Academics

Academic Objective

The program's primary goal is to give students a grounded understanding of China's role in the global system — and the historical, political, and economic forces that shaped it. Through lectures delivered in English by Stanford faculty who are leading experts in China Studies, students engage directly with Chinese politics, policy, and contemporary challenges while living and studying in Beijing.

Academic Prerequisites

No academic prerequisites. The program is open to students regardless of prior background in Chinese studies.

Language Study

No prior Chinese language experience is required. All academic courses and cultural events are conducted in English or bilingually.

For students who wish to develop or deepen their Mandarin skills, the program partners with the Inter-University Program (IUP) at Tsinghua University — located just across the street from PKU. IUP offers a rigorous, tailored curriculum with sessions twice a week, two hours per session, available in both 1-on-1 and small group formats (starting from two students).

*Mandarin language courses through the Inter-University Program do not count towards the 12-unit minimum, nor do they count as Stanford credit toward graduation.

Course Credit

All Beijing Program courses provide credit toward Stanford graduation, and most classes also count toward an undergraduate major. Students must enroll in a minimum of twelve units from the courses offered through the program. For a list of all BOSP courses offered in the current academic year and planned for the next, and for information on which courses earn departmental credit or fulfill General Education Requirements, please refer to the BOSP course database. For information on courses scheduled for the current academic year and for enrollment, please refer to Axess.

Each course carries 4–5 credits. Coursework is integrated with field visits, connecting classroom learning directly to real-world contexts across China.

*Mandarin language courses through the Inter-University Program do not count towards the 12-unit minimum, nor do they count as Stanford credit toward graduation.

Housing

Students will be housed in one of the international student housing complexes at PKU. The facilities typically are double occupancy with private bath/shower, air conditioning, phone, and internet access.