2027 Undergraduate Programs for International Students in the SJTU Global Institute of Future Technology 

Programs Introduction

The Global Institute of Future Technology (GIFT) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) offers two interdisciplinary undergraduate programs: Sustainable Energy and Health Science and Technology. These programs address the critical demands of revolutionary advancements in future energy and future health by transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries. In addition, GIFT provides an AI minor where students learn to apply machine learning, large-scale models, and digital twins to engineering applications. Students are trained and empowered to pursue independent research, develop cross-cultural communication skills, and gain strategic and global perspectives, preparing them to lead in their chosen fields.

The standard duration of study is four years. Upon completion of the degree requirements, students are granted a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering.

Sustainable Energy

With the core feature of “Artificial Intelligence + Sustainable Energy”, the program offers advanced training in the production, storage, transmission, and use of sustainable energy. By integrating sustainable energy engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, materials, information technology, and other disciplines, the program prepares students to become leaders in energy research, emerging energy industries, digital energy design, system planning, and policy making.

Health Science and Technology

With “Artificial Intelligence + Active Health” as its central focus, the program trains students to develop innovative solutions for future health, enhancing life quality. Through the cross-integration of biology, psychology, genetics, and medicine with mechanical engineering, information technology, and material, the program prepares students to become leaders in emerging future health industries related to heart, brain, sports, nutrition, and environmental health.

Reminder:
Although both programs are taught in English, students are required to take Chinese culture and language courses. All students are expected to meet HSK 4 (Chinese Language Test) as the minimal Chinese language requirement for graduation.
Faculty

GIFT has over 70 distinguished educators committed to academic excellence and mentorship. All faculty members have extensive overseas experience from world-class universities. Centered on two broad areas of sustainable energy and health science and technology, GIFT faculty members explore disruptive technologies across diverse fields, including but not limited to super-power batteries, new photovoltaics, high-efficiency energy storage, extreme manufacturing, bio-manufacturing, intelligent connected vehicles, low-carbon agriculture for energy-related research; brain health and engineering, sports health, nutritional health, and whole-life-cycle health for health-related research. The blend of globally-minded and internationally accomplished faculty creates an ideal environment for innovation, preparing students to become future leaders in an interconnected world.

Research and Lab Facilities

GIFT has established a series of research centers spanning batteries, photovoltaics, extreme manufacturing, intelligent vehicles, brain health, sports health, and human digital twins. These centers aim to drive technology innovation through cross-disciplinary research. Among them, the Industry-Education Integration Laboratory stands out as a flagship initiative. Jointly established by SJTU and CATL, a world leader in battery technology and energy storage, this laboratory creates a new paradigm of deep collaboration between a top-tier university and a leading industry enterprise. Guided by the vision of a "Zero-Carbon Intelligent Society," the laboratory focuses on four key directions: efficient acquisition of new energy (new principles), reliable storage (new technologies), intelligent utilization (new models), and intelligent manufacturing (new equipment). 

International Opportunities

GIFT is dedicated to cultivating technology leaders with cross-cultural communication skills, offering all undergraduates (we seek 100% participation) an opportunity for overseas studies with partial financial support. Our partner universities span the globe, including the University of Oxford, King's College London, the University of Waterloo, the Technical University of Munich, Nanyang Technological University, Seoul National University, Khalifa University, and the University of Hong Kong, among others. Together with these partners, GIFT offers short-term exchange programs including summer, winter, and semester exchanges, as well as degree programs including the SJTU - University of Waterloo 3+1+1 Integrated Bachelor's–Master's Pathway and the SJTU - The University of Hong Kong Joint Bachelor's to Ph.D Pathway.

Industrial Experience

GIFT has close cooperation with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd., and many other leading companies in the relevant industrial sectors, ensuring 100% internship and research opportunities for every undergraduate student.

Online Application

The online application will use the Common App and is expected to go live in early December.

Admission Prerequisites

1. Graduation from high school or equivalent educational background. Prospective graduates must provide a pre-graduation certificate issued by their school and obtain their high school diploma before enrollment.

2. Non-Chinese citizens should hold a valid foreign passport, in compliance with the relevant regulations of the Chinese Ministry of Education, including the “Document No. 12 (2020) of Ministry of Education of the PRC” etc.

3. Good physical and mental health, with no criminal record.

Application Materials

* All materials should be in English. Documents in other languages must be accompanied by certified English translations.

1. High school transcript (covering all courses completed during high school). Prospective graduates must submit a transcript of all high school courses completed up to the point of application. We pay special attention to math, physics, chemistry and other related subjects. Please arrange to have official copies of your transcripts in English sent to us by all high schools you attended.

2. China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA). Score with Mathematics is required. Applicants who have not yet taken the CSCA may submit other materials initially. Those who pass the university's selection process will receive a pre-admission notice and must supplement their CSCA scores by June 30, 2027. Upon passing the final selection, a formal admission notice will be issued.

3. English language certificate

For non-native speakers of English, either TOEFL (iBT, code: 6210), IELTS, or Duolingo score is required.

    3.1 TOEFL iBT – exams taken before January 21, 2026: minimum 90 (0–120 scale); exams taken on or after January 21, 2026: minimum 4.5 (1–6 scale)

3.2 IELTS: 6 or above

3.3 Duolingo English Test: 120 or above

    Exceptions: You may be exempted from providing any of these exams if your SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score is 650 or above, if both your ACT Reading and English scores are 27 or above, or if you have recently completed at least 4 years of rigorous academic study in any of the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, England, Federated, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Seychelles, Shetland Islands, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States (other than Puerto Rico), US Virgin Islands, Wales, and Singapore. (Those in American Schools and British Schools abroad may also be exempted if at least 4 years of rigorous academic study have recently been completed and if test scores meet the above standards.)

4. Curriculum Vitae and Personal Statement

5. Recommendation Letters

6. Passport information page valid for more than 12 months. Once admitted, passport information cannot be changed until enrollment registration is completed.

7. Financial guarantee proven deposit of no less than CNY 100,000 (or equivalent in foreign currency)

8. Other documents

    8.1 The nationality or household registration of both the applicant's parents, such as passport or ID card.

8.2 Applicants with one or both parents who are Chinese citizens must provide:

8.2.1 Certificate of the applicant’s foreign nationality obtained at birth or afterward.

8.2.2 For applicants who acquired foreign nationality at birth:

a. If one or both parents were Chinese citizens and had permanent residence abroad at the time of the applicant's birth, provide the corresponding permanent residence proof of the parent(s).

b. If one or both parents were Chinese citizens and did not have permanent residence abroad at the time of the applicant's birth, provide a certificate of the applicant's renunciation of Chinese nationality for at least four years by April 30 of the application year.

8.2.3 For applicants who are originally Chinese citizens and later acquired foreign nationality, provide proof of cancellation of their Chinese residence registration and renunciation of Chinese nationality for at least four years by April 30 of the application year.

8.2.4 All visas, residence permits, and entry/exit records for China, starting from the applicant's first passport.

Note: Applicants who previously held a "People's Republic of China Travel Document" or "People's Republic of China Exit and Entry Permit" must provide the relevant documentation as in section 8.2.3.

    8.3 Applicants under 18 years old by September 1 of the application year must submit a Guardian Guarantee Form. 

9. (Optional) Other supporting documents are highly recommended to submit for reference, such as standardized international test scores or national/regional unified high school graduation or university entrance examination results, such as SAT (code: 9184), AP, ACT (code: 3038), A-Level, IB (code: N010601) etc. Please note that SAT/AP/ACT/A-Level/IB (code: N010601)/UEC/UNT/others cannot replace the CSCA requirement.

 

Interview

Applicants who pass the initial document review may be invited to participate in an online interview.

Interviews will be organized in multiple rounds on a rolling basis, according to the time when a complete set of application materials is submitted. Early submission is therefore strongly encouraged.

The interview results will serve as an important reference for scholarship consideration.

Application Deadlines

1. Early Round: December 15, 2026 (Beijing Time, GMT+8).

2. Main Application Round: March 31, 2027 (Beijing Time, GMT+8).

3. Final Supplementary Round: May 31, 2027 (Beijing Time, GMT+8).

Scholarships

Excellent applicants will have the opportunity to be awarded different kinds of scholarships, such as the Chinese Government Scholarship, GIFT Excellence Scholarship, and others.

1.   Students applying for CSC Scholarship (Chinese Government Scholarship) should directly contact the local Chinese Embassy or Consulate. For specific application times and requirements, please refer to the information published by the local Chinese embassy or consulate. When completing the scholarship application form, the applicant should select “Shanghai Jiao Tong University” as the priority. The scholarship content is subject to the website of China Scholarship Council.

2. Students applying for GIFT Excellence Scholarship can click the option “Apply for scholarship” when completing SJTU’s online application form. The types of the scholarship are as follows:

Types

Scholarship

Note

 First-Class Scholarship

Period: 4 years Tuition waiver, provides living allowance, accommodation subsidy and insurance

Insurance: 800 CNY/ Academic Year

Accommodation subsidy: 1,100 CNY/ Month;

Living allowance: 2,500 CNY/Month

•Applicants have been officially admitted by SJTU without being awardees of other scholarships at the same time;

•Scholarship is awarded based on the comprehensive ranking of applicant’s academic and interview performance;

•Scholarship results will be announced together with the admission results;

•SJTU reserves the right of final explanation.

Second-Class Scholarship

Period: 4 years 50% tuition waiver, provides accommodation subsidy and insurance

Third-Class Scholarship 

Period:4 years 25% tuition waiver, provides insurance

Fees

Application Fee: USD 75 (non-refundable)

Tuition: CNY 150,000 /Academic year (Tuition rates are subject to the record-filing with the governing authorities)

Health Insurance: CNY 800/year (According to the regulations set forth by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and the Management Regulations for International Students of SJTU, international students studying for more than 6 months are obligated to purchase the Group Comprehensive Insurance in the Chinese mainland.)

Admission and Enrollment

1. The admission decision will be based on a comprehensive evaluation. Applicants can check their admission results in the application system (https://apply.sjtu.edu.cn).

2. Applicants are required to confirm their enrollment through the application system (https://apply.sjtu.edu.cn) within two weeks after admission results are released.

3. The “Admission Notice” will be issued on a rolling basis during July 2027.

4. All application materials and information provided by applicants must be authentic, accurate and fully complete. Otherwise, the applicant will be disqualified for application, enrollment or study.

Term begins

In early September 2027 (specific time will be informed in the admission letter)

Contact Information

Admission Office of International Student Center, SJTU

Address: Room 210, Donghui Building 3, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, China

Post code: 200240

Tel: +86-21-54743244

Email: isc.d@sjtu.edu.cn

Website: https://en.sjtu.edu.cn/

 

Global Institute of Future Technology, SJTU

Address: SJTU East Wing, Yue-Kong Pao Library, No. 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, China

Post code: 200240

Tel: +86-21-54741571

E-mail: gift.iao@sjtu.edu.cn

Website:https://gift.sjtu.edu.cn/en