Overview | Academics | Cost | Location | Life Abroad | Student Voices
Offered by the Council for International Education and Exchange (CIEE), the Intensive Chinese Language program gives high intermediate and advanced language students the opportunity to increase their language proficiency and knowledge about China and Beijing's important role in Chinese society. Students participate in intensive Mandarin Chinese training at Peking University, China's premier learning institution, along with weekly interactions with Chinese peer tutors and other local Chinese, a local family visit, group excursions throughout the greater Beijing area, and individual excursions elsewhere in China.
As the capital of the world's most populous nation, Beijing is at the center of much that happens in China. It is a city of 11 million people struggling to adapt as China emerges as a global player. As a political center, bureaucracy is widespread. Changes in Beijing have moved quickly, and the city continues to grow. Beijing also reflects China's long and evolving history when different dynasties were based there and constructed some of the nation's most well-known and culturally important sites such as the Great Wall and the Summer Palace.
As the capital of the world's most populous nation, Beijing is at the center of much that happens in China. It is a city of 11 million people struggling to adapt as China emerges as a global player. As a political center, bureaucracy is widespread. Changes in Beijing have moved quickly, and the city continues to grow. Beijing also reflects China's long and evolving history when different dynasties were based there and constructed some of the nation's most well-known and culturally important sites such as the Great Wall and the Summer Palace.
Getting to Your Program
Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to Beijing 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. CIEE 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.
A mandatory orientation session, conducted at the beginning of the program, introduces students to the country, the culture, the local community and environment, and the academic program.
Housing
Housing is included in the program fee. Students live in double occupancy accommodations in the foreign student's complex at Peking University or at an off-campus facility (You Liao) which is a 10-minute walk from the West Gate of the campus. Students are only placed off-campus after all rooms in the on-campus dormitory have been filled as required by Peking University. A limited number of semester-long homestays for academic year students may also be available.
Students typically take meals in one of the many diverse eateries available both on and off-campus and shop at local markets (kitchens are not available in student housing). Meals are not included in the program fee with the exception of the homestay option which includes two meals per week.
Excursions and Activities
A mandatory orientation session, conducted at the beginning of the program, introduces students to the country, the culture, the local community and environment, and the academic program.
Students participate in cultural and educational activities such as visits to the Beijing Opera, classical and popular concerts, acrobatic performances, Tiananmen Square, and Liulichang Street. The program includes excursions to places such as the Great Wall, Ming Tombs, the Temple of Heaven, and a weekend trip to an area outside Beijing such as Xian, Hangzhou, or Wu Tai Mountain.
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
CIEE resident director and staff
Returned Student Network
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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.
Ali Mack
Student Testimonials
Read Mary's Blog! Mary studied on this program during the 2011-2012 academic year. You can read about her experiences and see her pictures here.
Blogs
Read about current & past students' adventures.
Mary-Academic Year 2011-12
As one of China's most prestigious universities, Peking University was founded in 1898 and has a long tradition of scholarly excellence and political activism. Its primary mission is to train scholars for advanced research in the natural and social sciences. More than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled. Located in northwestern Beijing in an area known as Haidian, not far from the old Summer Palace, the Peking University campus is comprised of a blend of traditional and modern buildings and architectural structures.
Founded in 1980, the CIEE Study Center at Peking University offers students the opportunity to improve their fluency in Mandarin Chinese through intensive language training. Students enroll in two required language courses in Spoken and Written Chinese, as well as language elective courses. Students may also elect to take one course in English in the areas of business, international relations, and history to supplement their understanding of China.
Affiliate Institution(s)
www.pku.edu.cn
Program Web Page(s)
ciee.org/program_search/program_detail.aspx?program_id=48
Foreign Courses
Available Courses
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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