To further advance the reform of graduate English teaching and improve its quality, and in light of the actual circumstances of graduate English instruction at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the University will continue to implement its policy on exemption from graduate English courses. All graduate students in the 2026 cohort who meet the eligibility requirements may apply.
Please note that applications for exemption from graduate English courses for the 2026 cohort may only be submitted during the designated period in the Fall Semester of 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.
I. Exemption Policy
Graduate English courses adopt a full exemption policy covering both course attendance and examinations. Once an exemption application is approved, students do not need to select a class or participate in regular course instruction or examinations. A grade of “A-” will be recorded directly, and the corresponding credits will be awarded.
II. Eligibility Requirements
Students who meet any one of the following requirements may apply:
A total score of 520 or above on the College English Test Band 6 (CET-6);
A passing grade or above on the Test for English Majors Band 8 (TEM-8);
An overall score of 7.0 or above on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS);
A total score of 95 or above on the 120-point Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or a total score of 5 or above on the 6-point TOEFL;
A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 320 or above;
International graduate students whose native language is English. Eligibility will be assessed based on the nationality stated in the student’s passport, with reference to the list of English-speaking countries recognized by Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s international graduate programs.
There is no validity-period restriction for the above test scores or qualifications.
III. Application and Review Procedures
Eligible graduate students in the 2026 cohort must first complete enrollment registration and formulate their Individual Study Plan. They may then submit an exemption application between 9:00 a.m. on September 14 and 5:00 p.m. on September 21 through the following section of My SJTU (http://my.sjtu.edu.cn/):Graduate Students → Application for Graduate English Exemption. Applicants must prepare the relevant supporting documents in advance. The entire review process will be conducted online, and late applications will not be accepted. Applicants should check the status of their applications in a timely manner. An exemption will only be considered granted after approval by the University.
Students who do not meet the exemption requirements should select an appropriate class and complete the course in accordance with the requirements of their school’s or department’s program curriculum, with reference to the Notice on Graduate Course Registration for the Fall Semester of the 2026–2027 Academic Year at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (https://www.gs.sjtu.edu.cn/post/detail/Z3MzNzAx) and its attachment, Graduate Common Course Schedule and Course Registration Instructions for the Fall Semester of the 2026–2027 Academic Year.
IV. Supplementary Information
International graduate students who do not meet the above exemption requirements but wish to apply for exemption from course attendance or examinations must first register for the course in the Spring Semester of 2027 and then submit an application to the instructor of their assigned class. A review panel composed of instructors teaching international-student classes will assess each student’s eligibility for exemption from course attendance or examinations based on the student’s specific circumstances. Students should follow the relevant notices issued by their instructors.
The Graduate School and the School of Foreign Languages are responsible for the interpretation of this notice.
Graduate School,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
September 10, 2026
