Figuring out where to study can be tricky. Most people typically don’t think about going to study in Asia, and China is certainly not at the top of most peoples list. However, it’s definitely worth considering China as your destination.
Whether you’re looking to do a year of intensive Chinese language, a four-year bachelors, or even an MA or Ph.D, China, and specifically cities like Beijing, have numerous English programs available for foreigners looking to further their education.
China has a long fascinating history, expansive geography, and a diverse population. Present day China presents so many options for foreign students, comparable, if not better, to any other modern country. With the Chinese economy showing an unprecedented growth, its universities now. too are attracting international students seeking China study abroad and for those interested in learning the Chinese language or boost academic studies.
During the sixties, the Cultural Revolution, China’s higher education system was severely affected and brought to the brink of collapse. After 1970, with a paradigm change in China’s approach to globalization, the same education system has bounced back and expanded with its superlative universities receiving students wanting to study abroad from all over the world.
Popular Places to Study
China is a big country with more than a billion people and its cities are densely populated, energetic and vibrant. You could choose to study abroad in Beijing, the capital city, is the political, cultural and historical center with Shanghai and Hong Kong as the economic nerve centers of what is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Best Universities in China for Foreign Students
Well known Chinese Universities like Peking University, Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiatong University, Fudan University, and Zhongshan University, as well as Chinese University of Hong Kong and University of Hong Kong offer a number of courses including high school summer abroad summer ensuring an international atmosphere with students from various linguistic backgrounds.
To help foreign students overcome the language barrier and learn about China, specialized institutions like Beijing Language and Culture University and Beijing Drama School have initiated Chinese teaching summer study abroad courses to help the student learn chinese in language and culture, drama and opera music.
Studying in China FAQ
Visas
Anyone entering China for more than 48 hours is required to possess a valid visa. Become a foreign exchange student in China you will need one of the two visas:
• Visitor ‘F: Visa for less than 6 month courses
• Student ‘X’ Visa for longer than 6 month courses
Chinese study abroad visas carry a caveat and do not allow students to work under any condition. The documents that you have to carry while applying to the Embassy for a visa include:
• Passport (valid for at least 6 months past visa issue date, or 9 months for a multiple-entry visa)
• Completed application form
• Passport-sized photo(s)
• Proof of travel itinerary, hotel booking, return ticket, etc.
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Letter of acceptance from a Chinese institute
• Medical certificate if you are staying in China for more than 6 months
Language
Most courses for foreigners are in English, but it is recommend to learn at least basic Mandarin, even for integration to make it easier to live and study here. You could learn Chinese in China and book classes with a local language school.
What to Expect
If you have a vision of China which revolves around Maoist revolutionaries dressed in buttoned tunics exercising in Tiananmen Square then you are in for a surprise. Modern China is more about MTV and T-shirts with English slogans slashed across the chest rather than the revolutionary slogans of the Cultural Revolution.
Getting Around
No matter where you are and where you need to go, when you study abroad in China there are plenty of ways to get around:
Since China is surrounded by the Yellow Sea and many other seas, ferries and liners run by companies such as the Sino Japanese International Ferry Company are often used to travel from one port to another.
Another mode of travel within China is the subway, which is used to travel to downtown areas of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
There is also an international railway service, the Jingjiu Railway (also known as the Beijing-Kowloon Through Express), that features high-speed trains and runs through most of China’s major cities.
Of course, the cheapest and best ways to get around China within short distances are by bus, taxi and the old favorite, the bicycle. Bicycles can be found for rent in all major cities.
Activities and Free Time
China is also one of the oldest civilizations and has more history to offer than one can imagine. From the Great Wall and The Forbidden City in Beijing, China never fails to fascinate those who travel here. In your spare time you can explore the natural landscapes of China. Places of interest that you should not miss are waterfalls, gorges, underground caverns and limestone pinnacles of the Yunnan-Guizhbou Plateau – the ‘Oasis of Fire’ (the Turpan Depression) and the shifting salt lakes of the Taklamakan Desert in Inland China. View China tours for options.
Money and Budget
Chinese currency is known as the renminbi, which also means “the people’s currency.” It’s important for you to know the exchange rate between US dollars and renminbi so you can go out in China and make purchases without any problems. Here’s what you need to know:
• Units come in yuan, jiao and fen. 1 yuan = 10 jiao. 1 jiao = 10 fen
• One US dollar = 7.6 yuan
• One-hundred US dollars = about 750 yuan
Scholarships
If money is a concern for you, you can apply to the Chinese Government or the foundations and universities of your own country to find out about a study abroad scholarship that you can avail. The China Scholarship Council is a government body which offers scholarships to students from the European Union. The Chinese government has recently announced it will provide study abroad scholarships for more than 11,000 international students.