FAQ

Accommodations
1. Q: Is it possible to get access to the Internet in the overseas students dormitory?
A: The overseas student may apply for installation of ADSL from China Telecom in the room. The applicant please goes to the Estate Management Center to process necessary application with the passport. The monthly charge for ADSL is RMB80, for 24-hour online service.

2. Q: Are the overseas students allowed to live outside the campus? What is the regular price? How to find a proper apartment?
A: The overseas students are allowed to live outside the campus. The local apartment (with one or two bedrooms) near the University usually charges from RMB1200 to RMB2000. The Overseas Students Service Center may offer information on some apartments near the University. The overseas students may also go the formal and professional estates intermediary companies for information on the available apartments.

3. Q: What attention should be paid to in accommodation outside the campus?
A: In order to avoid accidents in daily life of overseas students in accommodation outside the campus, the following points should be paid to:
?Guarantee the safety in life and property, and avoid infringement.
?Care about safe use of gas. If gas water heater is used, the forced air-exhausting water heater must be used and equipped outside the bathroom. In using water heater, the window of the bathroom must be opened properly.
?Care about traffic safety, abide by the traffic rules.
?Keep contact with the college. If the address is changed, get the college informed promptly.

4. Q: What procedures should be handled in accommodation for overseas students?
A: a) Overseas student should first sign “Contract of Tenancy” with Zhangjiang Real Estate Company Limited or the landlord.
b) “Registration Form of Outcampus Accommodation” should be obtained from Overseas Students Office (Room 206), International Education College and completed with “Contract of Tenancy”.
c) After “Registration Form of Outcampus Accommodation” is completed, overseas student should go to police station of Zhangjiang High-Tech Park (add: west to № 111 Niudun Road) or the local police station in jurisdiction of the rental house for “Registration Form of Temporary Accommodation”.

Physical Examination
(1) Q: Who should have a physical examination?
A: The overseas students needing to get “X visa” and “Residence Permission for Foreigners” for the course over 180 days should have a physical examination.

(2) Q: Where do the overseas students go to have the physical examination? What kind of documents do they need?
A: The overseas students will go to Shanghai International Hygiene Quarantine Center for the physical examination.
Address: № 15, Jinbang Road, (used to be № 1701 Hami Road
Telephone for appointment: 62683088

The documents needed in physical examination:
(a) Passport (original copy and its duplication)
(b) 3 pieces of recent passport-size photos
(c) Admission Notice (original copy and its duplication)
(d) Fees Needed: About RMB400 (Borne by examinee)
(e) Before taking examine, the student must not eat anything in the morning.

(3) Q: Are the overseas students allowed to have the physical examination outside China?
A: Yes. The health report from outside of China needs to be verified by Shanghai International Hygiene Quarantine Center.

The documents needed in the verification:
(a) Passport (original copy and its duplication)
(b) 3 pieces of recent passport-size photos
(c) Admission Notice (original copy and its duplication)
(d) All documents of the physical examination from outside China (original copies)
(e) Fees Needed: About RMB200 (Borne by examinee) 

Canteens
(1) Q: Are there any student canteens in the University? Is there a Muslim canteen?
A: There is a student canteen in the University, located in the living area of the campus. The opening time of the canteen: 7:00 ~ 8:30 am for breakfast, 11:00 ~ 12:30 pm for lunch, and 16:30 ~ 21:30 pm for dinner. The overseas students may purchase the meal card (the production cost is RMB30/card, and the card is rechargeable).
There is also a Muslim canteen, located at the west part of No.17, Building 14, in the Students living area. Opening time: 11:30 ~ 12:30 pm for lunch and 16:30 ~ 17:30 pm for dinner.

(2) Q: How much is the average boarding expenses for the overseas students?
A: The average boarding expenses for the overseas students are about RBM20/person/day, i.e. RMB5 for breakfast, RMB7 for lunch and RMB8 for dinner. 

Medical Service
(1) Q: Do the overseas students have the medical insurance?
A: The University will provide a medical insurance of hospitalization for 5 years to the self-supported overseas students for undergraduate program. The State Ministry of Education will provide a “Comprehensive Medical Insurance For Overseas Students Coming to China” to the overseas students granted with the Government Scholarship.

(2) Q: How do the overseas students visit a doctor?
A: The self-supported overseas students can go to hospital to visit a doctor directly.
The overseas students with Government Scholarship can go to the health department in the University for a consultation. If it is necessary, the students can go to the designated hospital to visit a doctor with a letter of introduction letter from the health department. For emergency, the students can go to the hospital directly. The medical expenses will be reimbursed by The Overseas Students Department upon the regulations.

(3) Q: How do the overseas students process the hospitalization?
A: The self-supported overseas students can process the hospitalization at the Hospitalization Section directly with the hospitalization notice made out by the hospital, and pay the deposit for hospitalization.
The overseas students with Government Scholarship will apply for the deposit check from the Overseas Students Department with the hospitalization notice, and then go the Hospitalization Section of the hospital to process the hospitalization with the hospitalization notice and deposit check.

(4) Q: How do the overseas students claim the payment from the insurance company?
A: When the overseas students are discharged from the hospital, they will submit the discharge certificate, invoice of medical expenses, details sheet of hospitalization expenses, and passport copy to the Overseas Students Department, which will claim the payment from the insurance company for the overseas students.

Q & A on Training Programs of Chinese Language
(1) Q: How long should a student study Chinese language before he can start the Undergraduate Course?
A: Usually he/she should study Chinese Language systematically for 1 ~ 2 years.

(2) Q: What courses are there in the Training Program of Chinese Language?
A: Training Program of Chinese Language is divided into Introductory Course, Intermediate Course and Advanced Course. In the Introductory and Intermediate Courses, there are intensive reading, oral and listening courses of Chinese language. In the Advanced Course, in addition to oral and listening courses, there are also the courses of reading comprehension, HSK Training and TCM Chinese language.

(3) Q: How are the semesters of the Training Programs of Chinese Language established?
A: There are two semesters in a year, containing 20 weeks in each semester. On average, there are 20 class hours a week, and 4 class hours a day.

Q & A on Undergraduate Programs of Chinese Language
(1) Q: What courses are there in the Undergraduate Programs of Chinese Language
A: There are the courses of Basic Chinese language, Chinese Culture, courses in relation to traditional Chinese medicine, various courses on humanities, such as reading, listening and speaking comprehension and composition of Chinese language, Ancient Chinese language, TCM Basics, TCM Diet Therapy, Acupuncture, Naprapathy, Qigong, I Ching and TCM, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese painting, healthcare physical education, Taijiquan, etc.

(2) Q: How are the schooling years and the administration of the student's status stipulated?
A: The schooling year is 4 years. There are two semesters in each academic year, containing 20 weeks in each semester. The credit system is adopted in the administration. The required credits in 4 years are 250 points, including 180 credits in the obligatory courses, 60 credits in the optional courses (42 in designated optional courses, and 18 in voluntary optional courses), and 10 credits in the graduation thesis.

(3) Q: Can the students of Undergraduate Programs of Chinese Language shift to the Undergraduate Programs of Traditional Chinese Medicine?
A: Yes. Those students who have changed their interest may change their majors. The credits in the previous major are also available in the new major when the students shift their majors.

(4) Q: How are the scores, examinations and degree conferment stipulated?
A: The students are requested to attend tests and examinations in every subject periodically, write the graduation thesis and participate in oral examination of the graduation thesis. Those who have passed all the examinations and tests and achieved the required credits will be granted for graduation. At the same time, those who have achieved the required academic points and passed all the comprehensive examinations will be granted with bachelor's degree.

Q & A on Undergraduate Courses of Medicine
(1) Q: What majors are there in the Undergraduate Course of Medicine?
A: There are the Major of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Major of Acupuncture and Naprapathy and Major of Chinese Pharmacology.

(2) Q: Are the credits achieved in the Undergraduate Course of Chinese Language and in the Undergraduate Course of Medicine acknowledged mutually?
A: Yes. Therefore, it takes about 6 years to finish the Courses of Medicine and Chinese Language for double degree of Chinese language major and Chinese medicine major.

(3) Q: Are the undergraduate courses of medicine organized for overseas students similar to those for Chinese students?
A: The professional courses are exactly the same. The overseas students do not have to select the public courses, such as Chinese Revolutionary History, Philosophy, Political Economics, English (Japanese) language, etc.
The educational mode of emergence in early period and disintegration in late period is adopted for the overseas students in Major of Acupuncture and Naprapathy. After two-year study of basic theories in the independent class, they may join the classes of Chinese students for further study of professional courses.
The overseas students in Major of Acupuncture and Naprapathy and Major of Chinese Pharmacology will join the classes of Chinese students directly.

(4) Q: How are the schooling years stipulated for the Undergraduate Course of Medicine?
A: The schooling period for Major of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Major of Acupuncture and Naprapathy is 5 years, and may extend to 7 years, or to 8 years only after the approval by the College in the specific situations. The schooling period for Major of Chinese Pharmacology is 4 years, and may extend to 6 years, or to 7 years only after the approval by the College in the specific situations.

(5) Q: How are the semesters established?
A: From Grade 1 to Grade 4, there are three semesters in every academic year. The first and second semester are respectively 15 weeks (14 weeks for theoretical education, and 1 week for reviewing and examinations), the third semester is 10 weeks (5 weeks for practice, and another 5 weeks for optional courses and examinations).
Grade 5 is established for graduation practice in clinical workshop, for 12 months.

(6) Q: What are the standards and requirements for the credits?
A: Standards of Credits: Every 14 class hours of theoretical education are taken as one credit, and every 14 ~ 28 class hours of practical education as one credit, and every week of graduation practice as one credit.
Requirements of Credits: The total credits for Major of Traditional Chinese Medicine and for Major of Acupuncture and Naprapathy are 299 points, and the total credits for Major of Chinese Pharmacology are 270 points.  

(7) Q: What are the examination scores, grades and academic points are related?
Score Grade Academic Point
95-100 A+ 4
90-94.5 A 3.6 (Excellent)
85-89.9 A- 3.3
80-84.9 B 3 (Good)
75-79.9 B- 2.5
70-74.9 C 2 (Moderate)
65-69.9 C- 1.5
60-64.5 D 1 (Pass)
<60 F 0 (Fail)

(8) Q: How are the examinations and scores evaluated?

A:(a) The examinations organized in close-book mode, and there are also other modes of combination between written and oral examinations and combination between close-book and open-book examinations as well.
(b) The evaluation of the examination scores is mainly based upon the terminal examinations, by referring properly to the scores at the ordinary times. Generally, class attendance, experiments, homework, exercise classes, class quiz and test scores at the ordinary times account for 30% of the total scores, and the terminal examination scores accounts for 70%.

(9) Q: What are the principles for the selection of courses?
A:(a) The credits of the selected courses in each semester should not be less than 2/3 of the course requirements.
(b) The student who does not handle the procedure of course selection at the specified time should not join the examination of the course.

(10) Q: What are the rewarding credits stipulated?
A: Under the situation that the stipulated credits are accomplished in Grade 1~3, the students with over 2.5 (including 2.5) points in the annual average academic scores (obligatory courses and designated optional courses) can select 10 credits additionally free of charge in the next academic year; and the students with over 3 (including 3) points may select 15 credits additionally free of charge. The courses selected for additional credits should be chosen from the voluntary optional courses within the scope of the course arrangement. The additional credits will be used till the end of the fourth academic year.

(11) Q: How are the subsidiary courses stipulated?
A: The students with potential abilities may study other courses of other majors with their rewarded additional credits. Once the stipulated credits for subsidiary majors are achieved, the certificates of the subsidiary mayors will be issued by the University. If the stipulated credits for the subsidiary majors are not accomplished, those credits can be taken as the educational record for the voluntary optional courses.

(12) Q: How is restudy stipulated?
A: The restudy means that the overseas students who are unable to obtain the credits due to failure in the examination scores in the obligatory courses or designated optional courses, or who are not satisfied with the examination sores can apply for the examinations of the courses in the next academic year.
(a) First Restudy: In the students with failed score of the original examination, the score will be assessed upon the actual examination score obtained in the restudy. In the students with qualified scored in both the original examinations and the examinations in the restudy, the scores will be assessed upon high scores.
(b) Second Restudy: It is a paid restudy (RMB100 for each credit). The scores will be assessed upon the actual examination scores of the second restudy, but not higher than C-.

(13) Q: What qualifications are needed for the overseas students in Major of Traditional Chinese Medicine to be transferred to the Chinese students class?
A: The overseas students in Major of Traditional Chinese Medicine can be transferred to the Chinese students class, only after studying in the University for 1 year, having achieved the stipulated credits of the academic year and passed all the examinations of the courses, with the average academic points over 3.6 in the academic year.
The Transferring Procedures
(a) The student should submit a written application to the Overseas Students Department, International Education College , after the end of the second semester of the first academic year. The application will be submitted to the Educational Affairs Section, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, after the approval from the College.
(b) If the application is approved, the Educational Affairs Section will send the name list of the transferring students in a written form to the International Education College and relevant colleges and departments.
(c) The College will inform the students to transfer to the Chinese Students class.
(d) The student transferred to the Chinese student class, if in real difficulties in the study, is allowed to move back the College to continue the courses in the independent class, but in lower grade.

(14) Q: How to deal with the achieved credits of the overseas students transferred from other universities and colleges of traditional Chinese medicine?
A: The courses and classes hours are different in the different universities, therefore
(a) The transferred students must follow the class to study the courses that they have not studied and achieve the credits.
(b) For the same course with relevant class hours or with 1/3 more than the class hours of our University and within the scope of the obligatory course and stipulated optional course of our University, the students can achieve the credits of the course directly without examination. For the same course with 1/3 less than class hours and within the scope of the obligatory course and stipulated optional course of our University, the students may apply for the examination of the course directly (without extra payment) and achieve the credits.
(c) The course attended, not in the scope obligatory course and stipulated optional course of our university, can be taken as the credits for the voluntary optional course, if the score is qualified.
(d) The students who have not participated in the clinical practice in the minor semester should finish the clinical practice and achieve the credits.

(15) Q: How are degradation and dropout stipulated?
A:(a)The students who failed in the examinations and whose obligatory courses without achieving the credits due to various reasons reached or exceeded 1/2 of the total credits requested in the obligatory courses and stipulated optional courses in one academic year will be degraded.
(b) The students whose request for resumption of the schooling is not approved after the suspension of schooling is over, who are diagnosed as the patients of schizophrenia, epilepsy, lepriasis, etc., by the designated hospitals, and who cannot continue the study due to physical disability from accidents will be dropped out.

(16) Q: How are suspension and resumption of schooling stipulated?
A: (a) The students with one of the following situations will be suspended in their study: Over 1/2 of the total class hours of the semester for the therapeutic rest due to illness after diagnosis in the designated hospital, over 1/2 of the total class hours of the semester due to absence of the class by request for leave, by personal application due to specific reason or by approval of the University.
(b) The students with scholarship will not enjoy the scholarship during the suspension of schooling. The students going back to their home countries for rehabilitation because of sickness will pay their medical charges and transportation by themselves.
(c) The students in the suspension of schooling because of sickness in applying for resumption of schooling must be certified for recovery of the health by the designated hospitals and can only resume their study after the examination and approval by the College.
(d) The students resumed to their schooling should apply to the College with relevant documents one month before the end of the suspension and will be enrolled to study the courses of the lower grade after approval.
(e) During the suspension of schooling, the paid tuition and other fees are not refundable.
(f) The students needing to extend the suspension due to any reason should pay tuition and relevant fees by the regulations during the period of extended suspension.

(17) Q: How is the graduation practice stipulated?
A:(a) The overseas students scheduled for the graduation practice can apply for the graduation practice, only after the total stipulated class hours in the courses of the theories are finished, with over 75% of the stipulated credits in the obligatory courses and designated optional courses, and the examinations of the main courses are passed, such as TCM internal medicine, TCM surgery, diagnostic theory and WM internal medicine.
(b) Practicing Subjects and Durations
Obligatory practicing subjects: TCM internal medicine (ward and clinic) for 6 months, and TCM surgery, acupuncture, pediatrics and gynecology for 1 month respectively.
Voluntary practicing subjects: WM internal medicine, dermatology, anorectal science, naprapathy, traumatology, etc.
(c) Practice examinations: The final score of each subject is composed of the scores (45%) at ordinary times and the scores (55%) of course examination. Those whose total points are less than 60 should participate in the practice once again. Usually the re-participation of the practice is arranged after the graduation practice, with the fee calculated by RMB2000/month.

(18) Q: How are the graduation diploma, completion certificate, course certificate and direct enrollment stipulated?
A: (a) The overseas students who have been registered in the University, accomplished the stipulated courses and practice and achieved the stipulated credits will be granted for graduation and issued with diplomas and degree certificates.
(b) The students who have failed to achieve the total stipulated credits, in lack of credits within 10 points (including 10 credits), and have failed in the examinations of the obligatory courses and graduation practice will be issued with completion certificates.
(c) The students who have not achieved the total stipulated credits but have accomplished 1/5 of the courses of the stipulated credits of the Major will be issued with course certificates.
(d) The overseas students with over 3 average academic points in each academic year in principle can be enrolled directly into the postgraduate programs of Master Degree and Doctoral Degree in our University. The number of direct enrollment accounts for 2% of the total graduates.

Q & A on Advanced Studies Students
(1) Q: How is the schooling period stipulated for advanced studies students?
A: Usually the schooling period is 1 ~ 2 years.

(2) Q: Will the certificates be issued after advanced studies?
A: Those who have accomplished the advanced studies and passed the examinations will be issued with the certificates (both in Chinese and English language), attached with examination scores, by Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

(3) Q: Are there any stipulation on the advanced studies of the overseas students for licensing examination of TCM practice?
A: (a) At present, only the graduates of undergraduate programs in all previous years from our University are enrolled into the courses of advanced studied for licensing examination of TCM practice.
(b) The application is accepted in the beginning of May and the beginning of August of every year before the overseas students are arranged for the clinical practice. And no application will be accepted at other times.
(c) The duration of the advanced studies lasts for one year. Please refer to the documents issued by Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau for the subjects of the advanced studies