Welcome to Harbin

At CET, our goal is to make study abroad accessible for all. We believe that learning happens best when your class reflects the world around us—complex and diverse. So we work hard to create and maintain programs that support students of all races, religions, abilities, gender identities, and sexual orientations. No matter where you are coming from, we want you to have a successful study abroad experience.

CET makes every effort to offer accommodations comparable to those of your home institution. Disclosing early helps us to make proper preparations and work with you to determine if a program will be a good fit. We recommend that you use the following details to inform your decisions and conversations with your Student Services Coordinator.

Cultural Climate

Race & Ethnicity

The average Chinese person is not surrounded by the racial diversity that exists in the US and as a result racism in China manifests itself differently. You may hear racially insensitive comments or notice some staring, but these instances can mostly be attributed to the lack of knowledge about and/or exposure to people of other races and ethnicities. Students have reported being approached by strangers for photos, questions, and other interactions born of their perceived foreign identity. Students of color in particular have reported feeling that they are stared at or commented on by locals more than others in their cohorts.

In contrast, heritage students and others who may be mistaken for a local sometimes feel less welcomed than their peers with more obviously foreign features. Interactions with locals are typically initiated in Chinese and their language skills may be held to a higher standard. However, past students have reported this to be beneficial to their language learning and provide a living experience more similar to that of a local.

LGBTQ

While homosexuality is legal in China, only heterosexual marriages are recognized by the government at this time. The local cultural climate is becoming more and more open toward LGBTQ issues and individuals, though it’s not yet on par with the US. In Harbin (particularly on campus), the spectrum of attitudes pulls more towards the side of accepting and knowledgeable, though can still reach over to the side of indifferent or uninformed.

Gender

Chinese culture is very gender binary. Though gender non-conformity is an emerging topic in other major Chinese cities like Bejing, many Harbin locals are likely unaware of it. A non-binary student would likely find it difficult to explain what being non-binary means to their Chinese friends. However, past CET Harbin students have not encountered major issues with the local cultural climate toward gender issues and/or non-binary individuals.

Religion

There are five religions officially recognized in China: Protestantism, Catholicism, Islam, Taoism, and Buddhism. There is little knowledge of or exposure to other religions in China. Chinese people—while not usually religious themselves—are on the whole very open to religion and generally interested to learn about different faiths. It is a fairly common occurrence for students to be asked about their faiths. Proselytizing is illegal in China, but personal religious observance and practice is fine for foreign students.

Cost of Living

Day-to-day cost of living in Harbin is generally cheaper than that of most places in the United States. Within China, Harbin’s status as a second-tier city means things are often cheaper than in Beijing or Shanghai but can still vary greatly depending on your lifestyle. Things like food, public transportation, and daily supplies are cheaper than in the US, while imported goods will often be more expensive. Check out a budget sheet to get an idea of what life in Harbin might look like financially for a summer.

Accommodations Abroad

ACCESS in ACADEMICS

Day-to-Day

Students typically attend classes for 3 to 5 hours a day. On average, classes have between 1 and 5 students. For every hour of class, students are expected to complete a minimum of 1 hour of homework.

Available for students with documented need: low-distraction test environment; extra time on exams; modified deadlines and seating.

Classrooms

At the time of writing, most classes are held in a classroom building that requires the usage of stairs/steps as there is currently no wheelchair ramp. The classrooms are less than a 10-minute walk to the dormitory building.

Out-of-Class Activities

CET occasionally plans mandatory academic activities and optional trips to nearby sites and other cities after class and on weekends. Excursions may involve urban walking, rural hiking, use of public transportation, and/or going up and down stairs.

Itinerary modifications and accommodations can be made for students with documented need. Transportation can be arranged as necessary, and excused absences are provided for mandatory excursions that are inaccessible due to a disability.

ACCESS IN HOUSING

Your Home Abroad

The dormitory has 17 floors and is located on the south side of our host university’s campus, around a 10-minute walk from the classrooms and the nearest subway station. The building has elevators, but the rooms themselves are not equipped for students in wheelchairs. There is a communal kitchen equipped with the basics exclusively for CET students nearby. Laundry facilities are on the first floor and students can pay using an app.

Housing Assignments

Students are typically assigned to housing by gender. However, arrangements can be made to accommodate gender non-binary students if notice is provided in advance.

Rooms and bathrooms are typically shared, but a room without a shared bathroom may be arranged for students with documented need if requested in advance.

Around Harbin

Newer parts of the city offer curb cuts and elevators/escalators for subways, but some sidewalks in these areas may still present difficulties. Some sidewalks have bus stop posts and trees planted in a way that could make it uncomfortably narrow for a wheelchair to pass through. In the city center, curb cuts are less common and sidewalks are often uneven. Students will also find many gates that prevent the passage of motorbikes and bicycles into certain areas and buildings—these gates would require students in wheelchairs to use an alternative entrance.

"The instructors that work for CET are all around the best instructors I have ever had. I am glad I got to experience China by having them by my side."

— Rose Austin
University of Puget Sound | Spring student

Explore Harbin on the
Student Voices Blog

Health & Diet

Health & Medicine

NEFU has a small clinic on campus that is suitable for minor situations like a common cold, sprained ankles, fever, etc. For medical needs that can’t be met on campus, CET recommends a larger hospital (also approved by GeoBlue) about a 15 to 20 minute drive from campus. There are some prescription medications that are not accessible in China—students should do their research beforehand and ensure they bring their prescription and the necessary amount if in-country refills won’t be possible. For example, birth control pill brands in China differ from those in the US. Students can store any medication that requires refrigeration in the CET kitchen.

Keeping Fit in Harbin

Our host university provides many campus amenities, including outdoor basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts and a track and field. Outdoor courts and facilities are offered at no cost, but indoor facilities (e.g., indoor basketball, tennis, badminton courts, swimming pool, ping pong tables) have reasonable fees, ranging from 5 to 15 RMB an hour.

Managing Mental Health

Mental health resources in Harbin are limited and often only offer services in Chinese. There are a few online resources that may be available to students seeking mental health services.

Dietary Restrictions

Special dietary needs can be accommodated in China, but require patience and persistence as many local people are not used to the idea of dietary restrictions or severe food allergies.

Vegetarian students have found Halal restaurants to be more receptive to requests like not adding meat. Vegan, soy-free, and gluten-free students must be patient and clear when ordering food in China. Students with stricter dietary requirements are recommended to consider cooking their own meals in the dormitory’s shared kitchen.

Resources from Alumni

Perspective pieces

These are alumni-written essays that reflect upon how their own identity affected their time abroad in China (both good and bad) and what it was like to navigate another culture in their position. We encourage you to read these to better understand what studying abroad in China could be like for you or your future peers.

Are you a CET alumnus? Consider telling us about your time abroad.

Navigating China as a Black Woman: The Blacker the Berry the Sweeter the Juice
by Denise Jackson, CET Beijing | Fall 2019 & Janterm 2020
For “Students of color”
CET Shanghai: Heritage Essay
by Anonymous Contributor, CET Shanghai | Summer 2019
Support at CET Harbin
by Tatiana Wade, CET Harbin | Fall 2018
For “Students of color, low-income students, and those who want to go to China”
Black in Beijing
by Minnie Norgaisse, CET Beijing | Spring 2018
Japanese-American Experience in Shanghai/China
by Anonymous Contributor, CET Shanghai | Summer 2018
For “Japanese (Japanese/American) in China”

CHINA Alumni Insight

In final evaluations, we ask students how their identities affected their experience abroad. The following are a few select quotes from recent program evaluations to help you understand what life in China may be like for you or your future peers.

"As a gay woman, I was nervous going into the program. I knew Shanghai was better about LGBTQ+ people more than other provinces/cities in China, but I didn't know if I would get judgmental looks or something from people there. I was pleasantly surprised that I had nothing to worry about when I was there. Obviously, China isn't as open about the topic, but I think the Chinese students are curious about it if you give them a chance to talk about it."

"I struggled feeling out of place and confused about my heritage identity. It was easy for me to blend in, but in public that also meant I was cut much less slack for my language ability than my Caucasian classmates."

"My advice for any member of the LGBT+ community coming to China with CET is to not be afraid to be yourself and to freely identify with your sexuality. It can be scary to come out to anyone, even to people you know for sure will be accepting of it, but the CET community is one of the most friendly and accepting ones I've been in, and you should never be afraid to express yourself during one of their programs."

"Being a Chinese-American, it was very interesting to learn so much more about my family and culture back home while being abroad. It made me understand my parents, their past, and values a lot better."

"If you're a person of color, your experience will be different from your white friends, and unfortunately you may experience racism. But at the same time, that doesn't take away from the growth you'd experience in China, and I fully encourage you to broaden your horizons by stepping foot in the Middle Kingdom."

"The primary aspect of my identity I thought would impact my time here the most is my homosexuality. Before coming to CET, I honestly had no idea what to expect. But after being here for a few weeks I felt almost as comfortable as being at home. My roommate was very cool and accepting of it, some roommates after finding out, seemed to give me the cold shoulder, which is okay, it never bothered me too much."

"Because I’m Vietnamese-American, my appearance blends in very well in China. But once I start to speak or don’t know what a word means, people know. Sometimes, I tell people that I’m American and they'd be shocked because some people have not been exposed to other cultures. If you’re patient and take it lightly, it is pretty funny sometimes—you also teach other people something new that day."

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TALK TO ALUMNI

Chat with alumni about their experiences abroad. Once you start an application, your online CET account will give you access to the following resources:

Alumni Support List: A directory of students who have volunteered to chat about their experiences abroad in Harbin.
Identity Abroad Support Network: A group of students who have volunteered to discuss their identity-related experiences in Greater China. This is a volunteer-based program that started in 2019. Volunteers can also opt to have their contact information kept privately by CET staff and only shared when certain lived experiences are asked about.

Don’t see anyone listed for the Identity Abroad Support Network? Call CET for more information and resources. Consider joining after your program to support other minority students abroad.