2027 Summer Chinese Language Immersion Program

Summer Chinese Language Immersion Program   
Program Dates: Friday, May 28, 2027 through Saturday, July 31, 2027
Priority Deadline:  Sunday, January 31, 2027 
Regular Deadline: Sunday, February 14, 2027   
 

 

The Chinese Language Immersion Summer Program at NYU Shanghai offers students the opportunity to complete two semesters' worth of Chinese language study, earning 8 NYU Shanghai academic credits over nine weeks. This program is a blend of intensive language learning and cultural immersion in the vibrant city of Shanghai, where the city's storied past and cosmopolitan present offer endless opportunities for linguistic and cultural exploration. 

We offer five levels of instruction in modern Chinese: Elementary Chinese (First-Year), Intermediate Chinese (Second-Year), Advanced Chinese (Third-Year), Post-Advanced Chinese 1 (Fourth-Year), and Post-Advanced Chinese 2 (Fifth-Year). Our courses are taught by a highly experienced team of Chinese language faculty from NYU Shanghai and other prestigious universities in the U.S., ensuring personalized attention in a small and intimate class setting. The program’s intensive curriculum, combined with its language pledge, is designed to elevate your Chinese proficiency to the next level, build a solid foundation, foster sustainable learning habits, and ultimately empower you with the confidence and competence in using the Chinese language. 

Our summer program is distinguished by two key features: 

  • Integration within the broader intellectual community of NYU Shanghai, and
  • Deep engagement with the local neighborhoods, the city of Shanghai, and the surrounding regions. 

The program is an integral part of NYU Shanghai, the first Sino-U.S. research university in China. As such, our curriculum draws on the university’s academic strengths in broader China studies. Our approach goes beyond traditional language instruction by incorporating language content with insights from NYU faculty across various disciplines engaged in research on China. This integration ensures students not only acquire the language skills necessary to discuss topics in Chinese but also gain a deeper understanding of these topics through scholarly lenses. Our community-engaged learning activities further enrich this experience. Our field trips are carefully crafted to weave together academic perspectives, language learning, and deep community engagement, enabling our students to apply their classroom learning in real-world contexts.

Program Structure and Courses  |  Eligibility and How to Apply  |  Tuition & Fees  |  Financial Assistance  | Housing  |  FAQs  |  Contact

Program Structure and Courses

The courses are structured to ensure students will be “immersed” in the language environment. A comprehensive schedule encompasses daily classes, group drills, individual classes, co-curricular activities, and evening office hours. To gauge your progress, written and oral assessments will be conducted each week, and your teachers will provide personalized feedback to guide your improvement. 

Beyond the regular language classes, you will have opportunities to attend special lectures on China studies, take part in excursions in and around Shanghai, explore local cuisines through the “Chinese language table,” participate in extracurricular activities to appreciate Chinese culture, and interact with local students and residents through NYU Shanghai's unique community-engaged learning opportunities. You may also join or lead a student interest group in which you use Chinese with faculty and fellow students. (Past immersion program interest groups have included Chinese drama performance, Chinese movies, boxing, etc.). Our ultimate aim is to equip our students with the linguistic and cultural competence necessary to engage profoundly with China and its people.

Level 1: Elementary Level (First-Year Chinese)

Entry: Beginner 

Exit: Novice Mid to Novice High

This course is designed for non-native speakers of Chinese with no prior training in Mandarin. It is equivalent to two semesters of language study, encompassing both Elementary Chinese I and II (CHIN-SHU 101 & 102) within the NYU system and beyond.

Following ACTFL guidelines, students will learn to communicate using sentence-level language, ask and answer questions about learned material, and handle simple daily interactions. Instructors will guide students through mastering the Pinyin system of Chinese Romanization, acquiring basic grammatical structures, learning to read and write Chinese characters, and engaging in basic yet effective interactions with Chinese speakers on daily life topics covered in class.

By the end of the course, students are expected to reach the equivalent of the Novice Mid or Novice High of standard OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) or higher in oral communication skills.

Required Textbooks:

Liu, Yuehua, and Daozhong Yao, Nyan-Ping Bi, Liangyan Ge & Yaohua Shi. Integrated Chinese 1 (Volume 1). Boston: Cheng & Tsui, 2016 (4th edition).

Liu, Yuehua, and Daozhong Yao, Nyan-Ping Bi, Liangyan Ge & Yaohua Shi. Integrated Chinese 2 (Volume 2). Boston: Cheng & Tsui, 2016 (4th edition). 

Level 2: Intermediate Level (Second-Year Chinese) Description

Entry: Novice Mid to Novice High
Exit: Intermediate Low or higher

This course is designed for students who have successfully completed one year of college-level Mandarin Chinese, or its equivalent. It encompasses two semesters of language study, covering both Intermediate Chinese I and II (CHIN-SHU 201 & 202) within the NYU system and beyond.

The course materials transition from students’ daily lives to the cultural and societal aspects of China, facilitating language advancement from everyday conversation to more formal and in-depth discussions. In accordance with ACTFL guidelines, the course aims to help students develop the ability to comprehend and produce short paragraphs in Chinese that describe, narrate, explain, and compare topics covered by or related to the textbook, both orally and in writing. Instructors will continue to guide students in refining pronunciation, expanding vocabulary, internalizing complex grammatical structures, and developing communication skills in Chinese.

By completing this course, students are expected to reach an oral proficiency equivalent to Intermediate Low or higher on the standard Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), while also achieving a strong command of reading and writing in Chinese.

Required Textbooks:

Liu, Yuehua, and Daozhong Yao, Nyan-Ping Bi, Liangyan Ge & Yaohua Shi. Integrated Chinese 3 (Volume 3). Boston: Cheng & Tsui, 2016 (4th edition).

Liu, Yuehua, and Daozhong Yao, Nyan-Ping Bi, Liangyan Ge & Yaohua Shi. Integrated Chinese 4 (Volume 4). Boston: Cheng & Tsui, 2016 (4th edition). 

Level 3: Advanced Level (Third-Year Chinese) Description

Entry: Intermediate Low
Exit: Intermediate High or higher

This course is designed for students who have successfully completed two years of college-level Mandarin Chinese, or its equivalent. It encompasses two semesters of language study, covering both Advanced Chinese I and II (CHIN-SHU 301 & 302) within the NYU system and beyond.

The course offers an initial exploration of modern China, weaving advanced grammar and vocabulary into discussions of cultural and societal issues. Aligned with ACTFL guidelines, it aims to equip students with the skills necessary to deliver oral presentations and produce writings in formal or semi-formal styles that are well-organized, culturally appropriate, and rich in vocabulary. Students will learn to manage conversations on familiar topics, convey factual information, read formal Chinese texts, and compose short essays, reports, and various forms of correspondence.

By completing this course, students are expected to achieve an oral proficiency at or above Intermediate High on the standard Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), and at the same time, to have a solid command of reading and writing in Chinese.

Textbooks:

Liang Xia, et. al., New Horizons: An Intermediate-Advanced Course in Chinese (I), Chicago: Phoenix Tree Publishing Inc., 2024.

Chih-p’ing Chou, Jincheng Liu, and Xin Zou, Eyes on China, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2019. 

Level 4: Post-Advanced 1 (Fourth-Year) Description

Entry: Intermediate High
Exit: Advanced Low or higher

This course is designed for students who have successfully completed three years of college-level Mandarin Chinese, or its equivalent. It serves as a continuation of Advanced Chinese (CHIN-SHU 301 & 302; CHIN-SHU 301A & 302A) and is equivalent to two semesters of language study at the Post-Advanced Chinese (4th Year) level (CHIN-SHU 401-402) at NYU Shanghai and beyond. (Credits earned from this series can be applied toward a minor in Chinese at NYU Shanghai.)

This course delves deeper into Chinese society, history, and traditions that shape contemporary China. Through engagement with authentic texts across various genres and multimedia resources, students will gain insights into current issues in China while enhancing their command of spoken and written Chinese in formal contexts. Aligned with ACTFL guidelines, it aims to help students comprehend and produce discourse-level Chinese, addressing both factual details and abstract concepts across familiar and unfamiliar topics. The course integrates classroom learning with social practice and research projects, preparing students for academic or professional pursuits in China.

By completing this course, students are expected to achieve an oral proficiency at or above Advanced Low on the standard Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and a comparable level in reading and writing skills.

Textbook:

A course packet tailored to this level and compiled by NYU Shanghai faculty will be available to students upon their arrival. For a sample of the course packet content, please contact the summer office at shanghai.summer@nyu.edu.

Level 5: Post-Advanced 2 (Fifth-Year Chinese) Description

Entry: Advanced Low
Exit: Advanced High or higher

This capstone course is designed for students who have completed four years of college-level Mandarin Chinese, or the equivalent. It is equivalent to two semesters of language study at the advanced-high to superior-track level (CHIN-SHU 451–452) at NYU Shanghai and beyond. (Credits earned from this series can be applied toward a minor or major in Chinese at NYU Shanghai.)

Building on students’ advanced proficiency, this course opens the door to the intellectual worlds of both traditional and modern China. Students will read and analyze essays written by some of China’s most influential thinkers—from classical philosophers to modern intellectuals—in their original language. Through close reading, guided analysis, student-led discussions, and research-based writing, participants will deepen their understanding of key ideas that have shaped Chinese civilization across centuries.

Aligned with ACTFL’s Advanced and Superior-level proficiency guidelines, the course helps students strengthen their ability to comprehend and produce formal, discourse-level Chinese. Students will practice expressing and defending nuanced viewpoints, engaging with abstract concepts, and analyzing linguistic and rhetorical features in authentic texts. The course also incorporates social practice or research components to foster contextualized language use and intercultural understanding.

By completing this course, students are expected to reach oral proficiency at or above Advanced High, with some students approaching Superior on the ACTFL OPI, along with correspondingly high levels of reading and writing ability suitable for academic or professional contexts in Chinese.

Textbook: 
A faculty-compiled course packet tailored to Post-Advanced 2 will be provided to students upon arrival. For a sample of the course packet or additional information, please contact the summer office at shanghai.summer@nyu.edu.

Discover the summer immersion program through the experiences of previous students (Summer 2023, Summer 2024, Summer 2025, Summer 2026). Click here for samples of past academic talks.

Watch this short video for a quick look at our summer immersion program and hear what our students have to say.

 

Eligibility & How To Apply

Students enrolled in any accredited university who are fully committed to advancing their Chinese language skills to the next level are encouraged to apply. 

Application for Summer 2027 will officially open on December 1, 2026. The priority deadline is Sunday, January 31, 2027, and the regular deadline is Sunday, February 14, 2027. Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted, on a rolling basis. We encourage interested applicants to submit their materials as early as possible. Decisions are normally communicated within two weeks of the interview, and we aim to finalize all admissions decisions by mid-March of 2027.

NYU Shanghai students: Fill out the application form with your NYU account. The link will become available once the application period opens.

NYU New York and NYU Abu Dhabi students and Non-NYU Visiting students from other accredited universities: The official application system will start on December 1, 2026, for a reference of the application materials, please see the checklist here.

  • University transcript (an unofficial copy is acceptable)
  • Chinese writing sample (not required for Elementary Level applicants)
  • Three-minute speaking video in Chinese (Elementary Level applicants may record in English)
  • Personal statement (Applicants to Levels 3–5 are encouraged to write in Chinese)
  • Recommender’s contact information, including an official university email address (no recommendation letter required)
    Your recommender should be a college-level Chinese language instructor or a professor at your university who can comment on your academic standing and readiness for an intensive language program.

Detailed instructions will be available when the application period opens.

Note: Before applying, it is important to carefully consider the mental, emotional, and physical challenges of attending an intensive summer language training program. You are responsible for notifying the Summer Immersion Program, before the program begins, of any medical conditions that may require extra attention.
 

Tuition & Fees

Program Fees for Summer 2027 are $8650, including:

  • Tuition:  $5,684 (include a $500 non-refundable deposit)
  • Program Administration Fee (includes international health insurance, all program activities, weekly external Chinese language tables, and weekly field trips and intersession social study trip): $600
  • Books and Course Materials Flat Fee**: $150
  • Campus Housing Estimate (double-occupancy): $2216

Students are responsible for round trip airfare, daily meals, and personal expenses. Immigration costs vary depending on student citizenship. For more detailed information about estimated living expenses, please contact the Summer Immersion Program administrator, Ms. Zhongze “Miranda” Xia (Xia Laoshi 夏老师), at shanghai.chinese.summer@nyu.edu and zx2455@nyu.edu. 

** All books and materials will be made available upon the start of the course. The flat fee is adjusted after the first week of classes to reflect your actual book charges and any amount paid.

For information about billing, payments, and refunds please visit the Bursar's website.

 

Financial Assistance

Financial Aid

US citizens/eligible non-citizens (NYU New York and Shanghai Students): Federal financial aid (i.e. federal Direct student/parent loan) is available during the summer session(s) for students enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits, who also have a valid FAFSA on file, and are otherwise eligible.

NYU Shanghai Students: At this time there is no institutional scholarship/grant aid available for summer session(s).

NYU New York Students: Please visit the financial aid website for additional information regarding financial aid options for summer session(s).

All Other Students (including Visiting Students): Visiting students or current NYU students who are not eligible for federal financial aid will be able to seek out alternative loans. Students seeking alternative loans are encouraged to relay to their potential lender the number of credits they are taking and the type of student they are (i.e. in a degree or non-degree program at NYU) as lenders have different eligibility criteria.

NYU cannot recommend or endorse any particular private lender. Students are encouraged to research their options carefully. Please visit the financial aid website for more information about private (non-federal) alternative loans.

Please note:  
Students who decrease or cancel summer session enrollment or who do not attend will have their summer award adjusted or canceled accordingly. This adjustment in financial aid may result in a balance on your bursar bill. Changes in enrollment affect the cost of attendance and the amount of aid that you are eligible to receive. Your financial aid cannot exceed your estimated cost of attendance.

Other Sources of Aid 
Your college or university may also have FLAS (Foreign Language and Area Studies) grants, or other grant programs, available for Chinese language study. 

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship 
Available for U.S. citizens who are receiving a Federal Pell Grant. Now available to students of ALL majors. 

Boren Awards 
The Boren Scholarships and Fellowships programs focus on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study critical to U.S. national security that are not emphasized in other U.S. study abroad programs. Through a merit-based, national, annual competition, successful applicants distinguish themselves as both highly motivated in their academic and career goals, as well as in their strong commitment to public service.  

Freeman-ASIA 
Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. 

Rotary Foundation Fellowships 
Many Rotary Club chapters have scholarships for study abroad. Contact your local Rotary Club for more information. To find a Rotary club near you, please use their Club Locator.

 

Housing

As an Immersion Program summer student, you are required to live in NYU Shanghai dormitory housing as a condition of the program. Housing is available only for the dates of the program. (move-in: Friday, May 28, 2027, after noon;  move-out: Saturday, July 31, 2027, before noon)

9-week housing rates in Summer 2026 are listed below. Updated rates for Summer 2027 will be posted inApril 2027. 

Room Type9-week rate (RMB)
Triple Studio¥9,615
Double Studio¥12,965
Double In Suite¥15,035

Contact: If you have any further questions, please contact the Summer Immersion Program administrator, Ms. Zhongze “Miranda” Xia (Xia Laoshi 夏老师), at shanghai.chinese.summer@nyu.edu and zx2455@nyu.edu.