Summer Study Abroad Programs in Shanghai, China

My study abroad trip to Shanghai was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The city is full of energy, with an amazing mix of modern skyscrapers and rich cultural history. Every day felt like a new adventure, whether I was exploring local markets, trying authentic Chinese food, walking along the Bund, or visiting beautiful temples and gardens. One of the most rewarding parts of the trip was experiencing a different culture firsthand and meeting people from around the world. It helped me become more independent, confident, and open-minded. I also learned so much about China’s history, traditions, and daily life in a way that you simply can’t learn from a classroom.

My semester at Fudan University was academically rigorous and incredibly effective. The teachers are top-tier, and the small class sizes ensured personalized attention. Living in Shanghai provided daily opportunities to practice what I learned in class, from markets to museums. The university's resources and reputation are outstanding. For a serious language student, this program delivers exceptional results and a deep cultural immersion.

Go Abroad China Ltd. responded to this reviewJanuary 23, 2026

Hi James, We're so glad your semester at Fudan was both rigorous and effective, with top-tier teachers and daily real-world practice. Perfect for serious learners—thanks for sharing your deep immersion experience! Warmly, The Go Abroad China Team

Truly the best experience of my life. I easily fell in love with the city and everything it has to offer. Clean, safe, incredibly easy to get around. Shanghai is very much an international city so if you’re only just beginning to study the language it’s a good place to start. Beyond Shanghai, I also had the opportunity to travel across the country, visiting Beijing, Hunan, and Guangzhou.

I had an incredible experience traveling with CIEE to China. It was incredible to live with a local host family and get to experience the native language in context. It was a life changing experience and I want to return to Nanjing, Shanghai, and Beijing soon!!

I would definitely refer a peer or friend to study abroad in CIEE's Shanghai program. The teachers and staff are so amazing. The class is very challenging, but the memories and the people I meet here make it worth it.

I have loved my experience with CIEE in Shanghai, China. CIEE has gone above and beyond making sure each student is comfortable yet challenged when it comes to experiencing culture, food, and education.

Tremendous staff. Environment is like none other and they accommodate well. For Seville, the city has been tremendous and CIEE gives you a proper introduction to this magnificent city. Whether an intern or a student during one of the sessions, you can get along with everyone and overcome the anxieties of a new city

I would be very likely to recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a friend because this program gives you many opportunities to explore the city you are in as well as the surrounding areas. All of the employees are very kind people who will be their to uplift and support the students who are abroad.

I think studying away in Shanghai is a quite great experience for me. Shanghai is an amazing city with its own distinct culture, and it's so convenient and safe. Well, I think the cost of living in Shanghai actually is much lower than New York, which sometimes also be a concern for college students. As for the academic courses, I highly recommended you to take some culture related courses in NYUShanghai which allows you to gain and explore more about this city and this country, I think it is a very important part of "Study Away Program" and is very meaningful. I've taken "Concept of China" and "History of Chinese Art" during my "Study Away" semester, the professor was so nice, even inspiring my great academic interests in Art History, currently I decided to pursue this field as my minor. During your spare time, I think searching for a on-campus job is a very good choice, then you can meet more with your teammates/partners/groups. At the same time, it's also like a close community with who you works with, it will provide you a sense of belongingness to this site. Take my story as an example, I was the "Study Away Peer Assistant" in that semester, and we worked together to plan for study away students' events/activities. Through meetings, brainstorming, chatting, collaborating, I made good friends there and I also love the energy I had while working in this team! Otherwise, you can also step outside the campus and go cycling along the Bund or bring your camera to Xujiahui. I mean lifestyle in Shanghai is up to you, don't be stressful when you are seeing people in a hurry to work hhh. There are many places and things you can go for, explore and enjoy!

This program gives you support in a gentle but full immersion in the Chinese culture. The support also enabled you to maintain a comfortable bubble when needed so that you are not overwhelmed. The sheer number of experiences you can gain and the lifelong friends that you can make here is amazing.

From the moment that I applied to the minute I stepped foot of the plane in Shanghai TEAN had always been there to support me with any questions or concerns that I may have had pre-departure. Since I didn't live close to an Embassy they helped me with applying for my China Visa before I left. The on-staff team is always there for you, from the program director to the local students that you may live with if you choose to live off campus whether it be help enrolling into a class or advice on where to go in Shanghai. During our time we were given a lot of cultural immersion opportunities provided through the program free of charge such as a trip to Chengdu and Beijing and various local experiences within the city. Throughout my time I was able to gain a true insight into how it is like to be a student in China. I was able to make a lot of lifetime friends because of this program and I wish I could go back and start over again!

I have had a great experience, it is organized and comes at a good cost. The staff on-site is very supportive and helpful (as well as Brooke in Portland), but we had an emergency situation and the Portland higher-ups didn't handle it well, nor did anyone answer the emergency number provided to us.

I would be likely to recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a friend because it was a very organized and fun program. I really learned a lot about China and I was able to throughly experience a lot of the culture there.

I gained a lot of self-growth from studying abroad. It has taught me to be more independent and to not be afraid to try new things. It was also one of the best summers of my life and I would highly recommend every student to study abroad because it gives you a new kind of freedom, that you can't experience staying in your home country.

It is a great program that is structured very well. I like the classes and the class outings each week, because it gives us more opportunities to practice speaking. I also like the teachers and tutors, because they are very helpful. The only think I would recommend is enforcing the language pledge more.

I would recommend this program because even though I was a beginner with no experience in the language, I felt like my class was so useful and well paced. Having my Chinese roommate was a very great way for me to not feel lonely and my teachers were all so kind, patient, and dedicated.

Its a great program if you have never been outside of the country and need alot of walking through for things like getting visas... But I think that the pricing could be a little cheaper. Well at least for my program.

Competent staff and very friendly environment. I had to get a root canal in a foreign country and the entire staff was more than willing to help me. Any academic questions were quickly and accurately answered.

The program is really well organized. There was a great balance between academics and cultural experience that the program provided. The dorms were comfortable and I always felt safe while in Shanghai.

The quality of the staff and the program really enhanced my experience in Shanghai. I would recommend the program because it has the perfect balance of information and freedom to have a very unique experience in china. The professors were also of the highest quality and the classes really were invaluable in how much we learned about China while living there.