Shanghai Normal University was founded in 1954 as the Shanghai Teachers Training College, and in 1956 it split into two teachers colleges. Then in 1958, the two were merged again to create Shanghai Teachers College, what is known today as Shanghai Normal University.
There are 17 colleges in total at Shanghai Normal University: humanities and communications; education; philosophy and political sciences; Marxism; foreign languages; business; music; fine arts; film and television art; Chinese studies; tourism; mathematics and science; life and environment science; information, mechanical and electronic engineering; civil engineering; physical education; and lastly, further education.
Across these 17 faculties, the university offers 82 undergraduate and 128 postgraduate programmes to students.
The university also has partnerships with over 220 universities and higher education institutions across the world, including Harvard University in the US, the French National Academy of Sciences, and Cardiff University in the UK. Shanghai Normal University students can choose to participate in overseas exchange programmes on a short-term basis, and can visit and learn in countries across the world in a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Students can join several student societies, including drama society, karate, Francophile society and the boardgame aficionado society. The university campus is equipped with many sporting facilities, including a sports arena, badminton hall, snooker table, basketball court, gym, and outdoor courts.
