The university began as a business program at the Nanjing Advanced Normal School in 1917. The program was relocated to Shanghai and became the Shanghai University of Commerce in 1921. Over the years the university had evolved. By 1928, It was renamed as the School of Commerce of the Central University. In 1932, it was split from the Central University and became the National Shanghai College of Commerce. In 1950, the institution became the Shanghai College of Finance and Economics. The institution adopted its present name the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics in 1985. Chen Yun, who was then a top leader of the CPC Politburo Standing Committee, wrote the inscription of the school's name. Since then, SUFE has developed into a multidimensional university which focuses on applied economics and management, with economic theories as its basis. Its subjects include science, social sciences, laws, philosophy and humanities. Its aim is to train students to graduate with practical knowledge, versatile talents and a broad view. In 1997, Chinese President and General Secretary of the Communist PartyJiang Zemin wrote an inscription for the university: Facing the new century, let us build the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics into a top-level socialist university.
Present
At present, the university comprises 12 academic schools, one graduate school and more than 20 finance and economics research centers. It also encompasses the School of Continuing Education, the School of Online Learning, the School of International Education, and a vocational school. China's rapid economic expansion has tremendously impacted SUFE, which is now bustling with such activities. In 1981, SUFE became the first finance and economics university to receive accreditation for granting doctoral degrees. In addition, it was among the first nine schools to be selected as an "M.B.A. Experimental Education Base" and one of the first schools to set up a post-doctoral program in economics. In 1996, SUFE joined the Project 211, a program to build 100 key universities, after a fierce competition. In 2002, SUFE became the first mainland university to offer a master's program in Hong Kong. All of its programs continue to exceed world standards and are imbued with modernity, internationalism and cutting-edge information.
SUFE has four campuses. The main campus on Guoding Road in Yangpu District is the undergraduate education hub. The North Zhongshan No.1 Road Campus is home to M.B.A. programs, international students and many talented professionals. The Wuchuan Road Campus, which is adjacent to the Guoding Road Campus, has been a new education base for both undergraduate and graduate students. Finally, the Wudong Road Campus, which is half-complete and half under construction, will become a new asset to SUFE in the near future.
The university had been consistently ranked No. 1 in the “finance and economics” category in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008 by the Chinese university ranking. Since 2005, the university has achieved substantial improvements in terms of research and started to gain international reputation. According to Tilburg University’s Economics Schools Research Ranking in 2012, SUFE is ranked 120th in the world, 9th in Asia and 3rd in mainland China, only after Tsinghua University and Peking University. In 2014 and 2015 the university is ranked 151-200th in economics/business category in the world by ARWU. According to Quacquarelli Symonds, SUFE ranks 110th amongst BRICS universities, 182nd amongst universities in Asia, amongst the top 150 Accounting & Finance universities in the world, amongst the top 150 Economics & Econometrics universities in the world, and amongst the top 450 Social Sciences and Management universities in the world. According to the Academic Ranking of World Universities, SUFE is ranked amongst the top 75 universities in the world for statistics, amongst the top 100 universities in the world for finance, amongst the top 150 universities in the world for economics, and amongst the top 300 universities in the world for management.