Overview | Academics | Cost | Location | Life Abroad | Student Voices
Learn Chinese in Tianjin, China's third largest city! Students on this intensive language program study Mandarin Chinese for 11 weeks over the summer, earning a full year's worth of language credits in one summer. Designed for students with a range of proficiency in Chinese language--from no previous experience all the way up to advanced learners--this program gives students the opportunity to develop Chinese language skills while experiencing life in one of China's fastest growing cities.
Situated on the Hai He river, Tianjin is one of the biggest ports in northern China and is well-known for its seafood, restaurants, and shopping. The city is a center of folk arts and performance, with Tianjin serving as a center for Beijing opera and gongfu martial arts. Located one hour from Beijing, Tianjin is also an excellent base for exploring China's capital city or other parts of the country.
To view an online information session about the Tianjin program, click here.
Situated on the Hai He river, Tianjin is one of the biggest ports in northern China and is well-known for its seafood, restaurants, and shopping. The city is a center of folk arts and performance, with Tianjin serving as a center for Beijing opera and gongfu martial arts. Located one hour from Beijing, Tianjin is also an excellent base for exploring China's capital city or other parts of the country.
Getting to Your Program
Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to Tianjin but are given guidelines for arrival dates.
Visa
A student visa is required. U.S. citizens must have a U.S. passport valid for at least six months beyond the end of the program. You will apply for your own visa. IAP will provide you with visa information.
Orientation
IAP expects you to be an active participant in preparing yourself for your study abroad experience. As a participant on an IAP program, you will receive a pre-departure orientation, either in-person or online. The type and format of this orientation will vary by program and will be provided to you upon acceptance to the program.
In addition to the pre-departure orientation at UW, you will also receive an on-site orientation upon arrival in Tianjin. The orientations are designed to introduce students to the program, prepare them for living in China, and assess their Chinese skills through a language placement exam.
Housing
Housing is included in the program fee. Students live with UW-Madison participants in double occupancy rooms on the Balitai campus of Tianjin Normal University. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms. Students can select meals from the university cafeteria or restaurants located close to campus.
Excursions and Activities
By the end of the program, you will participate in a talent show where you can demonstrate the performance art and talents learned in the Chinese culture classes. Various workshops are offered during the program as well as cultural experiences such as a tea ceremony. These activities are tentative and can be adjusted each summer. You can also choose from a variety of organized excursions to such places as local museums, factories, parks, and shows. The cost of these activities are not included in the program fee.
Insurance
You will be enrolled in the UW System required health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) and the cost of the insurance coverage is included in program fees.
On-Site Support
UW-Madison resident director and staff
Handbooks
Use the links below to find out more information on academics, daily life and student impressions for this program.
Tianjin, China Handbook 2013 (Summer - 2012-13)
Returned Student Network
Click
here to see testimonials from students abroad or to contact a returned student.
Student Profiles
Check out student profiles to learn more about their experience abroad.
Drew GabbertDaylon CottinghamEmily CarterJosh CookTori HubertzDan PerlinAli Mack
Student Testimonials
"I loved the daily adventure, from bargaining with street vendors to chatting with taxi drivers (in their native language), from chasing slippery noodles around a bowl with chopsticks to climbing the infamous Great Wall."
Among the most famous universities in China, Nankai University is a comprehensive institution with an emphasis on the arts and sciences. Program participants study under instructors from Nankai University's College of Chinese Language and Culture (CCLC). Set up specifically to offer Chinese language programs to international students, CCLC began enrolling international students in the early 1950s and since then more than 10,000 international students have studied Chinese at Nankai University.
The program is academically intensive with students earning twelve UW-Madison Chinese language course credits. Small classes in beginning, intermediate, and advanced Mandarin Chinese language study are offered, and students benefit from one-on-one tutorials one hour a day, Monday through Friday.
In addition to language courses, students take one non-credit course in Chinese culture, which is designed to introduce students to diverse aspects of Chinese culture while reinforcing their regular language study. Courses are taught by specialists from Nankai University and the Tianjin community, and have included Chinese calligraphy, T'ai-chi, singing, dancing, chess, and er'hu.
The program also includes a one-week break mid-way through the summer in which students are given the opportunity to explore China through personal travel or to stay in Tianjin and familarize themselves more with the city.
Course Equivalents
Use the links below to see a list of courses that students have taken on this program before and the UW equivalents. Note: this list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses or departments. You will get instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance.
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