L O A D I N G

Research & Faculty

Overview

The mathematical disciplines of Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), and Tongji University form a powerhouse of fundamental research in Shanghai, spanning pure mathematics, applied mathematics, computational mathematics, probability and statistics, financial mathematics, and the mathematical foundations of artificial intelligence.

The Mathematical Sciences at Fudan University is recognized internationally as a major center for research, doctoral training, and academic exchange. The cultivation and research units include School of Mathematical Sciences and Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences. The School comprises five departments and one institute: the Department of Pure Mathematics, the Department of Applied Mathematics, the Department of Financial Mathematics and Control Science, the Department of Information and Computational Science, the Department of Probability, Statistics and Actuarial Science, and the Institute of Mathematics. Fudan was among the first universities in China authorized to award doctoral degrees in all five second-level disciplines of mathematics.

SJTU's mathematics discipline traces its origins to the Department of Mathematics established in 1928. In 1952, the Applied Mathematics program was initiated. In December 2015, the School of Mathematical Sciences was established, currently comprising the Department of Mathematics, the Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics, the Department of Statistics, and the Research Center for Mathematics Education. In 1935, the inaugural meeting of the Chinese Mathematical Society was held here, witnessing a historic moment of shared glory between SJTU and China's mathematical endeavors.

Tongji's School of Mathematical Sciences has a long and distinguished history, dating back to its establishment in 1945. It evolved from the Department of Applied Mathematics (restored in 1985) to the Department of Mathematics (2006), and finally to the School of Mathematical Sciences in 2016. It is recognized as one of the seven National Engineering Mathematics Course Teaching Bases in the country.

FacultyExplore More

The combined faculty across the three institutions exceeds 300 full-time members, including numerous academicians and recipients of national talent programs.

Fudan University currently has 77 full professors. Among them are: 5 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; 1 Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS); 1 Foreign Member of the French Academy of Sciences; 34 recipients of national-level senior talent awards; and 48 recipients of national-level junior talent awards.

SJTU currently has 124 full-time faculty members,  who have received over 150 provincial/ministerial-level honors and recognitions or above, including 13 recipients of national high-level talent programs, 33 recipients of national youth talent programs, 1 National Teaching Master, and 2 Shanghai Municipal Teaching Masters.

Tongji University currently has approximately 100 full-time teachers, among whom are over 35 professors with senior professional titles. Faculty members have diverse research interests spanning finite element methods, machine learning, numerical algebra, and computational finance.

  • 77

    Full professors

    5

    Members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

  • 124

    Full-time faculty members

    150+

    Recognized at the provincial/ministerial level or above

  • 100

    Full‑time teachers

    35+

    professors with senior professional titles

Scientific Research


Fudan University has identified four priority research thrusts for the coming years: algebraic geometry and topology; partial differential equations and dynamical systems; high-performance scientific computing and modern applied mathematics; and mathematical foundations of artificial intelligence. The mathematical sciences at Fudan consistently ranks among the world's elite programs. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, Fudan's mathematics discipline ranked 32nd globally – its highest position to date. Within China, Fudan earned the highest rating (A+) in the national discipline assessment, and across Asia, it also holds the top position. Fudan is one of only a handful of Chinese institutions whose mathematics discipline consistently appears in the global top 50 across multiple major ranking systems.

  • Algebraic geometry and topology
  • Partial differential equations and dynamical systems
  • High-performance scientific computing and modern applied mathematics
  • Mathematical foundations of artificial intelligence

SJTU hosts several national and provincial/ministerial research platforms, including the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Scientific and Engineering Computing and the Shanghai Frontier Research Center for Modern Analysis, providing strong support for undertaking major research tasks. Over the past decade, SJTU has led 180 national-level projects, including 6 National Key Research and Development Program projects and 5 Key Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The Mathematics discipline is ranked 13th globally by U.S. News, 19th by QS, and 55th by the Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, firmly placing it within the top 3% nationally. The Statistics discipline is ranked 22nd globally by QS in Statistics and Operational Research. The Mathematics discipline has been rated Class A in two consecutive rounds of the Ministry of Education's discipline evaluation, while the Statistics discipline achieved Class A status in the most recent evaluation.

  • Led 180 national-level projects over the past decade
  • including 6 National Key R&D Program projects
  • 5 Key Projects of the NSFC

Tongji University has built its Intelligent Computing discipline upon a clear and ambitious mission, fundamentally focused on "new mathematical theories, algorithms, and their integration for artificial intelligence." A significant milestone was the official approval of the "Key Laboratory of Intelligent Computing and Applications" by the Ministry of Education in March 2023. The three core scientific pillars are: Frontier Mathematics in Artificial Intelligence; Data-Driven Large-Scale Scientific Computing; and Applications of Intelligent Computing in Engineering.

In addition, Tongji hosts the Center for Frontier Interdisciplinary Research in Fundamental Sciences (FIRFS Center), which draws on mathematics as one of its eight foundational disciplines. Within the Center, the Division of AI for Science pursues research on the mathematical and physical foundations of intelligence and novel computational architectures, offering doctoral students additional opportunities to engage with cutting-edge interdisciplinary research at the intersection of mathematics and artificial intelligence.

  • Center for Frontier Interdisciplinary Research in Fundamental Sciences (FIRFS Center): Hosts the "AI for Science" Division

International Collaboration

  • Fudan University

    Fudan University has built a broad and inclusive international network. Each year, Fudan sends outstanding doctoral students to top universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, and beyond – for joint training, short-term visits, and participation in major conferences. Fudan also organizes the East Asia Doctoral Student Forum and a regular series of high-level colloquia. Fudan hosts intensive international summer schools on frontier topics such as algebraic geometry, algebraic topology, and inverse problems in mathematical physics, featuring lectures by leading international experts. These programs have welcomed hundreds of students from more than a dozen countries.

  • Shanghai Jiao Tong University

    SJTU actively engages in international collaboration, co-organizing the Standing Council of the Chinese Mathematical Society. It has hosted numerous academic lectures and visiting scholars from world-renowned universities such as Princeton, Oxford, and Cambridge. SJTU is collaborating with Oxford, Cambridge, and others to establish a Discipline Innovation and Talent Introduction Base, promoting interdisciplinary research in "Mathematics – Life Sciences – Artificial Intelligence." It has deepened cooperation with universities including Oxford, the National University of Singapore, and Sorbonne Université.

  • Tongji University

    Tongji University actively engages in international collaboration, with dual-degree agreements and regular academic exchanges with universities in Europe and the United States. Its research is published in top international journals, and faculty members serve on editorial boards of international journals.

Talent Cultivation

All three institutions offer comprehensive doctoral programs designed to cultivate independent researchers with deep mathematical insight and broad problem-solving skills. They emphasize a balance of rigorous foundational training and hands-on research experience.

Doctoral programs offered at each institution are as follows. Fudan University offers doctoral degrees in Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Financial Mathematics and Control Science, Information and Computational Science, and Probability, Statistics and Actuarial Science. Shanghai Jiao Tong University offers doctoral programs in Mathematics (covering Algebra, Partial Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics, and Financial Mathematics) and in Statistics. Tongji University provides doctoral degrees in Computational Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Probability and Mathematical Statistics, and Operations Research and Cybernetics.

  • Fudan University

    Fudan University offers Ph.D. programs across all major branches of mathematics. International undergraduates with strong academic records are especially welcome to apply directly to Fudan's doctoral program. Students benefit from personalized supervision, generous computational resources, and a stimulating intellectual environment. Fudan's Ph.D. program is designed to cultivate independent researchers with deep mathematical insight and broad problem-solving skills, emphasizing rigorous foundational training and hands-on research experience.

  • Shanghai Jiao Tong University

    SJTU enrolls academic graduate students in Mathematics and Statistics, covering areas such as Algebra, Partial Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics, and Financial Mathematics, aiming to cultivate high-level research talents with profound theoretical foundations and independent research capabilities.

  • Tongji University

    Tongji University has a first-level discipline doctoral program in Mathematics and offers master's and doctoral degrees in Computational Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Probability and Mathematical Statistics, and Operations Research and Cybernetics. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in both pure and applied mathematics, while also equipping them with specialized knowledge for intelligent computing.

Join Us

We invite outstanding international undergraduates to apply directly for doctoral studies in mathematics at any of these three premier institutions. Whether your interests lie in pure theory, applied mathematics, or the mathematical foundations of AI and data science, Fudan, SJTU, and Tongji offer supportive, challenging, and truly international environments. We are committed to openness, academic freedom, and excellence in all that we do.

Come to Shanghai – a vibrant, historic, and cosmopolitan city – and take the next step in your mathematical journey with us. We look forward to welcoming you.

For application details, deadlines, and scholarship opportunities, please visit the respective official websites or contact the graduate admissions offices of Fudan, SJTU, or Tongji. 
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