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.

Listed Institutes in China

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

Working in China

The Chinese Ministry of Education has revealed plans to allow international students at Chinese universities nationwide to work part-time in a bid to make the country’s education system more attractive.

Scholarship in China

Chinese Government Scholarship Application

China Scholarship Council