Fudan University

Fudan University in Shanghai, China, was founded in 1905 and originally named the Fudan Public School. It was granted the status of a private university in 1917. Today, Fudan has a 30,000-strong student population with international students comprising around 15% of all undergraduates. The university offers 70 undergraduate degree programmes across the arts, humanities and sciences, and prides itself on having an international outlook. A number of its courses are taught in English and the institution boasts global connections and exchange programmes with almost 200 overseas universities. Study abroad schemes are encouraged at Fudan, with 40% of undergraduates electing to embark in international exchange. The university takes a liberal arts approach to education, with an ethos based on the belief that academic study is most effective when combined with individual development of character, an understanding of different cultures and a teaching of independent research methods. To meet these ends, Fudan adopts an innovative teaching approach combining ideology and culture in lectures and conferences – many of which are broadcast publicly on the internet. A strong emphasis is also placed on practical training, and the university has a number of initiatives in place to assist students with their own projects, including the university’s undergraduate academic research financial aid platform which assists 500 students each year with funding their own independent academic research. Fudan's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (FDUROP) also gives students the facilities to showcase their ideas. Outside the classroom, there are over 300 clubs and organisations for students to get involved in. With more than 2,000 club events taking place each month at Fudan, it is little wonder that students regularly refer to the ‘hundred club battle’ when planning their extra-curricular activities.