USST is the amalgamation of East China University of Technology and Shanghai Institute of Mechanical Technology. The former originated from Shanghai Industry School, set up on the original campus of University of Shanghai, also known as Hujiang University (1906–1952) after the establishment of the People's Republic of China. The latter originated from Deutsche Medizinschule, created in 1907. In May 1996, East China University and Shanghai Institute of Mechanical Technology were amalgamated and established as USST.

The University of Shanghai for Science and Technology is a multidisciplinary university with emphasis in engineering (its main major), management, commerce, arts, science and medicine. In September 1998, according to the principle of "co-established by both central government and local government, mainly managed by Shanghai Municipality", along with its jurisdiction transferred from the former Ministry of Machinery Industry to Shanghai Municipality, USST became a new-style municipal higher learning institute. In July 2003, due to the readjustment of universities in Shanghai, Shanghai Medical Apparatus and Instruments College and Shanghai Publishing and Printing Training School were put under the administration of USST. They were established respectively as its College of Medical Apparatus and Instruments, and Publishing and Printing College.

As of 2007, USST consists of 16 colleges, two departments, one center and 27 research institutes. There are 12,098 undergraduates and 1,762 graduates. It has established six disciplines (science, engineering, economics, management, arts and medicine), 19 specialties, 44 bachelor majors, one post-doctoral research station; three Ph. D conferring disciplines, 35 second-rate master conferring disciplines, and 10 engineering and MBA conferring disciplines. It also has formed key discipline of municipal level, three key disciplines of Shanghai Education Committee and seven key disciplines of the former Machinery Ministry.

• College of Science, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology
• Department of Mathematics, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology