US-China Education & Culture Exchange Center
Gateway to China
Overview
Many American students come to China to study the language and the culture, and some choose their favorite subjects such as Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and even engineering. This is a big decision to make, and you need to decide what’s best for you and what you want to get out of this experience.
Granted, studying the language is difficult, and living in a very different environment sounds intimidating, but those who make it will not regret. English speakers who know Chinese are far rarer than Chinese speakers who know English – this alone is an opportunity for you. You may have a regular 9-to-5 work life in the United States after you graduate, as a teller at a local bank, or a sales person at a shopping mall, or, a busy young employee in a law firm, you may get paid every two weeks and then count on it till you retire. But in China, the world’s fastest growing economy, things will work out bit differently but amazingly for someone like you, one that can connect the western world and China. If say, the United States is a fully grown mature man, then China is a young fellow. It can bring you all the excitement and feeling of fulfillment. The opportunity is enormous, and you’ll have a life path, different from your peers at home, one that’s not counting on the pay check every two weeks, but rather lively.
Program Types
The following outlines provide you a general idea of the types of programs offered by Chinese universities and the cost of tuition fees to study in China.
Short-term Non-degree Programs
| Program | Duration | Tuition Fee (RMB) |
|---|---|---|
Degree Programs
| Program | Degree | Duration | Tuition Fee (RMB) |
|---|---|---|---|
Below is an example of the cost and living expenses breakdown at one of our partner universities, although many of you who apply for a degree program through UCE do not need to worry about most of the expenses:
1.
Application Fee: RMB400 Yuan or USD80
2.
Tuition and Fees:
| Sample Major 1 | Sample Major 2 | Sample Major 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Associate degree students Bachelor’s degree students General learners |
12,000RMB/year | 14,000RMB/year | 20,000RMB/year |
| Master’s degree students and advanced learners | 18,000RMB/year | 20,000RMB/year | 22,000RMB/year |
| Chinese Language learners | 12,000RMB/year; 6,000RMB/semester | ||
| Program learners | 8,000-10,000RMB/semester | ||
| Short-term students | 600~800RMB/week/person | ||
3.
Books and Learning Materials: It will depend on the real price of books delivered (about RMB 300-600 Yuan per semester).
4.
Accommodation:
·
Single Room: RMB 1200 Yuan/month (1-student shared), including water bill and internet bill. Electricity bills should be paid by the student themselves.
·
Double Room: RMB 600 Yuan/month/person (2-student shared), including water bill and internet bill. Electricity bills should be paid by students themselves.
·
Accommodation fee includes water bill and internet bill, but excludes electricity bill. Once the students decided to live in the dormitory, he or she should live at least one semester. Students should pay accommodation fees for at least 5 months when they register.
·
Room Deposit: RMB 1000 Yuan. It will be returned if all equipment is in good condition when students check out.
·
Room Contents: Each room contains a bed, wardrobe, desk, chair, bookshelf, TV, refrigerator, air conditioner, heater, and shower. A public washing machine room and public kitchen is available for student use in the dormitory.
5.
Insurance Fee: RMB 400 Yuan for half an academic year or 800 Yuan for a full academic year; all students are required to purchase insurance.
6.
Bed set: RMB 350~550 Yuan/person
7.
Electricity Fee Prepaid: RMB 1000 Yuan. When remaining amount of the prepayment is not enough, the electricity bills should be paid at the first week of the month.
8.
Meals: 25-40 RMB/day on campus.
9.
Internet access: 40 RMB/person/month, 400 RMB/person/year on campus
10.
Medical test: All international students must be made medical test in International Travel Healthcare Center, 610 RMB/person
11.
Residence Certificate: The students who possess the category of X1 Visa must apply to the local Exit-Entry Administration Bureau for residence certificate within 30 days after entry, 430 RMB/person/year.
Application Process
1.
Fill out UCE’s online application form and make a check of program fee of $150 to US-China Education;
2.
Based on your application and areas of interests, UCE will make matching between you and the universities in China;
3.
Prepare the following application material to be submitted to the school, some of which may have already been submitted in step 1. UCE will have a check on all material:
·
A copy of passport photo and signature page;
·
High School Diploma / Certificate of Completion and transcripts;
·
Bachelor’s degrees if applicable or up-to-date transcripts at current academic institution
4.
If you would like UCE to process visa on behalf of you, you may mail in your passport, two passport sized photos, signed visa application form, money order or cashier’s check of $140 consular fee payable to Chinese Consulate in New York (if made in personal check, please make it payable to US-China Education) . The visa service itself is provided to UCE applicants at no additional charge.
FAQ
1. How to Select a School?
2. How to Select a Course?
3. How to Select the Right Place to Live?
4. How to Select a route?
5. Do I have to apply for a visa myself?
6. Are credits granted by Chinese universities accepted by American universities?
7. How do I apply?
8. What is the pro bono brief training before departure?
9. What preparation should I do?
10.I don’t know any Chinese. Will that be Okay?
11. Can I choose what to learn by myself?
12.Can I work during my Studying Abroad?
13.Is there any scholarship?
14.Except for the tours organized by the school, can I have my own free time to do anything?
15.Do I have to go back to the States with all the others after the program is finished?
16.Do you charge any extra fee?
17.How much money should I bring with me?
18.What if I get sick?
19.What if I got unable to continue my study half way?
How to Select a School in China?
In order to get the best of it when you’re “Studying Abroad”, it is quite essential how to select a right school for yourself. For Chinese language study, there’re many special language schools at your choice in China, and some language institutes set by universities can also be very good choices. Whichever choice you make, either to study at the language schools or language institutes at universities, the following conditions should be considered well before you make the decision.
(1).Whether the school approved by local Education Bureau, the school history and popularity, and whether it has a whole set of Audio/Video learning material and the library equipment at your service whenever you want to look up something.
(2).The school faculty and class size are also very important. Teachers at a formal university at least hold a bachelor’s degree. They have received formal training on teaching language, passed related exams and been granted the teaching certificates.
(3).Whether the school has the credits granting qualification, or whether the credits be accepted by US universities and colleges.
(4).The geographical location of the school, and whether it’s beneficial to your Chinese language learning and contact with the culture.
How to Select a Course in China?
The main purpose of “Study Abroad” is to study, not traveling, which enables the students to absorb the knowledge much better and use it skillfully. Therefore, when the students choose to participate in a “Study Abroad” program, course contents should be considered first, not where to travel. You should pay attention to the following:
(1).Do you need to learn the course?
(2).Are you interested in it?
(3).How many credits can you earn from it?
(4).Is the course structure reasonable?
(5).Is the study level and intensity of the course right for you?
How to Select a Right Place to Live in China?
For students who participate in the Study Abroad Program, tuition fee and traveling expenses, instead of luxurious accommodation, should take up most of the costs. Hotels that cost too much money are certainly out of the question. Normally, there’re two rational choices: school dormitory and boarding family .
The greatest advantage of boarding family is that it’s easy to get to know local people’s customs, social manners, and values. However, cultural shock cannot be avoided when you’re living in a foreign country. You may even feel not getting along with your boarding family quite often. All this will become a problem to your life of studying aboard and you’ll feel somewhat stuck in there sometimes. Therefore, the best accommodation choice for studying abroad would still be school dormitory.
Apart from its safety and stability, convenience for your study, and easy management, living in a school dormitory offers you a great chance to know your peer’s life, to make as many friends as possible, and to have more chances to participate in various activities. Since you don’t have to live according to boarding family’s time schedule, you’ll have more freedom. Thus is why living in school dormitories becomes so popular among students studying abroad.
How to Select a route in China?
In modern time, the formal Study Abroad, also called “Studying While Sightseeing”, was originated from England and it has more than 100 years history till now. Its original purpose of this program a tour aimed at providing school students to enrich their knowledge, broaden their eye horizons, increase exchange and social experience, so as to coordinate their study in the school and fill up their deficiencies. Participants mostly come from universities and high schools. It focuses on Learning. There is usually a special topic, either to conduct a research on a culture and the customs, to know a subject, or to learn a language. Therefore, the contents of the tour and the designing of the routes are organized around “What to Learn”, thus making the program professional, informative and interesting. In this way, students will learn from the tour more systematically. Practice has proved that this studying method is greatly beneficial to cultivate students’ bodies and minds and to enhance their language abilities.
However, the traditional “Study Abroad” is relatively confined within a certain school in one city of a country, all one student can experience is just a small part of the country’s culture and can oly feel a little about the language atmosphere. Especially in big country like China with profound cultural connotation, in that way, students would only get one-sided studying and living experience.
Do I have to apply for a visa myself?
If it’s not so convenient to do it yourself, UCE will take care of it. Students must hand in their materials before the appointed date to our Center. Please do not send in any fabricated or modified materials. Once you’re found out giving inauthentic information, your visa application will be denied. All materials include:
(1).Visa application form for Short Stay ;
(2).Original passport and the copy of the first page with your personal information on it. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after the expected departure from US, and there should be at least two blank pages;
(3).Three passport size photos. All photos submitted by applicants should be taken recently, full face, front view with a white background, 3.5cmX4.5cm in size. Photos with dark backgrounds are not acceptable;
(4).Please take your original identification card, other related materials and their photocopies;
(5).Invitation from the host organization;
(6).Financial statement and income proof of your parents;
(7).Proof of fund resource for Studying Abroad;
(8).Letter of Reference from the Chinese school you’re going to;
(9).Application fee;
How do I apply?
(1).To download the application form;
(2).To complete relevant information;
(3).Email your application form, photo and other necessary information you think , all as attachments, to the office mailbox available;
(4).The office mailbox is uce16@uschinaedu.cn;
(5).Our staffs will contact you within two days;
(6).Any more question, please consult our online staffs or email to uce16@uschinaedu.cn for enquiry;
What is the pro bono brief training before departure?
Before your departure to China, our Center will give all students a non-compulsory training on Chinese language, the content of which mainly covers expressions in communication, social customs and simple introductions. It aims at smoothing the whole program of Study Abroad. The training is give through internet, so you don’t have to worry about the location.
What preparation should I do?
First check if all procedures are completed, and then acquaint yourself with the route arrangements and class schedule of the whole Study Abroad plan. You may look up for some related information to make your whole Studying Abroad experience easier and smoother. At last, you should pack up daily necessities, clothes, some other things you need to bring and a small amount of pocket money to buy some souvenirs you like.
I don’t know any Chinese. Will that be Okay?
It doesn’t matter. Before your departure, our Center will give all students a brief training on Chinese language through Internet, the content of which mainly covers expressions in communication, social customs and simple introductions. It aims at smoothing the whole program of Study Abroad. If you think it’s necessary to learn a little bit Chinese first, you may join this pro bono training. After you arrive in China, we have teachers for guidance following each group to help you with daily life and study, so there won’t be any problem.
Can I choose what to learn by myself?
No. The curriculum is designed by UCE and the Educational Base for Chinese Language Study before hand, to make sure it meets the requirement of related Chinese courses for college students, and maximize its basic, practical and interesting function. Schools will give personal tutoring if you are specially interested in one course. However, you do need to pay for such tutoring at your own expense.
Can I work during my Studying Abroad?
No. Out of consideration for the program quality, the student safety, the Center does not recommend our students to work during Studying Abroad period. However, we strongly recommend you to participate in as many social activities as possible with local students.
14.Except for the tours organized by the school, can I have my own free time to do anything?
Except for the tours organized by the school, can I have my own free time to do anything?
Of course you can. After the set studying schedule everyday, students may make personal arrangements. However, group activities that are far away from the center should got permission from the administrator. You should get back to the Center on time to rest. Staying overnight outside the Center is not allowed. When you’re having your own activities, please raise your self-protection awareness.
How much money should I bring with me?
It depends on your consumption level. Things in China are relatively low compared to the States. However, as you’re not just staying here for a short stay, and you’ll be going to many places, so there’s hardly a number for reference. However, the Center suggest you not bring much cash with you, and only spend money according to your family financial ability.