• China offers plenty of exciting options for people who wish to study at all levels of higher education, from Bachelor’s to PhD. Most programs and courses are not taught in English, which may be a problem for those who are not fluent in Chinese. However, the good news is that there are an increasing number of courses and even whole programmes taught in English. It all depends on the university, those who wish to study in China without learning the official language will be able to find great options taught in English language.

• It’s important to emphasize that China already has many respectable universities that rank highly. For example, two of the Chinese universities (Peking University and Thinghua) are already ranked highly (46th and 31st) and renowned as great places to get a quality education. Other highly regarded institutions are Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong, the University of Science and Technology China, Nanjing University. China also has a great number of lesser known but fast developing universities, such as Tongi and Tianjin Universities. They are on the rise and make interesting destinations for those who are looking at different options to study in China.

• China is quickly developing and emerging as a nation of quality education. It’s therefore not surprising it’s becoming a popular destination for international students seeking education. This is particularly true for Asian students who may choose to study in China rather than Europe or in North America to stay closer to home while still receiving high-quality education.

• Also, China is actively working on attracting more international students. The Chinese government has already set a target to have 500,000 foreign students by 2020. There are many practical measures being taken to meet this goal, such as substantial scholarships for international students.

• Culture
  The first thing you should know about Chinese culture is that it is full of contradictions in comparison with the Netherlands. There are cultural and linguistic variations within 56 minority groups spread all over China with their own unique cuisines, arts and customs. With its 1.4 billion people, you literally never walk alone in the subway, on the streets and in restaurants. Luckily, there are also beautiful peaceful moments to be enjoyed in the many parks and temples. The most influential philosophy is Confucianism, which mostly describes how to be an ethical person. Chinese Mandarin is the most widely spoken language, with 1.35 billion speakers worldwide. Will you be the next one?

• Geography and climate
  China is the world’s most populous country and the fourth largest country in the world covering a land area of 9.6 million square kilometres. China has a varied climate and is located in the Eastern Asian monsoon flow. In winter, you can be freezing your socks off, also due to the government-provided central heating system which is usually switched off until November. Chinese summers are hot and dry, especially in the Northern part of the country. Don’t be surprised when you see Chinese ladies carrying umbrellas against the sun and make sure you don’t get poked by one!

• Economy
  The economic reforms of 1979 have replaced Chinese state socialism with a more capitalist system, turning China into one of the world’s largest economies. China is the ninth largest Dutch export destination. The Netherlands ranks as China’s second most important (investment) trade partner in the European Union. More than 500 Dutch companies, including Shell, Unilever and Philips, have successfully set up 950 establishments in China. This creates lots of working opportunities for the Dutch so now is the time to grab them!

One of the great things about China is that it is a relatively inexpensive option for students. Tuition fees are comparatively low, so you will be able to receive quality education at affordable prices. This is very important, and it’s one of the things that make China a very attractive option for international students. With the high quality of education combined with lower tuition fees, it’s clear why so many people decide to study abroad in China instead of other destinations.

Tuition fees vary depending upon university, study topic and level of study. Generally speaking, international students can expect to pay between US $2,000 and $4,000 per year for tuition fees. This is significantly lower than many European and North American university tuition fees.

There are also some minor costs you will need to pay when you arrive, such as insurance (about $100) and medical examination fee (if not already taken in the home country; it varies depending on the location – for Beijing it’s around $100).

While the economic growth and other factors mean that prices in China are on the rise, it’s still has a relatively low costs of living. International students need about US $3,000 for accommodation and about US $2,000 for other living costs (such as food, transportation, etc.) These costs of living are comparatively lower than many other countries. Due to economic growth and other factors, the prices in China are on the rise. However, the cost of living is still much lower than in most of the industrialized countries. Internationals who wish to study in China can live very comfortably even without much money. In fact, it’s possible to have a better lifestyle while studying abroad in China than at home. You will probably be able to afford many things you can’t at home, such as tailor-made clothes, a housekeeper, lots of travel, frequent restaurant meals, massages, regular night on the town, and more.

There are numerous scholarships available to study in China for international students. China’s Ministry of Education has pledged around $238 million for the Chinese Government Scholarship Program in the 2012-13 academic year alone. This program is specifically structured to provide full and partial scholarships for internationals who wish to study in China. More than 25,000 students benefitted from this scheme in 2011 and the Chinese government is working on increasing this number.

One of the exciting things about the scholarship program is the relatively high value of the average scholarship: it is now around $9,400. This is great news for any interested students and makes living and studying in China much more financially attractive. China is one of the most attractive options when it comes to international scholarships.

Another thing you can do is to seek part-time employment. A part time teaching job can bring you some extra cash in case you are on a tight budget.