CET Shanghai: At-A-Glance

Diverse English-taught electives

Unmatched internship opportunities

Chinese language courses for every level

Live with a Chinese student

Out-of-class learning and assignments

Weekend excursion to the Yangtze Delta region

SPRING

Fall

SPring

Shanghai is a cosmopolitan city with something for everyone—from China newbies to those with years of experience under their belt. Dig into China with a wide selection of English-taught electives, including an option to explore a career abroad with a custom internship placement. And whether you only know nĭ hăo or can already hold a conversation, a Chinese language class and local roommate help you make the most of your study abroad experience in Shanghai.

Academics in Shanghai

Semester
Snapshot

Curriculum & Syllabi

You combine three 3-credit electives with one 6-credit Chinese language course to meet a total of 15 recommended credits.

Electives

You choose three of these 3-credit, English-taught courses:

Chinese Language

You are placed into one of these 6-credit comprehensive language courses:

Choose your adventure in Shanghai

Electives in English. Get a 360° view of China with electives that embrace field-based learning and match the academic rigor of your home university. Fulfill your major or minor requirements, or try something entirely new—the choice is yours.

Advance your Chinese. Small class sizes, weekly one-on-ones, and passionate instructors help you establish or grow your Chinese language skills, while language practica get you using your Chinese beyond the classroom where it really counts.

Intern in Shanghai. If you enroll in the Internship elective, we take your interests, background, and language abilities and match them with the needs of an organization in Shanghai. You learn to navigate an international workplace with professionalism and take ownership of your own experiences.

Learn more about

Housing and Meals

Living Like a Local

Local Roommates. Your roommate is a CET-selected student from our host institution, Donghua University. Want to learn where to get the best shengjianbao (fried breakfast buns)? Where to study off campus? Sharing a room with a local student gives you instant insider’s access to the city. But more importantly, it gives you someone to share the city with. Learn more about living with a local roommate.

Eating in Shanghai. For meals, do as the local students do and eat at the budget-friendly campus cafeterias, try nearby food stalls, or find your favorite neighborhood restaurant. Feeling a home-cooked meal? Have a night in with your roommate and trade cooking tips as you prepare dinner together in the dorm’s shared kitchen. Learn more about accommodating your dietary needs in Shanghai.

Note: In light of China’s COVID restrictions, the local roommates component of the program may not resume right away. CET will make every effort to make local students a part of the program, likely serving as language exchange partners and cultural resources.

Learn more about Summer in Shanghai

Life in Shanghai

CET Shanghai study abroad students enjoy the perks of living in a city that is both cosmopolitan and culturally rich—plenty of modern amenities, diverse communities, and a history worth exploring. Take a stroll in the French Concession to see where East meets West. Chat with shop owners. Line up at Shanghai’s famous hole-in-the-wall noodle spots. Start your international network in the city’s buzzing business scene. There’s something for everyone in Shanghai.

Experience Shanghai with CET

Around the City. Each term, the program offers different extra-curricular activities that allow you to explore the city and Chinese culture. Visit a Buddhist temple. Take a food tour of dumpling shops. See contemporary art at the MoCA Shanghai. And there’s even more to see on your own.

A Weekend Away. Take a breather from the hustle and bustle of Shanghai with a program-led weekend trip to the rural Yangtze Delta region. Contextualize class discussions on regional migration and the urban/rural divide. Soak up the fresh air and hospitality of the Chinese countryside. All you have to do is pack your bags—we take care of everything else.

Student Resources

"Coming to China, my main goal was to learn Chinese. However, I think being in China, living with a Chinese roommate who has very limited English, and just meeting new people and ideas, has cultivated a new sense of confidence in my Chinese skills that I wouldn’t have gotten in the United States. I was put in situations where I was flustered, excited, etc., and being able to use the knowledge of the Chinese language I do have is an opportunity beyond the classroom."
— Hailey Lipman
Wake Forest University | Fall student

"Every day I am given opportunities to push my limits, try new things, and step outside my comfort zone. I experience the most self growth when challenged, therefore being in Shanghai, especially at my internship, is helping me to become a more mature, self sufficient, and confident person."
— Hannah Wevodau,
Gettysburg College | Spring student

On-site Staff

Qu Zheng
Academic Director

Allison Rottmann, Ph.D.
Academic Director

Jeremy Friedlein
Program Development Specialist

Zhang Xinjun
Office Manager

Program Fees

Fall/Spring

$18,990

What's Included

Tuition

All of your classes and program-related learning are included with your tuition.

Housing

We arrange for you to live in a dormitory with a local roommate. Your program fees go toward rent, furnishing, and other management costs.

Internship Placement & Support

If you choose to intern while in Shanghai, we help you land the internship and make sure you’re prepared. And after you get started, we stay in close touch with your host organization to provide support all semester long.

Staff Support

From pre-departure to orientation, from on site to re-entry, CET provides you with the support you need every step of the way.

Insurance

You’re provided with a comprehensive insurance plan through GeoBlue that even includes medical evacuation coverage.

Activities & Excursions

The activities and excursions that we arrange are included in your program fee. All you need to do is remember to bring your camera!

Visa Fees & Support

We guide you step-by-step through the visa process. You’ll need to do the legwork, but we pay the consular fees if you obtain your visa through the service we recommend.

Course Materials

Your textbooks and course supplies are covered and waiting for you on site.

Transcript

You’ll receive an official transcript jointly issued by CET and Donghua University. If your home institution requires a School of Record transcript, CET is able to provide one through the University of Minnesota.

More on finances

Program Fee Breakdown. Of the total program fee, $15,990 goes to tuition and fees, and $3,000 goes to housing and other student life fees.

Local Cost of Living. Day-to-day cost of living in Shanghai is generally cheaper than the United States. Meals and transit are cheaper, but western comforts (restaurants, coffee, etc.) cost about the same or more than they do in the US.

Estimated out-of-pocket expenses:

additional resources

How to Apply

As Mainland China slowly opens back up to study abroad opportunities, we are optimistic about operating our Beijing, Shanghai, and Harbin programs for the Fall 2023 term. For more information, see our Mainland China: Re-Opening Update.

Eligibility

• Pre-requisites: None. Open to students of any Chinese level, including absolute beginners
• Must be 18 or older at the time of program participation.
• Open to students from any US college or university
• GPA: 3.0 or higher preferred, but admissions decisions are made on a case-by-case basis; lower GPAs still encouraged to apply

Online Application Form

Complete the application through your online CET account. This is a brief form that asks for basic information and has a few short answer questions about why you want to study abroad.

Passport Information

Upload a scan of your passport to your online CET account. This should be a single scan that includes the signed signature page and the photo/personal details page. Don’t have a passport yet? Let us know and we can help advise you.

Faculty Recommendation

Use the link in your online account to send a recommendation request to one of your previous instructors.

Study Abroad Office Recommendation

This is an online form that your study abroad office completes to let us know you meet the requirements to study abroad. To send the electronic form request, simply enter the name and email address of your study abroad advisor in the designated fields of your online account.

Official Transcript

Your online CET account has specific instructions for submitting an official transcript.

Application
Deadlines

Fall Semester:

May 1

Spring Semester:

November 1

Have a question? Get in touch!

Annie Belleville

Student Services Coordinator
202.846.7648
[email protected]

Price Subject to Change:

CET reserves the right to increase quoted charges at any time without prior notification, based on increased instruction costs, exchange rate fluctuation or other cost increases beyond CET’s control.

Our goal is to offer every single course every term, but sometimes factors like faculty availability and program enrollment keep us from reaching that goal. If you’re concerned about needing to enroll in any one particular course, please contact us! We’ll try our best to get you the course you need.

CET Shanghai: At-A-Glance

Fall

SPRING

Fall

SPring