School of International Relations and Public Affairs
Fudan University, China
Fudan University, situated in Shanghai—China’s most vibrant and international metropolis—is a world-class comprehensive university. In the QS World University Rankings (2025), Fudan is ranked 39th globally, reflecting its academic excellence and international reputation. The School of International Relations and Public Affairs (SIRPA) stands as a leading institution in the fields of politics and public affairs. Its Politics discipline is ranked 20th worldwide in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2025), highlighting SIRPA’s global influence and academic distinction.
The English-taught Master's Program in BRICS Countries and the Global South (MPB+) is specifically designed to cultivate globally competent governance professionals with intercultural expertise, combining rigorous academic training with exceptional policy implementation capabilities. This program responds to the complex governance challenges and common concerns confronting the Global South during its transformative development, facilitates practical cooperation among emerging economies, and injects fresh vitality into the reform and advancement of global governance systems. Students who complete the requirements for the degree will be awarded Master of International Affairs (Full-time) with a specialization in BRICS and Global South.
Public courses (10 credits)
Chinese Society: Past and Present（3 credits）
Political Development in Modern China（3 credits）
Chinese Language（4 credits）
Required Courses (9 credits)
Global South Studies（3 credits）
BRICS and Global Governance: Theory and Policy（3 credits）
Research on BRICS and Global South Cooperation（3 credits）
International Politics and Theories（3 credits）
Elective Courses（7 credits）
International Political Economy（3 credits）
Global Public Policy（3 credits）
International Strategy and Security（3 credits）
Russian Politics and Foreign Relations（3 credits）
Global Environmental Governance（2 credits）
Global Governance（2 credits）
A Comparative Perspective on International Regions（2 credits）
Foreign Policy Analysis（2 credits）
Thesis Writing（2 credits）
（Note: Although not a required course, Thesis Writing is strongly recommended for MPB+ students.）
East Asian International Relations（2 credits）
Comparative East Asian Politics（2 credits）
Other courses (Other relevant courses that may be offered)
DEGREE AND REQUIREMENTS
1) The standard duration of the program is 2 years, students who exceed the required study period must complete the relevant university regulations for extension procedures.
2) Fulfill all curriculum requirements with passing grades.
3) Complete practical training as specified in the program.
4) To apply for the dissertation defense, students must have completed the required credits, with all courses passed and an average GPA of at least 2.5 for degree courses.
5) Complete the dissertation and pass the defense.
6) Meet all other graduation and degree requirements set by the university
The program admits both degree and non-degree students. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in International Politics or a related field, with foundational knowledge and theoretical understanding of international politics, international economics, or global development studies.
Application portal:
1. Log into the website (https://istudent.fudan.edu.cn/apply/#/user/login) to register and complete the application form online, upload the application documents and submit the application.
2. Pay application fee RMB 800 (Degree) online after preliminary review. Afterwards any application information cannot be modified.
Application documents:
For Degree students
(1) One original application form with the applicant’s signature and photo.
(2) One official copy of diploma from each previous college-level degree program or proof of impending graduation (for applicants in their final year of study).
(3) One official copy of transcript for each previous college-level degree program.
(4) Two letters of recommendation, at least one from a faculty member of your previous academic program (applicants who have submitted the electronic recommendation letters online should also submit originals of both two recommendation letters).
(5) Resume.
(6) Statement of purpose. Applicants must submit a statement of purpose written in English, no longer than 1,000 words, addressing the following: Preparation for pursuing the master’s program; Your future career plans; Reasons for choosing the MPB+ program at SIRPA; The statement must be written clearly in English and remain strictly within the word limit.
(7) Writing sample (approximately 2000 words). It can be your previous research (published or unpublished) or your future research plan, which is to show your ability of academic writing.
(8) Copy of valid passport identification page, and it should be an ordinary passport and be valid until Mar. 1st, 2027.
(9) Evidence of English language proficiency. Applicants whose native language is not English must meet one of the following English proficiency criteria:
TOEFL (IBT) | IELTS (Academic) | Duolingo English Test | PTE Academic |
≥90 | ≥6.5 | ≥110 | ≥61 |
Otherwise they should have received a bachelor's or postgraduate degree from an institution in which the official language of instruction is English and he or she was enrolled in that school for at least two years.
For non-degree students, please consult the International Exchange and Cooperation Office of SIRPA (sirpa_io@fudan.edu.cn).
Application cycles:
The MPB Puls program offers 2 application cycles annually to accommodate applicants’ diverse preparation schedules. Applicants can submit their documents within the time frame listed below. Applicants who wish to apply for scholarships are strongly encouraged to submit their applications in the first cycle.
Application cycle | Start Date | End Date |
First application cycle | 2025.10.13 | 2025.12.12 |
Second Application Cycle | 2026.03.01 | 2026.03.31 |
Degree students are admitted for fall semester only.
Non-degree students are usually admitted for both fall and spring semesters.
Tuition:
Foreign Degree student: 100,000 RMB per year (200,000 RMB for two years)
Scholarships:
Students awarded a Chinese Government Scholarship will receive a full tuition waiver for 2 years.
Notes:
1. The applicant should apply online (http://admission.iso.fudan.edu.cn/) as a self-support student first.
2. Application documents for scholarship can be submitted together with admission documents.
3. First get acceptance from the University, then an applicant may have the opportunity to get the scholarship.
SIRPA provide financial support for students to participate in international academic conferences and other activities, subject to SIRPA's relevant funding policies.
Accommodation at Fudan Campus:
An on-campus International Students Dormitory is available. For fee-related questions, please check the website of International Student Office for further information: https://iso.fudan.edu.cn/isoenglish/
CONTACT INFORMATION
Program Director
Dr. Zeyu Peng (he/him)
Email: zpeng@fudan.edu.cn
Address: 739 Wenke Building, 220 Handan Rd., Shanghai, China 200433
International Exchange and Cooperation Office of SIRPA
Email: sirpa_io@fudan.edu.cn
Tel: +86-21-55665488
Address: Room 610, Wenke Building, 220 Handan Rd., Shanghai, China 200433
Website: https://sirpa-en.fudan.edu.cn/
