Study in Shanghai with IFSA
Shanghai
, China

IFSA Study in Shanghai: International Business

Program Overview

YOUR TICKET TO ASIA’S FINANCIAL HEADQUARTERS

As China’s financial epicenter, Shanghai is a fascinating place to explore international business, economic development, marketing, finance, and more. Put theory into context with corporate visits and internships at Chinese and multi-national companies. These experiences not only give you a front row seat to this nation’s rapidly changing business environment—they also stand out on a resume.

Enhance your professional communication skills with an elective specially geared for business. Team up with a Chinese university student for a couple of hours of casual, social language practice each week.

Looking for a different focus in Shanghai? Explore IFSA Study in Shanghai: Social Sciences and IFSA Study in Shanghai: Intensive Chinese Language. And for maximum flexibility, explore IFSA Study in Shanghai, with no required courses.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Fall: May 1
Spring: Nov. 1

Minimum GPA

2.00

Credit load

15-16

Housing

Apartment/Flat

Instruction language

Chinese, English

Prerequisites

None

gallery-imagegallery-image

Academics

The IFSA Study in Shanghai: International Business academic track offers unparalleled opportunities to examine China’s rapidly changing business environment and the global networks in which it plays an increasingly strategic role. Maximize your learning by tailoring classes to your academic focus, enrolling in the required core class and three to four elective classes, including an internship opportunity. You must have completed one business and one economics class prior to arrival, or two economics classes if business is not available at your school.

CORE CLASS

China: Economic Giant

The class provides an interpretative survey of China’s emergence as a global economic power. The phenomenal changes in the Chinese economy over recent decades are highlighted, and aspects of quantitative development are related to the radical reforms adopted since 1978. Students discuss major policy issues encountered by the Chinese government in sustaining high-speed economic growth without instability. Students also explore China’s pursuit of full integration into the global free trade system. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

ELECTIVE CLASSES

Customize your semester based on your personal interests and degree requirements, choosing from electives from the IFSA Study in Shanghai: International Business academic track as well as our IFSA Study in Shanghai: Social Sciences academic track. All elective classes are taught in English. Not all electives may be offered in a given semester depending on enrollment and faculty availability.

China as a Global Market

China is not only a major export market but also a global sourcing base, given that Chinese exports are dominated by foreign-funded enterprises. Discussions include China’s rising purchasing power and consumption market potentials, trends in China’s demand for capital goods and western technology, marketing new products, cultural attributes in Chinese consumer behavior, outsourcing and sourcing in China, the service industries, international distribution systems, market regulations and deregulations, export tax rebate and import duties, and pricing and terms of payments. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

International Money and Finance

Students must have completed an Introduction to Finance class as a prerequisite for this class. This class familiarizes students with the basic theories for global financial liberalization and the major policy problems involved for the Chinese government to fully integrate the country with the global financial system. Discussions address Chinese interest rate determination, the exchange rate regime, and associated risks; new investment and financing techniques; B-share versus A-share in Chinese stock markets; the role of qualified institutional investors; and the possible implications of renminbi becoming fully convertible in the future. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

International Trade: A Chinese Perspective

This class helps students develop the conceptual basis and the necessary tools for understanding modern international trade at the intermediate level. Topics include classical and modern theories of international trade, factor price equalization, empirical tests and extensions of the pure theory model, economic growth and international trade, the nature and effects of protection, and motives and welfare effects of factor movements. Each topic includes case studies under the context of China’s international trade with the U.S. and the rest of the world. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

Managing Enterprises in China

This class focuses on the modus operandi of major types of enterprises in China, such as large-scale state-owned enterprises, share-holding corporations, collective enterprises of global significance, and foreign-funded conglomerates. Discussions address functional aspects of enterprise management, including production and investment decision-making, financing, marketing and supply sourcing, human resource management, technology transfer, and research and development, as well as the Chinese government’s changing regulatory framework. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

Operations and Supply Chain Management

This class introduces business operation and supply chain management. Both operations and supply chain management are the primary functions of every company and organization. In this age of rapid globalization and fast-moving information, operations and supply chain management are the keys to improving company profitability and sustainability. It is crucial for the success of a company and its customers; therefore, no one should underestimate its importance. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

International Internship Seminar (Coming Fall 2024)
Students are placed in individual internships but collectively take part in the seminar to prepare for the experience, understand expectations, set personal objectives, identify, and strengthen specific skills, critically reflect on their progress, share experiences, and learn from each other throughout their term. Students develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their professional areas, and Chinese work culture. In this seminar, which is focused on application of theory to practice, students gain real world work experience while developing intercultural agility — skills and experiences that are critically important to personal, academic, and professional success.

LANGUAGE CLASSES

Developing skills in a foreign language can profoundly impact your life personally and professionally. Though language study (other than Essential Chinese) is not required, students frequently report their Chinese language class as one of their favorites and the one they applied most outside of the classroom.

Essential Chinese

If you’ve never studied Chinese before, and you decide not to take an elective language class, you’ll take this introductory seminar to contemporary Chinese language and culture taught intensively during the first weeks of the program. By introducing key words and phrases and venturing out into the city to practice them, you’ll gain essential skills to communicate effectively and navigate in a new culture. (1 U.S. semester credit hours)

Chinese Language

No prior language study is required. A placement exam during on-site orientation determines each student’s appropriate language level. (6 U.S. semester credit hours)

Business Chinese

You must have completed three semesters of Chinese language prior to taking this class. You will develop specialized skills in business-related Chinese communication in both oral and written form. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

Internships (Coming Fall 2024)
In Shanghai, students have the opportunity to participate in a part-time, credit-bearing internship at sites that may include Chinese or international non-profits, corporations, or think-tanks focused on promoting public and environmental health. The placement process begins with the submission of the Internship Interest Form upon acceptance into the program and typically concludes with an in-person interview in China.

IFSA makes every effort to place student interns at companies or organizations that match the organization’s needs with a student’s skills, experience, and goals, including but not limited to the student’s Chinese language level and communication skills, prior professional experience, and work competencies. Both English- and Chinese-speaking placements are available. Applicants are encouraged to be flexible. Internships may include opportunities to:

  • Assist with development of virtual brand presence; monitor and maintain regular social media activity
  • Research and report the latest regulatory issues affecting foreign investment
  • Develop marketing strategies for foreign brands interested in entering the Chinese market or already in China wanting to improve their business
  • Design and develop software applications and local information systems according to customer requirements
  • Play an active role in all aspects of the client engagement process including interviewing clients, building financial models and creating and delivering presentations
  • Conduct industrial analyses and research traditional wealth management approaches

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

  • You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
  • You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
  • You must have completed at least one (1) semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.

Recommendation Letter
Not required.

Visa Requirement
This program requires a visa for all students.

TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects courses taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.

Excursions

Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are examples from previous terms; outings may be different for your program. We’ll make every effort to run them all, but sometimes things we can’t our control, such as local regulations and health protocols, get in the way. As result, we cannot guarantee activities and excursions.

Activities

  • City-as-Text: We will use Shanghai as a critical frame to understand the socioeconomics of this port city in a global era. Learn about the stylistic elements of building and infrastructure efforts toward sustainable development from historical and forward-looking perspectives.
  • Art Tour of West Bund Cultural Corridor: Through guided tour, you will visit museums and art galleries where foreign and Chinese artists are featured to discuss the state of contemporary art in China and the importance of culture in fostering international exchange.
  • Visit to Manufacturing Plant: As a major financial and economic hub in Asia, Shanghai has many benefits to offer to companies and entrepreneurs. You will be able to network with local and international professionals, further your career aspirations, and learn about innovations taking place in the city and how a multinational company localizes the operations and manage its supply chain networks.
  • Food and Local Culture: Chinese food is well known for its distinctive culinary style and diverse regional flavors. More importantly, Chinese food and the way it is prepared and served have rich connotations that resonate with the culture, tradition, and lifestyle of different ethnic groups. You will hear from experts telling the story of local food development as Shanghai becomes an international cosmopolitan city. You will also learn to make colorful Chinese dumplings and experiment with food from Shanghai and elsewhere to enrich your taste buds.
  • Tai Chi and Calligraphy: Throughout multiple workshops, you will have the opportunity to practice tai chi and calligraphy with local experts and gain greater insights into Chinese art and philosophy.
Excursions
  • Water Town Trip: During an overnight trip, explore a water town, also called canal towns, outside the hustle and bustle of Shanghai. These ancient and historic towns are known for their bridges, rivers, and canals. You will explore stunning landscapes, visit local art and craft markets, and gain a deeper understanding of China’s social and economic diversity.
  • Local Community Visit: Transform your thinking of traditional urban-rural lines with a visit to a local community where you’ll meet with local people to hear their life stories, learn about their day-to-day routines, and discover their ongoing grassroots initiatives.

Housing and Meals

Housing

Apartment/Flat

Meals

Self-Catering

Details

You will live in international student apartments on the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) campus, which offer an ideal environment for getting to know fellow Chinese and international students and engaging in informal language and cultural exchange. Meals are not included.

Dates and Fees

Term

Term begins

Term ends

Program costs

Application deadline

Fall 2023 - Suspended

Late Aug. 2023 - Suspended

Mid-Dec. 2023 - Suspended

$16,750

Suspended

Spring 2024

Early Feb. 2024

Late May 2024

$16,750 (estimated)

Nov. 1

Fall 2024

Late Aug. 2024

Mid-Dec. 2024

$16,750 (estimated)

May 1

Term

Fall 2023 - Suspended

Term begins

Late Aug. 2023 - Suspended

Term ends

Mid-Dec. 2023 - Suspended

Program costs

$16,750

Application deadline

Suspended

Term

Spring 2024

Term begins

Early Feb. 2024

Term ends

Late May 2024

Program costs

$16,750 (estimated)

Application deadline

Nov. 1

Term

Fall 2024

Term begins

Late Aug. 2024

Term ends

Mid-Dec. 2024

Program costs

$16,750 (estimated)

Application deadline

May 1

Get Started

Brittany Brooks

Brittany Brooks

Admissions Counselor

Zipporah Gaines

Zipporah Gaines

Prearrival Counselor

IFSA Student Stories