Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of questions that we frequently get about the Shanghai program. If you have a question that you don't see on the list, why not contact us to add your question to the list!
When does the Shanghai Program Start?
The exact date of the term is yet to be determined, but the Shanghai program will start with the rest of the full-time international programs in early-mid September of 2008.
Can I attend the program for only one semester?
Yes, like all of the year-round programs, you can apply for two semesters or only one semester. However, it is encouraged for most students to consider applying for both semesters for several reasons. Unlike Europe or a ‘western’ culture, Chinese culture is more complex to understand as a westerner, and although a semester experience will certainly be exciting and world-changing on it’s own, it is often just by the end of one semester of study that students really begin to enter a deeper maturity of cultural awareness and understanding, and the point at which they start making some of the greatest strides in advancing in the language.
Is there good public transportation in Shanghai?
Probably the best of anywhere I’ve seen. 90% of getting around the city can be done easily and relatively quickly using subways and taxis. The well-developed subway line makes most of the city accessible on its own, but taxis are also very common (and very cheap) for getting to areas not easily accessed by subways. A public bus system is also extensively developed and used – and is generally the absolute cheapest option of the three. For convenience, you will be given a public transportation card that you can keep refilling with money throughout the year, and that you can use on all three of these primary modes of public transportation. An even more adventurous person might consider purchasing a bicycle or a 电动车, or electric scooter! Or, of course, you can walk...
Can I get an internship while I am in Shanghai?
Possibly. Because it is still the first year of the program, we will not be structuring an internship experience in the program, but if it is something you are interested in once you have been accepted to the program, keep in touch with us, as we will need to determine what is permissible given your visa type and status.
Can I get an internship while I am in Shanghai?
Possibly. Because it is still the first year of the program, we will not be structuring an internship experience in the program, but if it is something you are interested in once you have been accepted to the program, keep in touch with us, as we will need to determine what is permissible given your visa type and status.
Is Shanghai a safe city?
Compared to any large cosmopolitan city, Shanghai is an incredibly safe city to live in and study. Petty theft of personal items do happen if you are not careful with where you leave your bags when travelling, or not properly locking a bicycle, etc., but violent crime is incredibly low. Anecdotally, my basic analysis of a location's safety is how I would feel about my wife running by herself between 10-11pm. I have never questioned her safety in doing so in Shanghai – which is more than I can say for many cities in the US.