Preparing for the Year Abroad - China
Most students leave for the year abroad in August and return a full twelve months later. Students studying at Zhejiang University will partake in a two week immersion program at the end of August.
Preparing for the year abroad in a stress-free way takes approximately nine months of planning.
December 2011
1. Passport application or renewal
If you do not yet have a valid passport, you need to apply for one. If you already have a passport, you need to ensure that it will not expire within six months of your planned RETURN date: e.g. if you will be abroad until August 2013, your passport should be valid until February 2014).
2. Scholarships
There are certain scholarships given out to just Chinese IEP students:
Wroe Family Scholarship – Deadline Dec. 1st
Hasbro Scholarship
Freeman-Asia: Awards for Study in Asia – Deadline Feb. 15th
Check out the IEP Scholarships page for more available scholarships.
3. Office of International Education Step 1
By December 31st, complete the General Information Session on the Office of International Education/Study Abroad site.
January 2012
1. Financial Aid Questions
If you have questions about financial aid during the year abroad, you should contact a financial advisor in Green Hall.
March 2012
1. Office of International Education Step 2
By March 1st, complete your URI application for IEP study abroad and submit it to Dr. Berka.
2. Prior Approval Forms
Complete Prior Approval Form for all of the courses you would like to take while abroad. Please bring to each department chair to sign off on classes before bringing sheet to Dr. Berka by March 31st so she can send it on to Dr. Veyera for further signatures. Please bring a check for your Off-Campus Study Fee by April 15th and Dr. Berka will send it to the Office of International Engineering along with your Prior Approval Form and IEP acceptance form which Dr. Berka will fill out and sign. If you miss the deadline, you will be responsible for getting everything signed, taken to the Office of International Education yourseld by May 1st (including the off-campus study fee).
3. Passport Photos
Give 12 passport photos to Dr. Berka by March 15th. Make sure you are dressed professionally in the photo.
4. Transcripts
Submit 2 official transcripts to Dr. Berka by March 15th.
5. Partner University Application
Complete the Zhejiang University exchange student application form and submit to Dr. Berka by March 15th. ZJU Undergraduate Application Form
6. Resume
Prepare a Chinese resume by March 31st while you can ask your professors and/or tutors for help. Here is a template to help get you started. Chinese Resume Template
April 2012
1. Flight Arrangements
Book flight to arrive in China in the middle of August before the start of the immersion program.
2. Meet with IEP and other academic advisors
Think ahead to returning in the fall of your 5th year-- you will be registering for classes at URI while you are abroad. (~April 2013)
Make sure to work on a graduation worksheet with your IEP advisor before
leaving for study abroad so that you know which classes you will still
have to take for graduation. It is highly important to register for 5th
year fall courses at URI as EARLY as
possible; we won't be able to accommodate anyone if a course is canceled
due to under-enrollment. Also, let us know immediately if there is a
conflict
between a German (change accordingly to other languages on their web
pages) course and courses required for engineering -the
more heads-up time we have the better to adapt.
May 2012
1. Office of International Education Step 3
If you have not already done so, you must submit the final original copies of your Prior Approval Forms (that you completed in March) with all appropriate signatures to the Study Abroad Office in the Office of International Education along with a check for Off-Campus Study Fee by May 1st.
2. Zhejiang University Student Guide (Hangzhou Handbook)
Please read through this handbook provided by Hangzhou.
Summer 2012
1. Visa Application
To apply for your visa, you must first look at the Consulate in NYC. Fill out the Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China for student visas and print out. Next, please fill out and have your physician sign off on PHYSICAL EXAMINATION RECORD. Please bring with you these two forms filled out completely along with a check for $175 made out to China Silk Tours and your passport to Dr. Berka by July 1st. She will send out all the documents to China Silk Tours who will provide you with a visa.
2. CIEP Internship Application
Set up appointment with Dr. Berka to discuss possible companies by July 1st.
3. Heath Insurance
Please provide a letter from your insurance agency stating that you will be covered while abroad to Dr. Berka by July 1st.
MEDEX
MEDEX Emergency and repatronization is mandatory for each student going abroad if your insurance company does not include these services. Please fill out Medex Emergency Evacuation and if you have any questions please email Anne Gregson at anne@uri.edu. Please fill out by July 1st
Prospective Students
URI Chinese Language Flagship Partner Program
Current Students
For More information
Dr. Sigrid Berka
Director, Chinese IEP
p: 401.874.7400
f: 401.874.7088
e: sberka@uri.edu
Erin Papa
Coordinator, Chinese Flagship
p: 401.874.5566
f: 401.874.7088
