SPS Start@NYU Shanghai

As a member of the Graduate Student Leadership Board (GSLB) at NYU Shanghai, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my semester here. The small community at NYU Shanghai has greatly enriched my study experience, offering abundant opportunities for interaction with our professors and fostering a highly engaging academic environment. Beyond the classroom, NYU Shanghai hosts a variety of events, such as the “Incubating the Next Leaders” networking event, which allows us to connect with professionals and help us build essential networking skills for our future careers. For students considering this program, I highly recommend seizing every opportunity to engage with the community and participate in every event. These experiences are not only fun but also incredibly valuable for personal and professional growth.

As a first-year Integrated Marketing Master's student, I decided to start my first semester at NYU Shanghai. While applying for the IM program, I was introduced to the amazing opportunity to complete my first semester in Shanghai. To me, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m so glad I went through with it!

The most valuable thing I learned during my time in Shanghai was broadening my global perspective. Especially inside the classroom, not only did I gain deep knowledge and understanding of marketing, but I did so within a more global context, including both the American and Chinese markets. I found this to be incredibly helpful as a future marketer, as I was able to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and the marketing industry.

I also appreciated how sweet, welcoming, and helpful all my professors, classmates, and the OGAE staff were, as I was the only international student in my cohort. SPS Start@NYU Shanghai made me feel so comfortable and welcomed, for which I am extremely grateful. I never imagined myself traveling to China, let alone studying there! I’ve made so many precious memories and formed strong friendships that I wouldn’t change for anything.

One of my favorite memories was traveling and exploring Shanghai and other parts of China. During university breaks, I visited Beijing and Sichuan, which was so much fun—trying different regional cuisines, learning about cultural history, visiting iconic landmarks, and more!

I highly recommend that students considering this program complete a study away at NYU Shanghai. You will blossom and grow in ways you didn’t expect, take away amazing experiences and memories, and make meaningful connections and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Lastly, one piece of advice for any students considering the program: if you have the opportunity to take Chinese language classes, do it! During my semester, it was offered as a zero-credit course, so even though it wasn’t required, I still took it, and it helped me so much. My entire semester felt much more comfortable and enjoyable by learning some Chinese and applying it to everyday situations outside of class. Taking classes or surrounding yourself with Chinese friends and learning from them is incredibly beneficial. It feels so rewarding and fun to put yourself out there and practice your Chinese, even if it feels intimidating at first. I believe it really adds to the experience of living abroad.

I am so extremely grateful that NYU SPS offered this program, and I would tell all students considering it to go for it! It will be one of the best decisions you make!

As a student majoring in Integrated Marketing, I highly recommend the SPS Start@NYU Shanghai Program! First of all, NYU Shanghai offers a wide range of academic and professional opportunities. One of the things that set NYU Shanghai apart is that professors would regularly invite prominent figures from various industries to deliver lectures to students almost each week. These individuals may come from renowned companies such as Louis Vuitton, Hennessy, etc. Additionally, students are provided with opportunities to collaborate with real-world businesses like Shiseido, Estée Lauder, Philips, and others, where they can work on marketing plans and campaigns. To me, these experiences were incredibly valuable. Besides, as a global city that embraces diversity, Shanghai is a hub for multicultural immersion and language learning. Welcome to join us at NYU Shanghai!!

The Semester Study Program at NYU Shanghai was an intense and magical life experience for me. Our campus, to start with, had everything we needed, be it library, career services or graduate lounge. As one of the cohort leaders, I would share the students’ feedback and concerns with the Office of Graduate and Advanced Education, who took these feedback seriously and were very responsive. Outside the classroom, I was able to get an internship in Shanghai, a thriving metropolis, which will certainly be of great help to me long term.