Anyone applying for Spring 2007 program at Beida (Peking University)?

[jon3060103]

Hi all,

I am planning to enrol for the Spring 2007 Semester program at Beida University.

Does anyone have any advice with the application process? For example, was it a simple process? How long until you receive confirmation of enrolment?

It would be good to get in touch with people who are also applying for the Spring 2007 program!

Look forward to hearing from you.

Jonathan

[zarathustra]

Hi Jonathan,

I'm planning on applying very soon. I was thinking of BLCU or BNU but would probably prefer BeiDa since I'd like to attend grad school there.

I'm still reading thru all the posts here about BeiDa. Have you found out anything yet? I'm not sure what's the deadline or how everything goes. maybe some people who've gone to BeiDa before can help out.

[AnnaYa]

Hi

I`m going to Beijing spring 2007, but still can`t decide between BLCU and BeiDa

i know that it`s not too much time for application left, but still...That`s my first time to China, so honestly afraid of being alone foreign student...

Can you help-where can i find more foreign students (i mean european, american) in BLCU or BeiDa?

[jon3060103]

Hi all,

I have found the process of applying quite difficult.

Appying to Beida requires someone to pay an application fee of 400 yuan IN CASH! Plus, a guarantor who is a permanent resident of Beijing.

It took me ages to find someone who could help me, but by the time my application was to be submitted AT the office, they told me all the places had already been filled!

This is absolutely incredible, because the lady I contacted sent me an email, telling me that applications opened 1 November 2006 and today is only 9th November!

As such, it looks like I will have to apply to BLCU for the semester course.

Let me know if you need any info, but I am quite disappointed with missing out.

Cheers,

Jonathan

[zarathustra]

From what I've heard (reading many many posts), BLCU, and PKU are the way to go. There are more Europeans at BLCU. at BeiDa, there's a greater chance of a lower quality education (with grad students teaching who probably do it to save on tuition).

There's one more school that's even better but ~3x the price.

[imron]

Where does it mention that you need a guarantor who is a permanent resident of Beijing?

On the application form it mentions that the guarantor can be any Chinese person/organisation. Also, I think Beida has screwed up a bit on this form, as guarantor is perhaps not the best English word to use. To me this implies someone providing some sort of financial guarantee, however the Chinese explanation of section 8 states that this person is just a person/organisation in China that the university can contact in emergency situations. Unfortunately, the English translation for this section doesn't make this very clear.

When I applied to study at Beida (back in 2002), my guarantor was a friend of mine from Hebei, and I didn't have any troubles. Looking at the current application form, it doesn't appear to have changed since then.

[toygirl]

I'm in the application process for BLCU, but now i'm stuck trying to figure out how and what kind of visa to get. does anybody know? it says on the china-us embassy site that i have to have someone go in person to take in my paperwork?

[imron]

I believe that in the US you either have to go to the embassy personally, or have someone take it in for you. There are visa agents who will do this if you live miles away from an embassy/consulate.

As for which visa to get, you don't need to worry about that. You don't specify the type of visa you are applying for on the application form (downloadable here). You just need to submit the appropriate documentation (JW201/JW202 + acceptance letter) which BLCU should send you once you've been accepted. On your visa application form you then just state that you will be going to China for study.

The embassy will then determine which visa is most appropriate for you. Generally if you are studying for 6 months or less it will be an F visa, and if you are studying for more than that then it will be an X visa.

[adrianlondon]

Search for all the previous threads comparing places in Beijing.

I'm at BNU (Beishida) and still would recommend it over BLCU. However, that could be because (for reasons unknown) us BNU'ers are quite vocal on this forum whereas the BLCU'ers keep their opinions of the place to themselves

You'll meet loads of foreigners at BLCU. You'll meet enough at BNU too as they'll be your classmates and - if you live on campus - your flatmates and neighbours.

As for application forms : I learnt the hard way that you need to answer every question by providing exactly what they want to hear. You can make it all up (ie oh yes, I know Mr Chen in Beijing very well and he'll be my guarantor) if need be; don't leave any boxes blank. It confuses their communist-trained red-tape loving minds. To be fair, it'd be the same applying to a University in the UK too