Shanghai

Shanghai

QS Staff Writer

Updated July 12, 2021 Updated July 12

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 33rd

Shanghai, China’s largest city by population, is not only the world’s busiest container port; it is also a huge global center for finance, commerce, culture – and also education.

Seven universities in Shanghai feature within the QS World University Rankings® 2020, led by Fudan University at 40th in the world and Shanghai Jiao Tong University at 60th

Much like other thriving Asian cities such as Hong Kong and Seoul, Shanghai is often described in terms of contrasts – old and new, East and West, well-preserved traditions alongside rapid development – and there’s certainly more than enough to make each day different, however much time you spend here. The city lines the banks of the Yangtze River, where it meets the East China Sea, and has a striking, and growing, skyline of skyscrapers. The Shanghai Tower, completed late in 2013, is the tallest structure of any kind in China and the second tallest building in the world after Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.

Shanghai’s lowest score is in the affordability indicator, due to higher average tuition fees. However, with the background of buzzing marketplaces, ancient temples, cuisines from around the world, theaters and galleries, all interwoven with a rich and interesting history we’re sure you’ll agree that it’s worth it! 

Shanghai has strong scores in both the rankings and employer activity indicators (with its strongest score for the former) showing that the city’s prestigious universities are viewed favorably by graduate employers. It also comes in the top 20 for student view (rising by eight places this year) showing that students are certainly enjoying their time in Shanghai. One survey respondent commented, “It’s an international city, which is great because you get to meet people from all around the world and get to know the different cultures”, while another said that there was “lots of opportunities to experience new things.

Are you studying in Shanghai? Share your experience.

Internationally ranked universities in Shanghai

Fudan UniversityShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityTongji UniversityShanghai UniversityEast China University of Science and TechnologyEast China Normal UniversityShanghai International Studies University

 More about Shanghai

Number of universities ranked by QS

7

Highest-ranked institution

Fudan University (40th)

Population

34,000,000

Average international fees (at ranked unis)

US$9,200

Desirability rank

70th

Employer Activity rank

15th

Affordability rank

77th

Student View rank 

18th

 

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

This article was originally published in November 2015 . It was last updated in January 2020

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