Job Discussion Forums

[Josh]

Hello,

I have been offered a job in China that I am going to accept. The hours may be fairly minimal, leaving time for me to study part time. I want to study Mandarin at a Chinese university with also the possibility of continuing graduate level work in Asian studies part time. The owner of the school said that was possible. What and where are the universities that would offer foriegners the chance to do that as a part time student? If anybody has undertaken anything similar, please let me know. Also, would their be any visa restrictions with working and studying?

Thanks,
Josh

[Roger]

If your employer takes you on board legally, then you can probably enrol at a local university with no further restrictions. For students, it may be different as many Chinese universities merely see Mandarin lessons to international folks as a way of filling their coffers, in which case they may not bother about the legal reqauirements.
I don't know how "good" Chinese lessons are at Chinese universities. Personally, I have a recollection of mainly-Europeans that complained it was boringuninspiring and not practical. Most of these students - principally English and Germans - had a solid foundation in Chinese from their home countries.

Shenzhen University used to have a fairly large international student body. Other universities are Sun Yatsen (Zhongshan University) with its campupses in Guangzhou and Zhuhai.

[whitjohn]

I will bet that you will learn all the Mandarin you can handle from people you will meet (provided you are a friendly person). There are a zillion people who will happily hang out with you swapping Chinese for English. By the time you get the "hang" of the language you will know (from experience) what the next step for you makes the most sense. Good Luck!

[zacharybilton]