Orientation
In your first few days you値l attend a student orientation that will help you get a sense of your new and what might be a very different lifestyle in Shanghai. The NYU in Shanghai staff provide you with a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of the academic program and life in China to assure you make the most of your experience. You値l try the local cuisine, learn how to observe local customs and begin to navigate the city痴 public transportation network. Orientation also includes a set of local trips that introduce you to just a few of the local wonders you値l discover in Shanghai such as the Maglev train, the Yu Gardens and City God Temple. On-site staff will share Shanghai life with you through cultural activities like cooking lessons, visits to the homes of some of the city痴 Old Town residents, and a Chinese Acrobatic show. During orientation you値l also be able to sign up for community service activities and meet with local business leaders about internship opportunities in a variety of industries that you can participate in over the semester.
Housing and Meals
NYU guarantees housing to all of its students in Shanghai, and all students are required to reside in NYU-arranged housing facilities as a condition of enrollment. Housing is located on the East China Normal University campus in a residence for international students. It is only a short walk away from the NYU Academic Center and classrooms. Room options include single rooms, each with a private bathroom. The rooms will be equipped with adjustable AC/heating units, a TV, a private phone line, and internet. Both the campus and the residence have 24-hour security.
By the time you arrive in Shanghai you値l have already selected your housing and will move into your new home upon your arrival. Housing is arranged by the program and both required and guaranteed for all students studying at NYU in Shanghai. You値l be able to choose from three different housing options for your time in China. In all of the housing arrangements students enjoy the benefit of single rooms and wireless internet access. On the ECNU campus you値l be able to live in international student housing, in close proximity to the NYU center and with immediate access to the facilities and vibrant student life of our partner institution. This is a dorm-style living arrangement in which each room has its own private bathroom, TV, AC/heating unit and phone line. If you choose the on campus housing option you値l share meals with students on the program, other international students studying at ECNU, and many local students in one of ECNU痴 dining facilities. You also have the option of living in furnished apartments just outside the ECNU campus gate that sits aside the NYU center. This is a more independent living situation for students who prefer to prepare food at home, or eat at the ECNU dining facilities while still maintaining close proximity to the NYU center. You値l have your own bedroom in an apartment share with one to three other students on the program. The third housing option similarly consists of furnished apartments just a few blocks from the NYU in Shanghai downtown location located in the bustling area of Zongshan park. Apartments house students in single rooms in apartments with other NYU in Shanghai students. Students studying art live in this location which is outfitted with studio work space. ECNU grad students fluent in English act as resident assistants and provide guidance as you live and study in this new city.
Since there are no meal plans, expect to take most of your meals at local eateries and on-campus cafeterias. Even though cooking is not permitted in the dormitories, there are some public cooking areas that you may take advantage of. Please keep in mind, however, that restaurants on and around campus are very cheap and offer tremendous variety. You can even find western-style cuisine, though you should expect it to be significantly more expensive than local fare.
Trips and Activities
Several weekend trips are scheduled throughout the semester to bring you to regions of China you might not normally explore and are open to all NYU in Shanghai students as a part of the program cost. Past trips have included a visit to the Yellow Mountains in the southern part of the Anhui Province and an excursion to southwest China to visit scenic hill towns and the extraordinary geological rock formations in Guilin. NYU in Shanghai groups have also traveled to the city of Chengdu into the Sichuan province to try some of the spiciest food in the world. The trips that you take with the program will introduce you to air and rail travel in China, and on long weekends and during fall or spring break you値l have the opportunity to explore the major cities and lesser traveled regions of this expansive country.
Student Life Services
An exciting預nd challenging用art of the study abroad experience is daily life outside the academic realm. Students are encouraged to integrate into the local community, explore their interests, and immerse themselves as deeply as possible into the local culture.
A knowledgeable student life staff assists students with their adjustment to Chinese life. The staff plans activities and sees to the general well-being of the student body. The objective of these activities is to help students become an active part of the NYU in Shanghai community and experience Chinese life in interesting, fun, and profound ways. To find out exactly what is going on during the semester, keep an eye on the calendar of events and speak with local staff.
Being away from home and familiar surroundings can sometimes be disorienting, and the student life staff is prepared to respond to any questions or concerns that may arise throughout the semester. In addition to full-time professional staff, a group of Community Resource Assistants, who provide both formal and informal links into local peer networks, live among students and is always available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on an emergency cell phone to respond to any unexpected events that may present themselves.