Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute (SCUPI)

What Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute (SCUPI) does

Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute (SCUPI) is a Sino-foreign cooperative undergraduate engineering college established in 2014 through partnership between Sichuan University and the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering. Approved by China's Ministry of Education as the first Sino-US joint engineering institute in Western China, SCUPI delivers five English-medium engineering programs—Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Design Manufacturing and Automation, Materials Science and Engineering, Electronic Information Engineering, and Computer Science and Technology—serving approximately 373 incoming students each year recruited through China's national Gaokao first-batch admission system across 17 provinces and municipalities. The institute's core academic product integrates the University of Pittsburgh's engineering curriculum with all-English instruction, ABET-aligned standards, and interdisciplinary engineering approaches.

SCUPI's product architecture comprises multiple delivery pathways: a 4+0 domestic mode at 85,000 RMB/year, plus joint 2+2, 3+1, and 2+X models that channel students into the University of Pittsburgh and a 2+X network spanning Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, USC Viterbi, UIUC Grainger, Ohio State, UW-Madison, Waseda, and University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Students completing joint programs earn degrees from both Sichuan University and the international partner. Support infrastructure includes the iLife Space (智慧工坊) innovation makerspace equipped with 3D printing (Stratasys and Bambu Lab systems), robotics, and machine workshop facilities; an English Writing Center; a Mentoring/Advising System; and the Office of Study Abroad (OSA), which provides standardized testing preparation, application assistance, and visa processing for overseas-bound students.

SCUPI is structured as a non-profit academic institution subordinate to Sichuan University, without independent equity, public listing, or venture funding. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition: 85,000 RMB per year for the domestic pathway (plus 1,200 RMB/year accommodation at Sichuan University Jiang'an South Campus) and approximately 500,000 RMB annually for joint training programs (including ~$42,000 USD/year Pitt tuition plus living expenses), with joint-program tuition shared between Sichuan University and partner institutions. As of August 2023, the institute had produced 754 graduates across five cohorts with an 83% further-study rate, a 64% overseas-study rate, and 87% placement in U.S. News Top 100 universities. Operating footprint is concentrated in Chengdu, with reported administrative headcount of 49 employees and offices on the Jiang'an South Campus.

Name

Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute (SCUPI)

Legal name

Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute (四川大学匹兹堡学院)

Website

https://scupi.scu.edu.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute (SCUPI) is a Sino-foreign cooperative engineering college jointly run by Sichuan University and the University of Pittsburgh, delivering all-English undergraduate engineering programs to ~373 students annually through China's Gaokao admission system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Engineering)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Specialized Engineering Domains (EDAHAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships (EDAHAEAG), Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

Keywords

• Engineering education
• Joint institute programs
• Sino-foreign cooperation
• Undergraduate engineering degrees
• English-medium instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Chengdu

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Domestic Tuition Revenue: Students pay tuition of 85,000 RMB per year for domestic programs. Accommodation costs 1,200 RMB per year. For 2+2 and 3+1 joint training programs, tuition is charged according to University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering standards (approximately 42,000 USD/year), plus living expenses of approximately 500,000 RMB annually.
2. Joint Program Fees: Revenue from international partner institutions through credit transfer arrangements. Students in 2+2, 3+1, and other joint programs pay tuition to both Sichuan University and partner universities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute (SCUPI) is a Sino-foreign cooperative educational institution offering five undergraduate engineering programs (Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Design Manufacturing and Automation, Materials Science and Engineering, Electronic Information Engineering, and Computer Science and Technology) with all-English instruction, integrating curriculum from the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering. Students can pursue multiple training pathways including 2+2, 3+1, and 4+0 models that provide direct transfer opportunities to the University of Pittsburgh and other partner universities. The institute operates on Sichuan University's Jiang'an South Campus and awards Sichuan University degrees along with partner university credentials for joint programs.

Product overview

Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute (SCUPI) is a Sino-foreign cooperative educational institution offering five undergraduate engineering programs (Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Design Manufacturing and Automation, Materials Science and Engineering, Electronic Information Engineering, and Computer Science and Technology) with multiple joint training pathways (2+2, 3+1, 4+0) in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh. The institution provides comprehensive student support services including the Writing Center, Mentoring/Advising System, and Office of Study Abroad (OSA). Its facilities include the iLife Space makerspace for hands-on innovation. SCUPI also organizes enrichment programs such as the Summer Camp at University of Pittsburgh, SCUPI Open Day, Annual Celebration and Award Ceremony, Student Innovation Forum, SCUPI SONIC English Speech Showcase, Freshman Cup English Writing Competition, and publishes the SCOOP institutional newsletter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Engineering Programs Five undergraduate engineering degree programs (Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Design Manufacturing and Automation, Materials Science and Engineering, Electronic Information Engineering, and Computer Science and Technology) offered through Sino-foreign cooperative education with all-English instruction, integrating curriculum from University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering. Designed for Chinese high school graduates entering through the national Gaokao first-batch admission system.
• Joint Training Programs (2+2, 3+1, 4+0) Multiple training pathways allowing students to study at Sichuan University and transfer to or receive dual degrees from University of Pittsburgh or other partner universities including Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, University of Michigan, USC, UIUC, Ohio State, UW-Madison, Waseda University, and University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Students need to meet GPA 3.0+ and TOEFL 90+ requirements for the primary partnership.
• iLife Space (智慧工坊) Innovation Makerspace Dedicated makerspace facility for innovation and entrepreneurship featuring 3D printing equipment (including upgraded Bambu Lab multi-color multi-material systems and Stratasys additive manufacturing), robotics labs, and machine workshops. Managed by the Technology and Science Association and lab engineers for hands-on student projects.
• SCUPI Writing Center (English Writing Support) English writing support center providing one-on-one consultation services from basic writing to academic research, supporting students' professional English communication skills for international engineering environments.
• Mentoring/Advising System

Quantifiable outcome

• 83% of graduates choose to continue their education (5-year consecutive leader among Sichuan University's 35 colleges)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments3 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

19 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary, minor and core.

• TencentsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026Industry partnership for talent development. Tencent team visited SCUPI including campus recruitment managers and education solutions experts. Engaged in in-depth exchanges on industry-education integration and talent development. SCUPI invited Tencent Cloud expert Dr. Yang Jin for Innovative Engineering Practicum lectures.
• Sichuan Highway Planning, Survey, Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026Digital and Intelligent Engineering Research Institute delegation visited SCUPI for exchange and potential collaboration in talent cultivation, research synergy, and technology transfer in intelligent construction and BIM technology.
• BuilderX IntelligentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025SCUPI leadership visited BuilderX Intelligent in Beijing as part of the job-expansion initiative to explore industry partnerships and employment opportunities for graduates.
• Toulouse INP / ENSEEIHTsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025French engineering institute partnership. Adam Quotb from INP/ENSEEIHT visited SCUPI. Joint summer camp program 'European Aerospace Capital Toulouse Cultural, Scientific & Technological Discovery Summer Camp' conducted with 12 SCUPI students participating.
• Airbus (Chengdu) Aircraft Life-Cycle Services Co., Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Trilateral exchange event co-hosted by SCUPI, Toulouse INP, and Airbus Chengdu focusing on aerospace talent cultivation and industry-academia collaboration.
• GE HealthcaresecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2018Cooperative relationship established April 2018. SCUPI delegation visited GE Healthcare China's Precision Medicine Industrialization Base for industry-university collaboration discussions. Multiple graduates have joined GE Healthcare for internships and employment in mechanical design and supply chain management.
• University of Pittsburgh (Swanson School of Engineering)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary strategic partner providing complete engineering curriculum alignment, faculty support, and joint training programs (2+2, 3+1). Students can transfer to the Swanson School of Engineering upon meeting GPA (3.0+) and TOEFL (90+) requirements. The partnership has facilitated over 200 student transfers with zero safety incidents.
• Cornell UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner2+X transfer pathway partner. SCUPI students who meet requirements can transfer to Cornell's engineering programs. As of 2023, students have successfully been admitted to Cornell through this pathway.
• Carnegie Mellon UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner2+X transfer pathway partner. Students can transfer to Carnegie Mellon's engineering programs. CMU is one of the transfer destinations mentioned alongside other top U.S. universities.
• University of Michigan Ann ArborcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner2+X transfer pathway partner. SCUPI students can transfer to the University of Michigan's College of Engineering upon meeting academic requirements.
• University of Southern CaliforniasecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner2+X transfer pathway partner. USC Viterbi School of Engineering accepts SCUPI students for transfer based on academic performance and English proficiency.
• University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner2+X transfer pathway partner. UIUC's Grainger College of Engineering is a destination for SCUPI engineering students meeting transfer requirements.
• Ohio State UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner2+X transfer pathway partner for SCUPI students seeking engineering education at OSU.
• University of Wisconsin-MadisonsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner2+X transfer pathway partner. SCUPI students can transfer to UW-Madison's engineering programs.
• Waseda UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner2+X transfer pathway partner. Japanese university partner accepting SCUPI students for international transfer.
• University of Minnesota Twin CitiessecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner2+X transfer pathway partner. Part of the network of international universities accepting SCUPI transfers.
• University of Nottingham NingbominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent exchange partner for the Student Innovation Forum (SIF). Contributed 'Global Village' activity model presentation at the inter-institutional forum.
• SWJTU-Leeds Joint SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent exchange partner for the Student Innovation Forum (SIF). Contributed 'Diligence Forum' activity model presentation at the inter-institutional forum.
• NUS (Chongqing) Research InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDean Minking Chyu led SCUPI delegation to visit NUS Chongqing Research Institute for potential research and academic collaboration discussions.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wenzhou-Kean University: Sino-U.S. cooperative university between Kean University (USA) and Wenzhou University. Comparable to SCUPI as a MoE-approved Sino-American joint institution offering English-medium programs with U.S. credentialing and transfer options.
• Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU): Largest Sino-foreign cooperative university in China, jointly run by Xi'an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool. Closely comparable to SCUPI in the Sino-foreign joint-institute model, English-medium instruction, and engineering-focused undergraduate programs with overseas transfer pathways.
• SWJTU-Leeds Joint School: Sino-UK joint school between Southwest Jiaotong University and the University of Leeds. Comparable to SCUPI as a MoE-approved Sino-foreign joint institute focused on engineering, with English-medium instruction and joint-degree pathways to a Western partner university; also a direct peer referenced in SCUPI's SIF collaboration.
• Duke Kunshan University: Sino-U.S. joint university between Duke University and Wuhan University. Highly comparable to SCUPI in the U.S.-partner model, English-medium graduate and undergraduate programs, and MoE-approved cooperative status, though at a more elite brand tier.
• Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute (GTSI): Sino-U.S. cooperative engineering institute between Georgia Institute of Technology and Tianjin University (Shenzhen operations). Comparable to SCUPI as a MoE-approved U.S.-partnered engineering institute with English-medium instruction and U.S. degree pathways, focused on graduate-level engineering talent.
• NYU Shanghai: Sino-foreign joint research university between NYU and East China Normal University. Comparable to SCUPI in the elite U.S.-partnered, English-medium model with joint-degree pathways, though positioned at a higher global brand tier.
• Zhejiang University/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute (ZJU-UIUC): Sino-U.S. joint engineering institute between Zhejiang University and UIUC. Highly comparable to SCUPI: U.S. engineering partner, English-medium instruction, joint curriculum in engineering disciplines, and dual-degree pathways to a top U.S. engineering school.
• BNU-HKBU United International College (UIC): Sino-Hong Kong joint university between Beijing Normal University and Hong Kong Baptist University. Comparable to SCUPI in the MoE-approved Sino-foreign cooperative model, English-medium instruction, and overseas-transfer-focused undergraduate education.
• University of Michigan - Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI): Sino-U.S. joint engineering institute between University of Michigan and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Closely comparable to SCUPI as a MoE-approved joint engineering institute, English-medium instruction, ABET-aligned curriculum, and partnerships with elite U.S. engineering schools.
• University of Nottingham Ningbo China: Sino-foreign cooperative university between the University of Nottingham and Zhejiang Wanli Education Group. Direct comparable to SCUPI: UK partner university, English-medium engineering and science programs, MoE-approved joint-institute structure, and similar transfer/dual-degree pathways.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/home
• Facebookfacebook.com/scupi.edu/?fref=ts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sichuan-university-pittsburgh-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute (SCUPI)