Fudan University
复旦大学
Shanghai's flagship comprehensive university, offering English-taught degrees in economics, fintech and medicine.
- Students
- 56,266
- 16,101 undergraduates
- International
- 4%
- of students
- Tuition
- CN¥23,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1905
About Fudan
Fudan University traces its origins to Fudan College, founded in Shanghai in 1905 by the scholar and former Jesuit priest Ma Xiangbo, and merged with Shanghai Medical University in 2000. Today it covers 12 disciplinary categories from philosophy, literature and economics to engineering and medicine, with 21 disciplines in the global top 1% of Essential Science Indicators, 12 National Key Laboratories and 47 members of the Chinese Academies of Sciences and Engineering (including joint appointments and retired members).
Fudan operates four campuses in Shanghai (Handan, Fenglin, Zhangjiang and Jiangwan), has about 16,100 undergraduates and 38,000 postgraduates plus some 2,200 international degree students, and organises undergraduates into five colleges (Zhide, Tengfei, Keqing, Renzhong and Xide). Shanghai Medical College runs the medical programmes, including an English-taught MBBS for international students.
For international applicants Fudan has two tracks: Chinese-taught degrees across most majors and a set of English-taught degrees in international organisations and global governance, economics, fintech, data science and medicine. All applicants now take the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) and an interview. Fudan suits students who want a big-city base in China's financial capital and a strong liberal arts and social sciences culture alongside science and medicine. Tuition for international students ranges from 23,000 CNY a year for Chinese-taught arts majors to 100,000 CNY for the English-taught global governance degree.
博学而笃志，切问而近思
“Rich in knowledge and tenacious of purpose; inquiring with earnestness and reflecting with self-practice” — university motto
Why students choose Fudan
Five English-taught bachelor's programmes: International Organizations and Global Governance, the Undergraduate International Program in Economics, the Global Bachelor of Fintech, Data Science and Big Data Technology, and an MBBS.
Undergraduates belong to one of five colleges (Zhide, Tengfei, Keqing, Renzhong and Xide), which give a community beyond the home department.
Shanghai Medical College gives Fudan one of China's strongest medical schools, with 4 National Medical Centers.
Location in Shanghai, with internships and careers in finance, media and multinational business on the doorstep.
Admissions
Entry in September 2027 (2027 international notices not yet published; 2026 cycle shown)
Selectivity
Fudan does not publish admit rates. Chinese citizens enter through the gaokao and Fudan's comprehensive-evaluation and Strong Base schemes; Hong Kong students can apply with HKDSE results, Macao students via the Four-School Joint Exam, and Taiwan students via a dedicated scheme; international students apply directly with CSCA scores and an interview.
Typical entry requirements
| Gaokao (PRC citizens) | National College Entrance Examination plus Fudan's special schemes (Strong Base Plan, comprehensive evaluation) |
|---|---|
| HKDSE / Macao / Taiwan | Separate Fudan schemes for HKDSE candidates, Macao's Four-School Joint Admission Exam and Taiwan high-school graduates |
| International, Chinese-taught programmes | CSCA scores, high-school transcripts and diploma, interview assessing overall quality and Chinese; HSK 5 (210+) or HSK 6 (180+) optional but recommended |
| International, English-taught programmes | CSCA (Maths and programme-specific science), strong maths background, TOEFL 90 / IELTS 6.5 / Duolingo 110 / PTE 61, two recommendation letters, interview |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 90 For English-taught programmes (non-native speakers): TOEFL iBT 90, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110 or PTE Academic 61; waived for students from English-medium high schools. Chinese-taught programmes do not require English scores. |
Deadlines
- Phase 1 Non-binding Passed15 January 2026
2026 cycle: 1-15 January 2026; accepts December 2025 CSCA results; pre-admission results from 15 February 2026.
- Phase 2 Non-binding Passed6 March 2026
2026 cycle: 23 February to 6 March 2026; accepts December 2025 or January 2026 CSCA results; pre-admission results from 10 April 2026.
Fudan published its 2026 international undergraduate brochures between September and December 2025; 2027 notices were not yet posted on 28 September 2026. Expect a similar January and February-March window, and plan to sit the CSCA in December.
How to apply
Take the CSCA first, then apply online at istudent.fudan.edu.cn (one programme only), upload passport, diploma or expected-graduation certificate, transcripts, CSCA report and language scores, and pay the 800 RMB fee. Eligible applicants are interviewed; pre-admitted students must pay first-year tuition within two weeks to confirm their place.
What admissions looks for
- Solid academic records shown in high-school transcripts and CSCA results in the subjects required for the chosen programme.
- An excellent mathematics background for economics, fintech and data science, and strong maths and sciences for medicine.
- Overall quality and language ability, assessed in the interview.
- For English-taught programmes, two English recommendation letters that speak to academic performance and potential.
Tips for applying to Fudan
- 1 Book the CSCA early: Phase 1 only accepts the December sitting, so a late test pushes you into Phase 2.
- 2 Choose carefully: you can apply to only one programme, and English-taught programmes do not allow a change of major.
- 3 Have funds ready: pre-admitted students must pay a full year's tuition within two weeks of the result.
- 4 Check the nationality rules if either parent was a Chinese citizen at your birth; Fudan requires proof of two years' actual residence abroad.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CNY
International students can apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship (which requires CSCA scores) and the Shanghai Government Scholarship; Fudan publishes annual review lists for both. There is no need-based aid for self-funded international students.
- 800 CNY
- Application fee
- 1,200 CNY per year
- Dormitory (Chinese students, standard 4-person room)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
International Organizations and Global Governance (IOGG), English-taught
Run by the School of International Relations and Public Affairs for students interested in diplomacy and multilateral institutions.
Undergraduate International Program in Economics (UIPE), English-taught
An English-taught economics degree in the School of Economics for mathematically strong students.
Global Bachelor of Fintech (GBF), English-taught
Offered by the International School of Finance in China's main financial centre.
MBBS (Clinical Medicine), English-taught
A six-year medical degree designed for international students at Shanghai Medical College.
Chinese Language and Literature
One of Fudan's core humanities departments, open to international students through the Chinese-taught track.
Research
- 12 National Key Laboratories, 4 National Medical Centers and 15 Ministry of Education Key Laboratories.
- 21 disciplines in the global top 1% of Essential Science Indicators, 10 of them in the top 0.1%.
- Fudan says its international influence in sustainable development ranks first among universities in mainland China.
Schools & faculties
- Department of Chinese Language and Literature
- Department of History
- School of Philosophy
- Law School
- School of Journalism
- School of International Relations and Public Affairs
- School of Economics
- School of Management
- School of Mathematical Sciences
- School of Data Science
- Shanghai Medical College
- International School of Finance
Student life
Most undergraduates are based on the Handan campus in Yangpu, home to the twin Guanghua Towers, and belong to one of Fudan's five undergraduate colleges. International students live in dedicated dormitories on the Handan campus, booked online before each semester. Clubs and sports are open to everyone, and the international student community is visible on campus: Fudan's international students' dragon boat team, with members from 18 countries, won the 2026 Shanghai universities' international student race.
- Five undergraduate colleges: Zhide, Tengfei, Keqing, Renzhong and Xide
- Four Shanghai campuses: Handan, Fenglin (medicine), Zhangjiang and Jiangwan
- International students' dragon boat team won the 2026 Shanghai and Yangtze Delta universities' race
- English-taught certified programmes open to undergraduates, such as a China social-issues programme from the School of Social Development and Public Policy
Housing. International students reserve rooms online in the international student dormitories on the Handan campus before each semester.
Location
Fudan's main Handan campus is in Yangpu, north-east Shanghai, on Metro Line 18 (Fudan University station). Shanghai is China's largest city and main financial centre, with a big international community, excellent public transport and high-speed rail links to Hangzhou, Suzhou and Nanjing. Living costs are among the highest in mainland China.
Nearest airport: Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG); Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Notable alumni
- WH Wang HuningMember of the Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the CPPCC
- HZ Han ZhengVice President and former Vice Premier of China
- QL Qi LuTechnology executive who led Microsoft's Online Services Group
- CT Chen TianqiaoFounder of Shanda (SNDA), once China's richest person
- XM Xiao-Li MengStatistician and professor at Harvard
- SZ Shoucheng ZhangPhysicist at Stanford known for topological insulators
- LX Liang XiaoshengNovelist and screenwriter; 2019 Mao Dun Literature Prize
Frequently asked questions
Does Fudan University offer undergraduate degrees in English?
Yes: International Organizations and Global Governance, the Undergraduate International Program in Economics, the Global Bachelor of Fintech, Data Science and Big Data Technology, and an MBBS, all taught in English.
Do I need the CSCA to apply to Fudan?
Yes. Since the 2026 cycle Fudan requires the China Scholastic Competency Assessment for both Chinese-taught and English-taught undergraduate programmes, with subjects depending on the programme.
How much is Fudan tuition for international students?
Chinese-taught programmes cost 23,000 CNY (arts), 26,000 CNY (science) or 42,000 CNY (medical) a year; English-taught programmes cost 75,000 to 100,000 CNY a year.
What English score does Fudan require?
English-taught programmes require TOEFL iBT 90, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110 or PTE 61, unless you studied at an English-medium high school.
When is the Fudan international undergraduate deadline?
In the 2026 cycle Phase 1 ran 1-15 January 2026 and Phase 2 ran 23 February to 6 March 2026; the 2027 dates had not been posted by late September 2026.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- XuanXiao: QS World University Rankings 2027 results
- Times Higher Education: Best universities in China 2026
- ShanghaiRanking: Fudan University (ARWU 2026)
- Fudan ISO: Undergraduate admissions notices
- Fudan: 2026 Admission Information on Chinese-taught Undergraduate Programs
- Fudan: 2026 List of English-taught Undergraduate Programs
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