Shanghai University of Finance and Economics Undergraduate Freshman Scholarship

About the university

Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE), located in Shanghai, is a key national university directly under the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. It is jointly established by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry of Finance), and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. SUFE is a multidisciplinary key university with a focus on economics and management, while also coordinating the development of economics, management, law, literature, science, and engineering. It has been selected into the national "Double First-Class" initiative, "Project 211", and the "Innovation Platform for Advantageous Disciplines". SUFE traces its origins to the business program offered by Nanjing Higher Normal School in 1917. In 1921, the program was expanded, reorganized, and relocated to Shanghai, establishing the Shanghai College of Commerce as a branch of National Southeast University. In 1932, it became an independent institution and was named National Shanghai Institute of Commerce. In 1950, it was renamed Shanghai Institute of Finance and Economics. In 1985, it was renamed Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. In 1996, it became a key university under "Project 211". In 2000, the university was transferred from the Ministry of Finance to the leadership of the Ministry of Education. In 2006, it became a university under the "Innovation Platform for Advantageous Disciplines". In 2017, it entered the national "Double First-Class" construction sequence. As of November 2023, the university offers 40 undergraduate programs; as of October 2024, it has 10 first-level doctoral degree authorization points, 15 first-level master's degree authorization points, 17 professional master's degree authorization points, 1 professional doctoral degree authorization point, and 8 postdoctoral research stations. As of June 2025, it has three campuses, with the main campus located at No. 777 Guoding Road, covering an area of 812.9 mu (approximately 54.2 hectares). It comprises 28 schools and departments, with 987 full-time faculty members and a total student population of 18,299. SUFE originated from the business program of Nanjing Higher Normal School in 1917. Nanjing Higher Normal School itself evolved from the "Sanjiang Normal School" and "Liangjiang Normal School" established in the late Qing Dynasty. The "Sanjiang Normal School" was founded in May 1902 when Liangjiang Governor Liu Kunyi submitted a memorial to establish a normal school. In February 1903, Acting Liangjiang Governor Zhang Zhidong submitted another memorial, which was approved. The new Liangjiang Governor Wei Guangtao managed the process, leading to the establishment of Sanjiang Normal School. In July 1914, Jiang Qian became the president of Liangjiang Normal School. In August 1914, Jiang Qian became the president of Nanjing Higher Normal School, using the former campus of Liangjiang Normal School to prepare for the establishment of Nanjing Higher Normal School. In 1915, Nanjing Higher Normal School was officially established. In 1917, to meet the demand for business talent in national industry and commerce, Nanjing Higher Normal School established a business program, which is the origin of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. In April 1920, then-President Guo Bingwen proposed the establishment of a new national university based on Nanjing Higher Normal School. In December of the same year, the proposal was approved by the Beiyang government. In September 1921, National Southeast University was established, with Guo Bingwen as president. In July 1922, the Shanghai College of Commerce was established as a branch of National Southeast University. In the spring of 1925, the Accounting Department students of Shanghai College of Commerce founded the "National Southeast University Shanghai College of Commerce Accounting Society" with the aim of "studying existing theories, investigating China's existing accounting systems, and seeking improvements." This was the first academic society at Shanghai College of Commerce. In the spring of 1926, the Gengwu class (class of 1930) of Shanghai College of Commerce organized an "Academic Research Society" that met every Friday. In July 1927, it was renamed the Business School of the Fourth National Sun Yat-sen University. In February 1928, it was renamed the Business School of Jiangsu University. In May of the same year, it was renamed the Business School of National Central University. In early July 1932, the Executive Yuan of the National Government established the Central University Reorganization Committee with Cai Yuanpei as chairman. On July 19, 1932, the committee made a decision to separate the Business and Medical Schools of National Central University located in Shanghai, change their departments, and define their administrative organizations, which was submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval. On August 16, 1932, the Ministry of Education issued a document ordering the Business School of National Central University to be renamed National Shanghai Institute of Commerce.