China
Why Study in China
A long history of education and a vibrant culture make China a hot study abroad destination for students. International students from all over the world are warmly welcomed to study in China. On an average, over 300,000 students from about 180 countries pursue higher education in China every year. Chinese universities offer numerous programs for international students. While the non-degree programs teaching Chinese language and culture have been traditionally popular, international students are now opening up to the possibility of earning Chinese degrees. However, since most degree programs are taught in Chinese, a certain degree of language proficiency is necessary even as an increasing number of English-taught degree programs are now becoming available. Therefore, one can make a choice according to individual preference.
Costs of education and accommodation in China are cheaper than any European country making it the least expensive destination for overseas education. However, a basic understanding of Chinese culture and knowledge of the local language are mandatory for improving your job prospects.
China is pumping substantial investment into its higher education sector by setting up world-class universities and delivering qualifications of global standard.
The country has signed agreements for mutual recognition of academic qualifications with a several prominent countries including the United States, Britain, France, Japan and 65 other countries and regions.
The rise of China as a dominant economy has proved that proficiency in Chinese language and first-hand experience of living in China are major tools in strengthening one’s profile as a prospective employee in the global corporate scenario.
Statistics prove China as the fastest growing economy in the last 30 years and one that maintained an impressive growth rate of 8% even during the global financial crisis-a feat that was beyond the imagination of most developed nations. In the last ten years, the number of Chinese colleges and universities has doubled to reach a figure of 2,409. According to China.org.cn, in 2012, China hosted about 320,000 international students. This figure indicates an increase of 55,000 students as compared to 2010. Chinese government is working actively towards its aim of attracting 500,000 overseas students by 2020. As an initiative to reach this target, China will offer scholarships to 50,000 students worldwide in the year 2015.
Top Universities in China
The QS World University Rankings® 2013/2014 include 25 Chinese institutions such as the globally renowned Peking University; Tsinghua University; Fudan University; Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Zhejiang University; University of Science and Technology of China; Nanjing University, and Xi’an Jiao Tong University.
Peking University was the first formal national and modern Chinese institution. It was christened as the Imperial capital University in 1898, replacing Guozijian, which was the oldest and most prominent Chinese education system.
In 2014, Peking University was ranked as one of the top Asian Universities for Life Sciences and Medicine. It was ranked 37 in the world for biological sciences, 38th for pharmacy and 48th for psychology in Subject Rankings.
Tsinghua University is ranked 14 among Asian Universities. It boasts of a prestigious reputation among universities in Asia. It is rated fifth in the region by academics, and fourth by employers. It is ranked among the world’s top 100 universities for biological sciences, and among the top 150 for both medicine and pharmacy.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is currently ranked at an overall sixth position among Asian universities while being one of the top 20 in Asia for all five subject areas considered. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject, CUHK’s strongest life sciences positions are for psychology (41st in the world) and medicine (49th), and it is among the top 100 universities in the world for biological sciences.
There are numerous other modern institutions offering brilliant education opportunities to overseas students. But since China is a relatively new study abroad option, one needs the advice and support of experts in order to make an informed decision about the best fit for your individual aspirations.
Contact Global Education Ideas to find out all that you need to know before embarking on your overseas student journey.
Emerging Sectors in China
China is putting forth great efforts to become the most sustainable and technology oriented economy. From the time of the new millennium, Chinese government has focussed on seven key emerging sectors to realise its strategic economical goals:
Biotechnology
Environmental and energy technologies
The Top class of Information Technology
Manufacture of advanced equipments
Research new energy sources
Energy vehicles
New materials
Chinese government is aiming for growth in these sectors by incorporating new goals and providing the necessary impetus. These sectors are estimated to contribute approximately 8% till 2015, subsequently rising to about 15% by the year 2020 towards the Gross Domestic Product.
Skill Shortages
China faces an acute shortage of skilled workers in the areas of finance, IT and green fields. Mr. Simon Lance, Regional Director, China, in a leading recruiting company says, “We are operating in 31 countries, and these are the skills that our global clients are constantly demanding. Anyone looking to find a place in the global economy needs to focus and develop these skill sets.” Being a world leader in economic and technological spheres, China offers a plethora of lucrative opportunities.
Find the full official list at – http://www.hays.cn/en/press-releases/HAYS_014336
Average Incomes
Due to China’s phenomenal economic growth, the work opportunities for foreigners have increased considerably in the last few years. In 1996, there were 180,000 foreign workers registered in China and the number is rapidly growing.
Teaching English is one of the most popular job areas for foreigners in China. In recent years, a growing demand for foreign experts in sales, engineering and management has been witnessed.
Education Cost for Studying in China
While considering China as a study abroad destination, it is important to be aware of the cost of tuition and living expenses. Although China faces rapid price rise, the cost of living and studying in China is relatively low in comparison to other developed countries like the US or the UK.
Tuition Fee (CNY ¥)
The estimated average tuition fee ranges from USD 3300 (around 20,000 RMB) to USD 9900 (around 60,000 RMB) per year.
Accommodation (CNY ¥)
- Applications for accommodation should be made to the universities before reaching China.
- There are many kinds of dormitories in the universities, and the prices differ from each other due to the furniture and facilities.
- Students can live off-campus with the permission of the university, but should register at the local public security office within 24 hours upon arrival.
- Accommodation in Beijing is roughly RMB 2000-3000 yuan per month
- Renting a flat would roughly cost between 2000¥ to 4000¥.
Other Living Expenses (CNY¥)
Monthly living costs in metropolitan areas like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou would be 4500-5000 RMB (about USD 740-830).
Living in other cities would cost about 1500-3500 RMB (about USD 250-580) per month.
Eating out in China is cheap in comparison to other countries.
An average meal costs around 30-50 yuan
- Eating out – 1500¥ to 3000¥ per week
- Transportation system – 30 ¥ to 60 ¥ per week
(The subway has a flat rate of 2 yuan and buses within the city are even cheaper) - Basic utilities (gas, heating, electricity, and mobile bills) – 300¥ to 500¥ per month
Smaller cities and those in China’s central and western regions are particularly inexpensive.
Scholarships to Study in China
The Chinese government has set up a series of scholarship programs to sponsor international students, teachers and scholars to study and conduct research in Chinese universities. China Scholarship Council, entrusted by the Ministry of Education of People’s Republic of China is responsible for the enrollment and administration of Chinese Government Scholarship programs.
279 Chinese universities designated by MoE to enroll international students offer academic programs in a large variety of subjects ranging from Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Medicine, Law, Economics, Management and Education to Liberal Arts, Philosophy, History, and Fine Arts for scholarship winners at all levels.
In order to understand the scholarship process for Chinese universities including the details of available scholarships, application procedure, deadlines and selection criteria, we advise you to schedule an appointment with Global Education Ideas Global Education Offices at the earliest.
Admission Process for Study in China
There are two types of universities in China:
- Comprehensive universities
- Professional universities
Comprehensive universities have a wide range of disciplines, with tremendous strength in scientific research.
Professional universities are generally proficient in specific disciplines and the programmes have a core academic focus,
Degree programs begin in September at most Chinese universities. A small number of programs admit students in February or March.
To learn about the admission process for Chinese Universities and to gain the most in-depth understanding about the opportunities for studying in China, students should register with Global Education Ideas. After registration, students will be guided about the various requirements of admission such as standardized tests, entry requirements and documents to be submitted along with the application
Student Visa for China from India
Along with the application form, students must submit various documents:
- Certificate or original copies of high school education.
- Official copies of certificates of the courses undertaken and evidence of grades awarded. These need to be officially attested by the authorities.
- HSK certificate as evidence of Chinese language proficiency. The applicants whose native language is not English also need to take the language proficiency test and qualify with the required score.
- If applying for an MBA program, the scorecard of GMAT or GRE is essential.
- Two recommendations from professors and/or scholars with their address and phone numbers.
- Resume including personal details such as interests, hobbies, attributes, future goals and academic aspirations.
- Solvency certificate from the bank
- 3 recent passport size photographs.
- Copy of valid passport.
- Application fees certificate.
Note: The documents may vary depending on specific requirements of the course and/or institution
Exams for Studying in China
In accordance with different levels of degree, Chinese universities have different requirements that need to be reviewed carefully before application.
Usually, the non-degree language and culture programs have minimum requirements such as a high school diploma.
Chinese-medium degree programs (i.e. degree programs taught in Mandarin) require the applicant to provide HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) results to prove their Chinese language proficiency.
The usual requirement is a band of 4-6 for undergraduate programmes and a band of 5-8 for post-graduate programs. These requirements may differ depending on the course and/or institution.
English-medium programs do not require HSK results. Instead, applicants for English-medium programs should provide recognized English proficiency tests such as TOEFL or IELTS.
More and more universities are starting to offer international programs taught in English. These programs will no longer require HSK examination results and are suitable for international applicants.
Contact Global Education Ideas today for detailed information relating to the tests that may be needed for admission to Chinese institutions.