CET Beijing: Summer At-a-Glance

20 hours/week of intensive Chinese language

Suitable for all levels of Chinese

One-on-ones with an instructor

Full-time language pledge

Out-of-class learning and assignments

Summer

Whether you’re a complete beginner or a high advanced Chinese learner, a summer of study abroad in Beijing immerses you in Chinese language and culture at every turn. An intensive curriculum, a full-time language pledge, and a local roommate gives you the skills to study in and navigate China. You’ll see significant language gains and study habits to keep you ahead of the curve for years to come.

Academics in Beijing

Semester
Snapshot

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

Curriculum & Syllabi

You take one comprehensive Chinese language course for a total of 9 credits.

Intensive Chinese Language

You are placed into one of these 9-credit courses:

Take your Chinese to new heights this summer

Intensive language learning. Each day, dive into 4.5 hours of Chinese classes with some of the best teachers in the field. You will also have one-on-one sessions that help sharpen your speaking skills. From joining faculty at a local tea house to getting your roommate’s help with homework, you’ll understand more than you think possible—sooner than you can imagine.

Beijing as your classroom. Make dumplings with master chefs and learn relevant vocabulary, watch a show at one of Beijing’s oldest opera theaters, and connect with local university students at an Educational Summit—maybe even present on a topic. No matter your language level, your summer in Beijing is filled with immersive experiences that have you using your Chinese all around the city.

Traveling Seminar: Learning on the road

Test your language skills in Chengdu during a 5-day Traveling Seminar with CET Beijing. Each term is different, but in Chengdu you might learn about ancient literature, see conservation efforts in action at the local panda research center, and then try hot pot on its home turf. 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. Live with a local student from Capital Normal University—your built-in guide to life in Beijing. Learn which apps make daily life easier or pick up local slang. Living with a local roommate turns everyday moments into chances to practice your Chinese. Learn more about living with local roommates.

Eating in Beijing. For meals, take your pick of the budget-friendly campus cafeterias and neighborhood restaurants. Don’t miss out on trying Beijing-style hotpot with thinly sliced lamb dipped in sesame sauce—it’s a must-try. Craving something cozy? Spend a night in with your roommate and swap cooking tips as you make dinner together in the dorm kitchen. Learn more about accommodating your dietary needs in Beijing.

Life in Beijing

Known locally as: 北京 Běijīng
Population: 21.89 million
Local Currency: Chinese Yuan, aka renminbi
Famous for: The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, 798 Arts District, northern Chinese accent, the Summer Palace, major transport hub, hutongs (alleyways)

As the capital, Beijing is a hub of cultures, cuisines, and communities from all corners of China. Start your day early with the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square, bargain for souvenirs at Silk Street or Pearl Market, and sip specialty coffee or tea at a local café. Spend an evening with your roommate exploring one of Beijing’s top museums, like the National Museum of China. Then on the weekends, hop on a high-speed train and discover even more of what China has to offer.

A Weekend Away to Shanghai

Cruise along the Pujiang River, take in skyline views from the Oriental Pearl Tower, and explore the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall—a modern showcase of the city’s growth and vision. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore on your own. Take a peek from a past student and picture yourself there too.

Student Resources

"If you’re wondering why I decided to travel to China this summer with CET Beijing, I was hoping to be fully immersed in the language and culture of China—and I have not been disappointed."

—Kalina Sabala Montes,
Yale University | Summer student

READ KALINA'S BLOG

"I especially enjoyed the one-on-one sessions the curriculum included, where every student paired up with a teacher to converse for 25 minutes. By giving us an opportunity to talk about topics that were not strictly included in our textbooks, our language comprehension become much more versatile, enabling us to converse fluidly even with native speakers."

— Daniel Shin,
Vanderbilt University | Summer student

"One of my favorite activities: 中文桌子 (zhōngwén zhuōzi – Chinese table) after our exams end on Friday. We get to eat food paid by CET at a local restaurant with our teachers and classmates. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the culture and bond with our friends."

—Juliano Dantas Portela,
Yale University | Summer student

READ JULIANO'S BLOG

"While the day-to-day workload could sometimes feel overwhelming, we truly made progress every single day. Additionally, our wonderful teachers took us on excursions to practice Chinese in Beijing, such as a Chinese bookstore, a hutong museum, and a restaurant selling traditional Beijing foods. "

—Laura Romig,
Brown University | Summer student

"Today was my end-of-term oral proficiency interview. 'Tell me about yourself,' one of my head teachers told me. Then I spent fifteen solid minutes talking about my family, my best friend, my university, Texas culture, and even American and Chinese relations. More than once I had to restart a sentence to get the grammar right and a handful of times struggled to remember the most sophisticated vocabulary. But by the end of the interview, I sat, flabbergasted, wondering where all of those words had come from."

— Abby Schwendel,
University of Texas at Austin | Summer student

"The most important outcome of my term abroad was having a great support system in Beijing through language partners, CET admin and staff, and our Chinese teachers. Chinese table was an incredibly valuable time to befriend our teachers, talk freely about topics of interest, and feast on delicious cuisine with the company of friends—teachers included!"

— Isabella Osgood,
Yale University | Summer 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

Summer

$8,990

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 shared apartment with a local roommate. 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. All you need to do is remember to bring your camera!

Course Materials

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

Transcript

You receive a transcript jointly issued by CET and CNU at the end of the term. You also have the option to request a School of Record transcript from the University of Minnesota for an additional fee if necessary.

More on finances

Program Fee Breakdown. Of the total program fee, $7,092 goes to tuition and fees, and $1,898 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:

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
• 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
DEADLINE

March 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: Summer At-a-Glance

Summer