N.U. Bound

What is N.U. Bound?

N.U. Bound is a two-semester, first-year academic program for international students, providing you with rigorous U.S.-style academics and acculturation support to begin your college-level studies before enrolling full time at Northeastern University’s Boston campus in your second year. The fall and spring academic terms are delivered in the city of Suzhou, China, by our fully-approved academic non-profit partner The China Institute, where you will complete courses from a total of 33-34 offered academic credits. The final phase of N.U. Bound is a two-week immersive early arrival program delivered at Northeastern University’s main campus in Boston that consists of transitional activities designed to support you through a smooth matriculation into your second year of study.

The China Institute and Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP)

Located in Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), the China Institute will offer you unparalleled opportunities as you prepare to participate in the global community. You will have the chance to interact and conduct hands-on projects with major corporations, explore the vast array of technological innovations produced in SIP, and experience the rich cultural history of nearby Suzhou—all while earning credits that keep you on track at Northeastern.

The China Institute is located in the Higher Education Town/District of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), an incredible 111-square-mile high tech research and innovation park located just outside of Suzhou Old Town (the original city). SIP is home to 30 universities from around the world and roughly one-third of the world's Fortune 500 companies. There's over 70 miles of paved trails throughout 15 beautiful, large-scale city parks and an uncountable number of small, city parks.

Curriculum

Through N.U. Bound, you may earn up to 34 semester hours of credit, refine your academic English skills, and receive support as you acclimatize to life in Boston. During your fall and spring semesters in the N.U. Bound program, you will be required to complete all academic courses with a 3.0 GPA or a B- in order to matriculate to Northeastern University for your second year. If you have AP/IB credits, you may be able to select from alternative classes. Please contact N.U. Bound staff at nubound@northeastern.edu to discuss your curricular options.

Check out a sample schedule for your Fall and Spring terms below. Please note, courses may be subject to change.

Fall Term

Course All Students (irrespective of academic major)
Calculus I for Science/Engineering 4 credits
College Writing 4 credits
Principles of Microeconomics 4 credits
General Chemistry with lab 5 credits
Total Credit 17 credits


Spring Term

Course Engineering & Computer Science Majors Business/Arts/Sciences/Other Majors
Business Statistics 4 credits
Principals of Macroeconomics 4 credits
Arts/Humanities Elective 4 credits
Calculus 2 for Science/Engineering 4 credits
Engineering Design 4 credits
Physics for Engineers with lab 5 credits
Introduction to Sociology 4 credits 4 credits
Total Credit 17 credits 16 credits

Faculty and Staff Profiles | The China Institute

N.U. Bound is a Northeastern-sponsored partnership between Northeastern and the China Institute, operated by the University of Dayton. As a student in the N.U. Bound program, you will learn from and engage with the highly-qualified faculty members at the China Institute. A selection of faculty profiles are provided below.

Jia Jia Wei, J. D., Executive Director of the China Institute
Jia Jia Wei serves as the Executive Director of the China Institute, as well as the Director of International Initiatives for the Enrollment Management division at the University of Dayton. She earned dual bachelor degrees in Accounting and Information Systems at the University of Melbourne in Australia and her Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton; she is currently completing her MBA coursework. Jia Jia has developed transformational initiatives at the University of Dayton and the China Institute and nurtured an array of strategic partnerships between the University of Dayton, corporations and institutions both in China and the U.S.

If you would like to reach out to Jia Jia, you may do so at jwei01@udayton.edu or via WeChat at 12675630638

Andrea Baldini, Ph.D.
Dr. Baldini’s research interests include aesthetics and philosophy of art, especially at their intersection with metaphysics, philosophy of emotions, philosophy of perception, and social and political philosophy, and visual culture. He received his Ph.D. from Temple University and M.A. from the University of Siena.

Daniel Krassenstein
Professor Krassenstein is the Director, Asia Operations, for Procon Pacific, a U.S.-based textile manufacturer of flexible intermediate bulk containers for clients such as 3M, Dow, and BASF. He received his MBA from the University of Southern California and his B.S. from Miami University.

Terence Lau, J.D.
Professor Lau holds a B.A. in Political Science from Wright State University and a J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law. His industry experience includes serving as the director of ASEAN Governmental Affairs for Ford Asia Pacific Operations in Bangkok and as an attorney for Ford Motor Company in Michigan. Professor Lau has published many articles on the legal environment of business and is an Articles Editor for the American Business Law Journal. From 2006-07, Professor Lau served as a Judicial Fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States, working for the Counselor to the Chief Justice of the United States.

Kurt Mosser, Ph.D.
Dr. Mosser’s area of scholarly research is in the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, specifically the Critique of Pure Reason. He holds a B.A. from SMU (1979) and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (1991). His current project explores the internal migration, South to North, of both Whites and African-Americans (1920-1960), and the role popular music (specifically bluegrass and blues) played in developing, maintain, and changing cultural identity.

Yanbin SHEN, Ph.D.
Dr. Shen’s research interest is in lithium ion batteries, and she is working on new technologies to make the next generation of batteries more efficient and safer. She has published over twenty peer-reviewed articles in international scientific journals. Dr. Shen earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Harbin Institute of Technology and her Ph.D. from Aarhus University in Denmark.

Why Should I Choose N.U. Bound?

The transition from studying outside of the United States to studying at universities in the United States can be challenging. At Northeastern, we want to give you the tools you need to succeed and thrive. We designed N.U. Bound as an immersive experience into an American college education, in an environment that provides small class sizes, attention to detail, and maximizes your chances for success. Remember, N.U. Bound is not a remedial program. Only students who are ready for college-level courses are offered the opportunity to join N.U. Bound, and in most cases participation will not require additional time to graduate from Northeastern.

 Enrollment and Next Steps

If you are interested in enrolling in N.U. Bound, you will be required to submit your enrollment deposit of $1,200 no later than May 1, 2018.

The total cost for this program will be $39,000, which includes two semesters of tuition, room, board & fees in Suzhou, plus $3,000 for the two-week summer bridge (inclusive of all expenses except travel to the US) for a total first year cost of $42,000.

There’s a Chinese proverb that says: “There is heaven up in the sky, and Suzhou and Hangzhou down on Earth.” Over its 2,000-year history, Suzhou has managed to ensure a fast recovery and still be one of the most prosperous cities in China. Built on an ancient canal system (not too dissimilar to Venice), today the city is divided into three distinct parts: Suzhou New District (SND) in the western part of the city, Suzhou Old Town in the center, and Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) in the eastern part. Suzhou is located in Jiangsu Province.

We encourage you to explore the area in which you will be living for the next year! Here are some options to get you started–keep exploring to find more opportunities when you arrive!

Living in Suzhou

With the goal of educating the whole person, we want to make sure that students have a fun learning experience outside of the classroom. The Office of Student Life at the China Institute was established in to help achieve this goal. Each semester at the China Institue, Resident Assistants from the University of Dayton are hired to help foster community. For N.U. Bound students, we’re pleased to offer a comprehensive student life experience to complement your academic and intercultural experience.

Nick Johnson, the Director of Student Life at the China Institute, works closely with the Resident Assistants and students in the program to plan exciting co-curricular experiences. If you’re interested in learning more about Student Life opportunities at the China Institute, you are welcome to contact Nick at njohnson2@udayton.edu or via WeChat at chinanix.

Examples of past experiences include:

  • Culture Dinners: Experience a piece of China through cuisine! China has an incredibly diverse culinary landscape, with regional specialties and tastes.
  • Community Building Meetings.
  • Suzhou Amazing Race (an immersive scavenger-hunt style experience in Suzhou).
  • Table Tennis Tournament.
  • Chinese Dumpling Making Party.
  • Student-led Activities (such as a Minute to Win It competition).
  • Language Corner: Meet up as a group of students to learn more about English and Chinese language and communication skills.
  • Intercultural Dialogue: Learn more about studying and living on a U.S. campus.
N.U. <i>Bound</i> Student Life

In Suzhou, students stay at the Student Parfait International Apartments—Wencui Apartments. This housing facility is home to students from all over the world including France, Germany, China, and the U.K. It’s a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world!

The apartment complex is staffed 24 hours per day and is a gated community. There is a security officer at the front gate at all times to monitor for unauthorized access. On-site front desk staff are available to report mechanical issues to. Don’t forget, we also will have the China Institute Director of Student Life and Resident Assistants on-site to support students outside of the classroom.

Students live in four-or six-bedroom apartment units. Regardless of the unit size, each student will have their own bedroom, bathroom, and enclosed balcony space. Each bedroom also comes equipped with a desk, some storage space, and a safe for valuables. Students in each apartment unit will share a common area/living room and a small kitchenette/dining space. To access your apartment unit, you will need a secure keycard (provided upon arrival). Each individual bedroom has a room key as well. Please note that students are solely responsible for any costs associated with lost keycards/keys, missing items in the units, and damage to the units.

The apartments include a wide-variety of amenities, including:

  • Secure entry and key card access.
  • 24-hour staff.
  • Central heating and air-conditioning (which is not common in the average Chinese apartment).
  • Wireless internet access.
  • Television (some English channels included!).
  • Fridge and microwave.
  • Free laundry facilities on every floor (the enclosed balcony space in the bedrooms can be used for line-drying clothing).
  • Towels and linens provided (including pillows).
  • Weekly cleaning crew (changes towels/linens, sweeps floors, takes out trash, etc.).
  • Easy access to local transportation, grocery stores, restaurants and retail shops.
  • Mattress pads on all beds for additional comfort.


Important: Just like at home, you are responsible for stocking your home with certain items, including, but not limited to, toiletries and cookware. Some items are provided in the apartment to get you started, and the units are fully furnished. China Institute staff members save as many items from past students as possible, such as hangars and utensils. Check with the China Institute staff upon arrival to determine what items you may be able to check out (borrow) for the duration of your program.

Housing at the China Institute