Terms | Application Deadlines | Course Information | Program Fees | Housing and Meals | Eligibility
Tsinghua University was founded in 1911 on the site of Tsinghua Garden in Beijing, a former Qing Dynasty imperial private garden. Tsinghua University is now a comprehensive university with over 20 schools and 54 departments. Tsinghua is consistently ranked as a top university in China and is a member of the C9 League, similar to the US Ivy League schools. The university has just under 26,000 students, over 13,000 of which are undergraduate students and over 1000 international students. International students are encouraged to participate in various extracurricular activities and the over 200 student organizations. Service facilities at Tsinghua University make the life of students very convenient. There is on-campus shopping available at Zhaolanyuan, with banks, a post office, supermarket, bookstore, produce market, photo studio, restaurants, hair salon, laundry, and other services.
Tsinghua's campus is located in northwest Beijing, in the Haidan district, along with many other universities and institutions. The nearest metro station, Wudaokou, is accessible by walking (approximately 25 minutes) or by buses that will take you to the northeast gate of Tsinghua campus. The Wudaokou area is known for it's large student presence, and offers a large number of nightlife options. Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the world’s most populous cities and has rich traditions, historic and modern architecture, thriving culture and art, and an expansive transportation network to facilitate travel.
A Note on Exchange Programs:
Exchange programs require a balance of sending and receiving students, therefore exchange programs may not consistently be available in the semester you are seeking to study abroad. Please inquire with the GEO Advisor for the most up-to-date information on your program choice, and have some alternative programs in mind should the exchange program not be available or be competitive.
Spring Semester (February-June)
Academic Year (September-June)
(No fall-only option due to their academic calendar)
Spring Semester: October 1
Academic Year: March 15
W&M students attending Tsinghua may focus on Chinese language and culture studies through the Chinese Language and Culture Center and may also choose from a limited list of content courses taught in English, which are mainly in business and economics. Students whose Chinese language proficiency is HSK band 5 may choose classes from the full university curriculum.
The following courses are NOT open to exchange students:
- MBA program courses hosted by the school of economics and management instructed in English
- MPA program courses hosted by the school of public administration instructed in English
- LLM program courses hosted by the school of law instructed in English
- Architecture study instructed in English
- Academy of Arts and Design courses
- Physical training courses
Except for History, all courses must be pre- or post-approved. History courses will be automatically approved as HIST 299 once students submit a syllabus to the Global Education Office at Reves. Grades will not appear on transcripts or be included in GPA calculations.
The tuition exchange agreement between the College of William & Mary and Tsinghua University allows W&M students to pay their regular tuition and fees to W&M while taking classes at Tsinghua. Students will pay for housing, meals, and other fees on site in Beijing.
Tsinghua University requires the purchase of local insurance after arrival at Tsinghua.
$525 study abroad fee, and an international medical/evacuation insurance fee of $170 apply to all students, to be paid to the W&M Bursar's Office prior to the start of the program. Students are responsible for airfare and visa costs.
Students participating in semester long study abroad programs must have a visa and/or required entry documents. Please familiarize yourself with the requirements prior to applying and begin the application process immediately after you are nominated for the program. As a reminder, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of the program.
Housing and Meals:
Room and board are paid on site in Tsinghua, and a deposit for the Zijiang Foreign Student Apartment is required. International students can apply for a Dining Card on arrival. This card allows for students to have meals in any students' dining hall.
W&M student in good standing; minimum 3.0 GPA
For more information on this program and the steps to apply, please review the Getting Started page on our website.