2023 Application Instructions for International Students (Chinese Language Programs)
Ⅰ. Course Overview
The aim of this program is to cultivate foreigners with good Chinese listening, speaking, reading, writing ability and professional translation ability. After completing their studies, learners can improve their Chinese level, understand the development of Chinese culture and Chinese society, and have strong intercultural communication ability.
According to the students’ Chinese level, students will be divided into seven levels, which belong to stages of the primary, the intermediate or the advanced level. To ensure quality, teaching will be conducted in small classes of 20 students at the maximum.
II. Eligibility
1. General Requirements
(1) Applicants must possess a high school diploma or above.
(2) Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens in good physical and mental health and possess a valid foreign passport.
(3) Applicants under the age of 18 at the time of application must submit relevant supporting documents at the time of application and entry (article 8 of Item VI for details).
2. Requirements on Nationality
It is implemented in accordance with the provisions of Notice by the Ministry of Education of Regulating Admission of International Students in China's Higher Education Institutions.
(1) A person who has acquired a foreign nationality at birth, both of whose parents are Chinese citizens and have settled abroad or either of whose parents is a Chinese citizen and has settled abroad, and is applying as an international student must present a valid foreign passport or nationality certificate attained before April 30th, 2019, along with proof of residence abroad of at least 2 years between April 30th, 2019 and April 30th, 2023 (9 months of residence abroad per year may be considered as one year,subjected to the entry and exit seal).
(2) Residents of Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who have emigrated to other countries and acquired foreign nationality, and are applying as international students must present a valid foreign passport or nationality certificate attained before April 30th, 2019, and proof of the renunciation of Chinese nationality, along with proof of residence abroad of at least 2 years between April 30th, 2019 and April 30th, 2023 (9 months of residence abroad per year may be considered as one year, subjected to the entry and exit seal).
III. Application Time
Fall semester (September 2023 - January 2024): March 1 - June 30, 2023;
Spring semester (February 2024 - July 2024): October 15 – December 31, 2023.
Note: Applicants can choose one semester of language study or one academic year (two semesters) of language study according to their own needs. The system will no longer be accessible after the deadline. To prevent a situation where applicants are unable to submit supplementary materials, applicants are advised to complete the application at least two weeks before the deadline.
IV. Curriculum Provision
The program consists of compulsory and elective courses. The compulsory courses will take about 20 hours each week.
1. Compulsory Courses
Below are the different class levels that this program offers, together with the objectives of the courses.
Courses |
Course objectives |
Hours |
Elementary 1 |
Having preliminary ability of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Being able to make simple communication on familiar topics relating to daily life. It is equivalent to the first level of “Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education”. |
20 per week |
Elementary 2 |
Having preliminary ability of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Being able to make simple communication on familiar topics relating to daily life. It is equivalent to the second level of “Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education”. |
20 per week |
Intermediate 1 |
Having general ability of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Being able to make brief communication on topics relating to daily life, learning and work. It is equivalent to the third level of “Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education”. |
20 per week |
Intermediate 2 |
Having certain ability of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and preliminary ability of translation. Being able to make complete, coherent and effective social communication on complex topics such as daily life, learning and work. It is equivalent to the fourth level of “Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education”. |
20 per week |
Intermediate 3 |
Having certain ability of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and basic ability of translation. Being able to make complete, smooth and effective social communication on complex topics such as daily life, learning and work. It is equivalent to the fifth level of “Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education”. |
20 per week |
Advanced 1 |
Having certain ability of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and general ability of translation. Being able to make smooth and appropriate social communication on some professional topics of learning and work. It is equivalent to the sixth level of “Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education”. |
20 per week |
Advanced 2 |
Having good ability of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and preliminary professional ability of translation. Being able to conduct standardized, fluent and appropriate social communication on a wide range and high-level topics. It is equivalent to the sixth level of “Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education”. |
20 per week |
2. Elective Courses
Apart from language courses, a wide variety of cultural experience is offered, which will help students to increase their understanding of China and its rich culture. Below is a short overview. The specific courses are arranged according to the number of courses selected in the current semester.
Elective courses |
Learning outcomes |
Hours |
Mandarin Pronunciation |
To master the pronunciation of Mandarin. |
2 per week |
HSK Counselling |
Through intensive training, students consolidate the words and basic Chinese grammar, are familiar with HSK test questions at all levels, and master certain examination strategies. |
2 per week |
All-media Chinese |
Read the news in Chinese, master Chinese expressions of journalism terminology, and enhance the understanding of contemporary Chinese society. |
2 per week |
Chinese Culture in Life- Food, Clothing, Housing and Transportation |
By understanding the basic needs and its characteristics in contemporary Chinese daily life, get a deep understanding of the context of Chinese cultural development, and form a general concept of Chinese culture. |
2 per week |
The Speed of China – Contemporary Transportation |
Learn about the ways of transportation in Chinese daily life, understand the rapid development of contemporary transportation in China, and explore the conditions and reasons for its development. |
2 per week |
A Collection of Chinese Art |
Learn about the basic forms of traditional Chinese musical instruments and that of music and opera, Chinese calligraphy and painting. And gain an in-depth understanding of the Chinese Art and the Chinese aesthetics. |
2 per week |
A Travel Across Time and Space - Chinese Tea Culture |
Learn words and expressions of Chinese Tea Culture. Understand the basic knowledge of tea, learn its brewing method. Understand the importance that tea holds in Chinese culture and how it has influenced Chinese people. |
2 per two weeks |
The Art of Hollowing-Out – Chinese Paper Cutting |
Understand the development of Chinese paper-cutting and its connotation. Students learn the method of Chinese paper cutting and its (historical) cultural importance. Through experience we hope that students will appreciate its cultural significance. |
2 per two weeks |
V. Method of Assessment
The weight assigned to the results of each course will be the same as follows: assignments 30%, the mid-term test 30% and the final test will be 40%.
VI. Application Method
Applicants must login to the SDU Online Application System for International Students (http://www.apply.sdu.edu.cn) in order to apply. The application information should be fully filled in and required documents have to be uploaded. No paper application has to be sent through the post.
VII. Application Documents
1. The biographic page of the applicant’s passport (personal ordinary passport must be valid until at least October 31st, 2023).
2. The high school diploma or equivalent or pre-graduation certification. If the applicant has not received the high school diploma or equivalent yet, a pre-graduation certification should be presented to affirm the applicant will graduate soon (the official seal of the school must be affixed).
3. Transcripts of all courses taken when pursuing the high school degree (the official seal of the school must be affixed).
4. Foreigner Physical Examination Form.
Applicants must take physical examinations in strict accordance with the requirements of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form, which must be fully filled in (please click the link to download the template: https://www.istudy.sdu.edu.cn/info/1267/3354.htm). Incomplete forms or forms without signature of the attending physician, hospital stamp, and stamped photo will not be considered. Please ensure the physical examination remains valid during the application as the result is valid for only 6 months.
5. Certificate of No Criminal Conviction (it must be within the validity period at the time of application).
6. Scanned copies of Statement of Financial Support through a Guarantor and its supporting documents (applicants for Chinese Government Scholarship are exempt from these requirements), including:
(1) Statement of Financial Support through a Guarantor, which should be filled in Chinese or English (please click the link to download the template: https://www.istudy.sdu.edu.cn/info/1267/3315.htm);
(2) Bank Statement certifying that the applicant has sufficient funds to cover his or her tuition, accommodation, living expenses and international travels during his or her study in China;
(3) The scanned copies of the passport biographic page or I.D. card of the applicant’s financial guarantor (only the applicant himself/herself or his/her direct family can act as a financial guarantor).
7. If you are studying at another university in Mainland China, please submit a recommendation letter issued by the International Students Office or the school of your host university with their contact information.
8. Applicants under the age of 18 must submit supporting documents (Annex 1).
9. Applicants mentioned in the Notice by the Ministry of Education of Regulating Admission of International Students in China's Higher Education Institutions must submit relevant supporting documents (Annex 2).
VIII. Application Instructions
1. All the uploaded documents must be in Chinese or English. For documents in other languages, scanned copies of the original documents and the notarized translations in English or Chinese must both be uploaded. Please scan the original or notarized application documents in color using a scanner. Images captured by mobile phones or cameras will not be accepted. Handwritten documents will not be accepted with the exception of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form or signatures.
2. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
3. Shandong University reserves the right to require applicants to provide the original/notarized paper documents or the certification documents issued by the designated certification authority for further inspection.
4. Applicants should ensure that the application information and application materials provided are authentic and correct. Once the admissions or certification department verifies that something in the application is incorrect or fraudulent the application or admission will be canceled. In the case the fraud is discovered after the student commenced his / her studies, it would lead to expulsion.
5. Whether applicants have the nationality of the People’s Republic of China while simultaneously possessing a foreign nationality shall be subject to the conclusion made by Exit-Entry Administration Bureau. Applicants will be disqualified if they are recognized as having Chinese nationality during their application, admission or enrollment.
IX. Evaluation and Admission
Shandong University will select the best applicants for admission. Video interviews can be a part of the application process for some cases. Admission results can be checked through the SDU Online Application System for International Students. The application results for study in fall will be declared before July 30th, 2023, and the results for study in next spring will be declared before January 30th, 2024. The admission notice and JW202 form will be sent to the admitted applicants by post by College of International Education of Shandong University.
X. Visa
Admitted students must apply for a study visa at the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in their countries of residence with the Admission Notice and JW202 Form. International students who will study in China for less than 6 months should apply for the X2 Visa. International students who will study in China for more than 6 months are required to obtain the X1 visa. To stay in China legally, it is mandatory to apply for the Residence Permit within 30 days of arrival in China.
XI. Registration Time
Admitted students are required to register at Shandong University according to the date stated in the admission letter. Upon registration, the original graduation certificate, language proficiency certificate and other required documents will be verified.
XII. Fees
1. Application fee: 400 RMB (The application is invalid for those who have not paid the application fee, and once the application fee is paid, it will be non-refundable).
2. For tuition fees: 9000 RMB / semester, 18000 RMB / year.
3. Medical insurance premiums: 400 RMB / semester, 800 RMB / year.
According to the regulations of the Chinese Ministry of Education, international students coming to China must purchase medical insurance in mainland China. The medical insurance fee is 800 RMB per year, per person. Students who have not purchased medical insurance will not be registered (please log in to http://www.lxbx.net for insurance contents and claims procedures).
4. Accommodation fee: It may vary depending on the room type, and generally 35-45 RMB / day / person.
For any questions relating to the accommodations, please call: +86(0)531-88365855.
XIII. Scholarship
Outstanding international students may apply for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship, and the admission results of this Scholarship will be announced by June 30, 2023 or December 31, 2023 at the latest. For specific application information, please refer to:
https://www.istudy.sdu.edu.cn/info/1403/3405.htm
XIV. Contact
Address: Room 206, College of International Education, Shandong University (Central Campus), No. 27 Shanda Nanlu, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
Postal code: 250100
Tel: +86-531-88364535
Fax: +86-531-88565623
Email: cie@sdu.edu.cn
