Major Honors are bestowed to students who complete the designated honors sequence in their major and maintain a requisite grade point average.

Following the practice in Chinese universities, NYU Shanghai awards honors for academic excellence to the top 20 percent of graduates based on the cumulative grade point average through seven semesters of coursework.

Following the practice at NYU’s Washington Square campus, NYU Shanghai students are awarded Latin graduation honors based on the cumulative grade point average through seven semesters of coursework: Summa cum laude (highest honors) is awarded to the top 5 percent of students. Magna cum laude (high honors) is awarded to the next 10 percent of students. Cum laude (honors) is awarded to the next 15 percent of students.