Summer Accelerated Chinese Language
Unique Experiences
Compress a year
of Mandarin progress into eight weeks with small classes and individual lessons.
Maximize immersion
by living with a Chinese host family or roommate.
Step outside to learn
via volunteering, cultural activities, and a weekend trip that includes practicing Mandarin in authentic situations.
11
ancient towns in Shanghai
268KM/H
top speed in MPH of the Shanghai Maglev train
24.3
residents
Your Destination
Perched on the banks of the Huangpu River and the East China Sea, Shanghai is China’s largest city by population, and a global hub of culture, commerce, and finance. Massively redeveloped over the past 20 years, the city boasts both classic and modern architecture, interacting harmoniously with the traditional Chinese cultural environment.
The CIEE Shanghai Center is located inside the Zhongbei Campus of East China Normal University in downtown Shanghai, known as the “Garden University” for its beautiful natural environment.
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Shanghai.
The Culture
Excursions & Activities
- Step back in time with a visit to Suzhou, a city like a paradise, known for its beautiful traditional gardens and silk production, or Zhujiajiao, a traditional water town, known for its narrow, cobbled lanes, stone bridges, canals, and rich history.
- Choose a weekend away to learn more about cultures in different regions of China. Destinations may include:
- Historic Xi’an – Explore the ancient capital city at the western end of the Silk Road and the burial place of China’s first emperor.
- Beijing – Experience the Forbidden City and the Great Wall with a visit to the modern capital.
- Huangshan – See the majestic Yellow Mountain in southern Anhui Province and visit Hongcun Village, where the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was filmed.
- Nanjing – Learn about the unique history of this capital of China’s multiple dynasties in ancient times by visiting Ming Tomb, Nanjing Presidential Palace, Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall and more
Program Blogs
Top 10 Chinese Slang Words & Phrases You Must Know
Think you’re fluent in Mandarin just because you’ve mastered “ni hao” and “xie xie”? Not so fast! To truly impress your new friends in Great China, you’ll need more than... keep reading
My Summer Story with CIEE Shanghai | Shanghai feels like a second home
By ELIZABETH ANNE MEYER, CIEE Shanghai Summer 2024 ACL 大家好！我是Liz，我的中文名字叫马风明。2024年夏天，我来到上海学习中文两个月。我探索了上海的许多地标，我非常感谢在华东师范大学学习！ 很难相信我的旅行快结束了! Studying abroad in Shanghai was an unforgettable experience that deeply enriched my understanding of Chinese language and culture. Immersed... keep reading
Study Abroad with CIEE Shanghai - Open Campus Block
By Christina Li - Open Campus - Spring 2024 CIEE Shanghai When I first landed in Shanghai in February, I was nervous about being part of a new culture, surrounded... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Shanghai offers various housing options, which include homestays with a Chinese host family or a campus residence hall with a Chinese roommate. All housing options are located in neighborhoods with convenient access to CIEE Shanghai (10 to 30 minutes walking distance or commute by public transportation for homestays; a 10-minute walk for campus residence hall).
Standard Housing: Includes a single room at a homestay or double room at the residence hall on campus.
- Homestays: Homestays boast a kitchen, living room, and bathroom shared with a host family (10 to 30 minutes walking distance or commute by public transportation) that are ideal for students who are looking to improve their Chinese language skills by immersing themselves in a traditional Chinese environment.
- Campus Residence Halls: The campus residence hall (next to CIEE Shanghai office building) boasts kitchens, common areas, and laundry facilities shared with other students.
Meals
Homestays: Students are invited to most meals but should budget for lunches and some weekend meals.
Residence halls: Students are responsible for meals. There are moderately priced cafeterias on campus and various options in the area surrounding the campus.
Academics
This program gives students a strong foundation in Chinese language through an intensive and Chinese language only environment. Designed for beginners and advanced Mandarin Chinese students alike, the program includes five course levels to develop your listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills, or elevate your language skills to a superior level, communicating with accuracy, fluency, and sophistication. In-class work is augmented with co-curricular visits to the city’s rich variety of cultural institutions and organizations relevant to the course offering.
CIEE Shanghai is located on East China Normal University (ECNU)’s downtown Putuo campus and is known as the “Garden University” for its beautiful grounds by the Liwa River. Chinese language and elective courses are taught by professional faculty members, including the CIEE language instructors, adjunct faculty from ECNU and other prestigious institutions, and professionals from the private business sector. A committee of specialists in teaching Chinese as a second language holds these courses to the highest educational standards.
Course Information
Course Notes
Students will take an on-site placement exam and be registered in the appropriate language levels based on their results.
Summer 2025
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
- The Stephen M. Lew Lifetime Friendship Award
- CIEE STEM Scholarship
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer 2025 8 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $8,250 |
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Participation Confirmation = $300*
Educational Costs = $5,860**
Housing = $1,890***
Insurance = $200
Total Fees = $8,250Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Meals not included in program fee = $280†
International Airfare = $1,300††
Local Transportation = $85†††
Books & Supplies = $10
Visa Fees = $185††††
Personal expenses = $220†††††
Total Costs = $2,080Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays. For students in residence halls, you should budget approx. $440 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††students living in homestay or enrolled in internships should budget $100
††††For students who must change their student visa on site because of internship course or extend the duration to cover the whole semester, an additional $150 is required.
†††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Jia Ma
Center Director
With over a decade of service at CIEE Shanghai, Jia Ma oversees the operations of the Shanghai center, providing a strong foundation for your experiences.
Qianrong Tang
Student Life Director
Qianrong Tang is responsible for all aspects of student service & student activity administration, and health, safety & security.
Sonya Zhao
Academic Director
Sonya holds two Master of Arts degrees - one in Communication Management from Emerson College, Boston, and another in International Development Studies from George Washington University in D.C. Before joining...
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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