Shanghai International Studies University (SISU)

Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) is a public Chinese university for languages, translation, international relations and area studies, listed among China's Double First-Class and Project 211 universities. Its bachelor's programmes for international students are taught in Chinese and need HSK 4–5 plus the CSCA test; English-taught study starts at master's level. Bachelor's tuition is $3,282–3,700 (¥22,000–24,800) a year.

SISU began in December 1949 as the Shanghai Russian School, with the translator Jiang Chunfang as its first president, which makes it an unusual university with Russian roots at its core. It now teaches 54 languages and has two campuses, Hongkou in the city and Songjiang in the suburbs.

SISU suits:

• students who already speak Chinese well or will spend a year reaching HSK 5;
• future translators, interpreters, diplomats and area-studies specialists;
• graduates wanting an affordable English-taught master's in Shanghai.

SISU does not suit:

• school leavers who want an English-taught bachelor's;
• applicants looking for engineering, medicine or natural sciences.

• Double First-Class and Project 211 university (Ministry of Education)
• Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation: top professional ranking from AIIC
• Courses in 54 languages

SISU's Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation holds the highest rating from AIIC, the International Association of Conference Interpreters, as the only Asian school among its top conference interpreting schools. For interpreting and translation, that is a stronger signal than a general ranking.

The Hongkou campus (550 Dalian Road West) hosts the international students' office and the Chinese Language Program for foreigners. Most bachelor's majors for international students are taught at Songjiang (1550 Wenxiang Road). At the end of 2023 SISU had 9,688 Chinese and 3,076 international students.

If your Chinese is not yet at HSK 4, the non-degree Chinese Language Program at Hongkou (20 teaching hours a week, spring and autumn semesters) is the usual first step before a degree.

Bachelor's applicants must be 18–35 (with a guardian letter if under 18 on 1 September), hold a high school certificate, submit a non-criminal record and apply online at apply.shisu.edu.cn. Every bachelor's applicant also needs CSCA results in Chinese and Mathematics, and Songjiang majors add an entrance exam with a Chinese oral test and English oral and written tests on the last Saturday of April.

For a September 2027 start, book HSK and CSCA for late 2026 or early 2027, and prepare scholarship documents by November 2026 if you want the CSC route.

• Passport copy
• High school certificate and transcript, original or notarised copy in English or Chinese
• HSK certificate and score report
• Original CSCA score report
• Non-criminal record certificate
• Application fee: $112 (¥750) for Songjiang or $75 (¥500) for Hongkou programmes

Common mistakes:

• expecting an English-taught bachelor's and discovering the HSK 5 rule too late;
• planning a major in your native language, which SISU does not allow;
• forgetting the CSCA test, which is mandatory for bachelor's applicants;
• applying for a scholarship after the self-funded window has opened, when the CSC deadline has already passed.

Tuition is low by international standards; Shanghai rent and daily costs are the bigger part of the budget. Confirm dormitory prices in the admission package for your campus.

SISU's international office handles Chinese Government (CSC), Shanghai Government and university scholarships. Government scholarships close months before self-funded applications, so decide early whether you will apply for funding.

SISU's fields lead naturally to translation and interpreting, international organisations, media, diplomacy, trade and teaching Chinese. For a Russian-speaking student, Chinese at HSK 5–6 combined with Russian and English is a strong professional mix for companies working between Russia and China.