FAQs

An outstanding transcript is necessary but does not guarantee a place at NYU Shanghai; we evaluate a student’s overall abilities. First, our students must all be able to communicate in and out of the classroom. We require all students to have a strong grasp of English – listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Our classes will be conducted in English. With regard to individual characteristics, the ideal NYU Shanghai student will possess a willingness to open him/herself to new experiences, a sense of intellectual adventure, and a desire to push him/herself by learning to listen and ask questions. At his/her core, the NYU Shanghai student possesses a deep sense of curiosity, a sense of civic responsibility, and empathy. In short, we are looking for tomorrow’s inventors, entrepreneurs, scholars, and leaders.

As part of NYU’s global network, tuition at NYU Shanghai is consistent with tuition at NYU in New York, which is approximately $46,590 USD per year (excluding miscellaneous fees and living expenses). 

For most undergraduates, eligibility for a merit-based and/or need-based scholarship is determined upon entrance to the University based on prior academic strengths, if you apply for financial aid, and your demonstrated financial need. Typically you will continue to receive for subsequent academic years the amount of scholarship you received for your first year (subject to the availability of funds), as long as the following criteria are met:

•    You are a full-time student (12 credits or more per semester).
•    You applied for financial aid on time.
•    You are meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.
•    You have approximately the same amount of financial need that you had in prior years.

NYU Shanghai does not currently accept transfer students, only applications from first-year applicants are currently considered.

In accepting the offer of admission, you should be comfortable with NYU Shanghai being your home campus and the campus from which you graduate at the end of four years.  We will do everything we can to make sure your experience is both academically and socially fulfilling. Please keep in mind that during your third year, you’ll be required to spend at least one semester studying away from NYU Shanghai somewhere else in the global network (including an option to study at the NY campus during the spring semester of your third year). The granting of change of campus requests is very rare and only approved under very unique circumstances. Requests must first be discussed first with your academic advisor and then the NYU Dean of Admissions.

All US citizens/permanent residents need to complete the FAFSA form each year by May 1 in order to renew any NYU Shanghai grant (need-based grant) that was offered your first year and to be considered for federal financial aid for the following academic year.

You may be eligible for federal student loans and/or federal parent PLUS loans. Amounts will be offered, but you can decide whether you would like to pursue those options. Instructions on how to pursue those loans, as well as detailed information about interest rates, and other loan details will be provided via your “To Do” list on Albert. Visit here for more information.  Students cannot take out more loans than their total financial aid already offered (i.e. scholarship and/or Pell Grant) minus the Cost of Attendance (for most NYU Shanghai students, the Cost of Attendance is $64,722 USD for the academic year).