About IEC

Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) is a multi-disciplinary university that encompasses such areas as engineering, management, economics, law, liberal arts, and science, with special emphasis on shipping, logistics and ocean. The International Education College (IEC) is the designated administrative and teaching institute responsible for the enrollment and manangement of all international students in SMU. IEC consists of the Office of General Affairs, Intenational Student Office, the Center for Chinese Studies (CCS) and Maritime Technology Cooperation Center for Asia (MTCC-Asia).

IEC of SMU is committed to establishing and strengthening close and long-term coopertion with a large number of high-level universities and institutes aborad. We strives at expanding our international partnership so that to attract excellent international students to come to study at SMU. IEC offers undergraduate programs, master programs, PHD programs, Chinese language programs, pre-degree program, summer school program, international class program and professional training program. In 2019, 885 international students from 93 countries or regions across the world studies at SMU, including 241 degree students and 644 students of non-degree programs. 

Historical Development 

According to the joint arrangements of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Transport of China, in the early 1960s, Shanghai Maritime University began to receive foreign students. From 1962 to 1966, the University accepted and trained 31 Vietnamese undergraduate students who were enrolled in specializations of Maritime Management and Maritime Economics and Martime Transport Organization. In 1996, SMU regained qualification for recruiting privately financed international students and the qualification for teaching Chinese as a foreign language. In the year 2012, SMU was approved to accept the Chinese Government Scholarship students.