Parents

Thank you for your interest in IUP! Studying abroad in China is an important and, potentially, life-changing experience. We know there are many factors to consider when making this decision and we are here to answer any questions you or your student might have. Don't hesitate to contact us!

WHY IUP?

Chinese language schools are a dime-a-dozen today. Among the handful of prestigious programs in Beijing, IUP offers the smallest classes, the most experienced teachers, individual attention, and the flexibility to study topic to one’s academic and professional interests—all for a highly competitive price. We train students who want to achieve full professional fluency in Chinese. This is why IUP has been leading the field for 55 years. And why one prominent China hand and podcast host called IUP “the Cadillac of Chinese language programs.”

Most applicants find out about IUP through word-of-mouth from academic advisors and alumni of the program. But they end up choosing IUP for our academic rigor, advanced Chinese courses, small class size, self-designed independent tutorials, and location at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The program’s stellar reputation also makes our alumni highly sought-after applicants for China-related graduate schools and job opportunities. Employers seeking international applicants with excellent Chinese skills regularly share job opportunities the IUP alumni association. Graduates of the program have taken on leading roles in academica, business, diplomacy, entrepreneurship, law, media, and NGO management. If you are serious about attaining professional fluency in Chinese, IUP is the place to study.

INTRO to IUP HISTORY of IUP

ACADEMICS

IUP is governed by a consortium of top North American universities, led by Stanford University as the consortium facilitator, with our language center at one of the most prestigious Chinese universities, Tsinghua University in Beijing. Our accrediting institution is Indiana University.

Studying at IUP is an extremely intensive academic experience, with 4 hours of class a day and, in general, 5 or 6 hours of preparation a night. IUP’s standard curriculum includes three hours of 3-on-1 classes and one hour of 1-on-1 tutorial daily covering three different textbooks: a comprehensive text, a listening comprehension course, and one elective.

We maintain a strict “Chinese-only” language environment , with all students signing a pledge to speak only Chinese in all program-related activities. We, therefore, require our incoming students have the equivalent of a minimum of 2-3 years of university level Chinese. This is to guarantee that they are able to study Chinese in Chinese.

Curriculum ACADEMIC CREDIT

TUITION, FEES AND FINANCIAL AID

We know learning Chinese at IUP is a major financial commitment, but it is an investment that pays off in our students’ professional lives. IUP is able to offer financial aid packages in the form of tuition reductions intended to supplement income from other sources to some applicants on a competitive basis. Applicants should not expect to receive “full-ride” scholarships from IUP. Many IUP students receive funding support from their home universities or from scholarships like the Blakemore-Freeman Fellowship, FLAS scholarship, Fulbright CLIA, Fulbright-Hays, Fulbright Fellowship, and the Yale Light Scholarship. Unfortunately, Chinese Scholarship Council funding (i.e. “the Chinese Government Scholarship”) cannot be used at IUP.

TUITION, FEES AND FINANCIAL AID

LIFE AT IUP

Successful IUP applicants already have the language ability to get by in China, but learning how to deal with the practical issues of daily life in Beijing is one way that our students grow at the program.

Most IUP students share off-campus apartments with classmates or alumni in the Wudaokou neighborhood near Tsinghua University, where they will be surrounded by thousands of Chinese and international students. Wudaokou offers a wide variety of businesses, dining options, and cafes catered to students. Some students choose to live in IUP-arranged home stays. Dormitory rooms are extremely difficult to secure, but fall and spring semester students can apply. Housing will be students’ largest living expense, with a bedroom in a shared apartment in the Wudaokou neighborhood costing between 3000 – 4500 RMB per month (roughly $450-$700 USD). Food, however, can be very inexpensive. You can still find a delicious bowl of noodles for a couple of dollars, but you can also experience fine dining for much higher prices.

Students should bring a smartphone with them or be ready to purchase one in Beijing. This will allow them to take full advantage of the conveniences China’s highly developed Online-to-Offline (O2O) economy gives to users. From same-day shipping to food delivery to shared bicycles, mobile technology has made life in Beijing much more convenient. Most daily purchases are now done through online payment, like AliPay or WeChat wallet.

HOUSING CAMPUS LIFE LIVING IN BEIJING

Chatting with a teacher and classmate in the lounge

Campus cafeteria

Documentary screening and discussion

HEALTH & SAFETY

Beijing is an extremely safe city with a low crime rate. Personal safety issues that students might encounter include adjusting to different transportation and traffic norms; minor stomach issues related to food differences, and, occasionally, having a personal item like a cell phone pickpocketed in a crowded place. Proper precautions can reduce the likelihood of encountering any of this inconveniences, and IUP staff will introduce all incoming students to these personal safety strategies during our orientation week.

All IUP students have international health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). This allows students to enjoy direct billing access to Beijing’s best international hospital, Beijing United Family Hospital. Students do not need to pay up front and wait for reimbursement. IUP also offers recommendations for Chinese hospitals like the Tsinghua University Campus Hospital and reputable Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospitals for minor ailments.

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.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Where is Terry now?

2002-03 Academic Year

Lawyer, Entrepreneur, Co-founder InitialView

I arrived at IUP with one of the lowest levels of Chinese for my year, but its intensive language program helped propel my language skills so far forward that China has now become the central part of my career. I've now lived in China for over ten years with most of that time spent as a founder and CEO of a growing organization. None of my success in China would have been possible were it not for first having the language ability that one needs in order to get things done.

Where is Rosalyn now?

Fall 2017

Assistant Director Middlebury in China Kunming Program

I came to IUP with an intermediate-high background in Chinese, and was already proficient with working with students and their families, but IUP was instrumental in helping me polish my formal Chinese, especially to help me in communicating with vendors, company management, and university leaders much more professionally. What's more, my time at IUP allowed me to pursue my passion for Chinese Literature and read novels in Classical Chinese, which would have been impossible during a busy work schedule. It was also beautiful that teachers took some of their own free time to hold a Lit Appreciation discussion group during the afternoons

Where is Robert now?

Summer 2015

College Counselor, Teacher, and Alumni Community Builder Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School

IUP was a perfect program for me as a career professional wanting to improve my Chinese. My classmates came from various backgrounds and experiences, yet all were serious students. The classes were small and each of my teachers invested in my learning. I was quite pleased with my progress and wish I had the opportunity to take courses each summer. There are courses on many interesting subjects. Because of my background in law, I picked up the criminal law and civil law texts at IUP and have continued to review them to stay sharp. Overall, the program exceeded my expectations.

Where is Jesse now?

Fall 2012, 2015-16 Academic Year

Comedian and Founder US-China Comedy Center

I spent my time there doing everything from learning Chinese comedy routines to working with a teacher one-on-one to help me write a bilingual movie script. It was a fantastic environment for me to drill into the deep places of the interests I had in China and know that I had a supporting group of teachers to push me to learn, write, and create. Since I do Chinese performance, I need to be able to speak Chinese well enough that I can create my own works. In addition, it turns out to be really important to be able to "pitch" ideas in Chinese as well.

Where are they now?

IUP Academic Year 2011-12

International Business Development Palantir Technologies

A few months ago, I negotiated a major partnership between my own company, Smart Agriculture Analytics, and a Chinese business. Upon picking up my pen from the contract, I thought about how much IUP had helped me.

GET IN TOUCH

We are always happy to hear from you.

Thank you for your interest in IUP! Studying abroad in China is an important and, potentially, life-changing experience. We know there are many factors to consider when making this decision and we are here to answer any questions you or your student might have. Don't hesitate to contact us!

WHY IUP?

ACADEMICS

TUITION, FEES AND FINANCIAL AID

LIFE AT IUP

HEALTH & SAFETY

Where is Terry now?

Where is Rosalyn now?

Where is Robert now?

Where is Jesse now?

Where are they now?

GET IN TOUCH

IUP CONSORTIUM MEMBER INSTITUTIONS