China Study Abroad: Higher Education in Beijing for Non-Chinese Speakers

A variety of China study abroad programs from Mandarin to Chinese medicine to business administration are offered in China for foreigners – even those who don’t speak a word of Chinese.

Beijing Foreign Studies University (北京外国语大学):

BeiWai teaches over 30 languages including Chinese. Short term, bachelor’s and master’s programmes are available for foreigners.

Beijing International MBA Program:

This program offers several options: an 18 month full-time, 26 month part-time or two year executive MBA programs taught in English. Graduates receive an MBA degree from Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School in Belgium.

Beijing Language and Culture University (北京语言文化大学):

BLCU accepts the largest number of foreigners annually. Short term, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs are available. Foreigners mainly study Chinese and culture but those who speak Chinese (HSK level 3 for undergraduate, HSK level 6 for graduate, and HSK level 9 for doctoral) can study foreign languages, computer science and technology, finance and accounting alongside Chinese students.

Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (北京中医药大学):

One of the earliest institutions of higher learning for Traditional Chinese Medicine, foreigners can enroll for short term and undergraduate programs in TCM, tuī ná (推拿) massage and acupuncture (針刺, zhēn cì). No Chinese proficiency is required for short term classes but those enrolled in the undergraduate program must take an entrance exam and Chinese culture and Chinese language classes along with medical courses.

The Central Academy of Fine Arts (中央美术学院):

Foreigners need to score level 4 on the HSK to enroll as undergraduates and level 9 to enroll as doctoral students to study art, art history and theory, and architecture and design at CAFA. Chinese study is available to non-speakers.

Chinese Culture Center:

CCC offers weekly classes in calligraphy, ink and water painting, mahjong, qigong, tai chi, knot-making, cooking and more. The club also organises events, lectures and tours.

Hutong Cuisine:

Chinese cooking classes are offered daily (by appointment) in a hutong, a traditional courtyard home.

Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies:

Formerly known as the Stanford Centre, IUP is headquartered at the University of California, Berkeley. Students must have taken two years of college Mandarin classes to attend this intensive Chinese language program. Students can attend a 32-week, 16-week or eight week summer course.

Peking University (北京大学):

The ‘Harvard of China’ accepts foreigners mostly through affiliations with foreign universities. Most study Chinese at BeiDa but those who score level 7 or higher on the HSK can study virtually any subject they want.

Renmin University of China (中国人民大学):

RenDa offers seven master’s degree programs that are taught in English. The MA programs include Chinese law, contemporary China studies, Chinese finance and international MBA.

The Sino-Smith Executive MBA in Beijing:

The University of Maryland offers the The Sino-Smith Executive MBA in Beijing. The course is 18 months and meets once a month for four consecutive days. Instruction is in English by Smith School faculty and students receive a degree from the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business.

Rutgers International Executive MBA (新泽西州立大学):

Rutgers offers a 14 month Executive MBA programme taught in English by Rutgers faculty.

Tsinghua University (清华大学):

China’s answer to MIT and Hu Jintao’s alma mater offers 10 master’s degree programs in English. Master’s degrees in architecture, global business journalism, and international relations are among the offerings.