Programme information is compiled from the official Shanghai Jiao Tong University programme information for international students and is provided as a reference for prospective students.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University offers an Undergraduate Engineering Cluster Program in English for international students. The programme brings together several engineering-related schools and academic fields, with major courses taught in English.
Students take introductory engineering courses during the first 1.5 years at Global College before continuing their studies at Global College or another engineering school, depending on the applicable programme requirements.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Shanghai Jiao Tong University |
| Programme | Undergraduate Engineering Cluster Program in English |
| Study level | Undergraduate |
| Teaching language | English |
| Location | Shanghai |
| Initial study stage | First 1.5 years |
| Main fields | Engineering and related disciplines |
| CSCA | Mathematics required |
| Chinese requirement | HSK 4 for most students at graduation |
| Tuition | RMB 120,000 per academic year |
The Engineering Cluster Program includes the following schools and academic units:
Global College
School of Materials Science and Engineering
School of Electrical Engineering
School of Automation and Intelligent Sensing
School of Computer Science
School of Mechanical Engineering
The official programme information also indicates that the cluster includes additional engineering-related fields.
The programme covers engineering-related disciplines including:
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Computer Science and Technology
Automation
Power and Energy Engineering
The programme therefore includes fields across mechanical, electrical, computer, materials, automation and energy-related areas.
During the first 1.5 years, students take introductory engineering courses at Global College.
After meeting the relevant requirements, students may:
Continue their studies at Global College; or
Transfer to another engineering school to complete their bachelor’s degree.
Depending on the programme, students may continue their undergraduate study in an English-taught or Chinese-taught programme.
The Engineering Cluster Program is taught in English, with major courses offered in English.
Students are also required to take Chinese language and culture courses while enrolled in their degree programmes.
For most Cluster students, HSK 4 is the minimum Chinese-language requirement for graduation.
The published exceptions include students enrolled in the Global College Dual Degree Program and certain other international programmes.
Therefore, English is the main language of major-course instruction, while Chinese language and culture courses remain part of the programme for most students.
The China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) is part of the undergraduate admission requirements for the Engineering Cluster Program.
For applicants who have not yet taken the CSCA, other academic test results may initially be submitted for the university’s selection process. The published 2026 admission information lists the following examples:
SAT
AP
ACT
A-Level
IB
UEC
UNT
SJTU International Undergraduate Entrance Test
Other recognised examination results
These test results cannot replace the CSCA requirement.
According to the published 2026 admission information, applicants who receive a pre-admission notice must supplement their CSCA results by the specified deadline.
For the Engineering Cluster Program, CSCA Mathematics is required.
For applicants who are not native English speakers, the published requirements include:
TOEFL iBT: 90 or above
TOEFL Essentials: 10 or above
IELTS: 6.0 or above
Certain applicants may qualify for an exemption based on their previous academic education or SAT/ACT results.
The published information states that an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 650 or above may qualify for an exemption.
An ACT Reading score of 27 or above and ACT English score of 27 or above may also qualify for an exemption.
Applicants who have completed at least four years of rigorous academic study in specified English-speaking education systems may also be exempt from submitting an English-language test, subject to the published requirements.
The programme places particular attention on Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and other related subjects in applicants’ high-school academic records.
For the 2025 first-year admitted class, SJTU published the following Middle 50% score ranges:
| Test | Middle 50% Range |
|---|---|
| SAT Total | 1350–1450 |
| SAT Math | 730–790 |
| ACT Total | 30–33 |
| ACT Math | 28–35 |
For A-Level applicants, Mathematics at Grade A or above is required.
For IB applicants, the published requirement includes:
Math HL: 5 or above
Math SL: 7 or above
The published SAT and ACT figures are reference ranges for the 2025 first-year admitted class and should not be interpreted as fixed admission cut-offs.
The published tuition for the Engineering Cluster Program is:
RMB 120,000 per academic year
The programme information also lists several scholarship opportunities for international students, including:
Chinese Government Scholarship
Shanghai Government Scholarship
SJTU Scholarship
Depending on the scholarship category, the published benefits may include:
Tuition waiver or reduction
Accommodation subsidy
Living allowance
Insurance
Scholarship conditions and benefits vary by scholarship type.
The main characteristics of the SJTU Undergraduate Engineering Cluster Program in English include:
Undergraduate study at Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Major courses taught in English
Multiple engineering-related academic fields
Initial 1.5 years of introductory engineering study at Global College
Possible progression to Global College or another engineering school
English- or Chinese-taught degree options depending on the programme
CSCA Mathematics requirement
Chinese language and culture courses
HSK 4 requirement for most students at graduation
Published academic reference scores for SAT and ACT applicants
Scholarship opportunities for international students
For international students researching English-taught engineering programmes in China, the programme combines a broad initial engineering curriculum with subsequent study in a specific engineering school or programme.