Discover China and get an in-depth view of the amazing history, culture, and society of this ancient civilization!
Glance
Scholarships available
7 - Epson America, Inc. International Scholarship
385 - Holcomb & Farnell Foreign Study Fund
378 - The Grand Forks Scheels Scholarship
368 - YFU Community Grant
384 - YFU Financial Aid Fund
Age Requirement
July 31, 2000 - July 31, 2003. University Year: August 1, 1994- August 1, 2000. Summer program: July 1, 2000-July 1, 2003.
Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate high school before the start of their program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
Language: Mandarin Chinese. Applicants for the year and semester programs are required to have a minimum of 160 hours of Chinese language study upon arrival. There will also be a compulsory two-week Chinese language and culture course for year and semester students. This course is included in the program tuition. Summer students are only required to know Chinese basics.
Host Family Placement: Students are typically placed are in urban and suburban areas of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Jiangsu, Shenzhen, and Shenyang. However, students should be prepared to live in any region of the country.
School: School is in session from early September to late June.
Pastimes: Martial arts, table tennis, swimming, basketball, soccer, badminton, music and visiting galleries, museums, and theaters.
Summer Program
Discover China: Beijing & Shanghai
Your 4-week adventure in China begins with a short arrival orientation, where you will get an introduction to the country, customs, and lifestyles. You'll experience true Chinese daily life by living with a host family and your language skills will be strengthened while you communicate with your host family members!
While staying in Beijing, you will spend the morning enjoying Chinese cultural classes including language instruction, art, martial arts, and sports. In the afternoons you will have free time or will take part in activities organized by YFU China. Students will have a chance to see places of interest in Beijing such as the Great Wall, Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace during one full-day excursion each week!
After three and a half weeks in Beijing, you will have the chance to travel to Shanghai for a 3-day cultural tour. Famous sites that YFU students visit may include People's Square, Shanghai Pudong New area, Binjiang Park, Oriental Pearl Tower, and the Shanghai Museum. You may walk along Huangpu River in the evening and take in a view of the Bund. After the exciting cultural tour, students will return to the US from Shanghai.
Please understand that summer to China programs are subject to cancellation if the minimum of 10 YFU students is not met. YFU students include American applicants as well as other international YFU applicants.
Academic Programs
During your time in China, you will live with a host family and attend a local Chinese high school. Part of your experience will be:
High School: YFU USA students to China will be placed in grade 10 or 11 in either a regular high school or a technical and vocational high school depending on their Chinese ability. Chinese schools typically have strict rules for their students, and they have requirements on students' physical appearance (no piercings, no long hair for boys, and no perm for girls.) Physical education is highly encouraged. In many subjects, contests are organized annually at all levels to encourage students' study. Examinations are designed separately for science and art students.
University Program: The university program is perfect for students who wish to pursue further education in China. This program offers bachelors, masters and Ph.D. programs to eligible students.
Program Add-Ons: Students will have the option to participate in one or two self-paid trips during their time in China. These trips usually take place in October and June, and it typically lasts about 5 days. The trips may include museum tours, a visit to a famous site in Beijing, and visits to the provincial capital of Kunming to learn about the local minority group. The price of these trips ranges between RMB 2000-4000 (approx. USD 300-600). Due to unexpected circumstances, there might be changes for the optional trip.
Optional Excursions: Two optional cultural trips will be offered to students throughout the year. In the beginning of October, students will have the opportunity to take a trip to Beijing and experience all that the largest city in the world has to offer. In late June, students will be offered an optional trip to Yunnan. Semester students will be able to take advantage of whichever trip is offered during their program. These cultural trips will cost an additional fee ranging from $350-$650. The optional trips are subject to change.
