Note: This information applies to NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU Shanghai, KAIST students considering a semester in New York. Students from other colleges and universities who are interested in enrolling as a visiting student at NYU's campus in New York should consider programs hosted by NYU's Office of University Programs.
Director's Statement
New York City was established between 1624 and 1626 when the Dutch East India Company arrived and named the settlement New Amsterdam. Forty years later, the British gained control of the colony from the Dutch and renamed the area New York, after the Duke of York. The British would remain in control until the American Revolution led to the creation of the United States of America in 1784. New York City served as the first capital of the U.S. from 1789-1790. Instead of becoming the location of the nation’s government, New York evolved into the nation’s financial center – a position New York still holds today.
Several decades after its founding, the U.S. became a major melting pot where immigrants from around the world sought refuge. Many immigrants entered the U.S. through New York Harbor, and some never went beyond New York City. This led to the establishment of immigrant neighborhoods – many of which still exist – and in turn the surge in New York’s population that encompassed a diverse array of nationalities. Today there are approximately 8,336,697 New Yorkers squeezed into the 302.64 square miles (783.8 km2) that comprise the five boroughs of New York City: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Queens.
NYU has two campuses in New York: the Washington Square campus in Manhattan that is home to the majority of NYU’s undergraduate schools and programs, and the MetroTech campus in Brooklyn that houses the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Academics are among the best reasons to study in New York. You may enroll in courses at NYU’s undergraduate schools that offer a combined total of over 100 majors and programs. The course offerings provide you with an opportunity to both continue work in your major and investigate new areas of study.
In New York you will find staff part of the Global Programs New York City (GPNYC) team dedicated to welcoming you and supporting you during your study away semester. We’re here to make sure you successfully navigate your semester in New York as you adjust to your new home.
Kerry Barrett, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Global Programs