Academic Year Study Abroad Programs in Shanghai, China

Transitioning into an innovative and sophisticated city with a colorful night skyline, Shanghai is one of China’s modern aspects without losing its rich cultural and artistic heritage. This makes the city an ideal setting to study Chinese language and business development. The Shanghai program offers you insight into the business and economic environment of China and East Asia. Study and live in the country’s biggest city, which used to be a quiet fishing town but is now at the center of a booming economy—in fact, one of the world’s largest. The official standard dialect is Mandarin, and Shanghai is the best place to practice it outside the classroom. After attending business logistics and language classes, head out and apply your learning everywhere you go – from movie theaters to art exhibits. This program provides an intensive language approach, allowing you to complete up to one year of university foreign language coursework in one semester. Choose to combine courses for up to 18 credits. Add an internship and have an unparalleled opportunity to communicate in Mandarin while acquiring international business experience.

Your China in a Global Context program in Shanghai lasts a full semester and is designed for students interested in Chinese language, history, and social issues. You will enroll in a combination of CIEE courses and courses taught online through CIEE's global academic partner, ASU. Enhance your experience with co-curricular and extracurricular activities related to engineering, technology, and science. Live and learn in Shanghai! Shanghai is China’s cosmopolitan city, offering an inspiring environment for students of all disciplines.

With 12 locations around the globe, the world is your classroom when you study abroad at NYU. Whether you’re interested in exploring music at NYU Prague, diving into history at NYU Florence, or studying global business at NYU London or NYU Shanghai, regardless of your course of study, NYU offers students of all interests and backgrounds unparalleled global experiences. Immersive, experiential learning is at the heart of NYU study abroad. So, in addition to classes that get you out exploring a new place, you’ll embrace the local culture and build community with internships, academic excursions, and volunteer opportunities. From NYU Buenos Aires to NYU Berlin and NYU Tulsa to NYU Tel Aviv, you’ll experience these dynamic cities and cultures while also fulfilling elective requirements, meeting new people, and gaining a new perspective. Additional NYU global locations not previously mentioned include: NYU Accra, NYU Madrid, NYU Paris, and NYU Washington, DC.

Experience the best of Chinese language education at one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious institutions: Fudan University in Shanghai. With over a century of history and a vibrant international community of 7,000 students from 120 countries, Fudan offers an ideal environment for immersive learning. Go Abroad China provides a seamless pathway into this renowned university, offering flexible Mandarin programs that range from an intensive four-week summer course to a full academic year, accommodating all levels from absolute beginner to advanced. Your studies will encompass comprehensive skills development in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and grammar. Beyond the classroom, you'll be integrated into the life of one of China's most dynamic cities through cultural electives, organized tours, and language exchange opportunities. We manage every detail of your journey—from guaranteed enrollment and visa documentation to comfortable accommodation in dorms, homestays, or shared apartments—allowing you to focus entirely on achieving fluency and earning transferable university credits.

Have the opportunity to study at East China Normal University, one of the first universities in China to provide international Chinese education. Based in vibrant Shanghai, you will enroll in a non-profit, low-cost study abroad program. Benefit from direct enrollment opportunities, choosing from a wide selection of academic subjects. In your free time, enjoy the university’s offerings of associations and activities. Plus, make new friends with Chinese and international students. This program is open to all students from around the globe and awards credit transferable to your home university upon successful completion. At Non-Profit Study Abroad (NPSA), we help you enroll directly at an international university. We also provide a range of resources, from finding affordable housing to making the most of your study abroad experience. Please feel free to contact us for more information about how we can help you.

API offers students an opportunity to study abroad in Shanghai, China, and experience traditional cultural elements while still being mindful of the context and realities of contemporary Chinese society. China presents a fascinating juxtaposition – it is home to one of the world’s most ancient civilizations caught in the midst of some of the most rapid expansion of economy and infrastructure in history. This remains true with Shanghai, the largest city in the world, where you can explore ancient relics such as The Bund or City God Temple. Then, shop around the large city and explore its wondrous nightlife as you learn about the Chinese language and culture. But your travels will not just stop in Shanghai. With API, you will take excursions around China, including Beijing and the nearby water towns like Wuzhen. You will even stop by Hangzhou, known as “heaven on earth” due to its immense beauty. Get ready for an unforgettable sensation of culture and modernity in Shanghai, China, when you study with API Abroad!

Immerse yourself in a new language, intern abroad, or explore a different part of the world. CET’s gap programs offer the opportunity to join college-level courses overseas or online. Whether you're mastering Chinese in Beijing, volunteering while living with a host family in Siena, or creating art in a studio in Osaka, CET blends academics with real-world experience. Designed around experiential learning, deep cultural engagement, and academic rigor, CET programs turn education into something more than just earning college credit.