The Teaching Of Chinese As A Foreign Language At Shanghai Tongji University

Ⅰ. Introduction of Shanghai Tongji University

Shanghai Tongji University is abbreviated as “Tongji”. It is a national key university directly under the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, jointly established by the Ministry of Education, the State Oceanic Administration, and the Shanghai government. It is the institution of higher learning at the vice-ministerial level directly under the central government, and one of the key construction universities in “Project 211” and “Project 985”; Shanghai Tongji University was selected into the host institutions of Chinese Government Scholarship for international students in China, the National College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Programs, the National Innovative Talent Training Demonstration Bases, New Engineering Research and Practical Projects, National Demonstration Universities for Deepening Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Reform, Sino-US “10+10” Plan, etc. 

As of May 2021, Shanghai Tongji University, one of the universities in Shanghai, has 29 professional colleges and 9 affiliated hospitals. The 4 campuses cover an area of 3960 mu (or 2.64 million square meters), with a total construction area of more than 1.83 million square meters. There are 18,510 full-time undergraduates, 11038 postgraduates, and 6,514 doctoral students. There are also 2225 international students.

Ⅱ. What are the eligibility requirements for the Shanghai government scholarship?

1. Applicants for the Shanghai government scholarship must be foreign citizens and in good health.

2. Undergraduate applicants who apply for the Shanghai government scholarship must graduate from high school and are generally under the age of 25; applicants for a master’s degree must have obtained a bachelor’s degree, generally under the age of 35; applicants for doctoral degree must have obtained a master’s degree, generally not more than 40 years old.

3. To apply for the Shanghai government scholarship, students must have good academic performance and good attendance situation.

4. The applicant hasn’t received any other scholarships that year.

Ⅲ. The teaching of Chinese as a foreign language at Shanghai Tongji University

The history of teaching Chinese as a foreign language at Shanghai Tongji University began in the 1970s. After the school resumed enrollment of international students, it specially arranged for Chinese teachers to offer professional Chinese courses to international students entering professional studies. Since 1987, a short-term Chinese language training class has been opened to recruit short-term Chinese language students. Since 1993, Shanghai Tongji University has begun to undertake the task of Chinese language training for international students before entering majors. Since 2002, the college has recruited undergraduate students majoring in Chinese language. The first session of undergraduate graduated successfully in July 2006. In the practice of teaching Chinese as a foreign language for more than 30 years, Shanghai Tongji University relies on the advantages of urban construction, architectural history, tourism culture, economic management, and other disciplines to take the road of integrating Chinese teaching as a foreign language and majors, which is welcomed by international students.