Tsinghua Exchange Program

Contact Information

Host/Program Web Site:  click here

Ms. Becky Gunter, Study Abroad Advisor (Exchange Programs)
GT Office of International Education
631 Cherry Street
Savant Building, Suite 211
Atlanta, GA 30332-0284
Phone: (404)894-7475 Fax: (404)894-9682
E-mail: becky.gunter@oie.gatech.edu
OIE web site: click here

TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY Program Level: Undergraduate Number of Weeks/Term: 18 View the Program Dates

• Background
• Location Information
• Program Dates
• Host Institution
• Academic Information
• Academic Disciplines
• Credit Transfer Information
• Eligibility Requirements
• Program Costs
• Housing and Meals
• Insurance
• Extracurricular Activities
• Climate
• VISA & Passport Information
• Your Next Steps
• Experiences of Former Students

BACKGROUND
Georgia Tech (GT) has developed a number of overseas programs around the globe. These programs provide students with the opportunity to complete a portion of their academic programs in top-notch foreign universities that are partnered with GT. As a result of immersion in a foreign academic and cultural environment, students have the maximum opportunity to learn to operate effectively in an atmosphere that is wholly different from that of GT and the U.S.

LOCATION INFORMATION
This university is located in Beijing, China. To learn more about this city and country, please visit:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_4965.html
http://www.iiepassport.org/pages/sitecontent/country.aspx
http://www.iiepassport.org/pages/sitecontent/cities.aspx
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations

PROGRAM DATES
Spring Term: mid February - late June
Academic Year: late August - late June

NOTE: Students may participate in this program for the spring term or for a full academic year.

YEAR PROGRAM STARTED:
2008

HOST INSTITUTION
Tsinghua University was established in 1911, originally under the name “Tsinghua Xuetang”. The name “National Tsinghua University” was adopted in 1928. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the University was molded into a polytechnic institute focusing on engineering in the nationwide restructuring of universities and colleges undertaken in 1952. In November 1952, Mr. Jiang Nanxiang became the President of the University. He made significant contributions in leading Tsinghua to become the national center for training engineers and scientists with both professional proficiency and personal integrity. Since China opened up to the world in 1978, Tsinghua University has developed at a breathtaking pace into a comprehensive research university. At present, the university has 13 schools and 55 departments with faculties in science, engineering, humanities, law, medicine, history, philosophy, economics, management, education and art. The University now has 32,000 full time students including 13,700 undergraduates, 13,400 Master's candidates and 5,000 doctoral candidates. As one of China'’s most renowned universities, Tsinghua has become an important institution for fostering talent and scientific research.

ACADEMIC INFORMATION

Subject Areas Available:

• Accounting
• Architecture
• Aerospace Engineering
• Biology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Building Construction
• Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Chemistry
• Chinese
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• History, Technology, and Society
• Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Industrial Design
• International Affairs
• Management
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Modern Languages
• Philosophy, Science, and Technology
• Physics
• Psychology
• Public Policy
• Sociology

Language Information
Most courses at Tsinghua are taught in Chinese. Exchange students are allowed to enroll in Chinese-taught courses if they qualify. About 80 courses each semester are taught in English.

Course Information
For a list of courses taught in English, click here, then scroll to Visiting/Exchange Student Program and click "Courses in English."

To view the course catalog in Chinese, click here.

CREDIT TRANSFER INFORMATION
Credit for courses taken as part of exchange programs is received by transferring the credits back to Georgia Tech. Since it's important for you to know what kind of credit you'll get as soon as possible, you'll be able to have courses pre-approved to transfer. With a Foreign Credit Approval Form (available from OIE) in hand, you'll take course descriptions to the appropriate academic unit here at GT to request approval. For example, if you are taking Math classes, then you'll go to the School of Mathematics here at GT and ask if the courses can be transferred to GT. The School of Mathematics will sign the form showing how the courses will transfer so that you'll know up front what kind of credit you can expect to receive.

For detailed credit transfer instructions click here

For the Foreign Credit Approval Form click here

CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM
This information is intended for undergraduates students only. Graduate students must speak with their academic unit to to determine the acceptance of transfer credits.

Tsinghua uses the following credit transfer system:
1 Tsinghua credit = 1.28 GT credit

GRADING SYSTEM
Tsinghua uses the following grading system listed below:
Tsinghua Grade = US Grade
90-100 (Excellent) = A
80-89 (Very Good) = B
70-79 (Good) = C
60-69 (Pass) = D
0-59 (Failure) = F

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Eligible students must meet the following criteria:

PROGRAM COSTS
The same matriculation, tuition and other mandatory fees (including transportation, technology, activity, health, and athletic) apply to a term abroad as would normally at Georgia Tech. Exchange students must pay tuition and fees to the GT Bursar for each semester they are abroad. No other expenses associated with this program are paid to GT; instead, these expenses are paid on site.

Keep in mind the costs of books, health insurance, food, living expenses, and travel money, as well as pre-departure costs like your passport and visa. Compared to GT, the cost of living and eating on campus is much less expensive than at GT. However, Beijing is generally more expensive than most areas of the United States. The cost of imported goods is especially high.

The currency in China is the Renminbi. Please see click here for current exchange rates.

DON'T FORGET TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!! See the OIE web site for more info, including details about the Coca-Cola Foundation Scholarship: click here

Following are cost estimates for one semester at Tsinghua that may help you prepare for your term(s) abroad. All costs are in USD.

In State Tuition	$3,641
Out of State Tuition	$3,891
GT Mandatory Fees	$1,185
Books and Supplies	$325
Administrative and/or Application fees	$0
Miscellaneous (includes passport/visa fees, required field trips, local transportation and incidentals)	$885
Roundtrip Airfare	$2,000
Room and Board	$2,300
Additional Language Instruction	$0
Mandatory Insurance	$225
Total	$10,561 (in state)
	$10,811(out of state)

*Out-of-state students pay in state tuition, plus $250 for this exchange program.

*Costs in the preceding chart are estimates for undergraduates based on tuition rates posted by the GT Bursar for "continuing students." Guaranteed tuition rates, graduate tuition rates, and MBA tuition rates vary. Please check the GT Bursar's web site click here to confirm actual tuition rates based on degree, term, or level of study. Actual costs may be higher or lower than those listed above, depending on the exchange rate and personal spending habits/needs.

HOUSING AND MEALS
Housing
There are three types of rooms available in the international student dormitory: single rooms (private bathroom), AB double rooms (shared bathroom), and double rooms (public bathroom). All room types include air conditioning, telephone, color TV, and internet access. The dorm is located in the Zijing Apartment District and is close to local student housing, cafeterias, banks, a post office, and supermaket. The reception desk is open 24 hours and is experienced in dealing with foreign students.

Meals