East China University of Science and Technology is a public research university located in Shanghai, China. Originally established with a focus on chemical technology, it has evolved into a comprehensive university that covers all academic disciplines and offers a large variety of majors. It is a Chinese Ministry of Education Double First-Class Discipline University, with Double First-Class status in certain disciplines. The school encompasses two campuses and a science park in the Xuhui, Fengxian, and Jinshan districts of Shanghai.

JMD at a Glance

• We're proud to be a world-leading higher education institution in China to launch the very pioneering “Joint Multi-Degree (JMD) Programme” which opens up global study hubs for future leaders, dedicated to the delivery of an exclusive university pathway for international students across the world. What makes this programme unique is down to three key components: faster, better, and stronger. We believe that this approach would give you an unrivaled study experience and the best chance of a successful career upon graduation

• FASTER: JMD is designed to offer a time- and cost-efficient programme that enables you to complete more degrees within a shorter duration. It takes only 4 years to get 3 degrees including two Bachelor Degrees:one from ECUST and one from a chosen JMD partner university, plus one optional Master Degree from any chosen university in the JMD-bridged country.

• BETTER: By building partnerships with prestigious partners in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australasia around the globe, JMD Programme also provides an exclusive solution for students not only to get more degrees, but also to obtain more invaluable opportunities to develop and share global perspectives.You can benefit from the internationally informed curricula as well as multicultural environments to live and learn in. This programme also facilitate the world-leading research that takes place at ECUST.

• STRONGER: JMD Programme is committed to building an elite education pathway to equip you with stronger knowledge, skills and attributes to be globally employable and to make a positive contribution to the world, by leveraging the merits of leading Eastern and Western institutions. You will be provided with the most cutting-edge knowledge, international outlook as well as practical experience in a real-life context, which would secure you a successful career upon graduation.

I. Academic Highlights

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This interdisciplinary dual-degree program brings together ECUST's internationally recognized strengths in Artificial Intelligence and Finance. Students learn from a distinguished faculty of AI and finance scholars, many of whom lead cutting-edge research in machine learning, financial data science, algorithmic systems, and smart decision-making. The School of Information Science and Technology and the School of Business jointly offer a research-rich environment, supported by state-of-the-art labs, including a National Engineering Laboratory for Big Data and dedicated Research Centers in Financial Data Science, Business Intelligence, and Smart Energy.

Designed for the intelligent economy, the programme equips students with dual literacy in AI technologies and financial markets. Graduates are prepared to tackle complex, real-world problems at their intersection, from automated trading and risk analytics to AI-driven investment platforms. Leveraging Shanghai's position as a global financial and tech hub, the programme emphasizes hands-on, industry-connected learning and a global outlook. All core instruction is delivered in English. This is not merely a fusion of two disciplines, but a launchpad for future leaders in AI finance, quantitative innovation, and fintech worldwide.

II.Educational Objectives

• This interdisciplinary programme aims to cultivate versatile graduates who bridge artificial intelligence and finance. Students will develop strong quantitative and analytical foundations, enabling them to design AI-driven financial solutions, analyze complex market behaviors, and innovate at the intersection of technology and finance.

Within five years of graduation, students are expected to:

1. Solve real-world problems at the AI-finance nexus, such as algorithmic trading, risk modeling, fraud detection, and smart investment systems, using state-of-the-art machine learning and financial engineering methods.
2. Work across disciplines collaboratively, leading or contributing to projects that require both computational thinking and financial logic, in multinational corporations, fintech firms, investment banks, or regulatory bodies.
3. Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders, bridging the gap between AI developers and financial decision-makers in a global context.
4. Act with ethical and professional responsibility, understanding the societal, legal, and economic implications of AI in financial markets, including fairness, transparency, and data privacy.
5. Adapt to rapid change through lifelong learning, staying current with advances in AI, blockchain, quantitative finance, and digital assets, and seizing leadership opportunities in an evolving industry landscape.

Graduates are well-prepared for global careers in quantitative analysis, fintech product development, AI-driven trading, financial data science, and technology management, or for pursuing advanced degrees in finance, AI, or related fields.

III. Eligibility Check:

• • 1.International students who hold foreign passports;
• • 2.Completed high school with a high school diploma or higher academic qualifications;
• • 3.No criminal records and in good physical and mental health;
• • 4.Aged 16 or above, for applicants who are under 18 need to provide a a letter of guarantee from a legally recognized adult guardian residing in China.

IV. Language Requirements:

• • 1.Proof of English - IELTS ≥6.0/ TOEFL ≥80 or other equivalent is needed for English-taught programmes.
• • 2. Applicants who have no language scores need to take additional language courses.
• • 3. Applicants who do not have language scores may submit their applications provisionally and must provide proof of English proficiency to receive the Final Admission Offer.

V. Academic Requirements:

Applicants are expected to meet at least one of the following academic standards:
1. High School Diploma: An average score of 70/100 or a GPA of 2.0/4.0;
2. A-level: A minimum grade of BBC;
3. IB Diploma: A total of 30 points, including scores of 5, 5, 4 in Higher Level (HL) subjects;
4. SAT: A total score of 1100 or above;
• Equivalencies from other recognized international qualification frameworks will also be considered.
• Note: Applicants with CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) scores will receive priority consideration, but it is no longer mandatory to provide it.

VI. Tuition Fees

• Tuition Fees for Year 1 and Year 2:

ECUST: CNY 70,000 / year

• Estimated International Tuition Fees (3rd Year)

• • University of Dundee: £ 21,900
• • University of Huddersfield: £ 21,900
• • University of Portsmouth: £ 16,200

Overview:

Founded in 1952, East China University of Science and Technology（ECUST） is located in Shanghai, an economic, financial, commercial as well as a shipping center of China.

• The first national key university featuring chemical engineering disciplines in P.R.C
• One of the state-run and full-time institutions of higher education
• One of the research-oriented national key universities directly regulated by the Ministry of Education of China
• One of the National "211 Project" key construction universities
• One of the National “985 Project” Advantage Discipline Innovation Platform for high-level universities
• One of the first 6 universities in China that have established the National Technology Transfer Center

ECUST devotes itself to develop international cooperation and has established long-term and extensive academic exchanges and joint training cooperation with more than 200 universities, colleges, enterprises, and research institutions from all over the world, including the United States, Germany, Britain, France, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Australia, etc.

Academics:

It has a strong tradition of working with industries. The university is now developing into a multi-disciplinary higher educational institution with a balanced curriculum of science, engineering, economics, management, law, humanities, and arts spread across 15 academic schools.

The university offers 13 first level and 81 second-level doctoral programs, 25 first level, and 147 second-level master programs and 65 undergraduate programs. The total number of full-time students has reached around 24,140, including 15,460 undergraduates, 7,110 postgraduates studying for master's degrees, and 1,570 Ph.D. candidates.

Since 2007 the university has operated an exchange programme with the Technical University of Applied Sciences Lübeck in Germany. ECUST also operates a joint programme with L'École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie in Rennes and a joint business school with the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu in Romania.