Beijing: Arts in Context

Drawing upon the rich legacy of the arts in Beijing and China, more broadly, the College’s September core program offers students an exceptional opportunity to engage with the arts within a cultural context whose traditions have developed independently from, yet in dialogue with, those of Europe and the Americas. 

Faculty draw upon the city’s distinctive museums, galleries, historic sites, studios and public spaces to provide historical, economic, and political frameworks for understanding artistic production.  These experiences will encourage students to examine and challenge their assumptions about art, culture, place, and the relationship between artistic practice and site.

As an Arts Core Program, the curriculum will combine critical engagement with hands-on creative practice. Students will develop and materialize their ideas through direct engagement with a range of materials and artistic processes. Through making, observation, discussion and reflection, they will consider how materials, methods and cultural contexts shape the meaning and reception of art. 

Faculty who teach on this program rotate from year to year. The faculty roster is designated by the program faculty director.

Headquarters for the College’s study abroad programs in Beijing is the University of Chicago Center in Beijing, located in the Haidian District on the campus of Renmin University. The Chicago Center in Beijing features classrooms, offices for faculty, student gathering spaces, computer facilities, and conference areas. For participants in Chicago’s programs the Center in Beijing provides a focus for academic activities, a central meeting place, and a continuing “Chicago presence” within one of the major capitals of Asia.

Students in the Beijing program reside in the modern and newly renovated international student dormitory on the Renmin University campus, a few minutes’ walk to the Center in Beijing and immediately accessible via the subway line 4. Students live in furnished, shared suites with bath, internet, phone, and television, as well as access to on-site kitchen and laundry facilities. The residence hall also offers a coffee shop, a convenience store, and 24-hour security and reception. With their student ID cards, participants can take advantage of a variety of university facilities including dining halls, a comprehensive gym, and a library.

It is important to recognize the cultural context of student housing in China and understand that the amenities of the dorms may vary. Although some of these differences may take some getting used to, remember that cultural differences extend to all aspects of your experience abroad. Having realistic expectations for your term in Beijing will help you approach the study abroad experience with a positive attitude.

Participants in the Beijing program will take and receive credit for one 100-unit course. This course is considered part of the students’ Summer Quarter course load and is recorded as a course enrollment on their Summer Quarter registration. The September Visual Arts course is taught in English and there are no language prerequisites to apply.

The Visual Arts course will be listed in the Department of Visual Arts (DoVA) and will be accepted as a credit toward the general education requirement in the arts (Arts Core). The use of the program course in any other major or minor must be approved by the undergraduate chair of the respective department. The course title, units of credit, and grade are placed on the College transcript.

Completion of a September course abroad will earn students 1 point toward Global Honors, the College’s recognition of exceptional global engagement. Visit the Chicago Language Center’s website for information on how to apply for Global Honors.

September participants pay regular Summer Quarter tuition at the one-course rate, a program fee, and a nonrefundable study abroad administrative fee. The tuition and program fee are paid in conformity with the home campus payment schedule, and a deposit toward the nonrefundable study abroad administrative fee is submitted when accepting a place in a program. Precise figures for September programs during the 2026-2027 year are listed below:

Summer tuition for one course: $4,980 (Summer 2026)

Study abroad administrative fee: $675

Beijing September program fee: $4,000

Beijing program participants report spending in the range of $100 to $125 per week on meals and incidentals while on the program, though frugal students may spend less, and others could spend much more. Bear in mind that while the cost of living in Beijing is relatively low, it is also possible to run short of money if you are unwary. It is therefore essential that you budget your funds prudently, apportioning your resources so that they last for the duration of the program. If you are planning to travel before or after the program or on weekends, you should budget accordingly.

Study abroad students retain their financial aid eligibility. For more information about financial aid resources, please see our Tuition, Fees, and Funding section.

The Beijing Program is open to University of Chicago undergraduate students only who are not Chinese citizens and do not hold a Chinese passport or Chinese Travel Document. Applications from outside the University are not accepted.

The program is designed for undergraduates in good academic and disciplinary standing who are beyond their first year in the College. While the program stipulates no minimum grade-point average, an applicant’s transcript should demonstrate that they are a serious student who will make the most of this opportunity. Because the September course is taught in English, there is no language prerequisite, although students are encouraged to take Chinese on campus before the program begins.

There is considerable demand for the College's September programs abroad and each application is examined on the basis of the student’s scholastic record and personal statement. If you are interested in applying for this program please fill out the online application.

To discuss the Beijing: Arts in Context program and the possibility of participating, please contact Naira Ovsepyan.