Studying in China

Planning expenses

It's important to plan your expenses in advance. 

We do not advise carrying large sums of cash with you on arrival. We recommend that you bring enough local currency for the first week of the programme. You will be able to change money at the airport or at banks near the University campus should you need to. The Bank of China will exchange most major world currencies. INTO China staff can assist you if needed.


You can withdraw money from a cash machine if you have a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for your bank card. If you wish to use an ATM then we recommend that you check with your bank that it is possible to withdraw RMB currency from your account. Credit and debit cards are accepted in China, this is however dependant upon your bank, therefore we do not recommend that you rely solely upon this method of payment. MasterCard (Access) and Visa are the most widely accepted cards with Diners Club and American Express being less commonly accepted. You may want to inform your current bank that you are travelling to China to ensure that you can use your card when you arrive.

 Most Chinese banks are open Monday to Friday from 08:00-11:30 and 13:30-17:00. 

Currency

The legal tender within China is CNY Chinese Yuan, also known as RMB. 1 Chinese Yuan is made up of 10 Mao, and in turn, 10 Fen make up a Mao. Notes are issued to the value of ¥100, ¥50, ¥20, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1. Coins are used less frequently. 

Living costs 

We estimate that each student will need approximately 1,000-2,000 RMB for a 4-week programme to a meet their basic living expenses. This is just an indication and will largely depend on your lifestyle and spending habits. For example if you wish to purchase souvenirs or gifts we suggest you allow for a larger sum of money.

In order to enroll in the Chinese language summer programme you will need to ensure that you have a valid Chinese visa.

Students who plan to study in China for a period of less than six months should apply for a Tourist (L) Visa. The following steps should be taken in order to apply for your Chinese visa. 

1.  Check your passport and ensure that you have a valid passport with at least six months validity left before expiration and at least one blank page left in it.
 
2.  Download and complete the China visa application form.  This can be found on the website of the Chinese Embassy in your home country.
 
3.  When completing the application form please ensure that all items, which are not applicable, are filled in with N/A.
 
4.  If you are under 18 then please ensure that your application form has been signed by either a parent or guardian.
 
5.  Ensure that you have at least one colour passport photo to submit with your application form.
 
6.  If you were born in mainland China, Hong Kong or Taiwan, and your current foreign passport does not have an old Chinese visa please submit the original and a copy of your old Chinese passport or a copy of your previous Chinese visa on your last foreign passport. You must also supply your name in Chinese characters.
 
7.  Submit your passport, passport photograph and completed visa application form to your local Chinese Embassy. Please ensure that you allow sufficient time to submit your application as visa processing times may be longer than anticipated during the busy summer months.

Please note the following:

•   Unless specifically requested by the applicant in his or her completed application form and approved by consular officers, a single-entry visa is valid for 3 months, and a double-entry visa valid for 6 months, both with a 30-day duration of stay.

•   Do not apply for your visa earlier than three months prior to your intended date of entry into China.

•   You may wish to consider using a visa processing service in order to obtain your Chinese visa, however please note that this is considerably more expensive than applying directly to the Chinese Embassy.

More information on applying for a Chinese visa can be found at the UK Chinese Embassy website. 

When you apply for your Chinese language summer programme you will be sent a full Visa FAQ and Walkthrough, this will cover all of the information needed to successfully complete and submit a Visa Application Form.

Personal safety

INTO is dedicated to making you feel totally safe and supported. Upon arrival all students are issued with an emergency telephone number, which can be used to ask for assistance at any time of day or night. Within the student residences, there are mentors who are responsible for the pastoral care of students, and provide an additional source of support. While you're unlikely to be affected by crime as a student in China, it is important to take basic security measures. If you do see something that concerns you or your classmates, please report it to a member of the INTO China team who will make sure it's dealt with immediately.

All students enrolled on the programme will be covered by our comprehensive insurance package which includes loss of personal possessions, as well as travel, health and medical claims.

INTO is an appointed representative of Endsleigh Insurance Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. This can be checked on the FSA register by visiting it's website.

Full details of the insurance policy and cover will be included in your offer and confirmation pack.

Students under 18

Under the Law of the Protection of Minors, "minors" are defined as citizens under eighteen years old.  Any person under the age of 18 is regarded as a child, and is the responsibility of their parents. INTO Student Services look after the welfare of all INTO students, but particularly those under the age of 18 who may need extra help and support. Our Student Services staff have extensive experience in providing pastoral care for international students, and in some cases have been overseas students themselves.