Political Science & Politics 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.

Studying abroad at Shanghai University offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the world’s most dynamic and fast-growing cities. Located in the heart of Shanghai, China’s global financial and cultural hub, the semester program provides students with a rich academic experience, cultural exposure, and professional networking opportunities. This program combines rigorous academics with real-world learning. Students can choose from a variety of courses, including Chinese language, culture, business, and engineering, all taught by leading experts. The curriculum is designed to provide both in-depth academic knowledge and practical skills. Ideal for open-minded, adventurous students, this program is perfect for those eager to explore China’s culture and global opportunities. Participants gain valuable skills, intercultural communication experience, and a deeper understanding of China’s role in the global economy—enhancing their resumes and boosting their career prospects.

CIEE offers the most extensive network of internship programs. Are you a U.S. college student looking to study and intern abroad? We have full-time and part-time placements across 40+ locations worldwide and in diverse fields, from AI and engineering to public policy and business administration. Find the right fit for you! Live, learn, and work abroad on an internship program with CIEE! CIEE Summer Internships CIEE Summer Global Internships are 6-credit, 8-week programs with full-time working hours (approximately 30 hours weekly) and a seminar. CIEE Summer Intern and Study Abroad are 6 to 7-credit, 6-week programs with a part-time internship (approximately 20 hours weekly), a seminar, and a 3-credit academic course. CIEE Semester Internships CIEE Semester Global Internships are 9 to 13-credit, 12-week programs that feature a full-time internship (approximately 30 hours weekly), a seminar, and an optional 3 to 4-credit academic course online. CIEE Semester Intern and Study Abroad Programs are 12 to 14-credit, 12-week programs that feature a part-time internship​ (approximately 20 hours weekly), a seminar, and two academic courses.

At NYU Shanghai, the newest of NYU’s three degree-granting campuses, you’ll take courses that focus on China taught by expert faculty. Professors bring China’s history and unique culture to life through trips to art galleries, local businesses, and film screenings. You can take a Chinese language course and further improve your language skills by being paired with a student who is fluent in Chinese. Visit NYU Shanghai’s website for up-to-date information. NYU Shanghai’s campus is located in a nine-story building in Pudong, the heart of a thriving economic zone and Shanghai’s commercial center. It features classrooms, an expansive library, an auditorium, a colloquium space, dance and music practice rooms, dining facilities, and a fitness center. Opportunities vary based on local restrictions.

Explore the social impact of rapid economic development. What’s it like to watch a city develop at an unprecedented pace? Shanghai is the place to find out. Explore this cosmopolitan metropolis as you dig into sustainable urbanization, economic reform, Chinese politics, foreign policy, public health policy, or traditional Chinese medicine. Boost your language skills by teaming up with a Chinese university student for a couple of hours of casual practice each week—communication is the key to getting even more from your time in Shanghai.

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.

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.