beijing forbidden city night
Beijing, China

Summer Intensive Chinese Language

Study Program

Dates

-

8 weeks

Costs

Credit

10-12 semester hours

15-18 quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Contact Us

Overview

With 22 million Chinese-speaking people to share the city with, Beijing is the place to give your Mandarin skills a major boost this summer. With premier instruction, tutoring, homestay, travel, and awe-inspiring icons like the Great Wall and Forbidden City, you’ll pack a year’s worth of learning into one unforgettable summer.

SAFETY AND SECURITY TRAVEL ADVISORY

As of March 2023, the U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 3 Travel Advisory in Greater China. To learn more, visit our FAQs.

Unique Experiences

Make marked language progress

with 20 hours of intensive classroom instruction plus 3 hours of tutoring each week.

Get an inside look at the city

with visits to treasured places only locals know about.

Volunteer or participate in activities and lectures

that illuminate coursework and heighten your understanding of Chinese culture.

6

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

60,000

restaurants

3,000

years of history

Experience
  • beijing calligraphy class abroad
  • beijing temple of heaven sunset

Your Destination

With a population of 22 million and counting, people from all over China and the world have flocked to this cultural center, as China’s economy and international power have grown. A fascinating blend of the very old and the ultra-modern, it’s home to 15th century treasures like the Hall of Supreme Harmony and stunners like Beijing National Stadium, a.k.a. the Bird’s Nest. The jam-packed cosmopolitan city buzzes with a lively arts scene, and boasts a record number of top research institutions and technology companies.

The Culture

hssa beijing student in temple

Excursions & Activities

  • Visit incredible sites loaded with history, like Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.
  • Choose a theme-study weekend and expand your horizons. You might visit the birthplace of Confucius in Qufu, as you examine traditional Chinese philosophy; visit the bustling port city Dalian to explore urbanization; or visit a village and hike in northern Shanxi province to dig into the environment and rural governance.
  • See contemporary art, and musical and theatric performances, or take a day hike near Beijing.
  • Learn about contemporary Chinese issues like international economics, cross-cultural communication, sustainability, and film with a special series of lectures given by scholars and other experts.
beijing guest lecture classroom

Projects

  • Language Tutoring. To ensure progress in fluency, students are offered tutorials and regular small group Language and Culture Practicum sessions. Tutors practice conversation and help with homework.
  • Expert Talk Series: Regular lectures in English by experts in their field.

Program Blogs

From CIEE

Top 6 Chinese Language Study Abroad Programs

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

Are you fascinated by Chinese language and culture? If so, you’re in the right place! Read on as we list our Top 6 Chinese language study abroad programs: Chinese Language... keep reading

From CIEE

Now is the time to think about coming to Beijing!

By CIEE Beijing at CIEE

Explore Beijing's rich cultural tapestry, blending tradition and modernity. Experience historic sites like the Forbidden City, embrace nature in parks and hills, and savor diverse culinary delights. Amid global reopening, China invites students to contribute to global connections while enjoying the city's vibrancy.

From CIEE

EAT, DRINK, EXPLORE: BEIJING

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

EAT Peking duck ( shāo yāzi ) has been eaten in Beijing since the Imperial Era and is the city’s most famous dish to date. The meat is characterized by... keep reading

What People are Saying

  • "CIEE has a reputation for being the most intensive language study program available, specifically the Beijing Summer Intensive Chinese Language Program. This is a reputation that the program lived up to, and so I will of course recommend it to others in the future."

    Brennan, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus, Summer 16

  • "Hanging out with my new CIEE friends. Also, being able to listen and understand my homestay mom after a month of studying feels amazing."

    John, The University of Tennessee, Summer 16

Housing
Academics

Academics

CIEE’s Intensive Chinese Language program is designed to help students improve fluency in spoken and written Mandarin Chinese through intensive language training. Students can also take one or two courses instructed in English to enrich their understanding of China’s capital city. Students agree to speak Chinese to encourage language and cultural acquisition. In-class work is augmented with co-curricular visits to the city’s rich variety of cultural institutions and organizations relevant to the course offering.

Chinese language courses are taught by faculty from the Peking University School of Chinese as a Second Language. Electives are taught in English by CIEE faculty. Students receive a certificate of achievement from Peking University after completing the program.

Peking University (PKU) was founded in 1898 and has a long tradition of scholarly excellence and political activism. The prestigious PKU focuses on advanced research in the natural and social sciences. The campus, previously an imperial garden in the Qing Dynasty, hosts 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students. PKU has modern classrooms and recreational facilities, many cafeterias, and easy access to mass transit – all within short walking distance.

CIEE Beijing is conveniently located on the campus of Peking University.

GPA

2.5

Language Requirements

There are no specific language requirements for this program.

Additional Requirements

Not a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Taiwan ROC, Hong Kong SAR, or Macau (includes permanent U.S. residents)

Please refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Requirements

2 Chinese language courses

Program Credit

Total credit: 10-12 U.S. semester/15-18 quarter credits

Course Credit

  • Chinese language courses: 5 U.S. semester/7.5 quarter credits; 75 contact hours
  • CIEE elective courses: 1 U.S. semester/1.5 quarter credits; 15 contact hours

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Academic Culture

Students are expected to work independently and diligently. The pace is fast, and students are expected to prepare for each class with at least four to five hours of work.

Class Format

Classes are capped at 15 to ensure individual attention and participation. Students take a Readings in Chinese and Spoken Chinese course at the appropriate level. Readings in Chinese consists of five, two-hour Chinese classes per week. Each textbook lesson is broken into five components. Each textbook includes 10 to 12 lessons, completed in eight weeks. Spoken Chinese consists of five, two-hour Chinese lessons per week. Each textbook includes 12 lessons, completed in eight weeks.

Grading

Grades are based on exams, homework, quizzes, attendance, and participation.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Language of Instruction

Chinese and English

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Courses

Course Information

Summer 2024

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.

Scholarships

Scholarships & Grants

CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.

Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:

  • Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
  • Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
  • Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
  • CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
  • MSI Grant
  • The Stephen M. Lew Lifetime Friendship Award
  • CIEE Stem Scholarship

To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.

Learn more about scholarships

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Fees & Housing

Program Summer 2024 8 weeks Start Date End Date Fees & Housing $7,750

To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Participation Confirmation = $300*

Educational Costs = $6,103**

Housing = $1,150

Insurance = $197

Total Fees = $7,750

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Meals not included in program fee = $840

International Airfare = $1,500††

Local Transportation = $185

Books & Supplies = $25

Visa Fees = $185

Potential travel to consulate for visa = $300

Personal expenses = $220

Total Costs = $3,255

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

*non-refundable

**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; students who elect to take the HSK Chinese Proficiency Exam Preparation Add-on will be billed a supplemental fee of $500 for intensive instruction and practice in HSK test taking (15 hours), as well as housing (off-campus, double-occupancy), exam registration fee, and transport to the exam site in Beijing. The supplemental fee will be billed approximately two weeks after the program starts.

For students in homestays, families provide 4 meals a week. For students in residence halls/apartments, you should budget approx. $500 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.

††Round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

What's Included

Tuition

Housing

Pre-departure Advising

Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions

Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet

Orientation

Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city

On-site Staff

Full-time program leadership and support in your city

Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities

Excursions and/or Study Tours

Travel Protection

CIEE iNext travel protection

24/7 emergency on-site support

Staff

Our Staff

Karlis Rokpelnis

Center Director

Karlis Rokpelnis joined the CIEE China team after receiving a PhD from Minzu University of China in 2016. He has ten years of study abroad management, teaching, and student support experience in China and the rest of Asia.

Get Started Steps

Get Started

Here’s what you need to do to take the next steps:

1

Start an Application
You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience!

2

Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office 
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.

Request Info