Education at its best

In September 1998, Zhejiang University was established on the basis of the amalgamation of four former individual universities, namely Zhejiang University, Hangzhou University, Zhejiang Agricultural University and Zhejiang Medical University, which were all located in the garden city of Hangzhou, China. The International College of Zhejiang University is a special teaching school that enrolls international students to pursue studies in degree and non-degree programmes in various colleges, departments and research institutes of the university. The College also provides service and consultation for international students to ensure a most fruitful and pleasant stay in the University. In addition, the college conducts degree and non-degree programmes of Chinese language and culture and other various other short-term programmes.

Under the direct administration of China’s Ministry of Education and approved by the State Council, the University is a key comprehensive university whose fields of study covers 11 branches of learning, namely philosophy, literature, history, education, economics, law, engineering, agriculture and medicine. The University now has 110 specialties for undergraduate studies, and it is entitled to confer master’s degrees in 264 programmes and doctoral degrees in 181 programmes. There are nearly 45,000 students taking courses in degree and non-degree programmes in adult education. Among its over 8,400 staff and workers, there are 12 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, eight members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, over 1,100 full professors and 2,400 associate professors. At present, 8,464 faculty and staff are affiliated with the University. The College has enrolled more than 1,000 international students from over 70 countries, including USA, Japan, Australia, Korea and Germany, of whom about 500 are taking long-term Chinese language and culture courses.

Student services and facilities: Students are expected to live in the International Students Dormitory, where single and twin rooms are available. Almost every room is equipped with central heating facilities and a telephone set. Most rooms have private shower bath and toilet, some are installed with air-conditioners. Language labs, self-study rooms, reading rooms, game rooms, e-mail terminals, public kitchens and washing machines are also accessible to students in the dormitory. The University has on all its campuses, convenient and inexpensive canteens where a good variety of Chinese and western foods are served. Every campus of Zhejiang University has a clinic, where international students can get medical service at low cost. Post offices and banks are all near the main gate of each campus. Bus routes connect all campuses with downtown, scenic spots and the train stations.

Courses: The university offers courses on agriculture, applied biosciences, veterinary medicine, biomedical engineering, instrument science, food and nutrition science, computer science and engineering, architecture, civil engineering, economics, environmental and resource sciences, humanities and social sciences, journalism and communication studies, information science and engineering, law, life sciences, medicine and management and a host of other courses. The university provides undergraduate programmes of Chinese studies and also short-term Chinese language and culture programmes to the international students. The Master Degree programmes, Doctoral programmes and general programmes and advanced programmes for non-degree studies and short-term programmes make Zheijiang a popular pick.

Application procedures: Students are required to submit the completed application form and the physical examination record to the International College, Zhejiang University. Copies of diplomas or certificates and course transcripts are needed for degree applicants, and two letters of recommendation and a study plan are necessary for the graduate-programme or advanced-programme applicants. To enroll for spring semester, one must apply between September of the preceding year and January of the same year and for fall semester, between March to June. For more details, contact: http://www.zju.edu.cn