Best fit
A strong 985 choice in Shanghai for education, humanities, social sciences and selected science programmes, with a large international academic community.
East China Normal University 81.2
华东师范大学 · Shanghai, Shanghai
985211Double First-Class
Open official application page ↗
ECNU international students
Key numbers
| Students | 20,936 |
|---|---|
| Undergraduates | 16,159 |
| Postgraduates | 4,777 |
| Campus area | 18.6 ha |
| Faculty & staff | 4,276 |
Source: https://www.ecnu.edu.cn
Figures are as published by the universities and may be outdated or defined differently. Always verify with the university.
Recommendation index
A transparent 0–100 recommendation index. 70 points are the base: a university enters this catalogue only after passing the basic screen (China's Ministry of Education list, a degree CSCSE can verify, programmes open to international students), so all of them are options worth considering. The remaining 30 points are scored from public figures, and the largest part of that is a published overall-strength standing (ShanghaiRanking / 软科, 2025 edition). It is our own composite — not an official ranking and not a measure of teaching quality.
| Index | 81.2 81.2 / 100 |
|---|---|
| In our catalogue (base points) | 70 / 70 |
| Overall strength (public ranking standing) | 7.2 / 24 · #31/812 · 2025 |
| Level (985 / 211 / Double First-Class / C9) | 1.8 / 2.4 · 985 |
| Scale (registered students) | 0.8 / 1.5 · 20936 |
| Faculty intensity (staff per student) | 1.2 / 1.2 · 20.4% |
| Internationalisation (international student share) | — |
| Campus size (hectares) | 0 / 0.3 · 18.6 ha |
Based on 5 of 6 indicators (missing ones are excluded, not counted as zero).
Composition: base 70 (in the catalogue) + assessment 30 (published overall-strength standing as the main part, then level, scale, faculty intensity, internationalisation, campus size). Indicators without data are excluded.
University emblems are trademarks of their owners and are shown here for identification only. Rights holders: contact us for removal or correction.
About
East China Normal University (华东师范大学), usually shortened to ECNU, is a public university in Shanghai with a strong focus on education, humanities and social sciences. It is listed under the 985 and 211 Projects and the Double First-Class initiative, and was founded in 1951. International students may apply at bachelor's, master's and doctoral level, subject to each programme's requirements. Shanghai gives access to a very large international community and job market, with living costs above the national average. Tuition, language requirements and deadlines are set per programme and change between intakes, so confirm current details on the university's official website (ecnu.edu.cn) before applying.
| Chinese name | 华东师范大学 |
|---|---|
| City | Shanghai |
| Province | Shanghai |
| Type | 985, 211, Double First-Class |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Competent authority | 教育部 |
| MOE code | 4131010269 |
Official identifiers from the Ministry of Education: national higher-education list (2026)
Official admissions snapshot
Use the university’s own pages to confirm the route before preparing documents, paying a fee or relying on an agency summary.
Official application route
Use the international-students office to choose the degree route and programme. Education and humanities programmes may have different language and assessment expectations from science programmes.
Check before applying
- The programme language and required HSK or English evidence.
- Whether a test, interview or written submission is required.
- The current application guide, deadline and scholarship route.
Official sources: International students office ↗
· University profile ↗
For international students
What applicants usually need to sort out before applying to East China Normal University.
- Language route: English-taught programmes usually do not require HSK at entry; Chinese-taught programmes typically expect HSK 4 or 5.
- Documents: transcripts, graduation certificate, recommendation letters, passport pages and a foreigner physical examination form — some need notarisation or translation.
- Scholarships: CSC, provincial and university awards run their own deadlines, usually earlier than the university's own intake deadline.
- Timing: most intakes begin in September, with applications opening in the previous autumn and closing in spring.
Admission requirements
Requirements differ by programme and intake. Check the current details on the university's official admissions page.
Tuition
Gift exchange that conveys warm feelings; fall 2025 semester new students Ice-Breaker Activity Dear new students, you may feel everything new and unfamiliar upon arrival.
Programs
Bachelor'sMaster'sPhD
Always verify tuition, deadlines and program details with the university's official admissions office.
Disclaimer
Always verify tuition, deadlines and program details with the university's official admissions office.
Sources
Listed for transparency. Official addresses are shown as plain text so you can copy and check them directly; the site no longer opens third-party pages.
- https://www.ecnu.edu.cn/
- https://www.ecnu.edu.cn/info/1034/73015.htm
- https://lxs.ecnu.edu.cn/
- https://www.ecnu.edu.cn/wzcd/xxgk.htm
- https://www.ecnu.edu.cn/wzcd/xxgk/xqjj.htm
- https://www.ecnu.edu.cn/info/1094/73123.htm
Campus gallery
Campus photos from the university’s official site and public sources; rights belong to their owners.
Common questions
Where is East China Normal University located?
East China Normal University (华东师范大学) is in Shanghai, China. The campus covers about 18.6 hectares.
How many international students study at East China Normal University?
We have not recorded a published figure for this university yet.
Is East China Normal University part of a national university programme?
It is listed under: 985, 211, Double First-Class.
How do I apply to East China Normal University?
Applications go through the university's own portal or the CSC online system, and each programme sets its own documents and deadline. If you are not sure which route fits your case, ask our team first.
Student forum
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More answers
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- Dormitory or apartment: where do students live?
- Entrance exams and interviews for international applicants