Address: 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Putuo District, 200062 Shanghai, Shanghai, China
Software Engineering, Geography & Environmental Science, Data Science & AI
East China Normal University was founded in Shanghai in October 1951 and is today a public university with two main campuses in the city, one in Putuo district on North Zhongshan Road and the other in Minhang district. Its stated ambition is to lead in the development of teacher education in China.
The word Normal in the name is the traditional Chinese term for teacher-training institutions, and the university is often described as the first national teacher-training university of the People’s Republic. Over the decades its teaching has grown beyond education into other fields.
ECNU was selected as a Category A university in China’s Double First-Class University Program in 2017. In the 2026 ShanghaiRanking Academic Ranking of World Universities it appears in the 201-300 band. Programme details, admissions and research information are published on the university’s official English site.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Fluid Dynamics, Geotechnics, Life Sciences, Marine Science, Materials, Mathematics, Microbiology and Genetics, Optics, Physics, Process Control, Software Engineering, Statistics, Telecommunications
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Key normal university. Strong collaborations in educational technology and environmental research.
Research:
Software Engineering & Educational Technology, Estuarine & Coastal Research, AI & Big Data Analytics, Environmental Science & Sustainable Development.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
2500
Current students***:
33000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Leading normal university, strong in software engineering and environmental/geographical sciences, located in Shanghai.
Cons
Primarily known for education and humanities, engineering is more focused on software.
Best For
Leading normal university with strong programs in software engineering, geography, and environmental science.
Beijing Normal University, a public university in Beijing, matches ECNU's teacher-education heritage and adds geography and remote sensing and environmental science.
Shaanxi Normal University is another public normal university, so its teacher-training roots resemble ECNU's.
Nanjing Normal University is a public university in the Yangtze delta with the same normal-school tradition, and is a natural comparison for students interested in education.
South China Normal University offers a public teacher-education pathway in southern China, as ECNU does in the east.
Shanghai University, a public university in the same city, teaches materials, mechanical engineering and computer science.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Nanyang Technological University in Singapore is a public institution that combines engineering, computing and data science with an education school.
Linköping University, a public Swedish university, offers engineering and computer science next to teacher education.
Masaryk University in the Czech Republic is a public comprehensive university in Brno where science, education, law and the arts sit together.
Universität Hamburg, public and based in Hamburg, is known for climate and earth system science alongside physics and information science.
University of Turku in Finland is a public university covering humanities, education, medicine and science.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When and where was East China Normal University founded?
It was founded in Shanghai in October 1951, and the university has remained in the city since. Its main campuses are in the Putuo and Minhang districts.
Why is the word Normal part of the name?
In Chinese higher education a normal university is one that trains teachers. ECNU says it aims to lead in developing teacher education in China, though it also teaches many non-education fields.
How many campuses does ECNU have, and where?
There are two main campuses in Shanghai, in Putuo district (North Zhongshan Road) and Minhang district. Check the university's map pages for the campus that hosts a particular school.
Does the university take part in national excellence programmes?
ECNU was chosen as a Category A university in the Double First-Class University Program in 2017, a national scheme that supports selected Chinese universities.
How is ECNU ranked worldwide?
ShanghaiRanking's 2026 ARWU lists it in the 201-300 band. Rankings are revised annually, so consult the current edition when comparing institutions.
Where can a prospective student find tuition fees?
Fees differ by programme and nationality, and are listed by the university's international education office on its official English site. Contact that office for current figures and application deadlines.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ecology, Environmental Engineering, Innovation, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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