Welcome to International Education

Five Quick Points About China

• Fascinating and unique culture
• Now among the top five destination countries for international students
• Chinese economy is the fastest growing in the world – already the largest by some measures of GDP
• Learning Chinese and understanding China increasingly important as the scale of China’s political, academic, and economic influence continues to grow
• Chinese government is investing heavily in higher education

Location and Geography

Located in Eastern Asia, China borders North Korea, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. China comprises about one-fifteenth of the world’s landmass (9,572,900 square kilometres). Its coastline runs along the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea, and the South China Sea between North Korea and Vietnam. The greater part of the country is mountainous. In the southwest is Tibet; the Gobi Desert lies to the north. The capital city is Beijing.

Climate

China’s climate is characterised by dry seasons and wet monsoons, which lead to clear temperature differences in winter and summer. Due to the country’s complex topography, the climate changes from region to region.

History and Population

China has a recorded history of 3,500 years and is noted for being the oldest continuous major world civilization. Before the 20th century, China was ruled by a succession of dynasties. One of these, the Han dynasty, saw the ascent of the Confucian ideology, and during the Han dynasty intellectual, literary, and artistic endeavors flourished. Two major Chinese inventions, paper and porcelain, came from this period.

The Qing (Ch’ing) dynasty, established in 1644 when the nomadic Manchus invaded China, would be China’s last dynasty – it ended in 1911 and China became a republic. Much of the early 20th century saw civil war in China, with communists battling non-communist forces; invasions and occupations by other powers also occurred. Various communist models ensued, with various degrees of freedom and restraint, and wealth and poverty, for the population as a whole. Toward the end of the century, China began opening itself up to the rest of the world (it was isolationist for much of the century) and enacted reforms which led to massive economic development. China is now considered a major world power with a technology-intensive, industrialised economy.

With a population of more than 1.4 billion people, China is the most populated country on earth. The median age is 37. The main language spoken is Mandarin Chinese. Cantonese and a host of other distinct dialects are spoken in different regions throughout the country.

Society and Culture

Officially atheist, China is a country with diverse religious beliefs and freedom to practise them. The main religion is a combination of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism (93%), while “other” (7%) includes Christians, Protestants, Catholics, Mormons, Muslims, and Jews. Han Chinese compose 92% of the ethnic makeup of the country, with Huang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and various other nationalities composing the rest.

In terms of culture, it’s almost impossible to provide a brief description. Various parts of Chinese culture have been adopted across the world, especially in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, including literature (including fables and poetry), cuisine (e.g., Sichuan), music (e.g., opera), crafts (e.g., wood carving and furniture-making) and visual arts (e.g., silk painting). Confucianism as well as an emphasis on collective over individual good have resulted in a society that values duty, sincerity, loyalty, honour, and respect for age and seniority.

Economy

China’s economy during the past 30 years has changed from a centrally planned system that was largely closed to international trade to a more market-oriented economy that has a rapidly growing private sector and is a major player in the global economy. Its major exports are electrical and other machinery including data processing equipment, apparel, textiles, iron and steel, and optical and medical equipment.

The rate of development has been extreme, with an average GDP growth of 7–8% per year over the last 30 years. By some measures, the Chinese economy is now the largest in the world, surpassing that of the US. While urban Chinese have seen significant increases to their standard of living, many rural Chinese are still living in poverty. The Chinese currency is the renminbi or the Chinese yuan (¥).

Government

China has a communist government. The Beijing-based Chinese Communist Party, which is by nature authoritarian, dominates government. However, central leaders increasingly have to attract consensus for new policies from local and regional leaders, non-party members, and the overall population. Party control is tightest in urban areas and less entrenched in rural China. The principal organs of government power are the National People’s Congress (NPC), the president (head of state), and the State Council.

Living Conditions and Cost of Living

Food costs are generally reasonable in China; housing is the major expense. Contacts are important for finding the best place to live, so students should begin talking to people as soon as they get to China for comfortable but reasonably priced living arrangements. In general, western China tends to be cheaper than the eastern port cities of Beijing, Qingdao, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. In Beijing, both furnished and unfurnished properties are available. Furnished houses are very easy to find in the rental market of Beijing.

Most Chinese universities and colleges provide various levels of on-campus accommodation to international students at different costs to suit different budgets. International students can choose their accommodation when they arrive at the school. On-campus accommodation is usually the cheapest alternative. For travel between cities, buses and boats are almost always cheaper than trains and planes.

Even in the more expensive cities, such as Beijing or Shanghai, international students can live comfortably for US$1,500 per month, or more depending on location and lifestyle. University tuition fees range between US$2,000 and US$15,000 per year.

Education System

The Chinese government has placed priority on developing education. It is revitalising the country through science and education, intensifying the reform of the educational system, and implementing nine-year compulsory education. Governments at all levels are increasing their investment in education.

In terms of higher education, universities, colleges, institutes, and vocational colleges offer degree (e.g., bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral) programmes as well as non-degree programmes. All are open to foreign students, and there are an increasing number of courses taught in English. There are over 2,000 universities and colleges, and students are required to pay tuition. QS notes:
“To apply for a place at a university in China, international students can use the centralised CUCAS (China’s University and College Admission System) website, or apply directly to the university.”

They further note that:

“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 centres 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.”

Information Specific to International Students

In the last several years, the number of international students coming to China has risen dramatically, due to China’s growing economy and improving higher education system. In 2018, for example, there were nearly 500,000 foreign students enrolled with Chinese institutions and schools. The top five countries with the largest numbers of international students in China are South Korea, Thailand, Pakistan, India, and the United States.

There are different student visas granted for different lengths of time. QS notes:

“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 X-visa). For less than six months, a business visa (or F-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.”

Students may work in internships while studying in China provided they get permission from their university. All foreign students pursuing higher education in China for a period of over six months need to get travel insurance, student health insurance, and emergency insurance. Students can purchase their insurance from their home country or from the university admission office during registration.

More Information

• Study in China website: https://www.campuschina.org
• China Admissions guide to studying in China: https://www.china-admissions.com/study-in-china-guide-for-international-students
• Central application hub for Chinese universities: https://www.cucas.cn

More Useful Resources

www.gov.cn/english/chinatoday.htm – Chinese government website
www.edu.cn/20041203/3123354.shtml – Education system in China
www.edu.cn/Internationaledu_1499/20090515/t20090515_378829.shtml – How to study in China
www.moe.edu.cn/edoas/website18/en/laws_e.htm – Chinese Ministry of Education
www.aacircle.com.au/visas-china.htm – Immigration and visa information
www.e-admission.edu.cn/ – Information regarding accommodation, health insurance, finding schools
and programs, how to apply, work, and money matters.
www.cma.gov.cn/english/ – Chinese Bureau of Meteorology
www.china-travel-tour-guide.com/about-china/climate.shtml – Climate information
www.china.org.cn/e-china/history/Ancient.htm – History of China
www.stats.gov.cn/english/ – National Bureau of Statistics China
www.chinaconsulatesf.org/eng/qianzhen/zgqz/t48482.htm – Information for international students
www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/visa/student.htm – Information on visas
www.moe.edu.cn/edoas/website18/en/international_3.htm – Information on studying in China