Shanghai International Studies University

Upholding the motto of “Integrity, Vision and Academic Excellence”, Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) is an internationally recognized, prestigious academic institution distinctive for its multidisciplinary and multicultural nature, committed to preparing innovative professionals and future global leaders for a wide range of international expertise to address the critical challenges of our times. 

OUR HISTORY

Our history began in December 1949 with the establishment of the Shanghai Russian School affiliated to East China People’s Revolution University, as one of the earliest institutions where China’s higher education in foreign languages took shape. 

LEADING ACADEMICS

SISU has successfully developed a diverse and distinctive mix of disciplines in the fields of arts, education, economics, management and law with language and literature as its pillar. SISU is included in the list of 137 universities for “Double First Class Programme” released by China’s Ministry of Education on Sept. 21, 2017.

Currently, we offer courses in 48 languages, including 37 modern languages  (English, Russian, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Korean, Persian, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Swedish, Dutch, Hebrew, Ukrainian, Turkish, Hindi, Hungarian, Uzbek, Kazakh, Polish, Czech, Urdu, Malay, Swahili, Javanese, Pashto, Tajik, Romanian, Belarusian, Sundanese and Chinese). We also teach 11 classical and constructed languages, Latin, Ancient Greek, Old English, Sanskrit, Syriac Aramaic, Pahlavi, Classical Nahuatl, Akkadian, Sumerian, Classical Hebrew and Esperanto.

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

With a mission to “introduce the rest of the world to China” and “present China globally”, SISU has won an unparalleled reputation in China’s linguistics and international studies, playing an active role in the country's diplomatic decision-making. Our research excellence has been further recognized for our progress in political science, by developing a focused research field in Area Studies.

We operate more than 100 research institutes and centers serving as academic think tanks to provide advisory services on language policies, diplomatic strategies and global public opinion of China. These academic entities have contributed landmark research and are also dedicated to promoting the development of social sciences in China.

GLOBAL PRESENCE

We have now established partnerships with more than 430 universities and institutions from 62 countries and regions, and have maintained close connection with international organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union.

We have also compiled and published a series of Mandarin Chinese textbooks to be used by non-Chinese speakers as a means of further promoting cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world. Over the past five years, around 4,000 international students have been enrolled each year in our Chinese language programs or other degree schemes and 10 Confucius Institutes have been established in Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America.

CORE VALUES

SISU has launched the “Multilingual+” Initiative, a pioneering educational reform strategy towards global studies to meet with the future “multilingual+” era. “Multilingual” means that our students should at least master two second languages, and owns brilliant intercultural communication abilities. “+” (Plus) refers to interdisciplinary education that “interconnects” different fields of disciplines and subjects with area studies as its core.