A degree-granting campus in China’s most innovative and international city, NYU Shanghai is a unique opportunity for students who want to study abroad in China. Here, a full range of course offerings across 19 majors means you can stay on track at any level. And from art and business to the sciences and humanities, you can also explore outside your discipline. If China is your focus, you can work on fluency in Chinese language courses, opt for some of the many place-based courses across the areas of study, or take courses in the Global China Studies program.
Students at NYU Shanghai will receive two diplomas, as follows:
New York University, founded in 1831 AND
(NYU Shanghai), founded in 2012.
NYU Shanghai is recognized in China as the only Chinese joint venture university involving an American partner that is authorized to grant degrees, certified by China’s Ministry of Education
NYU Shanghai is China’s first Sino-US research university and the third degree-granting campus of the NYU Global Network. We were founded in 2012 by New York University and East China Normal University with the support of the city of Shanghai and the district of Pudong.
NYU Shanghai seeks to cultivate globally-minded graduates through innovative teaching, world-class research, and a commitment to public service.
Our student body currently consists of nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students, half of whom are from China. Students from the United States and some 70 other countries represent the other half. Our faculty of renowned scholars, innovators, and educators are recruited from the world’s best research universities.
A Global Perspective on Academics
Undergraduate Education
All undergraduate students pursue a course of study that will equip them with the broad knowledge base and tools to become creative thinkers and active learners throughout their lives.
English is the language of instruction on campus, though international students are required to study and achieve proficiency in Mandarin Chinese. The university regularly fosters opportunities for cross-cultural communication and cooperation in the classroom and through diverse extracurricular activities.
NYU Shanghai expects undergraduate students to spend the first two years on core courses and to select an academic specialization for deeper study and research in their third and fourth years. Students may pursue 19 different majors in the arts and sciences, business and finance, engineering, data and computer science.
Over the course of their undergraduate studies, NYU Shanghai students are encouraged to spend up to two semesters studying in New York, Abu Dhabi or at one of NYU’s twelve study away centers in cities around the world. This is an integral part of the University’s mission to foster truly global citizens.
Upon graduation, students will have earned two diplomas: An NYU degree (the same degree granted at our New York and Abu Dhabi campuses) and a Chinese-accredited NYU Shanghai diploma.
Graduate and Advanced Education
At the graduate level, NYU Shanghai offers master’s, PhD, and non-degree programs in a wide range of academic and professional disciplines. Through collaborations with peer NYU schools and departments, our offerings leverage the intellectual resources of the NYU Global Network and feature semesters of study in Shanghai, New York City, and around the world.
Hundreds of graduate students make NYU Shanghai their home every year. From master’s students taking the next steps in their careers in Data Analytics and TESOL to PhD students conducting research at the frontiers of Chemistry and Neural Science, our graduate students make up a diverse and thriving community whose passions and energy enrich the university.
For more information about all of our 7 master’s programs, 10 PhD programs, and various non-degree programs, visit NYU Shanghai Graduate and Advanced Education.
Nearly 300 members of NYU Shanghai’s Class of 2021 hailing from 35 countries celebrated four years of achievement and perseverance on May 25, in the university’s first in-person undergraduate commencement ceremony since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 226 students processed across the Shanghai Oriental Art Center stage to receive their degrees, while an additional 69 students joined remotely in the livestreamed ceremony, watched by hundreds of viewers around the globe.
NYU Shanghai’s graduates were also joined in person by 101 members of NYU’s Class of 2021 who are participating in the university’s “Go-Local” program. Over 40 members of the NYU Shanghai Class of 2020 – who last year were forced to celebrate their own graduation online – were among the live audience in the Oriental Art Center to cheer on their classmates, alongside limited numbers of friends and family members.
Commencement Speaker and Director of the Department of Infectious Disease at Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University Dr. Zhang Wenhong, one of China’s leading infectious disease researchers and head of the medical advisory group that has successfully led Shanghai’s COVID-19 pandemic control efforts, filled the theater with laughter as he shared humorous observations from his own life before imparting the lessons he learned from managing the pandemic. For his leadership in challenging times, Zhang was awarded the NYU Shanghai Chancellor’s Medal of Honor during the ceremony.
Zhang recounted how his hospital sent four groups of doctors to Wuhan in January 2020 at the pandemic’s start. “They were both ordinary doctors – and heroes. When they first went to Wuhan, the situation was very bad, but the power of teamwork finally defeated fear and uncertainty,” Zhang recalled.
“Cooperation and sacrifice are still our weapons to overcome all difficulties. The spirit of cooperation and teamwork cultivated by New York University Shanghai will become the fundamental power for you to overcome all difficulties in the future,” he said, noting that the ongoing challenges of inequality in access to vaccines and medical supplies will require global cooperation to overcome.
“I believe that the future of humans depends on whether the young people of the world can finally come together.”
Despite a host of challenges, NYU Shanghai’s Class of 2021 have indeed succeeded in finding promising next steps. This year’s graduates have earned placements in Master’s and PhD programs at universities around the globe, including Harvard University, University of Oxford, Yale University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Princeton University. Two Class of 2021 students have been named Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University, and one has been named a Yenching Scholar at Peking University. Students joining the workforce have received offers from some of the world’s most influential companies, including J.P. Morgan, Alipay, Tencent, Microsoft, and Unilever.
In light of these achievements, Vice Chancellor Jeffrey Lehman asked students to be thoughtful in how they define success now that the pandemic has shifted each of our perspectives on the brevity and value of our lives.
“Flourishing has never been about meeting someone else’s definition of ‘success’ … To flourish you must fill your life with a collection of activities that you feel lucky to be doing. … [A]nd recognize that to flourish, you must deal well with your own failures,” Lehman said.
“During the pandemic, we have all been failing more seriously and more frequently than ever before…. People who flourish know how to get back up, dust themselves off, ask forgiveness if their mistake hurt somebody else, and move ahead.”
Nyu Shanghai Academic Calendar
Fall 2021
| Date | Event |
| Monday, August 30 | Fall Semester Classes Begin/ 1st 7-week Classes Begin |
| Friday, September 3 | Add and Drop Course Deadline – 1st 7-week |
| Friday, September 10 | Add and Drop Course Deadline – Fall Full term |
| Tuesday, September 21 | Mid-Autumn Festival |
| Friday, September 24 | Course Withdrawal & Pass/Fail Option Deadline – 1st 7-week |
| Sunday, September 26 | Legislative Day (classes meet on Tuesday schedule) |
| Friday, October 1- Thursday, October 7 | National Day Holiday: Fall Break |
| Friday, October 22 | Last Day of 1st 7-week Classes |
| Monday, October 25 | 2nd 7-week Classes Begin |
| Friday, October 29 | Midterm Grades Deadline – Fall full term |
| Friday, October 29 | Add and Drop Course Deadline – 2nd 7-week |
| Sunday, November 14 | Legislative Day (classes meet on Thursday schedule) |
| Monday, November 15 | Course Withdrawal & Pass/Fail Option Deadline – Fall full term |
| Friday, November 19 | Course Withdrawal & Pass/Fail Option Deadline – 2nd 7-wk |
| Thursday, November 25, 2021 – Friday, November 26 | Thanksgiving Holiday |
| Sunday, November 28 | Legislative Day (classes meet on Friday schedule) |
| Week of November 29- December 3 | Registration for Spring Semester 2022 Begins (tentative) |
| Friday, December 10 | Last Day of Fall Semester Classes/Last Day of 2nd 7-week Classes |
| Saturday, December 11 | Reading Day |
| Monday, December 13- Friday, December 17 | Final Exams |
| Saturday, December 18 | Fall Move Out (Study Away & Fall term-only students) |
| Grades are due 72 hours after the scheduled final exam date | Final Grades Deadline |
| Saturday, December 18 – Sunday, January 23 | Winter Break |
Optional January Term 2022
| Date | Event |
| Sunday, January 2 | January Term Move-in |
| Monday, January 3 | January Term Classes Begin |
| Tuesday, January 4 | Add and Drop Course Deadline |
| Thursday, January 13 | Course Withdrawal & Grading Option Deadline |
| Thursday, January 20 | Last Day of January Term Classes |
| Friday, January 21 | January Term Move-out |
Spring 2022
| Date | Event |
| Monday, January 24 | Spring Semester Classes Begin/ 1st 7-week Classes Begin ( The classes in the first week will be online) |
| Friday, January 28 | Add and Drop Course Deadline – 1st 7-week |
| Monday, January 31- Friday, February 4 | Spring Festival |
| Friday, February 11 | Add and Drop Course Deadline – Spring full term |
| Friday, February 25 | Course Withdrawal & Pass/Fail Option Deadline – 1st 7-week |
| Friday, March 18 | Last Day of 1st 7-week Classes |
| Monday, March 21 | 2nd 7-week Classes Begin |
| Friday, March 25 | Midterm Grades Deadline |
| Friday, March 25 | Add and Drop Course Deadline – 2nd 7-week |
| Friday, April 1 | Course Withdrawal & Pass/Fail Option Deadline – Spring full term |
| Tuesday, April 5 – Friday, April 8 | Spring Recess (Includes Qingming Holiday) |
| Week of April 11-15 (Tentative) | Registration for Fall Semester 2022 Begins |
| Friday, April 22 | Course Withdrawal & Pass/Fail Option Deadline – 2nd 7-week |
| Monday, May 2 | China Labor Day Holiday |
| Friday, May 13 | Last Day of Spring Semester Classes/Last Day of 2nd 7-week Classes |
| Saturday, May 14 | Reading Day |
| Monday, May 16 – Friday, May 20 | Final Exams |
| Saturday, May 21 | Spring Move Out (all except Summer Session & graduating seniors) |
| Thursday, May 26 | Commencement |
Nyu Shanghai Gpa Requirement
NYU’s global network requires students to have a 3.00 cumulative grade point average to study away. Students with a GPA below 3.00 should discuss their options with their advisor and may need to petition to the Academic Standards Committee.
What are the eligibility requirements to study away?
- NYU Shanghai follows the Office of Global Programs policy regarding incomplete grades and study away admission. Incomplete (I) grades on students’ transcript must be resolved before an admissions decision for study away can be made.
- Students returning from a leave of absence are expected to successfully complete one academic semester (Fall or Spring) of full-time coursework in Shanghai before being eligible to enroll in a study away program.
- NYU Shanghai follows the Office of Global Programs policy regarding academic/ disciplinary probation and study away admission. Students currently on probation are ineligible for study away.
- Students are required to have completed Elementary Chinese II or 8 credits of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) before they are eligible to study away. Students should develop a study away plan in consultation with their academic advisor.
- Students must be in attendance in Shanghai in their final semester.
- Suggested GPA of 3.0 or higher; students with lower GPA’s are encouraged to provide insight to their academic goals in the personal statement
How to Apply
Step 1: Start and Complete the Common Application Online
The Common Application is required for students applying to any or all of NYU’s three degree-granting campuses in Shanghai, New York, or Abu Dhabi. You’ll be able to choose your campus(es) and program(s) of interest on the NYU Questions page of the Common Application. If NYU Shanghai is your first choice, select Shanghai as your Primary campus of interest. If Shanghai is your second or third choice, please select it as an alternate campus of interest.
You’ll need:
- Contact information for the counselor or other school representative who will complete your Common Application School Report and submit your official high school transcript.
- Contact information for one teacher (or two, maximum) who will complete the Teacher Evaluation form.
- Nonrefundable $80.00 application fee. Students who are unable to pay the application fee can request a fee waiver.
Step 2: Gather and Submit Necessary Documents
You will need to provide the following:
- Results from standardized tests and/or national exams (read important updates in light of COVID-19)
- The SAT Reasoning Test (essay test not required); or
- The ACT (writing test not required); or
- Three SAT Subject Test scores (one in literature or humanities, one in math or science, and one of your choosing); or
- Three AP exam scores (one in literature or humanities, one in math or science, and one of your choosing); or
- The International Baccalaureate Diploma; or
- Three IB higher-level exam scores (if you are not an IB Diploma candidate); o
- Results from a nationally accredited exam that is considered locally to signify the completion of secondary education, is administered independently of the student’s school, and has been approved by the NYU Office of Undergraduate Admissions
- Results from English language testing are required for students whose native language is not English (unless they have been in a school where English is the sole language of instruction for 3 years prior to applying). Please review NYU’s English Language Testing Requirements for Non-Native English Speakers before applying to ensure that you have completed the required testing by the application deadline.
- The Common Application School Report and official high school transcript
- One teacher evaluation (students may submit an optional second teacher evaluation, but please submit no more than two)
- The Common Application Mid-Year Report (This should show your first semester senior year grades. Have your counselor submit the report by March 1 through the Common Application.)
- The Common Application Final Report with final transcript, showing proof of graduation by August 1 (admitted students only)
Please note that for the SAT, SAT Subject Test, AP, and TOEFL, the NYU code is 2562; for the ACT, the NYU code is 2838.
SAT, SAT Subject, ACT, and AP scores must be final at the time of application. For other examinations, like IB or A-Levels, predicted results may be submitted at the time of application by a school official if final results are not yet available. Students who submit predicted results will need to submit final scores as soon as they become available. For a comprehensive list of standardized tests that can be submitted to fulfill the application requirements visit NYU Standardized Testing Policy.
- Results from English language testing are required for students whose native language is not English (unless they have been in a school where English is the sole language of instruction for 3 years prior to applying). Please review NYU’s English Language Testing Requirements for Non-Native English Speakers before applying to ensure that you have completed the required testing by the application deadline.
- The Common Application School Report and official high school transcript
- One teacher evaluation (students may submit an optional second teacher evaluation, but please submit no more than two)
- The Common Application Mid-Year Report (This should show your first semester senior year grades. Have your counselor submit the report by March 1 through the Common Application.)
- The Common Application Final Report with final transcript, showing proof of graduation by August 1 (admitted students only)
Please note that for the SAT, SAT Subject Test, AP, and TOEFL, the NYU code is 2562; for the ACT, the NYU code is 2838.
Sending Documents
Submit original or certified copies only. A certified copy has an original signature of the registrar or other designated school official, or the institution’s seal. Include an official English translation if the document isn’t in English. A school official or a translation agency accredited in the country of the educational institution can issue the translation. NYU will only make exceptions for documents in Mandarin Chinese submitted to NYU Shanghai.
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