China

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Study

Study in China

International students should find increasing levels of investment in tertiary education to be a compelling reason to study in China.

In 2012, China reached its target of spending 4 percent of GDP on education, while the number of colleges and universities has doubled in the last decade, now standing at around 2,900. The country’s current five-year plan, which extends to 2020, focuses on modernizing and strengthening its higher education system, with key initiatives such as Project 211, which aims to bring 100 Chinese universities up to a world-class standard, and Project 985, which aims to create an even more elite group of universities. Project 985 has resulted in the creation of the C9 league, which has ambitions of becoming something like the US Ivy League.

What more can we say about China that you don’t already know? It’s a cradle of culture, philosophy, and art, that changed the course of history with every invention and every dynasty; not to mention the great works of Sun Tzu and Confucius that are still quoted and used as life guide.

Knowing all this, why wouldn’t students wish to come here, especially to be close to the birthplace of the Zen school of Buddhism that encourages individuals to find inner peace and relaxation?

Thinking of the great atmosphere and culture, China seems like the ideal international destination for your studies.

Why study in China?

China made more innovations and invented more modern-day tools and utensils than all the world combined. Without Chinese makers, we would have been left without:

Printing
Compasses
Alcoholic drinks (or the process of fermentation, but that’s alcohol, basically)
Banknotes
Toothbrushes
Nail polishes
Revolving bookcases
Domesticated goldfish

Seeing how important knowledge is in the endeavour of creating new things, it comes as no surprise that the best universities and the best teachings went down from generation to generation in China, making it one of the best places to come and study your Master’s or Bachelor’s degree.

Practical Information

How to apply to universities in China

Chinese universities receive a lot of applicants yearly, so there are a lot of auxiliary websites for students to ask for help and manage their applications. These websites are:

CUCAS – where you can apply by yourself online, and it’s an intermediator between you and the university;
CUAC (China University Application Centre) – where you can apply to a university, but also find awesome advisors and professional guides, that can help you with your studying decision.

You can also apply on your own, of course, directly at the university you’ve chosen. However, whichever way you decide to apply, the documents needed are the same, which are:

A passport photo;
A photocopy of your passport;
A photocopy of your visa;
Your ID;
Your health certificate;
Your criminal record (a clean one, hopefully);
A Chinese / English language proficiency certificate;
Letter of guarantee (parents or legal guardians sign a declaration by which they assume responsibility that you will abide by the rules and regulations of China and of the university);
Proof that you can support your studies in China;
Certificate / diploma from your last graduated school;
Academic transcripts from your last graduated school.

Helpful ways to make sure you qualify for a Chinese university

Take Preparation Courses: These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes. Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice;

Improve your English through an English-language prep course: If you’re attending a degree programme in China, you will need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures; some schools will require Chinese, while others will require strong English skills. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

Admission to universities in China

To apply for a place at a university in China, international students can use the centralized CUCAS (China’s University and College Admission System) website, or apply directly to the university. International students can also choose to apply for a Chinese Government Scholarship Program, and will find information about this on the CUCAS site.

English-language tests

China has a lot of English Master’s programmes. Still, in order to apply to one of them, you will have to prove your proficiency through an English certificate. The ones accepted by Chinese universities are:

TOEFL
IELTS

Living

Living in China

What is it like to study in China?

From the student reviews on studying in China, a single phrase gets used over and over: great and innovative facilities.

Apparently, universities know how to take care of their students, making their lives easier and taking care of them, offering free access to materials and equipment.

Classes run from 8 to 12, and usually include presentations and debates, while students are encouraged to work in teams and mingle as much as possible, in order to assure a high level of cultural exchange.

Also, sport and extracurricular activities play a huge role in a student’s life, so be prepared to spend a lot of free time on campus, without regretting it.

Tuition fees in China

Before we get to the tuition fees, we should mention the application fees: unlike some countries, China charges students for submitted applications, and that can be between 75 to 170 EUR, depending on the university’s ranking.

Still, when it comes to tuition fees, China is on the cheaper side, with tuition fees usually averaging between 2.800 and 8.400 EUR / year.

Of course, there are other ways of covering your tuition fee, and that’s by checking all the scholarships for Master’s degrees in China.

Accommodation, housing, food and other expenses

China isn’t that expensive living costs-wise. Indeed, even if the plane ticket to get you there might make you eat instant noodles for a month, once you’re there, life will be comfortable, even on a student’s budget. The minimum you have to prepare is 550 EUR/month.

Some of the prices in China are:
For a loaf of bread, 1.2 EUR;
For a meal in restaurant, 2.5 EUR;
For a coffee, 3.5 EUR;
For a one-way transportation ticket, 0.25 EUR;
For rent in a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre, 450 EUR.

Cost of living in China

Inevitably for an economy that is growing so quickly, the cost of living in China is not quite as cheap as it used to be. But tuition fees are relatively low, around US$2,000-4,000 depending on the university and study level. And the cost of living in Shanghai, China’s most expensive city, is estimated to be roughly half that of New York (source: Numbeo).

With accommodation costing between US$200 and US$300 per month (depending on the city), and transport a handful of small change, you’ll be spared the financial turmoil of students elsewhere.

About

About China

China is located at the east coast of the largest continent (Eurasia) as well as the western margin of the largest ocean (Pacific). It has a land area of about 9.6 million square km, occupying 6.5 percent of the total land area of the world. Its population of more than 1.3 billion accounts for approximately one-fifth of the world population.

Facts about China

Before you go study in China, we should first debunk the most famous, yet inaccurate, notion about it, and that’s: if you dig a big enough hole, you will exist through the desert the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote are chasing through. Well, no… you’ll probably exit in Argentina or Chile. Awesome, right?

Now, speaking of cartoon moments, you should also know that, in ancient China, soldiers used mannequins to lure enemies to shoot arrows at, and then used the mannequins to get a free supply of arrows. If you can picture a Chinese soldier holding a helmet on top of a stick and waving it around, you are allowed to laugh hysterically with me before we move on.

Now, let’s cover some interesting facts about the education in China. For instance:

Female students in China outperform men to such an extent that some universities have introduced a male quota;
Students can get 7 years in jail for cheating on exams;
The oldest piece of paper in the world was found in China and dates back to the second or first century B.C. Paper was so durable, it was sometimes used for clothing and even light body armour. Remember to bring a really strong and durable backpack, ok?
Pencils are yellow, because, in the 1890’s, the world’s best pencil graphite came from China. Here, the colour yellow is associated with royalty, so American pencil manufacturers started painting their pencils yellow, in order to indicate they contained high-quality Chinese graphite.
In 2015, a Chinese woman who was missing for a decade and presumed dead was found living in an internet café, after playing games for 10 years. I know this isn’t necessarily a student fact, but come on: you kind of see the parallel here, right?

Also, some of the things you could say that happen only in China, not related to education, but that you should definitively know, are:

The sun can rise as late as ten in the morning, because China, even though it’s a mammoth of a country, joined its five time zones;
Also in China, it's illegal to use a wordplay or a pun in advertising or on television. Doesn’t that make you Tso sad?
If you don’t believe in the butterfly effect, then this one is going to blow your mind: the air pollution in China increases or decreases the snowfall in California;
Ending on a happier note: toilet paper was invented in the 1300s, in China. It was exclusively for the Emperor, so the term “sitting on the throne” makes so much sense, right now…

Fast Fact about China

The world’s largest national population, more than 1.4 billion people – 20 percent of the Earth's entire population
More than 90 percent of the population live in the eastern third of the country
Full official name is the People’s Republic of China
Capital city is Beijing, largest city is Shanghai
Main language is Mandarin Chinese, which has more native speakers than any other language
Total amount needed for living costs per year: at least US$12,000
Average annual tuition fees: US$2,000-4,000
The world’s fastest growing and second largest economy, after overtaking Japan in 2011
Fourth-largest country by area (after Russia, Canada and the US)
The only country other than Russia and US to have launched a manned space flight; government has set target of establishing a space station by 2020

Languages in China

Major languages in China include Cantonese, Hokkien and of course Mandarin (also known as Putonghua) – which is the world’s largest language by number of speakers. Given China’s growing stature on the world stage, it is obviously going to enhance your employability if you know your way around Mandarin.

However, don’t worry if it seems like a tall order to study in a language that can seem completely opaque for the non-speaker. Many universities in China offer courses taught in English, and you’ll also find that many Chinese people speak English. If you choose to study in China in English, you won’t need to prove your fluency in Mandarin, but you may need to submit the results of a test of English proficiency such as IELTS or TOEFL.

If you decide that maybe you want to tackle a course in the native tongue, you will need to provide adequate Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK – Chinese proficiency test) results. You will usually need to reach level 3-8 (there are a total of 11), depending on your university and course. There are test centers around the world, so you shouldn’t have to travel too far. And there’s always the option of doing an intensive language course in China, which will also help you to get to grips with the country itself.

Institutes

Student VISA

Student visa for China

Chinese visa requirements

After being offered a place at a Chinese university, you’ll need to head to your local Chinese embassy, and apply for a visa appropriate for your length of stay. Chinese visa requirements state that for a stay of six months or more, you will need a study visa (or X1 visa). For less than six months, an X2 visa will do. If you do not receive your admission package in time, you may be able to apply for a tourist visa (L-visa) and convert this to a student visa when you arrive.

When applying for a visa to study in China, you should submit the following documents:

Application form
Passport
Acceptance letter from your chosen university
Recent photograph
For X2 applicants only – a JW201 or JW202 form

Work permit

Scholarship

Scholarship in China

Chinese Government Scholarship Application

China Scholarship Council

1. How can I get the latest information about Chinese Government Scholarship?Please visit our website www.campuschina.org or www.csc.edu.cn/laihua for up-to-date information. You can also consult the Chinese Embassy (or Consulate General) in your home countries or designated Chinese universities for related information.

2. What programs can I apply for? When and where can I apply?Usually the application season is between January and early April. Applicants should apply and send the required documents to the application receiving agencies. The table below illustrates the Chinese Government Scholarship programs.

3.What is the procedure of Chinese Government Scholarship application?The illustration below may help you understand the application procedure in general. There might be minor differences between programs. Please read the introductions to each program for detailed guidance.

4.Can applicants apply for Chinese Government Scholarship without Admission Letters?Yes. Applicants without Admission Letter are equally allowed to apply for Chinese Government Scholarship. However, CSC reserves the right to make necessary adjustments on the university options, specialties, program categories and duration of study for the applications without Admission Letters. Applications enclosed with Admission Letter will be forwarded directly to the host universities for recruitment confirmation.

5. Is the Letter of Acceptance or email from the supervisor admissible?Only the official Admission Letters from the admissions department of Chinese universities are valid. Other files like acceptance letters or emails from supervisors or professors shall not be regarded as the equivalent or substitute.