Peking University tops the pecking order

Updated on: Tuesday, February 23, 2010

China's unprecedented growth as a scientific ‘powerhouse' is an indicator of the tremendous progress that the country makes in the academic world. China maintains rigorous quality control in higher education and research. For students from most countries including India, there is a language barrier for studies in China. However, excellence in academic work is sure to attract serious learners from other countries to China. The United Nations has reported that China is challenging world leaders North America, Europe and Japan in scientific research and development

Peking University, established in 1898, is one of the top universities in that country. Its campus, known as ‘Yan Yuan', the garden of Yan, is situated in the Haidian District in the western suburb of Beijing.

The university effectively combines research in scientific subjects with training of personnel with a high level of specialised knowledge and professional skill. It promotes inter-disciplinary interaction, thereby merging the knowledge and skills in different areas of study - applied sciences, social sciences, humanities, medicine, management, and education.

Just take a look at the names of some of the schools/ departments:

School of Earth and Space Sciences

School of Software and Microelectronics

School of Archaeology and Museology

School of International Studies

School of Journalism and Communication

Institute of Population Research

China Centre for Economic Research

Institute of Molecular Medicine

Institute of Social Science Survey

Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies

Graduate study

The Graduate School of Peking University has 291 Master's degree specialties and 249 doctorate degree specialties. There are 1,098 doctoral supervisors.

From 1978 to 2008 the school enrolled altogether 13,705 doctoral candidates and 47,553 graduates. At present there are more than 5,000 doctoral candidates and more than 10,000 graduates in Peking University. There are international cooperation and foreign exchange programmes. The school has established relations with 128 institutions of higher education of 40 countries. Up to 2008, the school has enrolled 1,857 graduates from 103 countries.

The variety of disciplines is immense. The programmes mainly aim at the Master's Degree, Ph.D., MBA, and Master of Laws (LL.M.) programme in Chinese law.

International students

A vibrant campus with a community of over 40, 000 students, and members of the faculty from a variety of cultural backgrounds, the Peking University offers an environment congenial to excellent academic work. The university promotes creative thinking and the pursuit of excellence in research. There are more than 2500 international students on campus from eighty countries; nearly 2000 of them seeking degrees

The steps for entry to China may be complied with strictly. International students intending to study in China for more than six months are required to obtain a student visa, also termed ‘X' visa. While applying for the Chinese visa at the Chinese Embassy / Consulate, you should take your passport, the original copy of the university admission notification, and a visa application form for foreign students studying in China (also known as the JW201 / JW202 form).

Make sure that your letter of admission and your JW form are handed back to you along with your passport after obtaining your Chinese visa. You will need these documents to apply for your residence permit after you arrive in Beijing.

The student visa is valid for 30 days after your arrival. You must apply for a residence permit within these 30 days in order to obtain a legal status in China, at Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau (BMPSB).

Note carefully that if you do not get / update your permit in time, you will be prosecuted under Chinese Law. So also, you should leave China when you complete your studies; you should not attempt to stay there after expiry of the residence permit. If you plan to remain in the country after the expiry of your visa and residence permit, you should apply in advance for a visa/ residence permit extension.

Students intending to study in China for less than six months should apply for a visiting visa, also termed as ‘F' visa. Visiting visa holders need not apply for a residence permit.

All International students have to be medically insured throughout their entire period of study. Those who receive the Chinese government scholarship will have their health plan prepared / purchased by the government. All other students should purchase their own insurance.

While travelling in China, you must carry your passport. Your travel destination must be one that is open to foreigners. You must not enter restricted areas/ regions that are prohibited to foreigners, without obtaining prior approval from the Chinese authorities. Students who need to enter restricted areas / regions for research purposes must apply for and obtain appropriate authorisation in order to set foot into such places. Otherwise, you will be prosecuted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. Law enforcement in China is hard; do not try to take chances.

The university does not have any religious student organisation. You may participate in off-campus religious activities, only if they are legitimate in the eyes of Chinese law.

Contact in India: Embassy of the People's Republic of China, 50-D, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021; Ph: 011- 26114711; e-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.chinaembassy.org.in

/eng.

Peking University tops the pecking order

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