Starting life as the Shipping Section of Shanghai Industrial College in 1909, the Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) was established by the Ministry of Communications in 1959.
SMU’s focus is on shipping technology, economics and management, however it is a multi-disciplinary university with faculties covering engineering, management, economics, law, liberal arts and science. It is one of China’s best universities for maritime, shipping and transport studies.
There are five campuses: the Lingang Campus, Minsheng Campus, Dongming Campus, Harbor School Campus and Haihua Campus. The Lingang Campus, inaugurated in 2008, is the main site and covers over 1.3km² .
There is a library, gymnasium, swimming pool and an aquatic training centre. This comprises the Yufeng Ship, a 10,000-tonne container ship, as well as the Yuming Ship, a 48,000-tonne Yangtze handymax bulk carrier. Both are used for degree and internship teaching.
It offers 45 bachelor’s degree programmes, 57 master’s degree programmes, 17 doctoral programmes and 12 associate degree programmes.
SMU has set up many links with overseas academies, institutions and industry companies for exchange and cooperation; which includes 50 institutions with regard to teacher communication, joint school organisation, scientific research and exchanges. The International Maritime Organisation, The Baltic and International Maritime Council and the Classification Society in Norway are in close contact with the Shanghai Maritime University.
The Port of Shanghai is the world’s busiest container port and a vital transport hub for the Yangtze River region. It is also Eastern China’s most important gateway for foreign trade.
