Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) is a multi-discipline university with 6 fields of study: Engineering, Management, Economics, Literature, Science and Law.

SMU provides 39 programs leading to a Bachelor's degree, 12 programs leading to an Associate's degree. SMU has been authorized by the State to offer 30 programs leading to a Master's degree and 7 programs leading to a Doctor's degree. The Ministry of Communications and Shanghai Municipality have designated 8 courses as key specialties. 3 specialties are classified as Shanghai's key bachelor-degree disciplines for further development. In 2004, SMU got an "A" in the Undergraduate Teaching Evaluation by the Ministry of Education.

Currently, SMU has a full-time student population of near 15,000, of whom over 2000 for a Master's degree. SMU has a teaching and research staff of more than 800, of whom over 100 are full professors.

SMU offers programs in cooperation with Maastricht School of Management of the Netherlands, Saint Martin's university of the United States, The University of Western Australia, and World Maritime University of IMO. SMU has also concluded cooperation agreements with Erasmus University Rotterdam of the Netherlands, Kobe University of Japan, Korean Maritime University, California Maritime Academy of U.S.A., Liverpool John Moores University of U.K. Vietnam Maritime University. As well, SMU has set up close ties with Cardiff University, State University of New York Maritime College, and such shipping companies as NYK, V-Ships, NORDEN.

To satisfy the needs of building Shanghai as an international shipping center, according to the Shanghai Municipal Government, SMU will move to a new campus of 133 hectares located in the developing New Harbor City in 2007. SMU will avail itself of this opportunity and strive for the goal that SMU will be built as a high-level maritime university of the world.