CET Beijing: At-A-Glance

20 hours/week of intensive Chinese language

One-on-ones with an instructor

Full-time language pledge

Out-of-class learning and assignments

Traveling Seminars to Chengdu and Shanghai

Fall

SPRING

Fall

SPring

Semester study abroad students at CET Beijing are hard-working and dedicated to immersing themselves in Chinese culture to improve their language skills. With an intensive curriculum, a full-time language pledge, and a local roommate who brings language practice into your home life—get ready to be impressed by your own language gains.

Academics in Beijing

Semester
Snapshot

Pre-requisites: None
20 hours/week of Chinese learning
One-on-one sessions
Full-time language pledge
Traveling Seminars
Out-of-class learning & assignments
Host University: Capital Normal University

Curriculum & Syllabi

You are placed into the appropriate level of Chinese language for a total of 17 recommended credits.

Novice & Intermediate Chinese

You are placed into one of these 17-credit courses:
• BJ/LANG 100: Novice Chinese
• BJ/LANG 150: Novice High Chinese
• BJ/LANG 200: Intermediate Chinese
• BJ/LANG 260: Intermediate High Chinese

Advanced Low Chinese

You are placed into this 14-credit course:
• BJ/LANG 300: Pre-Advanced Chinese

Then you choose one of these 3-credit electives:
• BJ/LANG 320: Intermediate Chinese Newspaper
• BJ/LANG 340: Intermediate Business Chinese

Advanced & Advanced High Chinese

You are placed into one of these 11-credit courses:
• BJ/LANG 400: Advanced Chinese
• BJ/LANG 500: Advanced High Chinese

You also take this corresponding 3-credit course:
• BJ/LANG 416: Classical Chinese
• BJ/LANG 516: Classical Chinese II

Then you’re paired with an instructor for this 3-credit course:
• One-on-One Research Project (syllabus coming soon)

You are placed into one of these 11-credit courses:
• BJ/LANG 400: Advanced Chinese
• BJ/LANG 500: Advanced High Chinese

You also take this corresponding 3-credit course:
• BJ/LANG 416: Classical Chinese
• BJ/LANG 516: Classical Chinese II

Then you choose one of these 3-credit electives:
• BJ/LANG 420: Advanced Chinese Newspaper
• BJ/LANG 440: Advanced Business Chinese
• BJ/LANG 455: Independent Study

Your Chinese will grow by leaps & bounds

Intensive language learning. You take 20 hours/week of Chinese language classes with some of the best teachers in the field. Your hours are broken up between core classes, where you focus as a group on grammar, drill, and discussion, and supplementary hours where you get more individualized attention. Twice a week, you have a one-on-one with an instructor to cover anything you’re struggling with in class or engage in further discussion about what you’re learning.

Beijing as your classroom. Your classes get you practicing your Chinese out in the city, where it counts. At least twice a semester, you have a week-long language practicum. You focus in-depth on a topic like the lives of Chinese senior citizens, youth dating culture, or gender equality.

Traveling Seminars: Learning on the road

Test your language skills in the real world during two 5-day Traveling Seminars with CET Beijing. Destinations vary each term, but past cohorts have explored cities like Chengdu and Shanghai. Take on practical language assignments, get a taste of local cuisine, and experience different elements of China’s vast Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Return to Beijing with a deeper understanding of regional cultures and a more comprehensive familiarity of China at large.

Housing and Meals

Dormitory
On-campus housing
Live with a local roommate
2 people/room
En suite bathroom, communal kitchen, pay for washer access
Wifi access, A/C, linens, basic furnishing, shared laundry rooms

Living Like a Local

Local Roommates. You live alongside a local student from Capital Normal University. Let them show you their favorite spots around the city. Learn which apps to download for daily life in Beijing or ask what slang locals have been using lately. Sharing a room with a local roommate brings language learning into your home life and gives you instant insider’s access to the city. Learn more about living with local roommates.

Eating in Beijing. For meals, take your pick between the budget-friendly campus cafeterias or neighborhood restaurants. And don’t forget to find your favorite spot for Peking Duck—you’re living in Beijing after all. Feel like staying in? Master the art of ordering food for delivery and share a takeout feast with your roommate, or cook dinner together in the dorm’s shared kitchen. Learn more about accommodating your dietary needs in Beijing.

Learn more about Summer in Beijing

Life in Beijing

Historical and cultural sites meet modern comforts in this Tier 1 city. And as the country’s capital, you can find communities, cultures, and cuisines from all over China. Hop on a bikeshare to study at a new café near campus. Stroll through one of Beijing’s 170+ museums with your roommate, then meet up with more friends for a night of karaoke. Get lost in the hutongs (traditional alleyways) and see everything from traditional tea houses to artfully-curated shops and even snack streets. And on the weekends, board a high-speed train and use your language skills to explore even more of China.

Experience Beijing with CET

Each term, the program offers different activities that let you see the city, learn about Chinese culture, or just unwind with your classmates and roommates. Go on a city walk with the group to explore sites like the Drum Tower or the Forbidden City along Beijing’s Central Axis. Learn to make dumplings at a famous restaurant in the city. See a performance at one of the oldest Peking Opera theaters in the city, then get your face painted by a professional. Plus, use your weekly cultural reimbursement stipend to explore even more of Beijing with your roommate.

Student Resources

"Starting at the beginner class was challenging—I lost my personality at the beginning but gained much more than my personality at the end. I learn about north versus southern Chinese culture and language, where the locals eat, how to make jokes, have the confidence to ask questions, join clubs, meet new friends outside of CET, dream in Chinese, travel using Chinese—this list could go on forever."

— Veronica Lopez, University of Kansas
Academic Year student

"On a recent excursion to the 798 Art District, we were able to see abundant creations brimming from the doors of art galleries and with handmade goods. A lot about a culture can be said from its art, especially how it has progressed across time."

— Audrey Pegouske,
Kalamazoo College | Fall student

READ AUDREY'S BLOG

"For all of its history, Chengdu very much remains a living and growing city. Here, CET students had an opportunity to meet with local community leaders in the Yi Lin neighborhood and hear about how residents work together to advocate and implement change where they live."

— Paul Douglass,
Yale University | Spring student

READ PAUL'S BLOG

"I absolutely love the housing, and I think having Chinese roommates was great. We also made friends with each other’s roommates, which helped a lot because even if we didn’t become very close to our own roommates, we had others who were willing to share in our experiences."

— Emily Catherine Lawrence,
Wake Forest University | Spring student

"One of the most meaningful parts of my study abroad experience has been the relationships that I’ve built inside and outside of the classroom. Even though our travel seminar to Chengdu has long since passed, I’ve been able to stay in touch with Jiàn yè, one of my language partners from Southwest Jiaotong University. I even got a surprise visit from him in April while he was in Beijing to see friends."

— Jalen Walker,
Washington University in St. Louis | Spring student

READ JALEN'S BLOG

"Anyone who's passionate about improving their Chinese quickly should definitely go with CET study abroad. There's no denying the progress I made in such a short amount of time. The full immersion can be a little overwhelming, but you benefit from it so much."

—Anna Baker,
College of the Holy Cross | Spring student

Explore more study abroad resources:

On-the-ground support

Navigating a new city, country, and culture is a big challenge worth taking—and we’re here to help you along on this adventure. Our on-site team is bilingual, provides round-the-clock support, and is passionate about sharing their love of Beijing (and China!) with you.

Program Fees

Fall/Spring

$19,690

What's Included

Tuition

All of your classes and program-related learning are included with your tuition.

Housing

We arrange for you to live in a dormitory with a CET peer. Your program fees go toward rent, furnishing, and other management costs.

Staff Support

From pre-departure to orientation, from on site to re-entry, CET provides you with the support you need every step of the way.

Visa Fees & Support

We guide you step-by-step through the visa process. You’ll need to do the legwork, but we pay the consular fees if you obtain your visa through the service we recommend.

Insurance

You’re provided with a comprehensive insurance plan through GeoBlue that even includes medical evacuation coverage.

Activities & Excursions

The activities and excursions that we arrange are included in your program fee.

Course Materials

Your textbooks and course supplies are covered and waiting for you on site.

Transcript

You’ll receive an official transcript jointly issued by CET and CNU. If your home institution requires a School of Record transcript, CET is able to provide one through the University of Minnesota.

More on finances

Program Fee Breakdown. Of the total program fee, $15,752 goes to tuition and fees, and $3,938 goes to housing and other student life fees.

Local Cost of Living. Day-to-day cost of living has increased in recent years and is now generally considered on par with US cities. Some meals and transit are often cheaper, but western comforts (restaurants, coffee, etc.) cost about the same or more than they do in the US.

Estimated out-of-pocket expenses:

View the CET Beijing budget sheet for a more detailed estimate of costs.

additional resources

How to Apply

Eligibility

• Pre-requisites: None. Open to students of any Chinese level, including absolute beginners
• Must be 18 or older at the time of program participation.
• Open to students from any US college or university
• Post-graduate students eligible with CET approval
• GPA: 3.0 or higher is recommended, students with lower GPAs will be asked for a faculty recommendation to supplement their application
• Open to all levels of Chinese, from absolute beginner to advanced

Online Application Form

This is a brief form that asks for basic information and has a few short answer questions about why you want to study abroad.

Passport Information

Upload a scan of your passport to your CET Compass account. This should be a single scan that includes the signed signature page and the photo/personal details page. Don’t have a passport yet? Let us know and we can help advise you.

Language Level Recommendation

This is an online form that your current or most recent language instructor completes to help us get an idea of your language level. Use the link in your CET Compass account to send the recommendation request.

Study Abroad Office Recommendation

This is an online form that your study abroad office completes to let us know you meet the requirements to study abroad. To send the electronic form request, simply enter the name and email address of your study abroad advisor in the designated fields of your CET Compass account.

Official Transcript

Your CET Compass account has specific instructions for submitting an official transcript.

Application
Deadlines

Fall Semester:

May 1

Spring Semester:

November 1

Have a question? Get in touch!

Tara Strauch

Student Services Coordinator
202.349.7325
[email protected]

Price Subject to Change:

CET reserves the right to increase quoted charges at any time without prior notification, based on increased instruction costs, exchange rate fluctuation or other cost increases beyond CET’s control.

Our goal is to offer every course every term, but sometimes factors like faculty availability, student course rankings, and program enrollment keep us from reaching that goal. If you’re concerned about needing to enroll in one particular course, please contact us!

CET Beijing: At-A-Glance

Fall

SPRING

Fall

SPring