UMD Exchange: National School of Development, Peking University (China)

 

All students accepted to an Exchange program are automatically considered for an award of $1,000! See Cost tab for more information.

Host Institution
The National School of Development (NSD) at Peking University is a comprehensive college that offers a multidisciplinary environment for teaching and research in economics, management science, and public policy. Its predecessor, the China Centre for Economic Research (CCER) was established in 1994 and was renamed the National School of Development in 2008. As one of the leading think tanks in China around policy, NSD is well known in the international sphere. This exchange is co-sponsored by UMD's AREC department, but is suited for a variety of majors at UMD.

Host City
The National School of Development is situated in China’s capital city of Beijing, which is rich in history and the center of the Chinese government. Beijing, one of the four great ancient capitals in China, is the second largest city in China and home to many cultural wonders including seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, parts of the Great Wall and the Grand Canal, and  Zhoukoudian. The Forbidden City is located in the center and guided tours take place daily. Beijing also hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics and the venues are still open to tour. The cuisine is also world renowned, the Peking Roast Duck being the most famous. There are over one hundred museums in Beijing, including the National Museum of China, the National Art Museum in China, the Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution, and the Beijing Art Museum. The famous Great Wall is only a few hours drive north.

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Exchange programs are highly competitive and space in each program is limited. You must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to apply to this program:

• 3.0 GPA
• Completion of 2 semesters at UMD

Exchange programs are a good fit for students looking for immersion, personal growth, and the opportunity to strengthen qualities such as independence and adaptability. Students in Agriculture & Resource Economics, and B.S. track in Economics will receive priority consideration for nomination. Other majors are encouraged to apply as the exchange is open to students of all majors.

Student Visa Information
A student visa is required for participation on this exchange. For more information, please visit our study abroad visa guide to view instructions for the country you will be visiting. Please note that visa information is subject to change and you are responsible for checking the embassy website for updates.

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1. Click "Apply Now" at the top of this page. You will log in with your UMD directory ID and password.
2. Submit all application materials by the deadline listed below. This includes meeting with your EA advisor (listed at the top of this page), and may include requesting a faculty letter of recommendation, and submitting an official transcript. If a letter of recommendation and/or official transcript are required, it will be listed in MyEA once you start an application for this program. 
3. After the application deadline, we will review all completed applications and nominate students for available spots in each exchange program.
4. If you are nominated to participate in this exchange, you will work with your EA advisor (listed above) to apply directly to the host university, who will formally admit you to the exchange program. Nominated students must complete the host university application in accordance with the host university’s stated deadlines and instructions.
5. Nominated students will then work with their EA advisor (listed above) and our partner universities to coordinate all aspects of the stay at the host university such as course registration, visas and arrival.

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Academic Planning

Visit the Academics & Study Abroad page which outlines key considerations for your academic planning as you navigate different phases of study abroad:

• Pre-Departure Course Selection & Approval
• Finalizing Course Enrollment Abroad
• Transcripts and Credits on your UMD Record

Coursework

Exchange students should primarily take courses in the National School of Development, which is a highly quantitative program. Exchange students are also eligible to take courses offered by other departments and schools at Peking University as long as there is space available. Courses for exchange students are taught in English and Chinese. 

 

There may be other course offerings on this program that are not currently listed in the Study Abroad Course Database (SACD).  If you are interested in taking a course not listed in the SACD, please submit a transfer credit evaluation request.
 

Credit

All credit you earn on this program will count as transfer credit towards your UMD degree.  

National School of Development Credit	UMD Credit
1 Peking credit	1 UMD credit
3 Peking credits	3 UMD credits

The credit conversion listed above was approved by the UMD Study Abroad Transfer Credit Committee on June 10, 2014. 

Grading

Undergraduates must receive a C- equivalent or better in order to be eligible for the transfer of credit.

National School of Development Grading	UMD Grade
60 %	C -

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Exchange students at NSD are eligible to apply for dormitory housing at Peking University.  The university provides a variety of housing options and different pricing options.

Off-campus housing is also widely available and a common option for students. The Office of International Relations provides housing support.

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Exchange Program Cost of Attendance
UMD students participating in an Exchange program have the benefit of paying UMD tuition rates to attend an institution abroad. For specific information about this Exchange program, please reference the Cost of Attendance Chart.
 

Tuition and fees for exchange programs are charged directly to your UMD account, which means you can apply UMD scholarships, state and federal financial aid, and alternative loans towards the cost of an exchange. Housing costs are paid directly to the host institution or on-site housing agency.

You can use the cost of attendance comparison worksheet to view how study abroad programs compare to each other and the amount you pay on campus at UMD. As always, your EA advisor (listed above) is available to help you complete this worksheet and find affordable programs that fit your study abroad goals.

Exchange Scholarship
All students accepted to an Exchange program are considered for an automatic award of $1,000! To be considered for this scholarship, you must:

• Be a current degree seeking undergraduate UMD student (graduate students are not eligible for this award)
• Not currently receive full tuition scholarship/benefits (i.e. Banneker Key, tuition remission, Frederick Douglass Scholarship, etc.)

Additional Financial Resources

• Financial Aid
• Scholarships
• Financial Policies

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