Deciding Where to Study

Deciding where to study in China can be confusing. China is a huge and diverse country and where students study has a huge impact on what your experience is like. The three most important choices to make are budgeting your money, deciding what part of the country to study in and choosing between a public and private institution.

Cost of Living

Cost of living is a huge factor in deciding where to study. In general China's cost of living is considered to be fairly low, especially compared to Europe, North America, Japan and South Korea. Bigger cities in China have higher costs of living. Cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are the most expensive. Students can live comfortably on 3000 RMB (about $450) a month, including rent in a small apartment or foreign student's dorm, food in the school cafeteria and the occasional sight-seeing activity.

Smaller towns and cities can be much less expensive. You can save a lot on housing in a small city and a comfortable apartment will often be less than 1000 RMB (about $150) per person per month (unheard of in places like Beijing and Shanghai). Restaurants, transportation and other services all cost less in smaller cities like Tianjin, Kunming and Chengdu.

No matter where in China you are staying, imported goods are always expensive. Budget more for things like imported foods and products, taxies, foreign restaurants and bars and nightclubs. If you have a particular question about the cost of living in any area of China, please contact us.

Location

China’s huge size and diversity can make it confusing for a prospective student to decide where to study. Depending on a student’s personal goals, location can be one of the most important factors to decide on before sending in an application to a school. Almost everyone takes advantage of time off to explore their surroundings, and choosing the city to study in allows more time to experience China.
 

Northern China: Northern China includes the vast Inner Mongolian grasslands, Shanxi hinterlands and the bustling city of Tianjin. Northern China also includes the capital Beijing, a massive city filled with both soaring skyscrapers and ancient alleyways. Those looking to combine city life with easy access to more out-of-the-way places will find northern China a great base to start from.
 

North eastern China: China’s north east is a winter land that is little visited by foreign tourists. The ancient homeland of China’s Manchu people, the northeast is made up of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces and boasts impressive natural scenery despite widespread industrialization. Those looking to visit a region that is rarely seen by foreigners should consider staying in China’s north east.
 

Eastern China: With countryside hinterland next to giant metropolises, the eastern China represents the country’s dynamic and contradictory nature. Eastern China is made up of Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang and Anhui provinces, along with the province-level municipality of Shanghai. Eastern China is a convenient central location, allowing students to see rural Anhui, cosmopolitan Shanghai and fascinating architecture and history in cities like Hangzhou and Suzhou.
 

Central China: The four provinces of Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi make up central China. While the region is home to Wuhan, one of China’s largest cities, much of it is remote and difficult to access. Jiangxi province is home to spectacular natural scenery and wildlife and Hunan’s ethnic minorities continue to attract visitors. The region has an impressive history and is the site of many ancient kingdoms, the remnants of which can still be seen today.
 
 
Southern China: The south is one of China’s most vibrant regions. Coastal Fujian and Guangdong provinces have distinct languages and cultures and have become two of China’s trade and manufacturing giants, spurring the growth of modern cities like Xiamen, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The Guangxi Autonomous Region and Hainan island are mosaics of different ethnicities. Southern China is culturally and linguistically distinct from the north and offers a unique experience.

 
Southwest China: This is a vast region comprising Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, as well as the Tibet Autonomous Region and Chongqing municipality. Much of this region is remote and difficult to access for tourists, but the unique mosaic of literally dozens of different ethnicities makes it worth the trip. Development in the southwest is less advanced than in other parts of China so many natural areas are relatively untouched and pristine. Students that want to get off the beaten track and see a different side of China would do well to study in the southwest.
 

Northwest China: The northwest is China’s gateway to Central Asia and follows the traditional Silk Road that allowed ancient traders to sell their wares throughout the continent and beyond. Shaanxi province and Ningxia Autonomous Region are home to some of China’s most ancient kingdoms. Gansu and Qinghai provinces are vast lands of deserts, mountains and glaciers. Xinjiang Autonomous Region is truly China’s frontier and home to a rich Muslim culture. Those interested in China’s religious communities and a mixing of east and west can have a lot to gain from studying in China’s northwest.
 

Public school vs. Private institution

An important part of the decision-making process is deciding between public and private institutions. Public universities and private schools each have specific benefits and drawbacks, so it is essential for a student to make a decision that fits his or her needs.

Public schools: In China, public schools available for foreigners are almost all universities. These institutions are ideal for students interested in studying Chinese or other subjects full-time in a traditional, structured environment. In bigger cities, many universities have a large number of foreign students, so making both local and international friends is easy.

Universities usually can’t provide intensive training in areas like martial arts and calligraphy, though they sometimes offer basic, introductory courses for foreign students. Students that have other obligations while in China like work, interning or volunteering might find the rigid schedule of a university to be too restrictive.

Private institutions: Private schools can include private universities, private language schools or more specialized academies that focus on art, music or martial arts classes. Private institutions tend to have smaller class sizes and more individual attention than a public university. These institutions are usually very used to interacting with foreigners and have experience helping students with solving most problems. Schedules at private schools are sometimes more flexible and allow busy people to arrange their own classes.

Private institutions tend to be more expensive per hour of instruction, especially for certain classes like martial arts or music training. In addition, small private academies don’t offer internationally recognized degrees or certificates (though they can help students prepare to get an HSK Certificate).