Study Abroad in Shanghai, China

Shanghai is China’s economic capital, and is focused on innovation. It links the neighboring provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang to form the economic powerhouse of the Yangtze River Delta Region. While most academic subjects related to China can be studied there, business, finance, and marketing are highly relevant areas for anyone studying abroad in Shanghai. International internships are possible in this fusion of East and West, based in a global mega-city.

International students studying abroad in Shanghai, China. Photo by Colin Speakman

There’s the legacy of the Shanghai World Expo 2010, growing artistic and cultural centers, future developments in auto engineering, fashion, movie animation, and even a Shanghai Disneyland in the works. Study abroad in Shanghai and position yourself to learn, grow, and network in one of the most dynamic business centers on earth.

Studying Abroad In Shanghai. The city has 23 million residents and more than 50 skyscrapers, and the local dialect is Shanghainese. Its major areas are quite easy to get to via a comprehensive public transport system of metro lines and buses. The Huangpu River divides Shanghai between older (but with many modern parts) Puxi, west of the River Pu; and Pudong, a modern-day Manhattan and development area east of the river.

Universities are spread around Shanghai; there is not one university area. Many universities expanded in the last 10 years by additional, very modern campuses in green-field sites in areas quite far away from downtown. However, the international programs of some top universities remain in original sites in Puxi, including East China Normal University, Fudan University, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai Jiaotong University,  Shanghai Normal University, and Tongi University.

Thus there is plenty of choice for study abroad in Shanghai, and the student experience varies according to location. A university well-served by metro stations, with good local facilities and convenient access to Shanghai's downtown, is a nice combination for international students. In Shanghai, programs for foreign students can be found at most universities, either directly or as part of a comprehensive program by third-party providers. In addition, U.S.-based universities often arrange their own faculty-led study abroad programs to Shanghai in the summer or (less commonly) the winter sessions.

Dollars And Renminbi. As a 24-hour Western-influenced economic giant, Shanghai is more expensive than cities in China’s provinces but, like Beijing, is still a very good value compared to studying abroad in Western capitals. The Shanghai metro system is affordable with staged fares — a typical journey might be 3 or 4 renminbi (45 to 60 U.S. cents) if not too long. Public bus journeys are usually 2 RMB flat. Thanks to the authorities, entrance to several major museums is free.

Food on and around university campuses is inexpensive, and those studying abroad in Shanghai can often be found dining at inexpensive and good quality street-food stalls and carts. There is a wide variety of other Asian and Western food, some at prices as in Western big cities, and amazing high-end malls, especially along Nanjing West Road — but most international students prefer to shop at the much cheaper (and culturally interesting) Shanghai markets.

Resources And Hidden Gems In Shanghai. It is sensible to read about Shanghai as much in advance as possible of your study abroad trip. Shanghai is the subject of numerous city guidebooks from international publishers, and the latest updates from monthly local publications, usually available on the web. Study-abroad organizations often provide detailed student advice about Shanghai on their program sites. (For example, see CAPA International Education’s Top 10 Reasons to Study in Shanghai.)

Studying in Shanghai is not the same as being a tourist in Shanghai. The extra advantage is usually a longer time in a city and courses that encourage, even require, engagement with local people and industries. Study-abroad providers will help facilitate this and give students an inside track. See, as an example Shanghai's Top 10 Hidden Gems.

Travel From Shanghai. Anyone studying abroad in Shanghai is advised to get out and about. Historic Suzhou, with its canals and silk industries in Jiangsu Province, is less than 30 minutes away by high-speed train. The famous “Southern Capital,” Nanjing, can be reached in less than 75 minutes on same service. Hangzhou, Zhejiang's capital, with its West Lake and tea plantations, takes less than 45 minutes on these trains in the other direction. Even Beijing is only 5 hours away on the bullet train. More locally, the outskirts of Shanghai have famous historic water-towns reachable by public buses in around an hour. It is always good to check if such opportunities are included in your Shanghai study-abroad program.