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How good will my Chinese be after studying at IUP?
This is a hard question to answer specifically, but the two most important factors are…
• Your Chinese language level when you enter IUP, and…
• How long you study in the program.Each 8-week module generally includes 160 hours of class time, of which 120 hours are 3-on-1 and 40 hours are 1-on-1. Simply put, the longer you stay in the program, the better your Chinese will be when you leave IUP.
That having been said, IUP’s goal has always been to take intermediate or advanced intermediate Chinese language learners and move them to the level of academic and professional fluency during an academic year of study.
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What’s a “typical” day at IUP like?
IUP classes run from 8 am to 2 pm, with an hour break for lunch. Most students are assigned four hours of classes a per day, three hours of which are three students to one teacher and one of which is a one-on-one tutorial.
Unlike most academic programs, where students first encounter new information in class and then review that material afterwards, IUP students required to prepare the material for class the night before. This is because IUP has a “closed book” classroom, meaning students are not allowed to refer to their textbook, notes, or dictionary in class. After classes end for the day, most students will spend 5 to 6 hours every day preparing for the next day’s classes.
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Can I get academic credit for IUP classes?
IUP students can enroll to have their coursework at IUP recorded as transferable academic credit through Indiana University, Bloomington, which serves as IUP’s transcript school of record. Academic credit is only available for the semester and academic year programs. Indiana University will not award course credit or produce an academic transcript for the IUP Summer Program. Undergraduates can earn 12-16 credits per semester. Graduate students can earn 8-12 credits per semester. The specific number of credit hours is determined at the end of each term. Enrolling for academic credit is optional, requires a separate fee paid to Indiana University, and coursework taken for credit must be assigned a letter grade.
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When are application deadlines?
Summer 2019: January 14, 2019 to be considered for financial aid, rolling admissions until April 15, 2019
Fall 2019: January 14, 2019 to be considered for financial aid, rolling admissions until April 15, 2019
2019-20 Academic Year: January 14, 2019 to be considered for financial aid, rolling admissions until April 15, 2019
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Should I have my Chinese instructor write a letter of recommendation?
You may choose to have your Chinese language instructor / professor write a letter of recommendation on your behalf, but please ask the letter writer to comment on your academic potential, career goals, and how IUP fits into those plans.
Since IUP staff will conduct our own evaluation of your level in the application interview, please do not have a Chinese language instructor only comment on your Chinese language ability.
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If I apply for one term only, can I extend my study at IUP?
Yes, you can extend your period of study at IUP! All you need to do is to speak to the Resident Director to make sure there are open spots in the following term.
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How much does IUP cost? What’s included in the tuition?
IUP fees are as follows:
Summer: $5,995 USD
Semester: $9,995 USD
Academic Year: 2019-20: $18,995 USDYou are required to pay your full tuition in two separate payments: a deposit to IUP’s in-country financial management services partner, JERI, and the tuition remainder paid directly to Tsinghua University.
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What is JERI?
The Jingxi Educational Research Institute (JERI) is IUP’s financial management services provider in China. JERI is a domestically-registered non-profit organization authorized to manage international educational programs. Aside from working with IUP, JERI’s portfolio includes serving as the institutional owner of one of Beijing’s oldest and most respected international private schools, the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB). JERI receives IUP’s application fees and tuition payments, offers accounting services, pays domestic Chinese taxes, and transfers funds for IUP business. This arrangement allows IUP to be fully compliant with all Chinese laws and regulations, as well as allowing IUP staff to focus exclusively on academics and daily program management. You can find more information about JERI at their website: http://bj-jeri.org
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What is the Enrollment and Tuition Deposit Payment Service Contract and why is it necessary?
The Jingxi Educational Research Institute (JERI) is IUP’s financial management services provider in China. JERI is a domestically-registered non-profit organization authorized to manage international educational programs. Aside from working with IUP, JERI’s portfolio includes serving as the institutional owner of one of Beijing’s oldest and most respected international private schools, the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB). JERI receives IUP’s application fees and tuition payments, offers accounting services, pays domestic Chinese taxes, and transfers funds for IUP business. This arrangement allows IUP to be fully compliant with all Chinese laws and regulations, as well as allowing IUP staff to focus exclusively on academics and daily program management. You can find more information about JERI at their website: http://bj-jeri.org
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Are scholarships available?
In recent years, IUP has been able to award about $50,000 annually in fellowship funds. All semester and academic year applicants are eligible for fellowship aid, provided they apply to the program by the posted deadline. Financial aid come in the form of partial program fee reductions and are intended to supplement other resources available to the student. There is no IUP financial aid available for the IUP Summer Intensive Program.
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Can I use the “Chinese Government Scholarship” to attend IUP?
IUP students are not eligible to use China Scholarship Council scholarships, the so-called “Chinese Government Scholarship”, to pay for IUP tuition. China Scholarship Council scholarships are only awarded for direct enrollment in Chinese universities, not international joint-run programs like IUP.
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Do I need to purchase overseas insurance?
IUP will not purchase insurance for students starting from 2019 fall semester.
Tsinghua now mandates that all international students (including IUP students) MUST purchase the health insurance plan that they provide on the留学保险网, the link to which is below:
Please refer to Tsinghua’s insurance page for more information:
Please choose the insurance plan listed in the following link according to your own need:
http://en.lxbx.net/article/baoxian-61.html
You need to purchase the insurance before school starts at the following link:
If you would like to purchase an international health insurance plan from CISI (https://www.culturalinsurance.com), IUP’s former international health insurance provider with a direct billing relationship to one of the top international hospitals in Beijing, Beijing United Family Hospital (http://beijing.ufh.com.cn) or any oversea insurance plan according to your own preference, you may do so. BUT you MUST still purchase the insurance plan above, due to Chinese regulations.
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What is the Enrollment and Tuition Deposit Payment Service Contract and why is it necessary?
China’s banking regulations have been getting increasingly strict over the last several years. Since January 2016, the Bank of China requires documentation like this service contract before allowing domestic Chinese organizations to withdraw funds received from abroad. This also applies to PayPal payments, which go into the Bank of China account that JERI operates on behalf of IUP. In short, JERI cannot withdraw tuition deposits or tuition payments from the bank without this contract.
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What kind of visa do I need to study at IUP?
Chinese regulations require that all international students in China must use Student (X) Visas, with one important exception.
For those students planning on studying at IUP for a summer term or one semester, an X2 Student Visa (less than 180 days) is appropriate. Students can apply for single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry X1 Student Visas. Visa officers have discretion when evaluating all visa applications, so receiving a multiple entry X2 Student Visa is not guaranteed.
For those students planning on studying at IUP for an academic year or a summer plus a semester, an X1 Student Visa (more than 180 days) is appropriate. X1 Student Visas are essentially temporary visas, only good for one entry into China, and will have three zeros (“000”) listed under “Duration of Stay.” This indicates that once a X1 Student Visa holder enters China, they must submit an application for a Student Resident Permit within 30 days of their arrival. Student Residence Permits allow for the student to remain in China for as long as their course of study lasts and grants multiple exits/entries.
Applicants to IUP who are currently employed in China using a Work Residence Permit are also allowed to enroll at IUP and register at Tsinghua without giving up their Work Residence Permit. These students still need to complete the Tsinghua University online registration and receive student status, but they do not need to sacrifice their employment status.
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What is JERI?
The Jingxi Educational Research Institute (JERI) is IUP’s financial management services provider in China. JERI is a domestically-registered non-profit organization authorized to manage international educational programs. Aside from working with IUP, JERI’s portfolio includes serving as the institutional owner of one of Beijing’s oldest and most respected international private schools, the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB). JERI receives IUP’s application fees and tuition payments, offers accounting services, pays domestic Chinese taxes, and transfers funds for IUP business. This arrangement allows IUP to be fully compliant with all Chinese laws and regulations, as well as allowing IUP staff to focus exclusively on academics and daily program management. You can find more information about JERI at their website: http://bj-jeri.org
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Where do most students live while at IUP?
IUP students have the choice of residing in off-campus apartments, living with Chinese host families, or applying for a place in Tsinghua’s foreign student dormitories. The vast majority of students share apartments with classmates or recent IUP alumni in the Wudaokou neighborhood. Alternatively, IUP can arrange home-stay accommodations with Chinese families on or near Tsinghua’s campus. Unfortunately, IUP cannot guarantee dorm rooms at Tsinghua University. Fall semester, Academic Year, or Spring semester students can apply for a dorm room, but it is very difficult to secure one.
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What happens if I need medical care while in Beijing?
IUP tuition includes international health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI, https://www.culturalinsurance.com). CISI health insurance has a direct-billing relationship with one of Beijing’s top hospitals, meaning that IUP students do not have to pay up front and wait for reimbursement. Students need to bring their passport and insurance card when seeking treatment at the hospital.
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How do I deal with air pollution in Beijing?
Although there have been significant improvements over recent years, air pollution remains a fact of life in Beijing. IUP staff offers advice and assistance on best practices for dealing with air pollution, including recommendations for smartphone air quality apps, providing N95 masks to students at no charge, equipping IUP’s language center with air filters in hallways and all classrooms, and assisting students in purchasing air filters for their living space.
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