East China University of Political Science and Law
Please find useful information below about East China University of Political Science and Law as an exchange destination.
Learn more about the location, the campus, courses and student life!
About
East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL) is a public, research-intensive university founded in Shanghai, China in 1952 and was built on the former location of St. John's University campus, an Anglican institution.
ECUPL graduates have an employment rate of 95%. ECUPL is one of the few universities specialisting in legal education in China, where graduates have high prestige and influence. ECUPL alumni are found in almost every legal profession and institution in China, particularly in law, government and education. ECUPL also has a large volume of library book collections. Its schools include Law, Economic Law, International Law, International School of Law and Finance, Law and Criminal Justice, Intellectual Property, Lawyer’s Institute, Political Science and Public Administration, Foreign Studies, Communication, Business, Social Development, Graduate, and International Cultural Exchange.
ECUPL is known as the "oriental pearl in law education" and focuses on discipline development, talent cultivation and international cooperation. Its international reputation is evidenced by its partnerships with over 170 universities in 45 countries, six global organisation partnerships (e.g. Asian Law Institute, World Intellectual Property Organisation [WIPO]), and 63 programmes for international students.
With Queen Mary and other international universities, ECUPL has established a China-UK Research Centre on Commercial Law, Institution of Global Finance Governance and Rule of Law, Centre for Advanced Studies in Chinese-European Legal Governance, and the Sino-American Research Centre on Aging Population.
Learn more about the university on ECUPL's Why ECUPL page.
Location
ECUPL is located in Shanghai, China’s largest city and a global financial hub on the east central coast. Shanghai is a lively, global city that blends rich traditional Chinese culture with modern urban life. Ranked as the world's third largest city by population with 25 million residents, Shanghai is located south of the Yangtze River (the largest river in China). Its location makes it an ideal hub for travelling by air with flyable distances to South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.
With both traditional pavilions and skyscrapers, Shanghai boasts futuristic, high tech, advanced, cultured, and distinctive architecture and public spaces that combine the old with the new. Whether exploring local markets, experiencing the nightlife, or dining at one of Shanghai’s many restaurants, there is always something to do or discover in Shanghai, making it an exciting place to study and live. Shanghai is a melting pot of different cultures, and its attractions include the famous Jade Buddha Temple, Yu Garden, Oriental peal TV Tower, as well as museums, gardens, sculptures and ancient temples. The city provides a range of cultural attractions, from the historic Bund to the futuristic Lujiazui skyline. Students can enjoy green spaces, cultural landmarks, and a vibrant arts scene.
Visit Study in Shanghai and Living in Shanghai (local government information page) to learn more.
Within Shanghai, ECUPL has two vibrant campuses that combine ancient Chinese with modern western architectural styles:
- Songijang University Town, the larger campus where undergraduates live and study, offering a classical elegance and modernity)
- Changning District, where Masters and PhD students study, blending east and west
Consult ECUPL's general information page for exchange students for maps of the Shanghai metro, the university and its campuses.
Level of competitiveness
This exchange is only open to students in the School of Law.
- School of Law: Less competitive *
The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.
Language of Instruction
The majority of courses are taught in Mandarin, but Law students should be to take a full course load taught and examined in English. Students with Chinese skills who wish to take any modules in Chinese should have HSK Level 5.
Even for participants who intend to follow a full courseload in English, they are recommended to have basic Mandarin skills before arrival, and language learning at Queen Mary's Confucius Institute is highly recommended (but not required) during the first two developmental years at Queen Mary prior to exchange.
ECUPL also offers Chinese language courses for exchange students.
Academic Calendar
The academic calendar at ECUPL follows a semester system:
- Orientation (mandatory): Early September
- First semester: September to January (winter examination period: early January)
- Second semester: February to June (summer examination period: mid-June)
Courses
Courses in English available to Law students include Legal Chinese, International Trade Law, International Investment Law, Civil Litigation and Commercial Arbitration, Chinese Society and Economy, Criminal Procedure Law of China, Chinese Judicial System, WTO Legal System, and Chinese Contract Law. Additional courses are available for exchange students in other subject areas (Business, Public Administration); Queen Mary Law students who are interested in these courses will need to wait until Queen Mary nominates them to ECUPL, and then they must ask ECUPL directly to know whether they have the permission to follow courses in these areas (with the agreement of the Queen Mary GO Abroad coordinator in the School of Law).
Course listings can be found here (subject to adjustments).
Credits
Students must enrol on a full courseload equivalent to 60 Queen Mary credits for the semester/120 for a full academic year. For more information on what this equates to at ECUPL, please contact goabroad@qmul.ac.uk.
ECUPL releases transcripts at the end of each semester (in Feb/Mar for the first semester, and July-Sep for the second semester). These should be collected in person by the students themselves or can be sent via courier if summer release is after a student's departure.
Find out more about Queen Mary’s credit transfer and grade conversion process.
Queen Mary student feedback
Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:
- Holly in China: Studying in China
- Holly in China: Shanghai, Away from the Classroom
- Daniel in China: Three Days of Fishing, Two Days of Drying the Nets (different host university, same city)
- Charlotte in China: My Experience in Chengdu (different host university and city, same country)
- All blogs posts about Queen Mary students in China
Accommodation
Exchange students are eligible to apply for on-campus/university-managed accommodation in guesthouse twin rooms (hotel-style student dormitories, where a room is shared between two students). There is limited availability in on-campus/university-managed accommodation, where rooms are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Exchange students are encouraged to apply as early as possible once the application opens, well before the August deadline for students beginning their year abroad there in September.
Due to the limited availability, students should also research off-campus/private accommodation in case they do not get allocated a room on campus; nominated students should contact ECUPL directly for assistance about obtaining off-campus private accommodation. Guidance about searching for private accommodation safely is also available for students who accept their exchange offers on the QMplus resource page, “Pre-departure” tab from early spring.
Cost of living
ECUPL offers some basic estimated living costs for students studying at ECUPL and living in Shanghai. You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in Shanghai compared to London. Additional cost-saving tips and deals can be shared by Queen Mary students who have previously studied there.
Bear in mind that living expenses can vary depending on individual lifestyle. Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page. Costs that must be considered include (but are not limited to) living costs (e.g. food, accommodation), visas, airfare, local transportation, communication (mobile phone), living and teach materials, and medical insurance.
As with most destination countries, students are required to purchase health insurance prior to arrival in Shanghai, as this is a requirement set by China's Ministry of Education; students cannot register at ECUPL without proof of this. Consult ECUPL's general information page for further information on the cost of this and visa costs. For meals in the university and halal cafeterias on campus, students use the campus card that ECUPL provides.
Support services
Exchange students who need to visit the hospital during their period of study at ECUPL may go to Huashan hospital (affiliated to Fudan University), as they have doctors on staff who speak some English, and students visiting any clinic/hospital should bring their passport. Reimbursement of expenses incurred should be possible later via the insurance company (keep all receipts). There should also be a clinic on campus near the halal canteen/cafeteria on campus.
Students may also find the Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center useful.
Essential Apps for Students in China: WeChat, Alipay and Wecom
WeChat and Alipay are essential tools for students in China, playing a vital role in their daily lives. Both platforms are the only apps used for cashless payments, making it convenient for students to pay for everything from meals and transportation to school supplies, often with just a scan of a QR code. Additionally, WeChat as well as Wecom (formerly known as WeChat Work) serve as a hub for social networking, academic group discussions, and staying connected with classmates and teachers. Alipay also offers financial services like budgeting tools, helping students manage their expenses.
Together, these apps simplify life, including for incoming exchange students in China, fostering greater efficiency and connectivity.