International and Chinese Admissions
When applying to NYU Shanghai, students must apply through the appropriate admissions process so that if admitted, they will be able to complete their enrollment at NYU Shanghai.
Determining which process is right for you requires that you confirm your citizenship. In general terms, Chinese citizens (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) must apply through the Chinese application process, and citizens of other countries must apply through the international application process.
Citizens of countries other than China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) who were born in China, who were previously Chinese citizens, who still hold a Chinese Hukou/travel document or other Chinese personal documentation, and/or whose parents are or were Chinese citizens, etc. must satisfy the additional requirements described below in order to confirm that they are not Chinese citizens and are eligible to apply through the international admissions process.
Which Admissions Process is Right for You
Applying through the International Admissions Process
In order to apply through the international admissions process, applicants must be citizens of a country other than China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) and comply with the relevant regulations such as Circular No. 12 (2020) of the Ministry of Education of the PRC (“4-4-2 Policy”).
Non-Chinese Citizenship
For applicants who do not have Chinese heritage, your country of citizenship is simply the country that issued your passport.
Non-Chinese Applicants with Chinese Heritage
Applicants who are citizens of a country other than China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) but who were born in China, who were previously Chinese citizens, who still hold a Chinese Hukou/travel document or other Chinese personal documentation, and/or whose parents are or were Chinese citizens must meet other eligibility requirements, including confirming that they are not Chinese citizens under Chinese law and that they meet the 4-4-2 Policy described below.
Confirming Non-Chinese Citizenship Status for Applicants with Chinese Heritage
To apply through the international admissions process, applicants with Chinese heritage must confirm that they are not Chinese citizens under Chinese law. Under certain circumstances, applicants will need to provide the proof required by the authorities, such as confirmation of the cancellation of their Chinese citizenship and/or other Chinese Hukou/travel document or other Chinese personal documentation.
Please note that even if you were born outside of China or have otherwise gained foreign citizenship (for example, through immigration), China may still consider you a Chinese citizen based on your birth place, the citizenship of your parents at the time of your birth and/or whether you hold any documents or status (for example, a Hukou or Chinese travel document) that would confer Chinese citizenship status. Confirming that you are not a Chinese citizen is your responsibility and should be handled through the appropriate Chinese government agency as early as possible. NYU Shanghai does not provide legal or immigration advice or representation.
The 4-4-2 Policy
If an applicant seeking to apply through the international admissions process acquired their non-Chinese citizenship at birth and one or both of the applicant’s parents held Chinese citizenship (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) at the time of the applicant’s birth, the applicant must satisfy both of the following requirements to be eligible for the international admissions process:
(i) The applicant must have held a valid foreign passport or certificate of nationality for at least four years at the time the applicant submits their application to NYU Shanghai; and
(ii) During the most recent four years (up to April 30 of the year of enrollment at NYU Shanghai), the applicant must have lived outside of China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) for at least two years (subject to the applicant’s entry and exit records, if a student has stayed outside of China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) for nine months or longer period during one year, it is equivalent to one year).
If an applicant seeking to apply through the international admissions process was a citizen of China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) and has acquired foreign citizenship through an immigration process, the applicant must satisfy the following requirements to be eligible for the international admissions process:
(i) The applicant must have held a valid foreign passport or certificate of nationality for at least four years at the time the applicant submits their application to NYU Shanghai;
(ii) The applicant must provide documentation of cancellation/rescission of their Chinese citizenship; and
(iii) During the most recent four years (up to April 30 of the year of enrollment at NYU Shanghai), the applicant must have lived outside of China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) for at least two years (subject to the applicant’s entry and exit records, if a student has stayed outside of China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) for nine months or longer period during one year, it is equivalent to one year).
Applicants who do not meet the non-Chinese citizenship requirement or the 4-4-2 Policy above must apply using the Chinese admissions process.
Applying through the Chinese Admissions Process
If you are a citizen of China (including Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan), or hold dual or multiple citizenships, one of which is Chinese citizenship (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), you must apply through the Chinese admissions process. This is true regardless of where you currently live or where you attended high school. Click here for more information.
If you are uncertain about your citizenship, please contact the relevant Chinese National Immigration Administration to verify your citizenship information. For all other questions regarding admissions and enrollment eligibility, please contact shanghai.admissions@nyu.edu.
Applying to Multiple NYU Campuses (Chinese National Students Only)
Guidelines
If you are a Chinese citizen (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) applying to NYU Shanghai through the Chinese admissions process, you may also request to be considered for the New York and/or Abu Dhabi campuses within the same application cycle.
Please note the following:
- Chinese applicants to NYU Shanghai must follow the Chinese application process. Chinese applicants interested only in NYU New York and/or Abu Dhabi should complete the Common Application as detailed here.
- You may be asked to provide different or supplemental information to support your application to the various NYU campuses. Please carefully read all of the emails you receive from the application review teams and follow their specific instructions. Applications that fail to meet the specific requirements for any particular NYU program/school will no longer be considered for admission to that program/school.
- Applications to multiple NYU campuses will only be considered for Regular Decision.
- Applicants will receive one admission decision from NYU for all campuses and will be notified by April 1.
Instructions for Applying to Multiple NYU Campuses
Applicants must register their interest in being considered for multiple campuses by completing this form. A Supplemental Application Form will be provided upon receipt of the interest form and your completed Chinese application package.
Step 2: Complete the Supplemental Application Form by January 5
Step 3: Gather and Submit Necessary Documents as required by the New York and/or Abu Dhabi campuses
You will need:
- Contact information for the counselor or other school representative who will complete your Common Application School Report and submit your official high school transcript.
- Contact information for one teacher (or two, maximum) who will complete the Teacher Evaluation form.
Depending on your educational background and the program you are applying to, you will need to provide the following in English (or with an English translation):
- English language testing if you have not completed at least 3 years of study where English is the sole language of instruction at the time of application submission and English is not your native language.
- Official score reports (see NYU’s standardized testing requirements).
- An audition or portfolio for specific artistic program applicants to the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and Tisch School of the Arts.
- Official records of all college work that you have received academic credit for. In some cases, you may be invited to complete a Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR) to fulfill this requirement.
- Updated academic record if mid-year grades are available. This should show your first semester senior year grades.
Instructions on how to submit high school credentials and letters of recommendation will be included in the Slate Supplemental Application Form.
Instructions on Submitting Evaluation Credentials
English Language Testing
English language testing, completed no earlier than 2 years prior to the application deadline, is required if you have not completed at least 3 years of schooling where English is the only language of instruction at the time of application submission and English is not your native language.
Which English Language Test Should I Take?
- TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test). We will accept results from the in-person version or the iBT Home Edition.
- Duolingo English Test
- IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)
- PTE Academic (Pearsons Test of English Academic)
- C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency)
- iTEP (International Test of English Proficiency). We will accept results from the in-person or online version.
Please note that we do not accept results from the IELTS Indicator, the TOEFL ITP Plus for China, or TOEFL Essentials.
How Do I Submit My Results to NYU?
For the TOEFL iBT, use NYU's code 2562.
For the IELTS Academic, search for "New York University" and release results to Undergraduate Admissions as opposed to one of our schools or colleges. Similarly, for the PTE Academic, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, select "New York University" as opposed to one of our specific NYU schools or colleges. Searching for "NYU" will not return any results; you must search using our official name.
For the Duolingo English Test, please follow the instructions outlined in Duolingo's "How do I send my Duolingo English Test results to institutions?" documentation to send your score to NYU for free.
Transcripts
After you receive your login information, you will have access to report your courses and grades. You will need access to your transcript from your school in order to complete this requirement. More information can be found here.
You may also submit your official transcript to NYU by requesting your school email the document admissions.docs@nyu.edu. The email must come from an official and verifiable email address. The transcript can also be mailed to us at:
New York University
Undergraduate Admissions
383 Lafayette St
New York, NY 10003
USA
LORs
Your recommendation letters from one teacher and one school official can be emailed to us at admissions.docs@nyu.edu or mailed to the address above.
School reports
Please ask your school official to fill out this PDF and email it to us at admissions.docs@nyu.edu or mail it to the address above.