Study Abroad in Shanghai, China with WorldStrides

I chose to study abroad in China with TEAN at Fudan University, known as the 3rd most prestigious school in China and the 1st in Shanghai. It's a dream school for many Chinese, so when I learned about this program, I had to apply!

The coursework was manageable; I took one business class and one Chinese language course over the summer. The program also offer numerous excursions. I'm glad I signed up for the Hangpu River cruise, visit Baidu corporation, Suzhou trip, ceramic class, dim sum class, and city tour – never feell bored; there's so much to do here.

Contrary to the misconception that China is just a third-world country, I was continually amazed by their modern technology integrated into daily life. QR codes are used for everything – checkouts, rentals, food orders, subway, public bike. The app called Alipay which you use to pay for everything. If you have your phone, you'll navigate just fine.

And let's talk about the food – I gained about 5 lbs because it's that good! I always got free delivery (Meituan app) and a diverse range of food options from Western to local, my campus canteen offered over 100 choices.

100% recommend this experience – just do it, and you'll love it!

I had an amazing experience, so much so that I know I want to go back and work in China.

The University was good, a little difficult but overall good. I feel like I learned a lot and was challenged to think differently. Some things got a little annoying because there are certain topics not allowed to be talked about, and using the internet with firewalls for research were tough but manageable.

Apart fromt he university, TEAN did a great job at orientation, I felt like I really connected with my group who went abroad. We all became pretty great friends with eachother and so the housemates became my best friends.

Personally I also really wanted to experience what life would be like as a local so I would do things alone to get a feel for the city. I took dance classes and ran Spartan races and went clubbing and bar hopping. I made a lot of both local and foreign friends, both working and students, and I feel like that made the experience amazing. I found new hobbies and new friends and we were able to compare out life styles and I was able to practice my mandarin.

My study abroad experience in Shanghai was stressful, but in a good way. I picked this program for three reasons: 1) Shanghai is, no doubt, an exciting city; 2) Fudan University has a stellar reputation and it offered classes related to my major; 3) TEAN allows you to do an internship, which related to my career goals. At times, I felt a bit overwhelmed because I was taking five classes, learning Mandarin, interning, and squeezing out time to explore and travel around China. However, it was absolutely worthwhile. I was able to gain a new perspective on various subjects thanks to my peers and professors at Fudan University and experience what it's like to study, work, and live in Shanghai. I fell in love with this city and I don't think I could have picked a better program to go there with.

I didn't know what to expect when I signed up for this abroad program, but TEAN was with me every single step of the way. They answered my thousands of emails and even held a small video conference to address any concerns predeparture. When we arrived, a local grad student picked us up at the airport and showed us to our incredibly nice apartments. The local TEAN staff showed us around the city and helped us get all settled in. Honestly, without TEAN's orientation, the transition would have been pretty rough. TEAN staff even held a meeting halfway through the program just to check in on us. I got to explore many unique places, like Hangzhou, Tong Li, and Beijin, too. I made friends from around the globe that I still keep in touch with. In fact, we're planning a reunion trip soon! This was definitely the experience of a lifetime.

My experience with TEAN for my study abroad experience was wonderful. They provided wonderful support during my application process and swiftly answered any and all questions I had making me seem very at ease with this generally slightly stressful process. While in China, they provided wonderful on ground support where I felt at ease in reaching out for any assistance I needed. The apartment was lovely and beautiful to live in. It allowed me easy access to explore local Shanghai culture as well as explore other parts of the city as well. The excursions were also great for my culturally learning as I was exposed to truly unique experiences such as hiking the Great Wall of China before the sun rose when there was absolutely not another soul in sight besides our own group. These types of moments and memories are ones that I will never forget and are ones that I would have never had had it not been for TEAN.

TEAN made the study abroad process as easy and painless as possible. The staff was very patient and helpful with any questions and concerns I had before leaving. I had nothing but good interactions with everyone in TEAN. They made sure we settled into our host country by taking us to get a SIM card, bank account, class registration and even an internship if you wanted one. Orientation before school was a lot of fun and gives you the chance to make friends right at the beginning of the semester. The friends I made and the experiences I had were the unforgettable and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

TEAN's housing was unreal and was in an amazing location. I will probably never live in a place as nice as the apartments they set us up in. There were plenty of food and cafes around the apartment that were perfect for hanging out with friends and studying.

While I was in China, I traveled with TEAN to Beijing and Chengdu. Both trips were expertly planned, and we were able to see most of the cities in a weekend. We did a sunrise hike on the Great Wall and explored the art district in the city. These trips were definitely a highlight of the semester

If you have the chance to go abroad, go with TEAN. 10/10 would recommend.

I studied abroad in Shanghai this past spring semester, and I absolutely LOVED IT--it was one of the most valuable and thrilling experiences of my life. Shanghai offers a unique combination of cultural history and rapid modernization. Each day in Shanghai, there was something new to explore; I wish I could spend another semester there!

What made the experience truly over the top was deciding to go with The Education Abroad Network. From my first interest email to help choosing classes in Shanghai to showing me around the city to now requesting Fudan University transcripts, TEAN has been there to help me out every step of the way. TEAN, in partnership with UVA, also offers a unique Chinese language program that is limited to students in the program, so classes are only about 5 people. When we went back to our apartment, we could practice what we’d learned with our local Chinese roommate. We lived in an incredible TEAN apartment that was perfectly located between Fudan University and the metro station, which connected us to the rest of Shanghai. Some of my favorite memories, including hiking the Great Wall at sunrise and eating famous spicy hotpot in Chengdu, were thanks to the TEAN organized trips. Going abroad, especially to China, can be a little nerve-wracking, but TEAN staff made me feel prepared and supported throughout the whole process.

Living in Shanghai challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and explore somewhere new. I had the opportunity to study at one of the top universities in China, practice my Mandarin on a daily basis, immerse myself in a completely different culture, and develop friendships with people from all around the world. However, transitioning to a new place does not come without its challenges, which is why I am so grateful to have gone abroad with TEAN, whose staff was there to help me every step of the way. During my time abroad, Shanghai truly became my home and the TEAN students and staff became my family.

My experience in China is one I will never forget! From the friends and peers I met to the epic and legendary sightseeing attractions, China is the place to go study abroad! Throughout the four months, TEAN has helped me greatly whether it was helping me search for a new tourist attraction or simply telling me about a delicious local restaurant. My favorite restaurant is the dim sum place on Da Xue Lu; the restaurant offers a variety of different dishes at reasonable prices! Aside from all the yummy treats and dishes I have eaten, I have discovered milk tea bubble tea and have drank that drink almost everyday! Although there are franchises here in the US, the drink does not taste the same! If you stumble upon Yi Dian Dian, I recommend you purchase a drink from there! It is my favorite place to buy milk tea bubble tea! Other than going on food tours, I have made unforgettable memories in China and made friends with whom I continue to keep in touch with til today! I will definitely go back to China again in the near future!!