Founded in 1898, Peking University (PKU or Beida) is the first national university in Chinese modern history. PKU consists of 31 colleges, offering 101 undergraduate programs and 224 postgraduate programs, and 202 doctoral programs. There are approximately 30,000 degree seeking students enrolled at PKU. At any given time there are roughly 4,000 international students from over 80 countries studying at PKU--some degree seeking and some visiting students.
Coursework is offered in English and Mandarin. General Visiting Students are required to take the Chinese language proficiency exam after registration. Only those students whose results meet the standard are allowed to take specialty courses, otherwise they are suggested to study Chinese in the International College for Chinese Language Studies for one or two semesters. For those who have already passed the HSK 6 (Hanyu shuiping kaoshi) exam, the Chinese language proficiency exam will be exempted.
Announcement
This program is not accepting applications for any term in Academic Year 2023-2024.
Location
The university is located in Haidian District, a western suburb of Beijing, China. Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world. The city's history dates back three millennia. As the last of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, Beijing has been the political center of the country for the past eight centuries. The city is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, parks and gardens, tombs, walls and gates, and its art treasures and universities, all of which have made it a center of culture and art in China.
Academics
The online course selection system is not available for exchange students; therefore, students should be prepared to select courses upon arrival and immigration check-in registration at Peking University. Students who wish to take Chinese language courses can do so at the School of Chinese as a Second Language. Students will be tested by Chinese language level and take the appropriate PKU Chinese language courses. At the same time, those students can choose 1-2 English-taught courses at other schools/departments if the courses and quotas are available. Students who wish to opt out of Chinese language courses can take entirely English-taught courses offered by other schools/departments. A full course catalog (in Mandarin with some English) is available here. Lists of past courses taught in English outside the School of Chinese as a Second Language can be found here. PKU's "On China" series offers English-taught courses in humanities, social sciences, economics & management, and the natural sciences. Recent course offerings in that series can be found below.
Terms
Fall: late August - mid-January
Spring: mid-February - June
Accommodation
International students in China have separate housing from Chinese, degree-seeking students. There are different types of housing facilities at PKU. Students may live in international student dormitories or arrange independent housing. More information about campus accommodation and student life is available on PKU's housing page.
Cost
UVA students will pay their regular tuition rate and fees to UVA for the term they are on a UVA Exchange Program. Students are additionally responsible for room and board, transportation, and personal expenses. Students will pay the host institution or make their own arrangements for accommodations. Check the host institution web site for accommodation choices, cost, and application procedures.
Students are responsible for booking and paying for their own international airfare as well as researching and obtaining the necessary visa.
UVA students are required to purchase CISI emergency medical and accident insurance.
Expected Expenses
- UVA Tuition and Fees
- Host institution Room and Board
- International Airfare
- CISI insurance
- Books and Supplies
- Local Transportation
- Passport and Visa
- Personal Expenses
Accessibility
The University of Virginia believes in providing reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities on an individual and flexible basis. If you believe that you would require adjustments in order to fully participate in this program, please contact the Student Disability Access Center at 434-243-5180 as early as possible in order to begin this dialogue.
Passport and Visa
All participants will need a valid passport in order to participate in the program. Students must ensure that their passport is valid at least six months past the program return date. US passport holders will need a visa to participate in this program. International students should meet with their International Student Advisor and Education Abroad Advisor in the International Studies Office as part of the application process.
Health and Safety Information
All students considering Education Abroad should consult the Students Abroad section of the U.S. Department of State’s web-based travel resources and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Traveler’s Health web resources to research health, safety, and security conditions; visa requirements; immunization requirements; and recommendations on staying healthy and safe in their target destination(s). Students should also carefully review the UVA Education Abroad Health & Safety Abroad web page. Parents and guardians are strongly advised to review all of these resources, as well. UVA students and visiting students enrolled in UVA Education Abroad programs are subject to the University of Virginia’s Policy on Student International Travel.
