Ed Abroad & Ex - UMass at Chinese University of Hong Kong

Chinese University of Hong Kong

At-A-Glance
Eligibility / Requirements	2.75 GPA + One Intensive Mandarin
Open to Non-UMA?	Yes
Fall, Year	March 1
Spring	September 15
Classes Taught In	Mandarin
Abroad Advisor	Laurel Foster-Moore
Documents	UMass Application, Non-UMass Application, Evaluation Year Budget Estimate, Year Budget Letter, Fall Budget Estimate, Fall Budget Letter

Overview

Located in the New Territories, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is the largest university campus in Hong Kong. The 331 acre campus is located on a hillside overlooking Tolo Harbor and near the town of Shatin. The New Territories are rapidly developing and students will have ready access to modern urban centers, as well as traditional farming and fishing villages.

Hong Kong is a fascinating place that offers students a unique opportunity for learning about the Chinese people, culture and language. It is an exhilarating mixture of Chinese dialects and cultures. From the urban poor to the educated middleclass, from the Cantonese jet-set to the Mandarin speaking emigrants of China, from the ultra-modern business minded to the traditional old village families, there are many contrasts to take in.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a first tier and bilingual university. Competition for admission among local Chinese is keen and hence most local students take their studies very seriously. In addition to their regular studies, CUHK students devote much of their free time to clubs, associations and college activities. Foreign students are encouraged to do the same as there are a wide variety of extracurricular and sports activities available to them.

The International Asian Studies Programme (IASP) is a comprehensive program that enrolls approximately 300 students from around the world. Multiple levels of Mandarin (Putonghua) as well as Cantonese are offered during the fall and spring semesters. Students can choose courses taught in English in a wide variety of depts. Each semester the IASP offers Asia-related courses, and in addition students can take courses taught in English or Mandarin across the comprehensive curriculum. For a sampling, check http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/oal/study_at_cuhk/prospective_student/rc.htm.

Course Information

The UMass sites in China/Taiwan utilize the language/elective courses offered by the host university. Participants will be given a placement test and placed in classes with students of comparable language abilities. Language courses are conducted in Mandarin and Cantonese and electives are conducted in Mandarin, Cantonese and English.

Credits

Upon successful completion of the program, students ordinarily receive 15 - 18 University of Massachusetts credits per semester (this may vary depending upon participation in elective courses). Grades will appear on the UMass transcript but will not be averaged into the GPA. CUHK will send the transcripts directly to the International Programs Office at UMass. CUHK uses letter grades and all courses must be taken for a grade. IASP participants will be evaluated according to the standards of each academic department at CUHK. Criteria for assessment may include any one or any combination of the following: attendance, class work, written work, papers, tests and any other criteria. Grades at the Chinese Language Centre are based on periodic quiz and test results, homework assignments, class performance and a final oral and written examination. Attendance is critical to good results. Students must attend all classes or receive special permission to be absent. Absence from language classes affects the progress and rhythm of not only the individual absent but the class as a whole. One third of the final grade is based on class performance. By definition, attendance underlies this assessment.

UMass students who are majoring/minoring in Chinese should be aware that the Chinese Language Program at UMass has a particular procedure for screening student work done at another university before allowing the credits to count towards the major. This is called a "Challenge Procedure" and involves proving to the faculty member for a particular course required for the major that you have covered material equivalent to the similar UMass course. The procedure is described in more detail at the end of this brochure.

Eligibility

Minimum requirements for admission to the UMass China Exchange Programs are a 2.75 cumulative average and one non-language course in the area of Asian Studies. (There is no Chinese Language requirement.) Applicants should be current undergraduates or recent graduates. Those who already hold a bachelor's degree can attend as non-degree graduate students. However, only undergraduate credit may be earned.

Language

Cantonese and English are the most commonly used languages in Hong Kong. However, students who speak Mandarin have had little difficulty in getting around and finding Mandarin speaking friends. In addition, a number of the CUHK faculty speak Mandarin and all incoming local students are encouraged to study Mandarin.

Housing

Participants are housed in hostels (dormitories). Students will be assigned to double or triple occupancy rooms and they will have Chinese roommates. The rooms are modestly furnished with a direct telephone line and network connection (ResNet). All rooms have air-conditioning. Heating is not available but also mostly unnecessary. Blankets and bed linens are supplied. There are shared bathrooms with showers on each floor, coin-operated laundry facilities, public kitchens equipped with water boilers, refrigerators, stoves and sinks, recreation areas and study rooms. Some hostels also have mini-marts. All hostels have closing hours at night and visitors' regulations. Smoking and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the hostels.

Meals can be purchased at one of many canteens (cafeterias) on campus. Menus vary from canteen to canteen with a range of fare from standard Chinese dishes to deli sandwiches and pasta. North American style coffee shops and delis are also available and are quite popular with students.