The Business School of Jinan University offers a four-year undergraduate program in International Economics and Trade, taught entirely in English.
I. English proficiency requirements:
No English proficiency requirement for native or official English speakers; other applicants must have an IELTS 5.5 or above, or a TOEFL computer-based score of 527 or above, or a TOEFL written score of 197 or above.
II. Program Overview
The International Economics and Trade program, a discipline under Applied Economics, was officially established in 2001 with approval from China's Ministry of Education. It began admitting undergraduate students in 2002, obtained first-level master's degree authorization in Applied Economics in 2011, and was recognized as a university-level distinctive program at Jinan University in 2013. The program was selected for Shandong Province's high-level applied discipline cluster in 2018 and secured the "Digital Trade Program Development" collaborative project under the municipal-university integration "Revealing List System" in 2020.
The program boasts a faculty of 25 professionals, including 3 professors, 12 associate professors, and 10 lecturers, with 19 holding doctoral degrees. Through years of development, the International Economics and Trade program has cultivated a high-caliber teaching team characterized by clear specialization, balanced structure, extensive teaching experience, academic excellence, and a well-balanced mix of senior, mid-career, and young faculty members.
Over the past five years, this discipline has led 11 national-level projects, including one major project and one key project, along with 32 provincial/ministerial-level projects and nearly 100 high-quality academic papers. It has been awarded one third prize for outstanding research achievements by the Ministry of Education and two first prizes for provincial social science achievements. The discipline boasts eight provincial/ministerial-level research platforms, such as the Shandong Longshan Green Economy Research Center, Globalization and Cross-border Business Research Base, Iceland Research Center, and Shandong Logistics Development Research Center. It is also a key member of the Shandong World Economy Association, Shandong Foreign Economic Association, and Shandong Cross-border E-commerce Research Association.
Through years of development, this discipline has established three distinctive features in talent cultivation: First, it cultivates high-quality applied professionals in international economics and trade with a focus on "moral education, technical proficiency, English fluency, and innovation," with particular emphasis on developing students 'international communication skills. Second, it has developed a relatively independent practical teaching system that integrates technical application training with skill certification programs, ensuring comprehensive practice and internship coverage for all students. Third, to meet the government's demand for accelerated digital trade development, it has introduced specialized digital trade courses, creating a distinctive "innovation exploration + practice" talent development model.
III. Educational Objectives
This program is designed to meet the growing demand for innovative foreign trade professionals in society and enterprises, with a focus on academic excellence and practical skills. It aims to cultivate international students who understand and appreciate China, enhance their cross-cultural competence, and gain a solid grasp of China's national conditions, culture, mainstream social values, and legal frameworks. Graduates will possess a broad global perspective, enabling them to innovatively apply and develop theories, techniques, and methodologies in their discipline on a worldwide scale, thereby gaining a competitive edge in international affairs. Equipped with foundational knowledge in international economics and business management, they will acquire essential skills for conducting economic and trade research or engaging in business activities, along with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Upon graduation, they will be qualified to work in international business operations, management, and research roles at export-oriented enterprises, foreign trade companies, international business units of financial institutions, government commerce departments, and research institutes, becoming highly skilled, versatile, and application-oriented professionals.
IV. Training Specifications
1. Master the fundamental theories and knowledge of economics, management, and international trade, while staying updated with the discipline's theoretical frontiers and development trends;
2. Understand the policy context and measures in international trade, and apply qualitative and quantitative methods to scientifically evaluate the impact of various countries' trade policies;
3. Be well-versed in international trade conventions and rules, and proficient in practical operational skills;
4. Demonstrate fluency in English for accessing professional information and conducting written and oral business communications;
5. Possess a global perspective, innovative thinking, teamwork spirit, and strong humanistic qualities.
V. Main Courses
1 .Main Disciplines
Theoretical Economics, Applied Economics
2.Core Professional Courses
Political Economy, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Trade, International Economics, International Investment, International Trade Practice, International Marketing, World Economy, International Business Law, Business English, Digital Trade, Cross-border E-commerce Theory and Practice.
VI. Graduation Requirements:
Students who have registered for formal enrollment are eligible for graduation upon completing all required courses within the prescribed academic period, earning the required credits, and passing the thesis defense. Upon comprehensive evaluation, they will be awarded a Bachelor of Economics degree by Jinan University.
