for outstanding foreign students. Fudan IMBA provides scholarships based on GMAT results.
Shanghai is one of the main career hubs of Asia. The headquarters of the world’s largest companies (Goldman Sachs Asia, HSBC, McKinsey, BCG, ByteDance, Alibaba, Huawei) are located in the city or region, which creates unique opportunities for internships and employment even while studying.
The diploma of Fudan University is one of the most recognized in China and Asia. For a foreign student, it opens up career prospects primarily in the following areas:
Fudan cooperates with almost 200 foreign universities, which opens up opportunities for double degrees, joint research and career networking outside of China.
Fudan University is one of the first independent universities in China, founded outside the control of missionaries and the government (1905).
It is a member of the C9 League, an elite association of Chinese universities that is similar to the American Ivy League. Other members include Peking University, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, Fudan University, Shanghai Transport University, Xi’an University of Electronic Technology, Harbin Polytechnic University, and USTC.
It has been awarded the “Class A Double First Class University” status, the highest national classification for Chinese universities in the government’s world-class development program.
About 40% of Fudan’s undergraduate students participate in international exchange programs, one of the highest rates among Chinese universities.
Fudan IMBA is one of the first and most well-known English-language MBA courses in China, which has been offered since 1997 and is internationally accredited by AACSB.
There are more than 300 student clubs on campus, including about 20 international organizations.
Admission to Fudan University is a multi-step process in which it is easy to waste time on the wrong program, missed deadline for a scholarship or incorrectly filled out document. We at SelfStartGlobal help to build it systematically:
Our students have already received scholarships worth more than $35 million.
If you want to apply to Fudan University, come for a free consultation. We will tell you how it works in your specific case.
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