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Peking University (PKU)

Overall Reviews
3.61 / 5 based on 68 reviews
1 – 6 of 13
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Useful  |  2
Caroline v
University of Redlands, Redlands, United States
Business Studies, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Overall
I wish I had known...
I wish I would have known that the dorm was basically American students only. If I had known this, I would have chosen a host family and lived off-campus.
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In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Academic reasons
3
Culture
4
Costs
4
Activities
2
Campus life
3
Party / people
3
Weather / location
2
Personal recommendation
Create an environment for the International Students to interact more with local students. Allow them to integrate within the dorms and bath houses.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
4
Traveled
3
Improved language skills
3
Met people from other countries
3
Became more independent
4
Partied a lot
4
Experienced a change in life
4
Advanced my studies & career
2
Final comments
I really enjoyed my time at Beijing University mainly because I took initiative in exploring the city and venturing out past the University gates. Had I stayed within the University, I think I would have been even more disappointed in the lack of integration. I would also have preferred some classes to be taught in Chinese so I could have improved my language skills that way too.
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Useful  |  2
patricia g
Universidad Católica Boliviana, La Paz, Bolivia
International Relations, Graduate, Chinese Government Scholarship
Overall
I wish I had known...
Basic Chinese
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In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Academic reasons
4
Culture
4
Costs
1
Activities
3
Campus life
2
Party / people
2
Weather / location
4
Personal recommendation
To improve the living conditions of shao yuan guest house for international students.
Read more >
During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
4
Traveled
3
Improved language skills
3
Met people from other countries
4
Became more independent
4
Partied a lot
3
Experienced a change in life
4
Advanced my studies & career
4
Final comments
In summary personally i love this experience. China is a beatiful country and Beijing is an amazing city, anyway you can love it or you can hate it..there is no middle point. For china you have to be prepare for everything, be very tolerant because you will face a lot of situations that im sure you will be in shock. The culture is different so the way chinese people see norms of conduct. so be open mind. Other tip, Chineses are very curios about foreigns so dont feel unconfortable if people look at you all the time or even ask personal questions to you at the first time!! And if you dont speak any chinese be aware if you come alone that english is not enough, at the moment only a few chinese people speaks english.
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Useful  |  0
egordon
Stanford University, Stanford, United States
Language, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Overall
I wish I had known...
How strict the goverment is.
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In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Academic reasons
4
Culture
4
Costs
1
Activities
1
Campus life
1
Party / people
1
Weather / location
1
Personal recommendation
Stroll. It's a beautiful place andthe most pretigious.
Read more >
During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
4
Traveled
4
Improved language skills
3
Met people from other countries
3
Became more independent
3
Partied a lot
3
Experienced a change in life
3
Advanced my studies & career
3
Final comments
Beijing is a very large city and it can seem diffcult to get around. Don't take the regular cabs but take the little "pao pao" buses. They are cheaper and take you where you want. Visit the country, it's beautiful.
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Useful  |  0
Quality has declined rapidly, don't waste your time
C
United Kingdom, Other courses
, 2020
Overall
I have studied Chinese in Beijing at two separate universities now, the latter being Peking University on the long term (one semester) course. 
I am sad to say that it is really not up to par with other universities let alone worthy of the higher fees they charge. I know a good deal of people who were at PKU the semester before me and they actually transferred to BLCU for the winter semester.

The course is far too oversubscribed so they cannot put all of the students in the correct level, therefore you have people with vastly different abilities in the same class. Numerous people in my class tried to move up/down a level but were not allowed to, and subsequently the semester did not help their Chinese.

The teaching itself is quite poor, the method used is to strictly follow the books (Boya), and the teachers prioritise completing each chapter over whether the students can actually understand and dynamically use Chinese. Furthermore, most only speak Chinese so unless you have a fairly high level of Chinese already, they will be unable to explain grammar to you. Be prepared to be spoken to like a child and chastised by the teachers - even if you are far older and no longer a 'student'!

The books are average. The content can be interesting and is one of the few things I really rate, but they are peppered with typos and incorrect translations. 

The administration department is really terrible, I don't know where to begin!

There is not enough accommodation for all students, so be prepared to find your own privately rented apartment. The email on the PKU website to a guy to help you find accommodation is redundant so you really must do it entirely yourself (I have some contacts if anyone needs).

Location is not great, unless you are keen to spend your time in Wudaokou (nothing much there except for some cheap bars), it is quite far from the centre of Beijing and over an hour from Sanlitun. 

Not one person from my class of 15 was satisfied with the course, most selected PKU because of its reputation (in politics), not because it is particularly good at teaching Chinese.

Having been in Beijing for a while now, at two different universities learning Chinese, and having spoken to dozens of people on the topic, I would highly recommend either going to a private language school for a shorter period of time, doing a homestay with a Chinese family (the best method to learn), or taking private classes/finding a language exchange in your own country. To be completely honest it would be a waste of your time and money to go to Peking University if your aim is solely to improve your Chinese. If you must pick a university, may I suggest BLCU, or Tsinghua. (PKU is however good for absolute beginners, I have heard that the class 1 teachers are fantastic).
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Pros
Reputation, campus might be nice in the summer
Cons
Quality of teaching, location, price,
Useful  |  0
anonymous
LSE, London, United Kingdom
Law, International, Undergraduate, Independent
Overall
I wish I had known...
nothing, overall it was great
Read more >
In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Academic reasons
3
Culture
3
Costs
2
Activities
2
Campus life
2
Party / people
2
Weather / location
2
Personal recommendation
is good to imrove your language skills
Read more >
During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
3
Traveled
3
Improved language skills
3
Met people from other countries
3
Became more independent
3
Partied a lot
3
Experienced a change in life
3
Advanced my studies & career
3
Final comments
the best is to interact with the locals
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Useful  |  0
Feilong W
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Vienna, Austria
Economics, Undergraduate, University Agreement
Overall
I wish I had known...
didn't know that bureaucracy is so complicated in china.
Read more >
In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Academic reasons
4
Culture
3
Costs
4
Activities
2
Campus life
4
Party / people
3
Weather / location
2
Personal recommendation
learn to know the chinese elite students.
Read more >
During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
4
Traveled
3
Improved language skills
3
Met people from other countries
2
Became more independent
4
Partied a lot
3
Experienced a change in life
3
Advanced my studies & career
4
Final comments
just try it! but be sure that your chinese is good enough for China. travel tips: jiuzaigou, ermeishan, lushan, shanghai, Hangzhou, ...
Read more >
1 – 6 of 13
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