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China is a country under constant development working hard on the path toward a market economy and a well educated society and work force. An important step in the right direction is the hard work and ample investment that is being put into placing Chinese universities on the list of top class educators on the international playing field. Many schools are already meeting very high standards and are attracting ever more international students by providing preparation programs in Chinese as well as a growing number of English speaking programs.
Why China?
Choosing China for your studies abroad will be an experience unlike any other, and one that you will likely never forget. What you can learn goes far beyond the knowledge that will be conveyed in the classroom, and will to an even greater extent come from the experiences gained from everything surrounding you during your time. The rich Chinese culture, society and the high rate of development within the areas of both business and international relations will give you experiences and an understanding that will help guide you throughout your continued life and career.
Chinese Higher Education
Chinese higher education was started with the establishment of the country’s first universities in 1896. Until the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Chinese higher education developed largely according to the Western university model. After this breaking point in Chinese history, Chinese education cut off links to the Western world and tuned toward a university model more like that of the former Soviet Union. This meant a reconstruction of higher education during the early 1950’s. During this time, larger and more comprehensive universities were broken up into smaller specialized institutions such as universities of engineering, agricultural colleges, medical colleges and railway institutes.
After this reorganization of the 1950’s, Chinese universities have since the 1990’s returned toward a more western model with larger schools and a more general education. Despite this ongoing change, it is still common, with very high specialization within the Chinese system. Constant reevaluation of the country’s needs as it strives toward the market economy however, means that more and more universities are also offering less vocationally oriented education within the areas of the arts and humanities that were long all but forgotten in China.
International Relations
25 years ago, China adopted its so called open-door policy, which has put Chinese higher education back on the path toward the advanced Western world. At the end of the 1970’s, China marked a major turning point with its decision to send scholars and students to the United States. Today, there are approximately 350,000 Chinese students studying abroad. 50,000 of these are in the United States, which accounts for 10% of the total number of international students in the US today.
China today is the country in the world that, by far, sends the largest number of students abroad. In the other direction, China is also accepting ever more international students at its universities. The most well represented international students at Chinese universities are from other Asian countries, especially Japan and Korea while students from the United States are also very common.
Choosing your University
Choosing what universities to apply to in China is hard to give guidance on. It all depends on which language you wish to study in – English or Chinese – where you want to go, and what you want to study. For the past few years, there have been several rankings of Chinese institutions of higher education, which may be worth having a look at. Many of these are quite geared toward a certain area of study, for example engineering schools, or how schools compare internationally. Googleing “Chinese university ranking” will give you a good idea of what there is available.
Entrance Requirements
Entry into Chinese universities is highly competitive, although less so today than twenty years ago, and is for Chinese students based wholly on the National College Entrance Examination. More Chinese people than ever before now have the chance to attend higher education courses. On a single exam date, 5,27 million students sit in thousands of classrooms to take what is probably the most important exam of their lives.
This entrance exam does not apply to international students who wish to study in China. Entrance requirements are generally a completed secondary high school education with good grades, and if the language of instruction of your intended course is Chinese, you will also be required to submit proof of your proficiency in Chinese. This is done by taking the HSK – Chinese Proficiency Test at a minimum of an intermediate level. The HSK is available to be taken in 37 countries world wide. If you do not already know Chinese, most universities have preparatory courses that you can attend before applying for a full bachelor or master program.
Another possibility, which is becoming more widely available is that many universities now also offer programs in English, especially in post graduate studies. There are ever more private universities that focus on attracting international students and offer complete programs in English. If you want to study medicine in English, there are plenty of programs that offer that opportunity but they will also require you to learn Chinese parallel to your studies, as you will need this in order to fulfill the practical requirements at Chinese hospitals.
Tuition and Living Expenses
All Chinese universities today require all students to pay tuition. In 2007, tuition per semester averaged at about 5000 Yuan, or around 730 USD. Smaller universities may charge less, while famous and private schools in larger cities such as Beijing can charge considerably more. For many international students, especially coming from Europe or North America, this tuition is very cheap. Many Chinese students and parents of students however struggle with paying as it comes out as a very high portion of many Chinese families’ income.
With the introduction of tuition fees, financial aid has also been introduced in the form of loans, scholarships etc. Some of these are also available to international students – check with your chosen university for more specific information.
Not included in tuition of course are living expenses for rent, food, electricity and so on, which you must make sure to budget for. The cost of living compared to Europe and North America is low but may vary depending on the location of the university. Some universities offer part time work programs, which you may be eligible for with a student visa. For other jobs you will need a work permit, which may be hard to come by.
Therefore, it is important that are sure to be able to support yourself throughout your stay without potential scholarships and extra work.
Degree Structure
The Chinese degree system is based on the European model of undergraduate and postgraduate study. The degrees issued are Bachelor for three years of study, Master for an additional one or two years and PhD doctorate degrees. There is as yet nothing equivalent to the two year Associate degree offered in the American system.
There are many more vocationally oriented schools that offer excellent education but do not issue degrees. Graduates of these institutes generally do very well as the education is highly respected in China. For international students however, it may be difficult to prove your achievements without a formally issued degree.
The Academic Year
Currently the Chinese academic year is split in to the two semester system, where students are free during the summer months. Some universities are considering adding the summer semester to give students the option of completing their studies at a faster rate.
Accommodation
Most universities offer student accommodation on or near the university campus. In many cases, international students are guaranteed a place during their first year of study. After that the housing office at your university can help guide you toward privately rented accommodation, and will let you know what you must think about when choosing a place to live.
If you are looking to live in private accommodation from day one, it is often recommended that you arrive early enough to go house hunting on site. Most private land lords will want to meet you and have you view the property before signing any rental contracts.
Preparing for China – Applications, Visas and Finances
No matter where you are from, studying in China will require certain preparations, and it is a good idea to start quite some time in advance. Looking at schools a year before you intend to start is not a bad idea. It is worth noting that there are different rules for international and Chinese students. International students are generally those who require a student visa for entry into China.
Once you have a complete application ready, this will often need to be submitted early in the year (around February) of the year when you intend to start your studies - provided of course you wish to start in the fall. Contact your intended school for exact information. Once you have your acceptance letter, you can apply for a student visa (if you intend to stay longer than 6 months). Applications need to be made in person at your closest Chinese embassy or through a visa service. The visa is generally valid for entry within 3 months of being issued. To be issued a student visa you will need a passport valid at least 6 months longer than your intended stay, the appropriate filled out documentation and an acceptance letter from a Chinese university.
Sources:
http://www.chinaeducenter.com/en/cedu/hedu.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_China
http://www.internationaleducationmedia.com/china/
http://www.chinatoday.com/edu/a.htm
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3860/is_200311/ai_n9304718
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