Beijing Program
Please note: Study abroad programs sponsored by the undergraduate College of the University of Chicago are open to University of Chicago students only. Applications from outside the University are not accepted.
The autumn-quarter Beijing program is constructed around a three-quarter civilization sequence, treating aspects of East Asian culture, history, politics, and society. This sequence is taught, in English, by Chicago faculty, its emphases shifting from year to year in accordance with the interests and expertise of that year's staff. While China, in keeping with the location of the program, will hold a central position in the sequence, Korea and Japan will also be considered (again, with varying emphasis from year to year). In addition to the civilization sequence, students take a fourth course in the Chinese language, taught at various levels, designed to facilitate their access to the local culture. Students interesting in getting a head start in Chinese are urged to take advantage of the Chinese Language Pre-Session (see below). Beijing itself, the fabled "Northern Capital" of the Ming Dynasty, now the political and cultural capital of modern China, plays a key role in this program, and a series of excursions and site visits helps connect the courses with the physical reality, past and present, of China. Chicago's host institution and headquarters in Beijing is CET, an organization that has operated its own programs in China (at Beijing's Capital Normal University) since 1982.
You are encouraged to arrive in Beijing four weeks before the normal beginning date of the program to participate in the Chinese Language Pre-Session, an intensive Chinese language course for students who want to get a head start in their language learning. This option is available to students at all levels of Chinese, including those with no previous coursework in the language.
As a participant in the Beijing program you will be housed, with a Chinese roommate, at the new International Residence Hall at Capital Normal University west of the city center. Each room in this facility includes high-speed internet access, telephone, and television. Each floor has a shared kitchen.
You remain registered full-time in the College and pay regular College tuition, the Beijing program fee and the non-refundable study abroad administrative fee required of all participants in Chicago's programs abroad. For precise figures, see Study Abroad Program Fees.
You retain your financial aid eligibility. However, two expenses--the
study abroad administrative fee and the round-trip air fare to Beijing--are
not underwritten by College Financial Aid. On the other hand, since
you cannot be expected to work part-time while in China, the self-help
component of your financial aid package does not include a term-time
employment factor.
The Chicago Beijing program is designed for University of Chicago undergraduates in good standing who are beyond their first year in the College. While the program stipulates no minimum grade-point average, your transcript should demonstrate that you are a serious student who will make the most of this opportunity. Because the civilization sequence is taught in English, previous study of Chinese is not required. At the same time you are encouraged to gain some knowledge of this fascinating, but difficult language. Your application is likely to be strengthened by doing so and your experience of Beijing enhanced. Please note: Because of the considerable demand on the Chicago civilization programs abroad, no student may participate in more than one of these programs.
Applications are available on the study abroad website. To apply to the Beijing program, a student submits a general study abroad application electronically, then downloads the supplementary application specific to Civilization programs and submits it on paper, normally in mid-winter quarter of the previous academic year.
In preparing the application and especially in composing the required personal statement, students should keep in mind that admission to Civilization programs are selective and that the number of places available is insufficient to meet the considerable demand. A student accepting an offer of admission is expected to secure his or her place with a $500 non-refundable study abroad administrative fee. (To begin the application process, click on the Study Abroad General Application.)
If you would like to discuss the Beijing program
and the possibility of participating in it, please contact Jenny
Quijano Sax (Harper 216; 834-5424; jquijano@uchicago.edu).
Statements contained on this site are subject
to change without notice.
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