Shanghai University was rebuilt in 1994, by merging Shanghai University of Technology (上海工业大学), Shanghai University of Science & Technology (上海科技大学), Shanghai Institute of Science & Technology (上海科技学院) and the former Shanghai University.
Shanghai University of Technology was once Shanghai Institute of Technology (上海工学院) founded in 1960, with strong background from engineering, technology and industries. The institute was renamed as Shanghai University of Technology in 1979. Professor Qian Weichang (钱伟长) was the president of the university since 1982 and eventually led to the consolidated Shanghai University in 1994.