Beijing is the capital of China and is the nation's political, cultural, and educational center. A mix of ancient palaces, temples, gardens, tombs, and modern architecture, it is known for both its cutting edge modernity and preservation of ancient sites. The city is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Forbidden City and parts of the Great Wall. Beijing has hosted numerous international and national sporting events, the most notable being the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Beijing hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics, making it the first city ever to host both Summer and Winter Olympics.

Beijing W&M Summer Program Video

Landmarks and Things to Do:
Great Wall of China, Wangfujing is one of the most famous shopping streets in Beijing located in the Dongcheng District; Beihai Park; Jingshan Park is an imperial park which offers views of the Forbidden City.

Program Description:
The College of William & Mary’s summer program in Beijing takes place at Beijing Normal University. This program gives students eight weeks of Mandarin language and cultural immersion and provides an opportunity for students to conduct research in Beijing. Students will have a personal language partner and faculty support for independent research. Students will take courses in Chinese language, literature, and culture. The program also includes weekly excursions in Beijing, as well as faculty-led weekend excursions to cultural areas outside of Beijing. Past trips have included Inner Mongolia, Wutai Mountain, and Pingyao City.

Students will live in dormitories. 

Language Requirements:
One year of college-level Mandarin.

Course Information:

There is a required 1 credit course to be taken in the Spring prior to departure, which you will be registered for following program acceptance. This course is designed specifically for students going on the summer program and is intended to enhance your cross-cultural understanding of Beijing and to cover a variety of pre-departure topics. The scheduling of this course will be dependent on the class times possible for program participants.

Courses are taught by W&M faculty and faculty at a local Chinese University. Grades will appear on the W&M transcript and will be included in GPA calculations. 

W&M Faculty: Qian Su, Teaching Professor of Chinese Studies


Term: Program Dates subject to change
Arrival date: May 30, 2025
Departure date: July 25, 2025

Deadlines:
Application Deadline ($75): Dec 2, 2024
Deposit ($750) deadline:  March 7, 2025 (Friday prior to Spring break)
Balance due (final payment):  April 1, 2025

Application fee information:
The application fee ($75) is due by the deadline and should be paid online at the GEO Marketplace Store. Whoever is making the payment will need student 93#, email, and phone number. The application fee is refundable in the event that you are not accepted into the program or the program is canceled by W&M. 


Program Fees:
2025 Program fee: $8,075

Students are responsible for meals, visa expenses and airfare.

The estimated costs for this program and important payment information will be available shortly and will be posted here


Reves Summer Scholarships are available for this program.
If applying for a Reves Summer Scholarship, please apply to the W&M faculty-led application BEFORE applying to the Reves Summer Scholarship. 

Program Features: 

Eligibility:

Handbook:

Click to view the Summer Abroad Handbook 2025