Most foreign students tend to study at universities in the US or Europe, but increasing numbers are attending China’s top institutions. Beijing has more than 70 universities. Peking and Tsinghua are arguably the best in China. Most of the schools are clustered around Wudaokou, the student area in Haidian district. While the locals must endure a rigorous admissions process, including sitting the gaokao (National University Entrance Examinations), expats are exempt from this and admission to these prestigious universities is pretty straightforward. An application, copies of visa and passport, school records, physical exam, photo, and proof of language proficiency is all most students need for undergraduate and graduate programmes. Language proficiency can be demonstrated by taking the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) exam. Most schools require a score of level six (on a scale of one to 11).

Foreign students can expect to pay more in tuition, but fees remain markedly lower than in the United States or Europe. Tuition averages ¥23,000 ($3,200) to ¥48,000 ($6,600) annually and scholarships are available for expats. The most common are given by the Ministry of Education’s China Scholarship Council (www.csc.edu.cn). This offers 100 scholarships per year to EU students, most of which bring a monthly stipend of ¥800 plus round trip airfare. Scholarships for other foreign nationals are also available, in an effort to encourage educational exchange. The Chinese government also awards the HSK Winner Scholarships (www.hsk.org.cn) for the top HSK test-scorers overseas. One scholarship is awarded per country where the test is administered.