With a history traced back to 1984, the university developed from three institutions: Shanghai Administrative Institute of Politics and Law, Shanghai Judicial College, and Shanghai University Law School. The university initiated its undergraduate programs in 1993, and master’s degree programs in 1998. In September 2004, Shanghai Municipal Government approved the establishment of Shanghai University of Political Science and Law (SHUPL). In 2008, Shanghai Judicial School and Shanghai Judicial Cadre School merged into Shanghai University of Political Science and Law. In November 2014, Shanghai Municipal Education Commission became the university’s supervising authority, and the university has since been operated by Shanghai Municipal Education Commission and Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice.