The University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (UCASS) is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the premier academic organization and comprehensive research center of the People’s Republic of China in the fields of philosophy and social sciences. Its predecessor, the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, is one of the earliest graduate schools in China. Proudly, UCASS operates and develops a most complete range of disciplines of humanities and social sciences in China, involving areas such as philosophy, economics, law, literature, history, and management. UCASS has 16 first-tier disciplines at the doctoral level and 17 first-tier disciplines at the master’s level, which are further divided into 116 doctoral degree programs, 122 master’s degree programs, and 8 professional master’s degree programs.
In 2020, UCASS and the Management Committee of Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone of Guangzhou Municipality in Guangdong Province signed a cooperation agreement to jointly set up the Huangpu Institute of Advanced Study of UCASS (hereinafter referred to as the Huangpu Institute) in the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City. Focusing on the prominent disciplines of UCASS, the Huangpu Institute for Advanced Study has drawn in a group of top experts from domestic and abroad, discipline leaders and outstanding scholars who are committed to nurturing high-level young talents.
1. Type of Enrollment
The master’s and doctoral degree programs in Literature, History, Economics and Law are open to international applicants. All courses will be delivered in English at the Huangpu Institute, UCASS (in Guangzhou). The schedule of enrollment will be in September 2022.
2. Enrollment Procedure
The "Application-Assessment procedure" is adopted in the international student enrollment for master’s and doctoral programs.
3. Programs Available
Please refer to the “2022 English-Taught Doctoral Degree Programs for International Students, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences” and “2022 English-Taught Master’s Degree Programs for International Students, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences”.
4. Application
(1) Application Period
The application period starts from the announcement of this guide until June 6th, 2022.
(2) Eligibilities
Applicants who apply for the master’s and doctoral programs should meet the requirements below.
① Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid ordinary foreign passport. The applicants who fall under either of the two categories mentioned below are required to provide relevant documents and materials to prove their foreign nationality.
A. An applicant whose parents are both Chinese nationals and have both settled abroad, or one of whose parents is a Chinese national and has settled abroad, and who has acquired foreign nationality at birth, should hold valid foreign passports or official nationality proofs for at least four years, and submit an official record of residing abroad for at least 2 years in past four years before April 30th of the admission year (a residence duration abroad for at least 9 months in one year counts for one year, proved by the entry and exit seals);
B. An applicant who was born in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan but acquired foreign nationality due to immigration, should meet the requirements mentioned above in Item A, and submit a Chinese Nationality Renunciation Certificate and a Household Registration Cancellation Certificate.
② Applicants should have a friendly attitude towards China, be well-conducted, abide by the laws of the Chinese government and the regulations of UCASS, and respect Chinese social customs.
③Applicants should be in good health, meeting the physical examination requirements for a Chinese visa and residential permit, and being able to conduct normal activities of study and living in China;
④ Applicants should have a good command of English. Non-native English speakers should have a good score of TOEFL iBT (100 points or above), IELTS (6.5 points or above) or GRE (315 points or above), or other proofs of sufficient English proficiency; Applicants are required to participate in English proficiency test for admission if they are not able to provide a proof of sufficient English proficiency of themselves.
⑤Applicants applying for a master’s degree must have obtained a bachelor's degree. If the bachelor's degree was granted by a university outside the Chinese mainland, the university should have been recognized by the Ministry of Education of China. Two recommendations from professors, associate professors, or professionals with equivalent academic credentials need to be provided.
Applicants applying for a doctoral degree must have obtained a master's degree. If the master's degree was granted by a university outside the Chinese mainland, the university should have been recognized by the Ministry of Education of China. Two recommendations from professors, associate professors, or professionals with equivalent academic credentials need to be provided.
(3) Application materials
Applicants can download the application form and materials at:
https://intl.ucass.edu.cn/lxskd1/ywxm.htm
Applicants should truthfully prepare and provide the following materials as required.
① University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences “International Student Application Form”
② The Original or Notarized Certificate of the Highest Degree Written in Chinese or English
The International Exchange and Cooperation Department will check the original degree certificate upon in-person registration. If the original degree certificate cannot be presented for review, the admission may be canceled. Applicants currently studying in the final year of the Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree Program should provide official documents stating their anticipated graduation date for continent admission. Full admission is granted only after receipt of the official degree certificate or the notarized certificate.
③ The Official Transcript
It must be the original form or the notarized document in Chinese or English.
④ Two Original Recommendations in Chinese or English
It is preferable to use the letterhead paper with the name of the employer which the recommender works for. The recommender’s position or professional title and contact information should be included. The recommendations should be signed by the recommender.
⑤ A Resume in English
Applicants should list all study and professional experiences starting from higher education.
⑥ Personal Statement in English
Please describe professional aspirations, academic research achievements, research proposals, etc. in about 3, 000 words.
⑦ Passport Photocopies
The passport must remain valid for 3 months after registration. Passport photocopies should include the passport front cover, photo page, and visa pages (if any).
⑧ Proof of English Proficiency
Native English speakers are exempted from this requirement while Non-native English speakers need to present a good TOEFL iBT, IELTS or GRE exam record, or other proofs of sufficient English proficiency. TOEFL should be 100 points or above, IELTS 6.5 points or above, GRE 315 points or above,
⑨ Summary of Research Achievements
Please provide menus of contents, abstracts of published or completed academic papers, and other original research achievements (if any).
⑩ A Copy of Completed “Foreigner Physical Examination Form”
The form should be filled in English. Applicants should take the examination item by item in accordance with the “Foreigner Physical Examination Form”. An incomplete form or a form without the applicant’s bust photo, a signature from the physician, a hospital’s official stamp or a seal stamped on the edges of all pages is invalid. The applicant should note that the examination results are valid only for 6 months and schedule the examination appropriately.
⑪Two Bust Photos and its Digital File
The bust photos should be the applicant himself or herself. The photo should be in color with a white background and 2 inches by size.
⑫Scholarship Application Form
Please download the 2022 Scholarship Application Form for International Students of the Huangpu Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and fill in the form in English.
Note:
l All application materials need to be written in Chinese or English. Other materials written in any other languages need to be notarized and the notarized copies should be written in Chinese or English.
l If the submitted materials are notarized copies, they shall be original. Other copies shall not be accepted;
l UCASS reserves the right to require the applicants to submit relevant supporting materials.
(4) Submitting the Application Materials
Applicants can send application materials by post. The date of the postmark should be no later than the application deadline.
The mailing address is:
International Exchange and Cooperation Department
University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
No.11 Changyu Street, Fangshan District, Beijing, 102488, China
Please mark the package with “International Students Application Materials (English Program)”.
While posting the hardcopies of application materials, applicants should also compress all digital copies into a .ZIP or .RAR file and submit it to hpias@ucass.edu.cn. Please label the file as "English program + applicant’s name". Please do not combine all documents into one single PDF or Word file.
The application materials will be reviewed and verified. The applicants should bear all consequences if any inconformity or misrepresentation is discovered in the materials. Application materials will not be returned once received.
(5) Application Fee
The application fee is 580 CNY. Applications will not be processed if the documents are incomplete or the application fee is not paid. Applicants should make payment by wire transfer after submitting the application materials (please do not put cash into the package of application materials). The application fee is suggested to be paid in CNY, and the fee is non-refundable.
Please include the applicant’s passport number and full name (in the order of “passport number—full name”) in English in the wire transfer.
Remittance account information:
Account: UNIVERSITY OF CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Deposit bank: INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA, FANGSHAN BRANCH, LIANGXIANG SUB-BRANCH
Bank account number: 0200 0264 0920 0176 883
SWIFT code: ICBKCNBJBJM
5. Assessment and Admissions
(1) Review of Eligibility
All applications will be reviewed by UCASS International Exchange and Cooperation Department. If the applicants are eligible, Huangpu Institute for Advanced Study will designate expert panels to evaluate the application materials and finalize the list of candidates entering the procedure of assessment. The applicant's previous university, major, academic level, moral character and development potential in the area of study will all be taken into consideration. Those who are not on the list will be disqualified from admission and subsequent enrollment.
(2) The Permit for Assessment
The Permit for Assessment will be sent to eligible applicants via email. The time and arrangement of the assessment test will be notified through emails as well.
(3) Assessment
The assessment will be carried out in the form of an interview. Those students who are required to participate in the English proficiency test for entrance should have passed the test before they are taking part in this assessment.
Subjects for assessment:
① English Proficiency and General Knowledge on China with a total score of 50 points;
② Comprehensive Academic Knowledge and Skill with a total score of 100 points.
Applicants should make a presentation to the assessment expert panel of the Huangpu Institute for Advanced Study in the test of Comprehensive Academic Knowledge and Skill. The presentation should focus on scientific research experiences and achievements, understandings and viewpoints regarding the area of study, and plans for future study and research.
(4) Admissions
① Applicants who successfully past the eligibility review in line with the national admissions regulations and achieved satisfactory scores in each subject of the assessment tests will be ranked according to their total scores. The preliminary admission list will be determined based on the applicants’ rankings and the results will be annouced online at our official website with a public notification period of 5 days. The screening is conducted by the principles of “fully assessing ethic quality, academic knowledge, and physical fitness, prioritizing excellence, and guaranteeing high quality”. ②UCASS Admission Letter, Visa Application for Study in China, and relevant materials will be posted to the students. No further notice will be made to those who are not admitted.
(5) Access to Information
Admissions Guide, List of Programs, admissions updates, and other relevant information will be released on the UCASS official website (https://intl.ucass.edu.cn/lxskd1/ywxm.htm).
6. Visa, Registration and Insurance
Admitted international students will apply for a student visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate with the UCASS Admission Letter, Visa Application for Study in China (original “JW202” form), and the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. Please keep the original admission letter and JW202 form for applying for a residence permit after entry to China.
Admitted students must go through the admission and registration procedures in strict accordance with the time and place specified in the admission letter. The original Foreigner Physical Examination Form and Blood Test Report will be checked by the Registrar. Those who can't register as required should get permission in advance.
The Ministry of Education of China stipulates that all international students must have medical insurance throughout the period of their study in China. International students of UCASS are required to purchase the Comprehensive Medical Insurance for Foreigners staying in China on the day of registration. Students who do not purchase the insurance as required will not be allowed to register. The insurance premium is 800 CNY per year (please refer to www.lxbx.net for details). For international students who are provided with a full scholarship, the university will purchase the comprehensive medical insurance for them once they officially registers on campus.
7. Length and Overview of the Programs
The regular study period of the master’s degree program is 3 years, during which students study full-time at the Huangpu Institute. If students get to obtain all required credits ahead of schedule, meet the related regulations of the Huangpu Institute for Advanced Study and pass the dissertation defense, they may be allowed to graduate one year earlier. Those who have completed 3 years of study but have not met the graduation requirements can apply for an extension of study for up to 2 years.
The regular study period of the doctoral degree program is 4 years, during which students study full-time at the Huangpu Institute. If students get to obtain all required credits ahead of schedule, meet the related regulations of the Huangpu Institute and pass the dissertation defense, they may be allowed to graduate one year earlier. Those who have completed 4 years of study but have not met the graduation requirements can apply for an extension of study for up to 2 years.
8. Assistantships, Scholarship and Tuition
(1) UCASS adopts Three Assistantships Policy that offers financial assistance to the master’s and doctoral students who work in teaching, studying, and doing scientific research in their spare time.
(2) According to the relevant regulations, UCASS provides scholarships for international doctoral students who have good conduct and excellent academic performance.
(3) The admitted international master’s students should pay a tuition fee of 27,000 CNY per academic year and the admitted international doctoral students should pay a tuition fee of 30,000 CNY per academic year.
(4) International students admitted to UCASS can apply for a full scholarship, which will waive the fees of tuition, accommodation as well as the comprehensive medical insurance and provides living allowances. For detailed information, please refer to the 2022 Special Scholarship Application Guide for International Students of the Huangpu Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
9. Accommodation
Huangpu Institute for Advanced Study provides well-furnished accommodation with perfect facilities and a great environment for international students. To reserve a room, students should submit accommodation applications in advance. Room rent and miscellaneous fees are in line with the relevant UCASS standards of student accommodation fees.
10. Graduation and Degree Awarding
Students who have fulfilled all the requirements stipulated in the program overview, including having passed all the courses with good scores and passing the dissertation defense in English, are permitted to graduate. After being examined and approved by the UCASS Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the university, the corresponding academic degree will be conferred.
11. Other Matters
1. Students can find detailed information on the Huangpu Institute, such as teaching curriculum, faculty, and program overview, by contacting us through phone or email, which is listed in Article 12.
2. International students are not allowed to be enrolled in two or more universities at the same time in China.
3. Necessary adjustments to this guide may be made and publicized due to the unexpected changes in COVID-19 control and prevention policies and other essential factors.
12. Contact Information
Email: hpias@ucass.edu.cn
Tel: + 86-20-82385669, +86-10-81360328
Working hours: 9:00 to 11:30, 14:00 to 16:30, Beijing time.
University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Date of Issue: May 7th, 2022
1. 2022 English-Taught Doctoral Degree Programs for International Students
2. 2022 Faculty Profiles of English-taught Programs
3. 2022 Special Scholarship Application Guide for International Students of the Huangpu Institute for Advanced Study
4. International Student Application Form for English-taught Programs
5. Scholarship_Application_Form
6. Template Letter of Recommendation
7. Foreigner Physical Examination Form