Location

As the capital of the world's most populous nation, Beijing is the center and international focal point of much that happens in contemporary China. It is a city of 11 million people struggling to adapt as China emerges as a global player in the 21st century. The atmosphere in Beijing is much like any capital city. As a political center, bureaucracy is widespread. With a large foreign business and diplomatic community, Beijing has a strong international presence. Changes in Beijing have moved at an incredible rate and the city continues to grow physically. Traditional style homes and narrow alleyways are being demolished to make way for newer and larger architectural structures. However, 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, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square. There is no doubt that spending time in Beijing is vital to understanding China. 

Beijing program participants study at 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 13,000 undergraduate and 9,000 graduate students are enrolled.

Beijing Program of Studies

The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) founded their Bejing Program in at Peking University in 1980. It offers students an opportunity to improve their fluency in spoken and written Mandarin Chinese through intensive language training. Students applying for this program must have taken a minimum of three semesters of Chinese at Notre Dame or the equivalent to be eligible for admission into the program. Equivalency may be based on a language professor's evaluation or a language proficiency exam score. Please note: Highly advanced students or students who are near a native fluency level should contact the CIEE office before they apply to make certain they are eligible to participate in the semester or academic year program.

Peking University offers over seven levels of language courses and more than twenty elective language courses. CIEE students enroll in these language courses with other international students. Language class sizes range from 15 to 20 students, while elective class sizes normally range from 25 to 30 students, with the occasional exception of about 40 students. Click here for Beijing course information .

The fall semester runs from late August to mid-December. Spring semester begins in mid-February and runs to mid-June. Students may enroll for a semester or the academic year. Program participants will be required to carry a minimum of 15 semester credits while attending the program.

Grades and credits earned while on this program will be recorded on ND student transcripts and will be factored into grade-point averages. Student participants will be subject to academic policies established by the host institution and CIEE, as well as those of Notre Dame.

Eligibility for the Program

• Overall GPA 2.75
• 3–6 semesters of college-level Mandarin Chinese or equivalent
• 1 college-level Chinese area studies course recommended
• Note: Peking University will not accept students who are citizens of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Taiwan ROC, Hong Kong SAR, or Macau. This includes those who are permanent U.S. residents.

Application Procedures and Due Dates

Interested students should submit an online application to the OIS first. Once the applications have been screened, and instructions for completing the CIEE application will be provided.

Once the CIEE application has been completed, it must be turned in to OIS. The completed application will be forwarded to CIEE by OIS. A $30 application fee is required by CIEE and should be submitted with the CIEE application materials. Please check the costs page to view any other fees which may be incurred with this program.

Fall semester, spring semester, and academic year online OIS applications are due by November 15th.

Additional Information

There is much more we can tell you — about this location, vibrant religious, cultural and recreational life of this community ... about the student housing, transportation, health care and much, much more. It is, after all, the details that make this program so appealing. Interested? Just click here for additional information.

Contact Dr. Hong Zhu at 631.3229 or by e-mail to Hong Zhu with any questions.