Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) runs a set of international scholarships for students coming to Shanghai for a Master's or a PhD. If you are a Pakistani graduate thinking about China and you want a big research university rather than a smaller provincial one, SJTU belongs on your shortlist. Just go in knowing that most of the detail you would normally want (exact coverage, eligibility rules, the document list, the deadline) is published per cycle by the university and is not fixed in advance. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing, and this guide explains how to approach it sensibly.
This is a university scholarship, not a single named award with one set of rules. Funding is described as full or partial, which tells you straight away that not every winner gets the same package. Some applicants will have everything paid. Others will get part of their costs covered and need to fund the rest themselves. Plan for both outcomes from day one.
The basics in one table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Provider | Shanghai Jiao Tong University |
| Funding | Full or partial |
| Study level | Master's and PhD |
| Country | China (Shanghai) |
| Opening date | Varies, confirm on the official site |
| Deadline | Varies, confirm on the official site |
| Official site | SJTU graduate scholarships page |
Why SJTU's rankings matter for a Pakistani applicant
SJTU was founded in 1896 and sits in the middle of Shanghai, one of the main hubs for international students in China. Its main address is 800 Dongchuan RD, Minhang District, Shanghai. It is ranked 47 in the World University Rankings 2026 and 40 in the Global Employability University Ranking 2026. It has 21 disciplines in the global top 1% (2025 figures) and more than 200 international partnerships across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Why should that matter to you? Two practical reasons. First, a degree from a university with an employability ranking like that is easier to explain to employers back in Pakistan, in the Gulf, or elsewhere, who may not know Chinese universities well. Second, a partnership network of that size usually means more chances for exchanges, joint research and contacts after graduation. Rankings are not everything, and you should still check that your specific department is strong, but they do make SJTU a safer bet than a lesser-known school offering a similar package.
The flip side is competition. A highly ranked graduate school in Shanghai attracts strong applicants from all over the world. Treat this as a reach option alongside other China scholarships, not your only plan. Browse all China scholarships to build that wider list.
Full or partial: what the funding label means in practice
The scholarship coverage is listed as varying, so confirm it on the official site. We will not guess at stipend amounts or which fees are included, because that is exactly the kind of figure that changes between cycles and between scholarship types.
What you can do is read the funding label honestly. "Full / Partial" means there is more than one tier. Before you apply, ask yourself whether you could actually take up a partial award. If a partial scholarship would still leave you unable to pay for the rest of your costs, you need to know that before you invest months in the application. When the official page lists the tiers for the current year, write down what each one includes and work out the gap for each scenario.
If you might end up self-funding part of your stay, start organising your finances early. A student visa officer will want to see that you can support yourself, and our guide to bank statements and proof of funds explains how Pakistani families usually prepare this.
Eligibility: check it for your nationality and your programme
SJTU describes these scholarships as being for international students at graduate level, meaning Master's and PhD programmes. Beyond that, the eligibility rules are listed as varying, so confirm them on the official site. The source does not list a field restriction, an age limit, a minimum grade or a language score, and we will not invent one.
Because the rules are set per scholarship and per cycle, check eligibility for your nationality directly on the official portal before you start. Look for anything about your previous degree, your academic record, the language of instruction you can study in, and whether you need to apply to a specific degree programme at the same time. If anything is unclear, the university's own advice is to contact the admissions office for details on your track.
A practical point: graduate scholarships at research universities are usually tied to admission into a specific programme. That means the programme's requirements matter as much as the scholarship's. Read both.
Paperwork to prepare before the list is published
The required document list also varies, so confirm it on the official site. Even so, waiting for the final list before you do anything is a mistake many Pakistani applicants make. Attestation and translation take time in Pakistan, and some offices are slow.
Sensible early steps, which you can do without knowing the exact list:
- Get clean, recent copies of your degrees and transcripts ready, and find out what attestation your institution and the Chinese side may expect. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains the process.
- Make sure your passport is valid well beyond your intended study period.
- Start drafting a study plan or research proposal for your chosen programme, especially for a PhD, since you will almost certainly need to explain what you want to study and why.
- Line up referees early so they are not rushed at the last minute.
Once the official list for your cycle is live, compare it against what you have and fill the gaps. Do not submit anything the portal does not ask for just because another university wanted it.
How the application works
The process, as SJTU sets it out, has three stages:
- Visit the official Shanghai Jiao Tong University prospective international students page and the graduate studies scholarship page.
- Review the specific degree programme requirements and the scholarship requirements for the track you want.
- Submit your application through the designated SJTU online application portal.
That looks short, but step two is where most of the work happens. Each programme can have its own requirements, and the scholarship you apply for may have its own on top. Read them side by side and keep notes. If two things seem to conflict, email the admissions office rather than guessing.
Getting the timing right when no fixed deadline is published
Both the opening date and the deadline are listed as varying, so confirm the current cycle and deadline on the official portal. The SJTU graduate studies scholarship portal is where specific deadlines are posted.
Our advice is to check the official page regularly in the months before you plan to apply, and to have your documents ready before the window opens. Graduate scholarship windows at Chinese universities can be short, and an applicant who starts collecting papers after the portal opens is usually the one who misses it. Set yourself a personal deadline a few weeks ahead of whatever date the university announces.
Where applicants usually go wrong
Most problems with this kind of university scholarship are avoidable.
- Relying on old information. Coverage, eligibility and dates vary, so anything from a previous year, a forum post or an agent's flyer may be out of date. Use the official site for every detail.
- Applying without checking the programme. Review the programme requirements before applying through the online system, as SJTU itself advises. A good scholarship application into a programme you are not eligible for goes nowhere.
- Assuming the award will be full. Funding is full or partial. Have a plan for the partial case.
- Staying silent when confused. The university suggests contacting the admissions office for track-specific details. A short, polite, specific email is far better than a guess.
- Leaving attestation to the end. In Pakistan this is often the slowest part of the whole process.
Who is this a good fit for? Strong Master's or PhD applicants who want a well-ranked research university in a major city and can present a clear academic plan. Who should think twice? Anyone who could not manage on a partial award, or anyone looking for an undergraduate scholarship, since these are for graduate study. Before you commit, it also helps to read our scholarships guide for Pakistani students to compare options.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Shanghai Jiao Tong University scholarship fully funded?
Funding is described as full or partial, so some awards cover more than others. The exact coverage varies, so confirm it on the official site for the current cycle.
Which degree levels can I apply for?
The scholarships support graduate study, meaning Master's and PhD programmes.
Can Pakistani students apply?
The scholarships are aimed at international students, but the eligibility rules vary. Check eligibility for your nationality on the official SJTU scholarship page before applying.
When is the deadline?
Both the opening date and the deadline vary. The official SJTU graduate studies scholarship portal posts the specific deadlines, so check it regularly.
Where exactly is the university?
SJTU is in Shanghai, at 800 Dongchuan RD, Minhang District.
Who should I contact with questions about a specific programme?
Contact the university admissions office for details about your specific track.
For current dates, coverage and eligibility, go to the official SJTU scholarship page, and keep our Shanghai Jiao Tong University scholarship page bookmarked for a quick summary.