Course Overview
The aim of this program is to develop students’ Chinese language skills and introduce them to the rich and sophisticated Chinese culture. The language part of the course will focus heavily on speaking and the cultural part’s main focus is on Chinese traditions and customs. To accomplish the aim, a Chinese proficiency test is arranged at the beginning of the semester.
According to the test results, 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.
Eligibility
1. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens in good physical and mental health and possess a valid foreign passport. Applicants under the age of 18 must submit relevant supporting documents (Annex 1) at the time of application and entry.
2. For those who were originally Chinese citizens and later became foreign nationals, and those who have acquired a foreign nationality at birth, one or both of the parents are Chinese citizens and have resided in a foreign country, are subject to the regulations as stated in Document No. 12 [2020] of the P.R.C Ministry of Education and applicants must submit relevant supporting documents (Annex 2);
3. Applicants must possess at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Application Time
Fall Semester: March 1st till June 30th.
Spring Semester: October 15th till January 10th.
Note: After the deadline expires, the system will no longer be accessible. 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.
Program Details
The program consists of compulsory and elective courses. The compulsory courses will take about 20-22 hours each week. As mentioned before there are different language levels. The different levels are shown below.
Chinese Class Levels for Language Students
Below are the different class levels that this program offers, together with the objectives of the courses and the learning outcomes.
Courses |
Course objectives |
Learning outcomes |
Hours |
Elementary 1 |
Being able to communicate on 6 topics relating to daily life. Learn to write and know the meaning of the 600 expressions covered in HSK 3. |
Vocabulary size, listening and reading abilities reach HSK 3. Speaking and writing reach HSK 2. Overall Chinese language ability reaches above HSK 2. |
20 per week |
Elementary 2 |
Being able to communicate on 9 topics including 35 sub-topics. Learn the meaning and how to write 600 words covered in HSK 3 and 200 words covered in HSK 4. |
Vocabulary size reaches above HSK 3. Listening, reading, speaking and writing abilities all reach HSK 3. Overall Chinese language ability reaches HSK 3. |
20 per week |
Intermediate 1 |
Being able to communicate on 10 major topics relating to daily life, study and work with a moderate amount of complexity. Learn to write and know the meaning of all 600 – 1200 words covered in HSK 3 and 4. |
Students’ vocabulary size reaches between 3 and 4. Speaking and writing reach HSK 3 and listening and reading reach HSK 4. Overall language ability reaches above HSK 3. |
20 per week |
Intermediate 2 |
Being able to discuss 9 major topics and 43 sub-topics. Learn to write and know the meaning of all 1200 words covered in HSK 4 and 300 words of HSK 5. |
Students’ vocabulary size reaches above HSK 4. Listening, speaking, reading and writing reach HSK 4 and overall Chinese language ability reaches HSK 4. |
20 per week |
Intermediate 3 |
Being able to discuss 9 major topics and 44 sub-topics. Learn to write and know the meaning of all 2500 words covered in HSK 5. |
Students’ vocabulary size reaches HSK 5. Listening, speaking, reading and writing reach HSK 5 and overall Chinese language ability reaches HSK 5. |
20 per week |
Advanced 1 |
Being able to discuss 9 major topics and 44 sub-topics. Learn to write and know the meaning of all 2500 words covered in HSK 5 and 1200 words in HSK 6. |
Students’ vocabulary size reaches above HSK 5. Listening and speaking abilities reach above HSK 5 and overall Chinese language ability reaches HSK 5. |
20 per week |
Advanced 2 |
Students’ Chinese level is close to that of a native speaker at this level. Being able to discuss 9 major topics and 47 sub-topics. Learn to write and know the meaning of all 5000 words covered in HSK 6. |
Students’ vocabulary size reaches above HSK 6. Listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities all reach above HSK 6 and overall Chinese language ability reaches HSK 6. |
22 per week |
Apart from the above 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.
Elective courses |
Learning outcomes |
Hours |
Pronunciation |
To master the pronunciation of the consonant, vowel, tone, soft tone, changes in tones, retroflex finals and more. |
2 per week |
HSK counselling |
Through intensive training, students can consolidate the solid foundation of Chinese language that they have learned, be familiar with all HSK tests and complete the Chinese proficiency test which consists out of listening, speaking, reading and writing |
2 per week |
Chinese calligraphy |
Artistic methods taught to students that will enable them to master basic calligraphy skills through practice. |
2 per week |
Reading newspapers and publications |
Read the news in Chinese, master Chinese expressions, improve the reading ability, and enhance the understanding of contemporary society. |
2 per week |
Tea culture of China |
Students learn the importance that tea holds in Chinese culture and how it has influenced culture, literature and art. Students will learn to appreciate the Chinese tea culture through experience. |
2per week |
Chinese paper cutting |
Students learn the method of Chinese paper cutting and its (historical) cultural importance. Through experience we hope that students will appreciate its cultural significance. |
2per week |
Tai Chi |
Students will learn how to perform Tai Chi martial arts and its historical role in China. |
2per week |
Cultural experience activity |
Visit the Cultural Experience Hall with a group of students and learn about different cultural theories and experience the culture first hand. |
One time event |
Participation program |
Live one day as an ordinary Chinese citizen and experience the culture and customs through interpersonal contact |
One time event |
Method of Assessment
The method used to assess will be through written exams. The weight assigned to each test score will be the same for all courses and is as follows: assignments 50%, class participation 10% and the final test will be 40%.
Application Documents
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.
The documents should be sent are the following:
1.The biographic page of your passport (passport must be must be valid for at least six months).
2.The high school diploma orabove orequivalent. If the applicant has not received the high school diploma orabove orequivalent yet, a pre-graduation certificate should be presented to affirm the applicant will graduate soon.
3.Transcripts of all courses taken when pursuing the high schooldiploma or above orequivalent.
4.Applicants who apply for a study visa which has a duration that exceeds six months are required to submit a valid Physical Examination form.
Note: The physical examinations (please click the link to download the template: https://www.istudy.sdu.edu.cn/info/1267/3354.htm) must be fully filled in. Incomplete forms or forms without the signature of the attending physician, and the official stamp of the hospital, and a stamped photograph will not be considered. Ensure your physical examination remains valid during your application time as the result is valid for only 6 months.
5.No criminal record certificate.
6.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.
Application Steps
1.Apply on the SDU website at: http://www.apply.sdu.edu.cn/and submit required documents.
2.SDU reviews the application.
3.Applicant is accepted, rejected or should complement the application.
4.SDU issues an admission letter and a JW202 visa application form and sends these to the address the applicant gave when applying online.
5.Applicant takes the admission letter, passport, JW202 form to the embassy, consulate or visa center and applies for a student visa.
6.After the visa is issued the applicant can book a plane ticket.
Application Instructions
1. The uploaded documents must be in Chinese or English. For documents in other languages, scans 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. Applications that are incomplete will not be processed. Shandong University reserves the right to require applicants to provide the original and/or paper documents for further inspection.
3. 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 fraud is discovered after the student commenced his/her studies, it could lead to expulsion.
4. Make sure you regularly check your email and spam box in case we ask for further information / complementary documents and / or corrections. If we request information and we do not receive it, it could lead to rejection. The electronic documents that the Shandong University and relevant departments/schools publish or send to applicants through websites or emails are deemed to have been delivered.
Tuition and Fees
The tuition fees are listed below and are all mandatory. There are two semesters in each academic year.
Fee type |
Fee amount |
Application fee |
¥400 |
Tuition per semester |
¥9,000 |
Medical insurance per semester |
¥400 |
Accommodation per semester* |
¥5,400 |
Accommodation deposit (is refunded when you leave) |
¥600 |
*May vary depending on the room type
Shandong University provides on-campus accommodations for international students. Admitted students can log into the website (www.istudy.sdu.edu.cn) for information on the accommodations. For any questions relating to the accommodations, please call: +86(0)531-88365855.
Scholarship
Outstanding international students can apply for the Jinan Sister City Scholarship if they are eligible.
Please visit: https://istudy.sdu.edu.cn/English/Scholarships/Jinan_Sister_City_Scholarship.htm
Contact information (for program-related enquiries and admissions)
Address: Office of Extension, College of International Education,
27 Shanda Nanlu, Shandong University (Central Campus), CIE Comprehensive building, Office 211,
Jinan, P.R. China
Postal code: 250100
Tel: +86-531-88364535
Fax: +86-531-88565623
Email:cie@sdu.edu.cn
