China
MULT-UB 138: China Business & Tech - Past, Present, Future | Analyze China's economic transformation from 1978 to present.
Stern Around the World in China - SPRING 2026
This course examines China's transformation from a centrally planned economy to the world's second-largest economy, exploring the intersection of tech, business, society, and politics. Through weekly seminars and a 10-day immersive experience starting in Shanghai, traveling to Beijing and ending in Shenzhen, students will engage directly with Chinese companies, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to understand China's past reforms, present challenges, and future trajectories.
This Spring 2026 semester course takes place in New York. Then from Monday, May 18th (starting in Beijing) – Thursday, May 28th, 2026 (ending in Shenzhen), you will take a class trip to China.
Course Overview
MULT-UB 138: China Business & Tech - Past, Present, Future
3 credits | Class Days/Times - Thursdays, 3:30pm-4:45pm
Course: Full Semester | Travel: Required trip to China in May 2026
Instructor: Professor Christian Grewell (christian@nyu.edu)
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students will:
1. Analyze China's economic transformation from 1978 to present
2. Evaluate Chinese business models and their global implications
3. Understand the role of government in China's market economy
4. Assess China's innovation ecosystem and technological capabilities
5. Navigate cross-cultural business interactions in Chinese contexts
6. Develop informed perspectives on China's future economic trajectories
This 3-credit course can count towards:
- General Stern elective
Eligibility
This course is open to NYU Stern students who meet the following prerequisites:
- Must be in good academic and judicial standing with Stern and NYU
- Must be enrolled at Stern in New York City during the semester you take the course
- Important Notes:
- This course is only open to NYU Stern students.
- Seniors who plan to graduate in May - the final grade for this course will not be available until after the May trip
- First Year students are not eligible to enroll in this course
- No application required! But attending or viewing an Info Session is required when enrolling in this course (requires Zoom sign-in via NYU SSO - see date below)
- Enrollment is done through Albert for this course. This SAW course has two registration periods:
- Priority Registration: During the first week of course registration, only Stern students who meet the requirements listed above, and also have NOT already satisfied their Global Experience Requirement, will be able to register or waitlist for this course.
- Regular Registration: Starting the second week of registration, the course registration and waitlist will open to all other Stern students who meet the requirements above - pending available space in the course and/or waitlist.
- Enrollment is open to NYU Stern students who meet the requirements and is first-come, first-served, based on your registration time and the registration schedule listed above.
- If the course fills up, there will be a Waitlist. Set up ‘Edit Swap’ function on Albert to ensure you’re not stuck on the waitlist
- If you successfully enroll, you will be contacted via email with next steps. See additional details below.
Program Timeline
| Date | Event/Deadline |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, November 11th 12:30pm | Virtual Info Session - sign up (requires Zoom sign-in via NYU SSO) |
| Week of November 17th | During registration for Spring 2026, you will register yourself via NYU Albert. (Enrollment/waitlist according to the Priority and Regular registration schedule listed above as long as space remains available). Attending or viewing an Info Session is required when enrolling in this course (requires Zoom sign-in via NYU SSO). |
| Late November | You will receive an email with next steps - including information on confirming your spot by submitting the program contract along with a copy of your valid passport (see passport information below). *All Stern undergraduate students who are registered for this course will be automatically evaluated for the need-based SAW: China Stern Global Immersion Scholarship. You will be notified in the next steps email if you have received a SAW: China Stern Global Immersion Scholarship - and if so, the amount. |
| Late November | Spring NYU Bursar bills post - will reflect program fee (see "Estimated Expenses" below) |
| Mid-December | You will be notified if you have received a SAW: China Stern Global Immersion Scholarship. If so it will be automatically applied to your Spring Bursar bill to offset the program fee. |
| Mid-December | Deadline to submit contract with copy of your valid passport |
| Early January | Spring NYU Bursar bills due |
| January 22, 2026 | Class begins in NYC |
| February 10, 2026 | Deadline to purchase flights and submit travel information to the SAW: China team |
| TBD | Deadline to apply for your China visa |
| April 28, 2026 | Mandatory In class trip pre-departure session |
| May 18 - 28, 2026 | Required China trip |
**You will arrange your own flights to and from China. IMPORTANT NOTE! This trip will begin in Beijing and end in Shenzhen, so you will need to book your flights to arrive into Beijing and depart from Shenzhen. Please view the sample itinerary below, note the required program start and end times and plan your flights accordingly to account for travel time to China, customs and transportation to the hotel. You must plan to arrive into Beijing early enough in the day so that you can check in on time for the official start of the program at the group hotel. Late arrivals and early departures are not permitted. You will be expected to stay with the group until the official end of the program in Shenzhen.
Estimated Expenses
Please note: Although you will register for this 3-credit course as part of your Spring schedule, NYU tuition and registration fees do not cover the additional fees for the trip to China.
| You are Responsible For: | Estimated Expenses: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|
| Housing & Program Fee | *TBD | Does not include flight. Global Immersion Scholarships available (see below). |
| Round Trip Flight - Arrive Beijing, Depart Shenzhen | *$1,500 | *Estimate. You will make your own flight arrangements. |
| Passport Renewal/Visa | *Passport: $130 *Visa: $140 | *Estimate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the trip concludes. Visas are required for US Citizens. |
| Vaccinations/Travel Medication | *$50 – $300 | *Estimate. Vaccinations are not required for US Citizens, though recommended by the CDC. |
| Personal Expenses | *$600 – $800 | *Estimate. |
The Housing & Program Fee will be required of all participants* (see scholarship info below). It will be added to your Spring 2026 Bursar bill, which we anticipate will be due in early January. Please check the NYU Bursar’s website for the Spring 2026 payment deadline. Please note: the Housing & Program Fee is non-refundable after the Spring 2026 drop/add period unless the trip is canceled by NYU Stern.
The Housing & Program fee covers:
- Group Hotels in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen
- Daily breakfast in hotel, other meals as listed on itinerary
- Local group transportation and group travel from Beijing to Shanghai (train), and then from Shanghai to Shenzhen (flight)
- Group excursions as listed on itinerary
Need-based Travel Scholarships
*All Stern undergraduate students who register for this course will be automatically evaluated for a Stern Global Immersion Scholarship.
- This need-based award is to help cover the additional travel cost of participating in this program. Awards granted to eligible students with demonstrated need will cover up to the cost of the Housing & Program fee for the travel portion of the class. Following is the SAW: China Housing & Program fee and (if awarded) the allocation for the air travel (Travel allocation) for May 2026:
- Housing & Program Fee (does not include flight): China: TBD
- Travel allocation (if awarded): China: Estimated TBD
*You will arrange your own flights to and from China - arriving into Beijing and departing from Shenzhen
- Students must have a current FAFSA or CSS Profile application on file with NYU to be considered for an award. Students will be notified if they will receive a Stern Global Immersion Scholarship - and if so, the amount - according to the schedule above.
- *Note: Only one SAW Global Immersion Scholarship will be granted per qualifying student. If you have already applied a Global Immersion Scholarship to a different SAW course you will not receive any Global Immersion Scholarship funds for this course.
Passport and Visa Requirements for All Participants
Passports: You must have a passport valid for more than six months beyond the dates of the trip. More information on how to renew or obtain a U.S. passport can be found on the U.S. Department of State's website. If you are an international student please contact your Ministry of Foreign Affairs. All NYU students are welcome to contact the NYU Office of Global Services (OGS) for assistance as well.
Visas: U.S. citizens DO need a visa to enter China. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please consult China’s visa requirements, however note that most foreign citizens generally need a visa to visit China's mainland. If you have questions, please contact the NYU Office of Global Services (OGS).
Students who enroll in this course will receive additional visa application instructions and support documents in the spring.
It is your responsibility to apply and receive the appropriate visas for your passport in a timely manner for the trip. Trip Program Fee refunds are not provided if you fail to secure your visa.