Outline

China is one of the world's oldest and most far-reaching civilisations. It is also one of the fastest growing economies since the 1980s. These characteristics and the relationship between the various Chinese societies make the study of China and Chinese culture particularly important concerns in Australia's future.

In exceptional circumstances, students with advanced skills in Chinese are excluded from the Chinese Language and Culture program and are required to substitute other appropriate subjects from the list of approved substitute subjects. These subjects may be other subjects on offer in the International Studies program, including those relating to the study of contemporary society or those focusing on another language and culture. For details of substitute subjects, see the list of approved substitute subjects. Students interested in studying classical Chinese or Chinese at a level not currently offered at UTS should inquire at the Institute about the possibility of undertaking Chinese subjects offered at other institutions. Students need to obtain the approval of the Board of Studies of the Institute before they can vary any of their subjects of study in the International Studies program.

97711x
In-country Study 1: China

24cp; prerequisite: completion of relevant subjects appropriate to the student's International Studies major

In-country Study subjects are only available to students doing the BA in International Studies.

97811x
In-country Study 2: China

24cp; prerequisite: 97711x In-country Study 1: China

Information on In-country Study inChina

Content and assessment

Through arrangements made by the Institute, students spend two consecutive semesters studying at one of the following universities:

• Zhejiang University, Hangzhou
• Yunnan Normal University, Kunming
• Shanxi University, Taiyuan
• Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin.

In both semesters, the focus is on the study of language and culture. Students are assessed separately on each semester and assessment is based on the subjects undertaken at the host institutions, as well as project and essay work administered by the Institute for International Studies.

Locations

Hangzhou

Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang Province on China's Eastern seaboard, just south of Shanghai. It is the home of the Chinese silk industry (there is a vast silk market in the centre of town) and a major tea-centre (Dragon Well Tea is one of the country's best-known). It is also a former national capital, famous for its rich culture and the beautiful West Lake. Hangzhou is one of the most pleasant Chinese cities with a fairly mild climate.

Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University in Hangzhou is one of the oldest and largest universities in China. It is particularly well known for its studies of engineering, ophthalmics and economics. It has more than 33,000 full-time students and over 10,000 staff members, with 20 faculties (schools) and 97 majors for undergraduate students, 194 Master's degree programs and 106 doctoral programs. The University has a purpose-built overseas student dormitory on campus.

Kunming

Kunming is the capital city of Yunnan Province on the southwest of China bordering Burma, Laos and Vietnam. Known as 'spring city' in China, Kunming is famous for its scenic spots and pleasant weather all year round. It is also a city of rich history for over 2,000 years and is characterised by the diverse cultures of the ethnic minorities.

Yunnan Normal University in Kunming was founded in 1946. It developed from the Teachers' College of the Southwest Associated University, established through a merger of Beijing University, Qinghua University and Nankai University during World War II, the three best universities in China at that time. Yunnan Normal University is known for its strength in the areas of education and studies on the cultures of minority nationalities in southwestern China. With the UNESCO-sponsored Southwest China In-service English Training Centre on its campus, the University is also famous for its international links. It has more than 5,000 full-time students and 6,000 adult students, with 14 faculties or departments. The University has a purpose-built overseas student dormitory on campus.

Taiyuan

Shanxi Province is the cradle of Chinese culture. Approximately 75 per cent of the surface architecture from ancient China is located in the province. These sites have become important tourist attractions that can assist people to understand Chinese culture and history.

Shanxi University, founded in 1902, is one of the three earliest established national universities in China. The University is located in Taiyuan City, Capital of Shanxi Province, 520 km from Beijing, 40 minutes by air, 6 hours by bus, 10 hours by train. It offers a wide range of degree, diploma and certificate courses in the fields of liberal arts, sciences, engineering, management, arts and physical education. The University has established intercollegiate relationships with 38 colleges and universities and research institutions all over the world. It began to enrol overseas students in 1981 and more than 1,000 overseas students from dozens of countries have studied there since.

Tianjin

Lying 120 km south-east of Beijing, Tianjin is one of the four municipalities in China directly under the administration of the central government. It is the largest open seaport and one of the most important industrial, commercial and cultural centres in North China. It was once a treaty port with large areas claimed by Western powers as concessions, and many European-style structures have survived intact. Since the 1980s, Tianjin has been in the forefront of China's opening to the outside world and currently more than 8,000 foreign-funded firms are in operation in the city.

Founded in 1958, Tianjin Normal University is the key comprehensive teachers' training institution in Tianjin. It is well known for studies in the areas of development psychology, as well as languages and culture. It has more than 5,000 full-time students and 2,000 adult students, with 14 faculties or departments. The University has a purpose-built overseas student dormitory on campus.

Costs

The two semesters of In-country Study are full-credit subjects at UTS for which HECS is payable. Students receiving student financial support in Australia are still eligible to receive it while they are engaged in a period of In-country Study in China. The costs of tuition in host institutions overseas and travel between Sydney and the designated host institutions are borne by UTS, except in cases where a scholarship has been awarded to the student with provision for these costs. Under those circumstances, the funds that would have otherwise been allocated towards the student's tuition and travel are redirected to support the In-country Study program in general. Other costs, e.g. accommodation and food, are met by students, who may expect that no greater costs are incurred through undertaking a period of In-country Study in China than are involved in living away from home in Sydney.

The information on the program of In-country Study in China is correct at the time of printing. However, the Institute for International Studies reserves the right to make alterations to the location and content of any program of In-country Study at any time.