Shanghai University implements a short semester system, and each academic year is divided into four semesters: autumn, winter, spring and summer.

Among them, autumn, winter and spring are theoretical education semesters, each with 10 weeks, plus 2 weeks of exams, that is, each with 12 weeks. There are no other holidays except national holidays and winter holidays. The autumn term begins around September.

The summer semester is a practical education semester, which is generally about 5 weeks.

The main holidays are winter and summer holidays and national holidays. Winter vacation is usually arranged during the Spring Festival, about 1 month. The summer vacation is arranged after the summer semester, which is about 1 month and a half.

There are no holidays between other semesters, but there may be half a week 1 week between semesters because the two-week exam week is generally not used up.