Summer Accelerated Chinese Language
Unique Experiences
Compress a Year of Mandarin Progress into 8 Weeks
with small classes and individual lessons
Maximize Cultural Immersion
by living with a Chinese host family or roommate
Step Outside to Learn
by volunteering, cultural activities, and a weekend trip that includes practicing Mandarin in authentic situations
Your Destination
Shanghai is China's cosmopolitan hub, known for its vibrant summer atmosphere and rich cultural heritage. Summer is the perfect time to explore the city's dynamic mix of old and new – wander through historic sites like Yu Garden and the French Concession, take in the skyline from The Bund, and enjoy lively night markets and seasonal festivals. Whether you're a first- or fifth-year Mandarin student, Shanghai is the perfect place to study abroad in the summer.
Program Highlights
- Academic Course: Take one CIEE course delivered in-person at the CIEE Center.
- Immersive Experiences: Participate in activities, excursions, study tours, and more that showcase your host city's culture, values, and local art, film, music, cuisine, and sports scenes.
Excursions & Activities
CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Shanghai will open doors for you to explore China’s rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.
Samples of past excursions and activities:
- Step back in time with a visit to Zhujiajiao, a traditional water town, known for its narrow, cobbled lanes, stone bridges, canals, and rich history
- Visit Nanjing to learn about the unique history of China’s multiple dynasties in ancient times
- Visit Beijing to experience the Forbidden City and The Great Wall
Please note: Activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Program Blogs
Top 11 Summer Language Programs Abroad
If you’ve always thought it would be cool to learn another language, there’s no better time than now to immerse yourself in it. In fact, did you know that about... keep reading
Chinese New Year: The Ultimate Guide
Red envelopes, firecrackers, and a feast that puts your college meal plan to shame – Chinese New Year is the celebration of the year, and you don’t want to miss... keep reading
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
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 a shared kitchen, common areas, and laundry facilities shared with other students.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
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
CIEE Shanghai: Study on the campus of East China Normal University (ECNU), CIEE's esteemed partner institution, CIEE Shanghai features a library, a student life office, and an academic advising office. Students are encouraged to use ECNU's library and outdoor facilities as needed.
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.
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
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 | $5,975 ** |
| Housing | $1,975 *** |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total Fees | $8,450 |
Financial 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.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
*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.
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 | $8,250 |
Financial 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.
Estimated 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 | $2,080 |
*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.
You might also like
- Shanghai, China
- Full-Time Internship
- Shanghai, China
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship
- Shanghai, China
- Study Program
- Full-Time Internship