Tourists take photos at the Bund area of Shanghai. [Photo by Wang Gang/For China Daily]

A cosmopolitan city that is internationally renowned, Shanghai has been one of the most popular study destinations for overseas students for many reasons.

Shanghai, China's largest city, boasts abundant high-quality education resources that, when combined with an open and inclusive environment, makes it a center of international cultural exchange.

World-class education resources

Shanghai is one of the top 10 cities with the most colleges and universities in China. Some of the city's higher education institutions, such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Fudan University, are ranked high in the global university rankings.

In a 2020 evaluation by the Ministry of Education, Shanghai was ranked among the top 10 Chinese cities in terms of having strong education. It was also among the top five in the Nature Index global science city 2020 rankings.

The city's education system is widely recognized in the world and has attracted many overseas educational administrations to come study its ways. More and more of Shanghai's primary and secondary schools are now open to foreign students.

An international cultural metropolis

In the eyes of foreigners, Shanghai is an international cultural metropolis with a large number of cultural facilities and events, and is a modern city with a profound history.

The city is a large melting pot where Western cultures meet traditional Chinese culture. Shanghai is the home of Haipai culture, the Shanghai-style culture that has a significant effect on modern Chinese society.

Studying in Shanghai gives you a chance to experience its uniqueness, culture, and history. You can find Western architecture along Nanjing Road, the Guangming Grand Theater and Paramount Dance Hall. There are also many museums and art galleries with Chinese and international exhibitions, many of which are free to enter or have discounts for students.

Open the door to your dreams

The academic courses in Shanghai are exceptionally diverse and can increase your career prospects while allowing you to better understand China and the world. Studying in Shanghai not only gives you a better understanding of China, but an international perspective as well.

Socializing with students from China and around the world and learning about other cultures will help you gain valuable experience. In addition, with its rapid growth and openness, the city is always in need of young talents with a global perspective and a good knowledge of China.

The local government has been striving to create favorable entrepreneurship, employment and living environments to attract and retain international talents.

Perfect your Chinese

Shanghai is the best place to study Chinese as it offers courses for all ages and levels. Its universities have developed all kinds of Chinese language programs imaginable to meet the growing needs of foreign students.

Here, Chinese language teaching is about having fun and classes often involve games and group discussions. You would get to sing, learn from TV programs, or read a newspaper to broaden your language skills.

You can also get involved in societies on campus and mingle with other students to improve your conversational skills. Whether you're learning Chinese for your career, to expand your knowledge base, or simply for fun, picking a program that suits your needs is simple in Shanghai.

Scholarships

A number of government scholarships for both undergraduate and post-graduate education are available in Shanghai. International students can also apply for financial assistance.

Fudan University is a prestigious university in Shanghai. [Photo/IC]

Nanijng Road is one of the busiest commercial streets in Shanghai. [Photo/IC]