Campus | Teaching Language | Degree | Duration |
Putuo | English | MS / PhD | 3 yrs (MS) 4 yrs (PhD) |
I. Introduction to the Institute
The Software Engineering Institute at East China Normal University was founded in January 2002 (originally named the Software Institute). It is one of the first 35 Model Institutes of Software in China and was also designated as one of the first batch of Characteristic and Model Software Institutes by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Its first Dean was Professor Jifeng He, an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The Institute comprises the Department of Software Science and Technology, Department of Embedded Software and Intelligent Systems, Department of Secure and Trustworthy Theories and Technologies, and Department of Industrial Software, and boasts seven research bases at national, provincial or ministerial level and above.
Software Engineering, as one of the university’s key disciplines under the “Double First-Class” initiative, was ranked in Grade A (top 5 percent nationwide) in the Ministry of Education’s fourth round of discipline assessments in 2016. It ranked 2nd nationwide for three consecutive years in the ShanghaiRanking’s Best Chinese Subjects Rankings (2020–2022), and secured 1st place nationwide for another three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025.
In December 2023, East China Normal University signed a cooperation agreement with the Administration of the Lin-gang Special Area, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and Lingang City (Group) Co., Ltd. to jointly establish the Dishui Lake International Software Engineering Institute. The Institute was officially established in June 2024, and continues to build upon its established strengths at the home campus while expanding its presence in the Lin-gang Special Area, committed to becoming a globally leading institution.
II. Faculty
The Institute has built a first-class domestic academic and applied research team in software engineering with growing international influence. Joint efforts are made to advance industry-university-research collaborative talent cultivation.
National Leadership: 1 Innovative Research Group of the National Natural Science Foundation of China; 1 Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; 5 national leading-talent experts; 6 national high-level young-talent experts.
Regional Talent Programs: More than 20 recipients of provincial-municipal talent programs, including Shanghai Leading Talents and Shanghai Dawn Scholars.
Turing Award Laureate: Honorary Professor Joseph Sifakis, Turing Award Laureate, contributes to the Institute’s trusted software research agenda.
International Academy Members: Professor Moshe Y. Vardi, Member of the US National Academy of Sciences, the European Academy of Sciences and the US National Academy of Engineering.
III. Training Features
Centered on the knowledge framework of “Trusted Software + X” and driven by artificial intelligence as the core engine, this program establishes a full-curriculum competence thread focusing on the security and trustworthiness of intelligent systems. Empowered by project-based practical training and a global cooperation network, it deeply integrates cutting-edge industrial demands with international education concepts, striving to foster AI-powered software thinking and research literacy.
Industry-Education Integration: Focusing on autonomous, controllable and safety-critical software for intelligent systems, the Institute deeply integrates AI and trusted software technologies, supported by national platforms including the National Engineering Research Center for Trusted Embedded Software and the International Joint Research Center for Trusted Software.
Collaborative Training System: Builds an industry-university-research collaborative training system of “Trusted Software + AI-Empowered Industries,” targeting aerospace, rail transit, automotive electronics and robotics.
Project-Based Learning: Driven by key research on core software for intelligent systems and LLM techniques, the program broadens students’ exposure to cutting-edge knowledge and systematically enhances capabilities in intelligent algorithms, system architecture, and cross-domain problem-solving.
International Cooperation: Upholds a distinctive approach to international development centred on collaborative innovation, with international joint cooperation bases, comprehensive recruitment of international teams, and in-depth collaboration on cutting-edge research projects.
Global Competitiveness: Cultivates top-tier innovative international students with global competitiveness and industrial leadership.
IV. Training Objectives
Our Mission
To cultivate high-calibre professionals in intelligent software and systems who possess a global perspective, a solid theoretical foundation and innovative practical capabilities — particularly those capable of addressing challenges relating to security and controllability.
V. Main Research Directions
Software Science and Technology: Foundational theories, formal methods and programming paradigms underpinning reliable software systems.
Secure and Trustworthy Theories and Technologies: Trustworthy computing, software verification, security analysis and privacy-preserving technologies.
Industrial Software: Intelligent development methods, large-model-driven software systems and blockchain technology for industrial applications.
Embedded Software and Intelligent Systems: Safety-critical embedded systems, intelligent robotics and real-time software for aerospace and rail transit.
VI. Core Courses
Intelligent Development Methods for Industrial Software
Large-Models and Intelligent Software Systems
Blockchain Technology and Commercial Applications
Formal Engineering Methods for Software Quality Assurance
Analysis and Verification of Intelligent Systems
Frontiers in Software Analysis and Verification
VII. Program Overview
Item | Details |
Master’s Programme Duration | 3 years (a flexible study system is in place; students who meet the programme requirements may apply to graduate early) |
PhD Programme Duration | 4 years |
Instruction Language | English |
Teaching Methods | Classroom teaching, cutting-edge lectures and seminars, project-based learning, etc. |
Programme Components | Chinese language and specialist coursework, academic and technical exchanges, research training, professional practice, dissertation or practical achievements for degree application, etc. |
Training Location | Putuo Campus (free or low-cost accommodation is available on site near the Lingang campus in Pudong) |
Degree Awarded | Degree in Software Engineering. Participants in the joint-training programme with Université Côte d’Azur may obtain dual degrees, including a degree in Computer Science awarded by Université Côte d’Azur. |
Application Requirements — Master’s | Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher with academic transcripts. Priority will be given to those with degrees in Software Engineering, Computer Science or related disciplines. |
Application Requirements — PhD | Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or higher with academic transcripts; IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT minimum score of 90, or equivalent. |
Intake | September each year |
Application Deadline | 1 June (application deadlines for various scholarships are subject to the notices issued by the International Education Management) |
Registration Fee | RMB 800 |
Tuition Fees | RMB 35,000 per annum |
Further information: Chinese language skills are not required for enrolment. Please note that the HSK Level 3 certificate is a prerequisite for obtaining a Chinese Master’s degree.
VIII. Contact Us
Institute Resources
Official Website: www.sei.ecnu.edu.cn
Application Website: https://lxsapply.ecnu.edu.cn/c.asp?action=student_sign
WeChat: Official Account of the Software Engineering Institute
Recruitment
Wenqing Zhang
Email: wqzhang@sei.ecnu.edu.cn
Tel: +86-21-61911350
