In May 1983, the branches of six schools including Fudan, SISU, East China Normal University, Shanghai University of Science and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Mechanical Engineering, and Shanghai Fine Arts School merged to form Shanghai University.

In May 1994, Shanghai University of Technology, Shanghai University of Science and Technology, Shanghai Science and Technology College and the former Shanghai University merged again. This time, the expansion was no longer about size, but also the long-lost unique dignity of universities.

Shanghai University was also on par with Peking University. At that time, "red professors" such as Qu Qiubai, Deng Zhongxia, Cai Hesen, Zhang Tailei, Yun Daiying, Ren Bishi, Xiao Chunu, Shen Yanbing, Tian Han and other "red professors" here inspired literature and criticized Fang Qiu, making Shanghai University a "southeast destination" that revolutionary youth yearned for.

"The highest institution of revolution", the history academic circle has long had the reputation of "Beijing University in the May 4th period in the north, and Shanghai University in the May 30th period in the south".

The Weichang Building Theater of Shanghai University is one of the largest theaters among Shanghai universities, and most of its hardware indicators have reached the level of the top domestic Class A theaters.

There are currently a total of 27 canteens in the three campuses of Shanghai University. In order to reflect the cultural characteristics of Shanghai, the Baoshan canteens are named after the homophonic numbers of Shanghainese, namely Yi (1) Xin, Er (2) Mei, Shan (3) Ming, Shui (

Four) Xiu, Wu (5) Xin and Liu (6) Yun gather all kinds of snacks.