Designed for students interested in international business and economics, this program offers undergraduates the unparalled opportunity to study Chinese language, international business, and economic development in Asia's financial center.
Students participate in carefully-designed activities and experiential study trips that provide a first-hand encounter with China's rapidly changing business environment. Students may also engage in an internship.
Classes are based at the International Cultural Exchange School (ICES) of the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. ICES is devoted to the education of foreign students and aims to train students with a background in international economics or management.
The Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE), founded in 1917, is a multi-dimensional university with a core focus on applied economics and management and offering majors in law, philosophy, and humanities as well. SUFE, home to 12,000 students on two campuses, is administered by the Chinese Ministry of Education and has recently been selected as one of the "21st Century's Key Universities in China." It is the number one ranked finance and economics university in China.
The Alliance requires students, including summer participants, to have completed one business course and one economics course prior to arrival in China. If business is not available at your school, two economics courses are required instead. The elective course International Finance in China also requires students to have completed an Introduction to Finance course. The remaining two elective SUFE courses do not have additional prerequisites.
There is no language pre-requisite for the SUFE program. Chinese language classes are taught at the beginning through advanced levels.
All students are required to take a Chinese language course as well as courses in business and economics. Students' placement in the Chinese language course will be contingent upon the results of a placement exam after arrival in China.
In the Fall and Spring terms, students receive 18 credits. In the Summer term, students receive 8 credits.
Fall and Spring Term Courses with Syllabi and Faculty CVs
Fall and Spring Term Course Selection Form [pdf]
Summer Term Courses with Syllabi and Faculty CVs
Summer Term Course Selection Form [pdf]
Students with at least three prior semesters of Chinese language instruction may apply for one of a limited number of internships available on the SUFE program. Please click here for more information.
Classes are offered exclusively for Alliance students. Chinese language classes average 6-8 students per class. Area studies and business courses in English typically range from 6-15 students per class.
All faculty are jointly selected by the Alliance and SUFE to teach the Alliance students in exclusive classes. Business faculty have a PhD and are full-time faculty from SUFE or in some cases from Fudan University. Chinese language courses are taught by full-time SUFE teachers.