NYU - Shanghai

NYU Shanghai’s Summer Chinese Immersion Program combines rigorous language study with full immersion in the vibrant city of Shanghai, where China’s rich history and cosmopolitan present provide an exceptional setting for linguistic and cultural exploration. Its intensive curriculum, including daily classes, small-group drill and discussion sessions, individual instruction, and faculty-supported evening study hours, together with the Chinese Language Pledge, is designed to help students make substantial progress in Chinese, strengthen accuracy and fluency, build sustainable learning habits, and develop greater confidence in using the language. 

The program is distinctive in two ways. First, rather than operating as a stand-alone summer language program, it is deeply integrated into the intellectual community of NYU Shanghai. Students benefit from the university’s academic resources through China Studies lectures, weekly cultural and language activities, daily Chinese tables—including a weekly off-campus restaurant exploration—and occasionally lunch-time “Meet the Expert” sessions. Second, our community engaged learning activities make Shanghai an extension of the classroom. Weekly field trips and the intersession study trip are carefully designed to connect language learning with academic inquiry and meaningful engagement with local people, communities, and institutions, giving students regular opportunities to put their Chinese to use in real-world settings.

Each instructional level also draws on our localized supplementary textbook, Life in Shanghai (人在上海), specifically developed for program students to help them articulate their experiences and reflections while living in Shanghai and traveling to nearby cities, from everyday life and local experiences to the deeper history and culture of Shanghai.
For students seeking a rigorous and immersive Chinese program that combines intensive language training, close faculty mentorship, and meaningful engagement with life in Shanghai, NYU Shanghai offers an experience that extends well beyond the traditional language classroom.

Light Fellowship Application Notes:

• NYU-Shanghai is currently under "pilot" status for Summer Chinese Language Study.