Shanghai University of Sport

What Shanghai University of Sport does

Shanghai University of Sport (SUS), founded in 1952 and headquartered in Shanghai, is a Chinese public university under the Ministry of Education specializing in sports science, physical education, and kinesiology. It holds a Double First-Class discipline designation and was ranked #1 in Asia and Top 50 globally in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) Sport Science subject for 2022. The university serves a multi-tier customer base — undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students, international scholarship recipients, professional athlete/referee trainees, and corporate athletic partners — and operates the world's first and China's only International Tennis Academy (ITA) Academic Center (established 2022).

SUS delivers a catalog spanning Wushu, Sports Training, Physical Education, Exercise Science, Sports Human Science, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Data Science, and Journalism and Communication, alongside bespoke English-taught master's programs and short-format training offerings such as the Belt and Road Wushu programs. Underlying platform components include 149 cross-border academic partnerships across 46 countries, an international student pipeline of 1,800+ from 60+ countries, and embedded affiliations with governing bodies (IOC, FIFA) and commercial partners (Nike MOU signed at CIIE 2023). Technology footprint centers on training and coaching rather than on software platforms; the Data Science and Media Arts programs represent new digital-adjacent product lines.

The revenue model is a mix of Chinese central government education appropriations, Shanghai municipal funding, Chinese Government Scholarship and Shanghai Government Scholarship flows, and tuition revenue from self-funded domestic and international students (international tuition priced CNY 22,000–32,000 per academic year). Auxiliary revenue is generated through paid international training programs (Wushu, referee development), athletic-governing-body partnerships, and branded cultural programming. The university does not disclose financial statements publicly, which limits precise revenue triangulation but is consistent with its status as a state-funded not-for-profit institution.

Name

Shanghai University of Sport

Legal name

Shanghai University of Sport

Website

https://eng.sus.edu.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Shanghai University of Sport is a Chinese public university founded in 1952, specializing in sports science, physical education, and kinesiology. Designated Double First-Class and ranked #1 in Asia by ARWU 2022, it serves 1,800+ international students from 60+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Sports Science

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College/University Athletic Departments & Varsity Programs (MPAKACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Referee, Umpire & Coach Education/Certification Academies (MPAKAJAN), Anti-Doping & Integrity Bodies (WADA, match-fixing/integrity units) (MPAKAFAJ)

Keywords

• Sports science education
• Higher education programs
• International student admissions
• Anti-doping training
• Athletic research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees - International Programs: Revenue from international student tuition fees including undergraduate (CNY 22,000-24,000/year), master's (CNY 24,000-32,000/year depending on program), and doctoral programs (CNY 30,000-32,000/year). Additional fees include registration fee (CNY 500 or USD 80).
2. Scholarship Administration Services: The university administers Chinese Government Scholarship, Shanghai Government Scholarship, and President's Scholarship programs, processing international student applications and managing fund disbursements for tuition, accommodation, and living expenses.
3. Research and Training Services: Revenue generating activities including anti-doping training programs (ITA Doping Control Officer Foundation Training), Belt and Road Wushu Training Programs, and specialized sports coaching certifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Shanghai University of Sport (SUS) is a public higher education institution in Shanghai, China, offering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral academic programs in sports science, physical education, sports management, rehabilitation, kinesiology, and related disciplines. It delivers both Chinese-taught and English-taught programs to domestic and international students, and operates specialized research and training centers including the world's first ITA Academic Center for anti-doping.

Product overview

Shanghai University of Sport is a comprehensive sports university offering a diverse portfolio of academic programs and research services. The institution provides four specialized English-Taught Master's Programs in Elite Sports Science, Olympic Sports and Health Communication, Psychology and Neuroscience in Sport and Exercise, and Traditional Chinese Exercise and Rehabilitation Health. Additionally, it offers Chinese-taught undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs across sports sciences, management, rehabilitation, and humanities disciplines. The university operates the world's first ITA Academic Center for anti-doping training and maintains research partnerships with over 149 universities in 46 countries. The portfolio ranges from entry-level undergraduate education to advanced doctoral research programs, serving both domestic and international student populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Elite Sport Science (English-Taught Master's Program) A 2-year English-taught master's program training professionals with in-depth theoretical knowledge of sports science and solid practical skills in athletic performance through cross-disciplinary approaches. Designed for international students with IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80.
• Olympic Sports and Health Communication (English-Taught Master's Program) A 2-year English-taught master's program enabling students to master theoretical and practical knowledge of Olympic sports development and health communication, cultivating talents for international sports organizations.
• Psychology and Neuroscience in Sport and Exercise (English-Taught Master's Program) A 2-year English-taught master's program based on psychological science using cognitive neuroscience research methods to explore psychology and behavior during sports activities.
• Traditional Chinese Exercise and Rehabilitation Health (English-Taught Master's Program) A cross-disciplinary English-taught master's program combining sports health with public health, aiming to cultivate high-level sports talents for disease prevention and control.
• Chinese-Taught Undergraduate Programs Undergraduate programs including sports-related majors (Physical Education, Sports Training, Martial Arts) and non-sports majors (Journalism, Applied Psychology, Data Science, Rehabilitation Science, Human Kinesiology). Duration: 4-6 years. HSK4 required for sports majors, HSK5 for non-sports majors. Tuition: CNY 22,000-24,000/year.
• Chinese-Taught Master's and Doctoral Programs Master's (3-year) and doctoral (3-year) programs including Traditional Chinese Sports, Sports Management, Sports Rehabilitation, Human Kinesiology, Medical Technology, Public Health, and others. Master's tuition CNY 24,000-26,000/year; Doctoral tuition CNY 30,000-32,000/year. HSK5 required.
• ITA Academic Center The world's first and China's only International Testing Agency (ITA) Academic Center, focused on anti-doping research, academic education, and vocational training. Conducts ITA Doping Control Officer Foundation Training Program with participants from nearly 20 countries.
• International Student Exchange Programs Exchange and collaboration programs with 149 universities and organizations from 46 countries and regions, including 19 programs of mutual credit recognition with top 50 QS-ranked universities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 50 globally, Top 1 in Asia in ARWU Sports Science ranking 2022
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• International Olympic Committee (IOC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024IOC President Thomas Bach appointed honorary professor in 2024, enhancing university's global Olympic education profile and international governance engagement.
• Nike, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Memorandum of Understanding signed at China International Import Expo for potential collaboration in sports education and athlete development programs.
• International Testing Agency (ITA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Historic partnership established in 2022 creating the world's first and China's only ITA Academic Center for anti-doping research, education, and vocational training. Second ITA training program held in 2024.
• 149 Universities from 46 CountriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange and collaboration agreements with 149 universities from 46 countries and regions, including 19 programs of mutual recognition of credits with top 50 QS World University Rankings universities.
• China Scholarship Council (CSC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDesignated Chinese Government Scholarship university allowing international students to apply for CSC scholarships covering tuition, accommodation, and living expenses.
• General Administration of Sport of ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment sports administration partnership for national sports development, athlete training, and sports governance collaboration.
• Shanghai Public Diplomacy AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting the 'We ART Friends' Cultural Salon integrating sports and traditional Chinese culture for international diplomatic engagement.
• Yangtze River Delta UniversitiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipation in regional university sports competitions including Dragon Boat Race with Fudan, Tongji, Zhejiang, and USTC.
• VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVice-rector delegation visit for potential academic collaboration and exchange program development.
• Bac Ninh Sport UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelegation visit for sports education exchange and collaboration between Vietnamese and Chinese sports universities.
• University of TaipeiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBadminton friendly match and potential sports exchange collaboration across the Taiwan Strait.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Loughborough University (School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences): Globally leading sports science university consistently ranked #1 in QS for Sport-related subjects. Competes with SUS for international postgraduate students, research talent, and sport-science employer branding worldwide.
• Beijing Sport University: China's other flagship state-run sports university, headquartered in Beijing. Directly competes for elite athletes, government scholarship allocation, and international student recruitment in the same Chinese sports higher education market.
• German Sport University Cologne: Europe's largest sports university with strong Olympic ties and elite athlete support programs. Competes for international student flows in sports science and Olympic studies, particularly across the Belt and Road sphere.
• University of Lausanne (ISSUL – Institute of Sport Sciences): Swiss-based sports science institution with research and teaching overlap in elite sport, Olympic studies, and exercise science. Competes for master's-level international students seeking European credentials.
• Korea National Sport University: South Korea's national sports university with elite athlete and coaching programs. Direct regional peer in Northeast Asia competing for scholarship-funded international students and Olympic-aligned research mandates.
• University of Tsukuba (Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences): Japanese national university with a premier sports science faculty and Olympic-aligned research. Closest direct regional peer in Northeast Asia competing for similar international student demographics.

Others

• IOC Olympic Studies Centre: The IOC's research and education hub. Overlapping mission in Olympic education and a key enabling partner for SUS's Olympic Sports and Health Communication program; engages SUS as a research collaborator rather than competitor.
• International Testing Agency (ITA): Strategic partner organization that established the world's first ITA Academic Center at SUS. Not a competitor, but a key alliance partner for SUS's anti-doping training programs and a buyer of vocational training services.
• Nike (Sports Education Partnerships): Signed an MOU with SUS at CIIE 2023 for collaboration in sports education and athlete development. Functions as a corporate partner and potential commercial sponsor rather than a peer institution.

Regional players

• Universitat Pompeu Fabra / INEFC (National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia): Leading European sport science consortium in Catalonia. Comparable curriculum footprint in sport science, rehabilitation, and coaching, though primarily serves the European market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Shanghai University of Sport