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CIEE Shanghai Business, Language and Culture

View of the Shanghai skyline from the water on a cloudy day. The fog blocks some of the view of the large buildings.

China, Shanghai

The CIEE Business and Culture program is designed to enhance your knowledge of fundamental business and economic principles within a Chinese and international context.

The program will help prepare you for a career in international business through balanced exposure to core concepts, important theories, and case studies, as well as through site visits to Chinese companies and discussions with leading practitioners.

The highlights of this program are:

  1. Deepening your business and economics knowledge while broadening your understanding of international markets, and the particular role that China plays in the global marketplace.
  2. Comparing and contrasting differences between Chinese and U.S. business practice and culture.
  3. Having the option to study Mandarin Chinese

More program information is available below

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • Semester program: three semesters of college-level microeconomics or macroeconomics, accounting, finance, management, or marketing
  • Preference is given to admitted Business, Certificate in Business, and Certificate in Entrepreneuriship students
  • 2.5 cumulative GPA
  • Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students only
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

WSB icon

Program Structure

Provider

Subjects

Business

Classroom Language

English, Chinese

Housing

Residence Hall, Local Hosts

Program Duration

Program Duration
Fall semester: late August to mid-December
Spring semester: late February to early June

Summer 2026:
Block 1: May 18-June 15
Block 2: June 15-July 13
Blocks 3: July 13-August 8

Application Deadline(s)

Summer 2026 - [Session I] 1/30/2026 Cost Details
4:30pm CT
Summer 2026 - [Session II] 1/30/2026 Cost Details
4:30pm CT
Summer 2026 - [Session I & II] 1/30/2026 Cost Details
4:30pm CT
Fall 2026-27 2/27/2026 Cost Details
4:30pm Central time
Spring 2026-27 2/27/2026 Cost Details
Extended Deadline: 8/14/2026
4:30pm Central time

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

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How will study abroad help you achieve your academic, professional, and personal goals?

CIEE’s Business, Language, and Culture program offers courses focused on contemporary business issues affecting China and the role of the world’s second largest economy on international business today. Students take classes in English at the CIEE Global Institute - Shanghai across a range of subject areas, including business, communications, and political science. 

For students interested in Chinese language courses, you will take an on-site placement exam and be registered in the appropriate language level based on your results.

Semester students are required to have taken three semesters of college-level microeconomics or macroeconomics, accounting, finance, management, or marketing. 

International Business majors at the Wisconsin School of Business are required to study abroad for a semester in their Region of Emphasis. Only the semester program satisfies that requirement for East Asia.

Summer: 

This summer program is designed to help participants gain a deeper understanding of China as it emerges to take a leading role in the global economy. It is open to students with no previous experience in the Chinese language, as well as those with previous college-level Chinese.

Students on this study program take one course per session and may elect to take an optional Chinese language course (beginner to advanced).

Summer 2026 course offerings for this program include:

  • Culture and Cuisine in China
  • China's International Relations
  • Changing Nature of Business in China
  • Modern Chinese History
  • Communicative Chinese Language Courses (Credit based on student's Chinese language proficiency and prior coursework taken at the college level)

Program Web Pages

CIEE Shanghai Summer Business and Culture CIEE Shanghai Business, Language and Culture

Foreign Courses

CIEE Shanghai Business Semester Courses CIEE Shanghai Business Summer Courses

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents