Planning to study in China but unsure about university life? How long do programs take? Are courses hard? What if you don't speak Chinese? These are the most common questions from international students. Here's a quick Q&A covering the top three topics.
Q1: How long do programs last?
- Bachelor's: 4 years (5+ for medicine)
- Master's: 2–3 years (3 for academic track, 2 for professional track)
- Doctoral: 3+ years — exact length set by each university
Q2: How hard are courses? How are grades calculated?
Difficulty varies by major:
- STEM (engineering, CS, physics): more challenging, strong math required
- Humanities, business, education: moderate, more focus on understanding and practice
Grades are comprehensive — not just one final exam:
Homework, class participation, midterm, final exam, and group projects all count. The final exam usually carries the most weight.
Q3: What language is taught? What's campus like?
Teaching languages:
- Chinese (Mandarin): standard for most majors
- English: available for some international programs
- Bilingual: some courses use both Chinese and English
Campus culture:
- Strict academic standards and attendance rules
- Rich club activities — sports, arts, academic groups
- Special events for international students to help you settle in
We hope this answers most of your questions. Every school is different, so do your research before applying. For help with school selection or applications, feel free to contact us anytime.
