Ocean University of China, Qingdao

[Saxondale]

Well i applied to OUC and CSC at the same time, just so i didn't have to rush and find a university if i didn't get the scholarship. I actually applied through CUCAS (http://www.cucas.edu.cn), not directly to OUC, just because it seemed much easier at the time. Check here for applications dates etc: http://school.cucas.edu.cn/HomePage/33/ProgramIndex-33-5-1.shtml

OUC are pretty flexible though. as long as you have the documents (jw202 and invitation letter) and the correct visa (X or F), you can turn up a week or 2 late and still register without a problem.

[Sam Fairhall 92]

@ahiris Thankyou for your response.

I think if I was in your situation I'd pay the cash to them directly, i.e. not through the banks just so there isn't any complications. I don't have any personal experience, but my girlfriends studied in China before (Hainan University) and found its quite common to just pay for the full semester on registration day. Im sure they won't turn down your money anyhow, but hopefully thrice gets back to you with specific information!

I'd love to hear about your experience too, so If you wouldn't mind sharing it on this thread whilst you're there it would be greatly appreciated . Are you a beginner? If so, i'd love to hear about the Classes specifically, and how easy it is to immerse yourself with Chinese friends. Best of luck!

@thrice12

Thanks for the advice, i'l make sure I apply through that website - it seems legit. Hopefully as reliable as the UKs UCAS.

[Saxondale]

@ahiris

every term i turn up with 7000rmb in cash and just hand it over during registration. you go into a room, there are stations that you work your way through (registering your details, providing documents/passport, paying for tuition, student id, visa/medical check and then buying your books).

if you're doing more than 1 term, you must do a medical in qingdao. it's a very simple process and takes no longer than 30 minutes. I forgot how much it costs though. you'll be able to pick up your results 2 working days after the exam. you will then take everything to the PSB and apply for your temp residence permit, which costs around 400rmb. This process takes around 10 days to do, so don't plan on leaving qingdao during that period.

so my tips for registration:

do it by cash (most people do this)

bring loads of passport pictures (you'll need 3 for the medical exam if you're staying for more than 1 term)

extra cash for books

make sure you bring all your documents (passport, jw202, invitation letter)

have you booked a room yet? if not, do it now. so when you go to the dorm, you'll need to bring your passport so they can add it to their database, pay the deposit for the room (500rmb) and pay for the room. I pay per month, it's entirely up to you how you pay it. every month i go to the desk and just hand over cash for the month.

@Sam

I did a small write up on CUCAS somewhere on this site, have a search for it. They're definitely a legit company and i recommend using them if your chinese isn't good enough to go directly through the university.

[ahiris]

@sam

Sure!no problem!

This is my third year studying chinese, and last july i did HSK3. I'm not sure yet which will be my class level, but i'll tell you about my learning experience at OUC!!

Thanks as well for the information!! cheers!

@thrice12

Thanks for all that information!! As i got the F Visa i think i won't have to do the medical or apply for temp residence permit!!

It's ok with me to pay cash on registration days, but -even if this question seems too obvious- do you just go to an ATM and get the RMB7000? Is there a bank or ATM inside Fushan Campus?

I'll have to pay on registration days: RMB7400 for tuition, RMB500 for room deposit, and it seems that i'll have to pay 3 months of accommodation in advance so that will be about RMB 12.000 which is quite a lot of money to pay in cash, and also to get from an ATM!

And i don't feel like flying from Spain to Beijing and then to Qingdao with all that sum in my bag!

I already booked a room, so that's all set!

Thanks again! and sorry for being so annoying!!

Cheers!

[Saxondale]

That's correct, you won't require a medical or need to go to the PSB to apply for a permit. this makes life much easier. also, the dormitory will register your passport with the police, so that'll all be done for you.

There are many banks around the campus, but I'll be surprised if your bank will allow you to take out that much money in one day. I just carried the money with me from England, since I didn't want to be charged multiple times for withdrawing money from a Chinese bank using my UK debit card. I'll be doing the same this term.

Did you go for a single or double room? My roommate of 2 years is leaving, so I'll be getting a new roommate! quite nervous, since my last one was perfect and we got on really well.

remember cash for your books too.

edit: do you play an instruments?

[ahiris]

Thatls the thing!! too much mobey to take out at once!! so i guess i'll just have to carry it around, at least most of it!!

You said before that you had 1 week to check all the different chinese levels & decide wich suits you more, so are we obliged to buy the books on registration days?

I booked a single room!! i hope you have good luck with your new roommate! you might also have that double room all for you!

One more question! it's not totally related to OUC, but to the trip to get to OUC! Did UCAS arrange for you all your travel to Qingdao? I still need to buy a train ticket Beijing-Qingdao, but it's not that easy (train websites in chinese!), i might need a chinese person or agency to buy it for me. Other way is staying In Beijing for a night and get the hotel to buy it for me...

Ahhh i wish i already were in Qingdao!! ;S

[Saxondale]

CUCAS didn't help me with that, but maybe they can if you ask, i'm really not sure. i just decided to do everything myself. The train trip from beijing to qingdao is very good though and it's only 250rmb. i think first class is around 350, but even standard class is comfortable enough. I think you could just turn up at beijing station and get your ticket on that day...i wouldn't chance it, but from my experience, the train is never full outside of the holiday season.

you aren't obliged to buy any books and you can buy them anytime.

[Loki]

Seems there is a lot of information about Ocean Uni here already, but thought I would share my recent experience. I just completed my one year language program at OUC this July, so the memories are still quite fresh.

I took the C-class during the fall semster and then jumped straight into E-ban. If anyone dares to dream that the highest level available equals fluency, well think again. Of course, it all depends on how motivated and hardworking you are, but I'd say a lot of us were still struggling, especially with kouyu. The teachers at the E-class are great though, very experienced and love their work. The workload is rather well balanced: quite demanding at times, but nothing to worry about.

I got the CI scholarship so I cannot comment that much about the application and payment procedures. Suffice to say they delivered everything that was promised, though sometimes with shorter or rather longer delays.

Since I was coming to China with my girlfriend anyway, living in a dorm wasn't a viable option. We stayed at the hostel for the first week and eventually found a nice 3-room apartment near the Fushan campus. Ended up paying around 2200 RMB per month, Sure, the place was a bit huge for just the two of us and we could have probably found a cheaper one, but we were growing tired of all the apartment-hunting and just wanted to settle down for once. At least the location was nice: 15 minutes on foot from the school, right between the Fu mountain and the Yellow Sea.

By the way, should anyone find himself in a similar situation in the future, I can definitely recommend our real estate broker whom I found accidentally on the web. Her name is Lisa, she speaks fairly good English and was really helpful all the way; escorting us to get us registered at the local police station and even helping us to get the internet connection. Her Skype username is qdhbzy.

What else? This may be a bit off-topic, but if you are a frequent party goer and love good music, then Qingdao is not the place to be (I do not count playing Gangnam Style at least three times in a DJ set as good music). And believe me: after your time there, you do not want to see another bottle of beer for at least a month.

[roddy]

Thanks Loki!

[Sam Fairhall 92]

@Loki Very informative thank you! I've sent you a personal message as I require some advice on studying in China as a couple.

[ahiris]

Hi!! Just in case someone finds this information useful, I finally booked a plain ticket (instead of train) from Beijing to Qingdao, with Air China. You can check and book different flights from different airways here: http://english.ctrip.com/ or ckeck http://www.airchina.com.cn/en/. I chose Air China even if there were cheaper flights because they depart from T3 of Beijing Capital Airport, and there´s were my Swiss Air flight lands, so it was pretty convenient - and in case i had any problems or delays i wouldn't have to run to other terminals for a few kms!! The flight takes about 1 hour 20 mins. Costs around RMB800.

[xh207hi]

Hey there again. I have a question regarding dorms again (I've read what thrice had written previously): what about cooking facilities, now that you've mentioned the kitchen had been replaced by laundry? Is there a fridge somewhere?

What about the transportation from airport to Fushan campus, except from taking taxi? I'm concerned that the shuttle bus doesn't stop too close to the campus (two streets away, if I'm not mistaken) and I wonder if it's is easy enough first to find the bus at the airport and then, to travel on foot to the campus with luggage. It might be a detail, but it's better to know exactly your way.

See you in OUC ;)

[Saxondale]

@xh207hi

i should really update that post! there is a kitchen and a public fridge but no other cooking utensils.

there's a shuttle bus that'll take your from the airport to near the school, but if you have some luggage, you'll most likely need to a taxi from the bus stop. i've never done this, so i'm not too sure about the route. it should cost 20 kuai.

[xh207hi]

I've been to OUC for two weeks already and I can share some details, especially about building no.4 in which I currently live. Apparently, all scholarship students are required to stay there, unless there is a free room in the main building and one is ready to pay for it. The conditions are slightly better in the main building, but public bathrooms are worse, in my opinion. In no.4 there are no private bathrooms at all, only public ones, but not that bad. There is a washing machine and a kitchen with basic utensils. Rooms are pretty simple with basic furniture (bed with bedding, tv set, desk, wardrobe, some shelves). In the main dorm you can bring your bedding to swap for the new one every Saturday, but not in building no.4 (unless you pay for your room, tbh I'm still not sure how does it work). There is no fridge, neither personal nor public - again, if you need one you should consider buying it yourself. Walls definitely aren't sound-proof, but it's bearable, at least as long as your neighbour doesn't snore at night ;)

On the side note, I have met with thrice12, he's actually sitting right beside me while I'm writing this post We're both in the E ban. I'll write more about the classes later. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

[roddy]

Great to see some new arrivals posting, thanks!

[Saxondale]

Trying to force the newbies to post about their experience so far! i've already met two people that have posted in this thread.

[Mar91dms]

Hi!  I want to apply for OUC next year! however I'm wondering if I need to have some level of chinese before I go there cause I know nothing of chinese! Can someone tell me pls?  

It's been really helpfull all this info! so thanks

[Saxondale]

@Mar91dms

A level is designed for people with zero knowledge of Chinese, so don't worry about it.  At least learn your numbers and greetings before you arrive, it'll just make things a little bit easier.

[Mar91dms]

Ok that`s great! Thanks thrice! 

[lekeku]

Hi!  Can anyone tell me if the Chinese Language Program at OUC offers Business Chinese as an elective?  It seems to be listed on some of their materials, but not others.