Exchange studies abroad as a full-time international degree student in China?

[bientai]

Hi,

 

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge regarding doing a semester abroad as an exchange student, while being a full-time international degree student in China (Fudan)? I imagine it should be possible. However, how would it play out if one was a CGS recipient? I intend to start my studies in China, but I thought it would be great if I could do a semester during my second year in some other institution in Asia to expand my horizons even further.

 

Cheers!

[mengjiepeng]

I spent a semester in Washington DC while at Fudan (SIRPA, CPD, 2009-2011), others have done or contemplated doing semesters at partner institutions, such as Keio in Japan or Yonsei in Korea. Credits were smoothly transfered, and for me paying Chinese tuition while getting American education was a plus. Other students took a semester to do internships elsewhere in Asia or the US.

 

It appears Fudan is doing really well in terms of internationalisation, so I assume that possibility still exists. One of my classmates had a scholarship while interning with the UN in NY, another in DC. I don't think their scholarships were affected, but rules might have changed.

[m000gle]

I don't have any personal experience (yet) with the Chinese Government Scholarship degree student category, specifically.  However, given the goals and funding structure of the scholarship scheme, it seems very unlikely that it would cover such a semester abroad.

The Chinese government fully funds an international student to come to China for higher education.  Why would this be done if they're only to have the student, then, spend a semester or year elsewhere, on their dime?

Were you a self-paid international student, this may make a little more sense; but even then, with outbound international exchange opportunities being already highly competitive among domestic Chinese students, why would a university select one of their international students for the privilige?

 

It just doesn't add up, and I would expect similar logic to hold true even in North America or Europe.

Given the amazing opportunity you already have with the scholarship, use this to "expand your horizons" as much as possible, within China.  Should you decide to expand them further, elsewhere, then do so after your current degree or, perhaps, with a (self-paid) summer program between your semesters in China.

[ZhangKaiRong]

I don't know whethere there are differences with Bachelor or Master students, but as far as I know, CGS Master's Degree students can't participate in exchange programs. Former classmate attending Master's program in China tried it on different levels of authority (even CSC) and her request was rejected. It was in 2012, though.

[shuoshuo]

I just replied to your same question on the CGS thread.

I just want to add: if you are a bachelors student, I suggest doing volunteer work or internships abroad during your summer holidays instead of taking an entire semester abroad. Specifically if you'll be doing the degree in Chinese. It will not be easy to recover from a semester of skipping the compulsory modules (if you take them the following year, they will clash with other compulsory modules) and you might end up having to extend your studies for another year, just to sit for compulsory modules that you missed.

If you're a Masters degree student, there's one or 2 years (depending on your course) where you get to focus on your dissertation. You can probably take a semester off then (but good luck on getting an approval from the school!).

Doctorates are the most flexible in a way, as I mentioned on my other reply, I know someone on the CGS who did take a year off and that didn't affect her scholarship status one bit. But Fudan is known to be a very strict school, students who have studied there have told me that they can't even miss 3 classes without a valid reason.

[bientai]

A lot of conflicting information here. My common sense would also say that CGS students are not allowed to do exchange studies overseas. However, it would make even more sense if exchange studies were possible, but just during this period you wouldn't get the benefits of the scholarship. Is here anyone who has actual experience with doing exchange studies overseas while beng a CGS student?

[洋人丹]

@bientai

 

Have you ever been to China before/lived there for a length of time? 2-3 years for your masters will fly by, and you are already getting a chance to go abroad to broaden your horizons. Assuming you haven't been here before for a length of time, you will have a lot to see and learn. 

 

Just my two cents.

[bientai]

洋人丹: Thanks for your insight, mate. I haven't lived in China for that length of a time, but I have lived in a foreign country for two years. I enjoyed my life living abroad thoroughly, however, I can't say that it flew by. Two years is a long period of time, from my perspective, and my two years overseas felt like an entire era. The length isn't the case though. I am more interested in expanding my horizons. I have certain goals and these goals would be both academically and, in the future, professionally (or academically) reached by exchange studies in specific country abroad.

 

Anyone with more insight about exchange studies?

[Angelina]

I have never tried it and international students are just starting to discover China so I don't know anyone who did it. Maybe you can come back here and tell us about your experience.

[洋人丹]

@bientai

 

Just curious, why not go to the country that would let you reach your academic and professional goals? 

 

Regardless, hope it works out for you. If not, you can always go there after China.

[bientai]

洋人丹: Valid question. I would have probably preferred the other country, but I was unsuccessful with their scholarship. So, mainly financial reasons. China is a very good option though and I am luck. However, exchange studies in that other country would more than compliment my studies.

[roddy]

What kind of student are you going to be? It's going to make a difference if you're an undergrad who (from the university's point of view) should just be doing what all the other undergrads are doing and not making extra work, or a postgrad research student with a lot more flexibility. 

[bientai]

I will be a master's student. Not a research degree, per se.