The Silk Route, ancient dynasty temples, Tiananmen Square, traditional theatre, and world-renowned cuisine are just some of the reasons that make China a historically fascinating and socially engaging study abroad destination.
China’s 6,000 year-old civilization is one of the oldest in the world. In China, you will have the chance to learn about history first-hand as you explore such famous and breath-taking sites as the Great Wall, the Forbidden Palace, and X’ian’s underground army of terra cotta soldiers. Students of history, architecture, religion, and archeology will find that China possess a wealth of artifacts to study and explore.
As a study abroad student in China, you have the opportunity to admire Chinese traditions in painting, participate in tai chi aerobics, and appreciate the natural beauty of the Yangtze River, rural countryside, and bamboo forests of the panda. Such traditional arts and natural wonders will be of particular interest to study abroad students in the fields of art history, medicine, ecology, zoology, agricultural economics, and botany.
While Beijing’s treasures may be centuries-old, and modern conveniences have yet to reach traditional farming villages, Shanghai proves to be a city of skyscrapers and nightlife. Hong Kong also provides a face-paced consumer environment for keeping up with the latest trends. Business students and computer engineers, as well as those interested in the tourism or fashion industries, will gain valuable experience while working in China’s big cities.
0China is a dominant economic and world power. With its influence over the other Pacific Rim economies, China affords study abroad students the opportunity to collaborate to form international business partnerships. China also has a lot to offer those who aren’t interested in the trade of goods and services, but rather in the trade of information and knowledge. English teachers are in high demand in China, and study abroad students have a chance to visit and volunteer in local schools to establish potential teaching contacts for themselves in the future.
Whether your desire is to participate in Chinese New Year while feasting on world famous Cantonese cooking, or perform relaxing tai chi in a park in the middle of a city that’s anything but relaxing, or establish business and teaching contacts for future employment, China is waiting for you!
Documents required for china student visa
Basic Requirements
In order to study in China, you must have a admission document issued by the school, a stamped JW202 form and/or invitation document from the public security office with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stamp on it.
X Visas are Issued to students coming to China for the purpose of advanced studies or intern practice for a period of more than six months. Anyone coming to China for short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of less than six months shall apply for a (F) Visa
If the course of study is for one year, a physical examination form is required. If you wish to extend your study visa while in China, it may not be possible to change a f-visa to a x-visa once you have arrived in China. Therefore, you will need to check with your host institution as many provinces have recently changed their in-country visa conversion policies.
Visa Application Form
Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China must be filled out with full accuracy, seriousness and care. Any illegibility or failure to provide information in a truthful and complete manner may lead to delay or rejection, in which case the applicant shall be solely responsible for all likely consequences. All applications are to be considered case by case according to Chinese laws and regulations by consular officers legally entitled to rejecting any application, and altering or revoking any already issued visa without being obliged to explain.
a. A valid original passport. There must be blank visa pages in the passport. Pages for endorsements or amendments can not be used as a visa page. The passport should be valid for at least 6 months;
b. One completed Chinese Visa Application Form signed by the applicant. Children's application form can be signed by their parents or guardians;
c. One recent passport photograph affixed to the visa application form. Life photos, copied photos and digital photos printed on ordinary paper are not acceptable.
Additional documents
1. L visa
a. Documents mentioned in part A;
b. A copy of outward and return flight ticket booking;
c. A copy of Chinese hotel booking (please note the applicants who are below 14 years old or born in China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) as shown in the passport are not required to provide this);
If the applicant is going to stay at a relative or friend's home while visiting China, and therefore unable to provide hotel booking, an invitation letter containing the inviter's home address and telephone, and a copy of the inviter's ID card or residence permit should be provided instead.
2. F visa
a. Documents mentioned in part A;
b. A copy of outward and return flight ticket booking;
c. A copy of Chinese hotel booking;
d. Visa Notification Form (which is issued by the relevant department of Chinese government, companies or institutions, under the authorization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. Detailed information can be obtained from the Foreign Affairs Office of the relevant province, autonomous region and municipality where the inviting party resides.);
3. X visa (for studying more than 6 months in China)
a. Documents mentioned in part A;
b. JW-201 or JW-202 form issued by the Ministry of Education of China;
c. A letter of admission from a Chinese University/College.
4. Z visa (for long-term working)
a. Documents mentioned in part A;
b. An employment permit from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security or the State Administration of Foreign Experts of China;
c. An invitation letter from a relevant Department of Chinese Government or a government-authorized company.
5. J-1 visas are valid for 3 months for a single entry with no specified duration of stay. One is obliged to apply for residence permit at the local public security bureau within a month after entering China. J-2 visa holders may stay in China within the specified duration of stay.
6. G visa (for transit through China)
a. Documents mentioned in part A;
b. A copy of Chinese hotel booking;
c. A copy of outward and return flight ticket booking;
d. A valid visa for the country of destination.
NOTE
Applicants should check the issued visa upon collection and if necessary raise any queries at the same time. If there is no immediate query relating to the issued visa, the applicant is held responsible under any circumstances thereafter.
Visa Processing Time
Four working days are needed for regular visa application processing. A surcharge of $50 or $35 shall apply for Rush (same day) or Express (second or third working day) services respectively. All Rush applications should be submitted prior to 11 a.m.
CURRENCY AND COST OF LIVING IN CHINIA
The Chinese currency is called Renminbi (RMB), which consists of yuan, jiao and fen. 10 jiao make up 1 yuan, and 10 fens make up 1 jiao.
Money is issued in notes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 yuan, and 1 yuan coins. There are also notes for 1, 2, 5 jiao, and 5 and 1 jiao coins. Fen are issued as coins.
Note that China has established some very strict regulations on foreign currency exchange. Exchanging yuans back to foreign currencies usually requires a copy of the original exchange memo. If you’re working in China and get paid in yuan, you might find it difficult to convert your Chinese currency savings into another currency (keep your proof of payments as this might help). Due to the strict regulations, there is an active black market for currency exchange, but illegal money changers sometimes operate with false currencies so it is definitely preferable to do your currency exchanges at an official institution.
Cost of living in China
China is no longer the “bargain country” that is used to be. Along with the rise of living standards, prices have also dramatically increased. Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong have become some of the most expensive cities to live in the world, with prices for top-range apartments reaching US$ 10,000 monthly rent or more. Education for your children can also become quite costly, and if you move within the “higher circles” of Chinese society, expect to pay Western prices at top-level restaurants and other places.
On the other hand, you can still live relatively cheaply if you stick to the living standards of the lower and middle class ends of the local population. Riding buses instead of taxies, eating at cheap noodle outlets and living in an old-fashioned Chinese apartment with little or no amenities will save you a lot of money. If you move out of the big cities, prices for everything drop dramatically, often by more than half.
How much money do you need in China?
The amount of money you need in China obviously depends largely on your living standards. As a rough estimate, calculate with the following budgets:
Minimum survival - around US$ 400 (per month): This is the money you need for a bare-bone existence if you don’t have to pay for housing. It reflects the average income of many locals and allows you to live on noodles and rice, buy a Western dinner every once in a while, take a taxi in case you really need it, and pay for basic health treatment at local Chinese clinics.
Average – around US$ 1000: This allows you to rent a basic apartment (in major cities a very basic one!), enjoy a bit of Chinese culture, do some travel and pay health insurance.
Luxury: If you want to live a “good life” with higher class living standards similar to those in your home country, there are no limits as to what you can spend in China. If you want a villa-style house and to send your children to an international school, these two things alone can cost you as much as US$ 100,000 per year in major cities.
