semester dates for Chinese universities

[panda23]

Hi,

I've Googled in English and Chinese for the semester start and end dates for the current academic year for some of the universities I wish to apply to for spring semester Chinese program, but nothing relevant came up. Is this info publicly available as it is for schools in the West? If so, does anyone know where I can find it? I am looking for the specific dates, not the general, vague ones provided by international students offices on their websites. I am assuming if I show up at the campus looking for a tour of, say, the dorms, after the semester has ended, all the staff will have gone home for the holiday and no one will be around, correct? I'll forgo the campus visits if the dates are too early in January and just pick one or two schools and apply.

[edelweis]

have you searched "university name" + 校历 ?

for instance:

南京大学2011－2012学年校历

The dates are also frequently mentioned on application forms.

Please note some "for foreigners" departments may have a calendar that differs from the university's general calendar.

[Brian US]

I found the dates are always subject to change and generally are a week or two off. My American university back home had the complete schedule for a few years ahead of time, but when I asked at some schools in China they were confused about details on the current semester.

At Nanjing from the link:

报到注册：2011年8月29日（利用课余时间）。

2011级新生报到时间见录取通知书。

上 课：2011年8月29日至

I can totally see registration on the 29th, but then I can see classes starting 1-2 weeks later. Add this to having exams a week early and each year you have several weeks of down time.