Frequently asked questions
Find the answers to your questions here:
Financial matters
- Will I have to pay tuition to attend SDC Master's programmes?
- Will I receive SU when studying at SDC in China?
- How to apply for Udlandsstipendium
- How to apply for SU
- What is the price range in
China?
Language
- Do I have to speak Chinese?
- What is the language of instruction?
- Will I be able to take Chinese language lessons during my Master's studies?
Educational matters
- What kind of certificate do I get in the end?
- What grading system will be used?
- Who are my teachers?
- Who are my fellow students?
- When will the programmes start?
- When can I apply?
- Where and how do I apply?
- Can I do an internship as part of the programme?
- Will I be able to spend time in a research laboratory?
- Where will I receive my lectures?
- For how long will I have to study in Beijing?
- Where can I get a job afterwards?
Practical matters
- Where can I live?
- What about Visa and residence permit?
Financial Matters
Q: Will I have to pay tuition to attend SDC Master's programmes?
A: Danish and EU/EØS-students enrolled at a full Danish bachelor programme when applying for enrolment are exempted from paying tuition. Students not enrolled at a Danish bachelor programme when applying will be required to pay tuition to attend a SDC Master's Programme. Danish citizens and other nationalities equated with Danish citizens who are required to pay tuition may be eligible to receive the Danish Udlandsstipendium (scholarship for studying abroad) to cover their tuition. For more information please see the website of the SU-styrelsen (The Danish Education Support Agency). For more information on how to apply for Udlandsstipendium see the section How do I apply for Udlandsstipendium?.
Q: Will I receive SU when studying at SDC in China?
A: The SDC Master's programmes are all approved for SU(the Danish state educational support). To find out whether you are eligible for SU visit the website of the Danish Education Support Agency. For more information on how to apply for SU see the section How do I apply for SU?
Q: How to apply for Udlandsstipendium
A: If you are not exempted from paying tuition and want to apply for Udlandsstipendium (scholarship for studying abroad) to cover your tuition you must apply via SU Styrelsen's on-line Fast Track. Choose "Kina", then choose "Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences" and click "søg". The available SDC Master's programmes will then be visible on your screen. A detailed guide on how to apply via Fast Track will be made available on su.dk and minSU.dk. Take note: Fast Track will not be open for applications until the beginning of June
Q: How to apply for SU
A: If you are eligible for SU (the Danish State Educational Support) you can apply via SU-styrelsen's (The Danish Education Support Agency) on-line Fast Track which will be accessible from the beginning of June 2012. Choose "Kina", then "Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences" then click "søg". Students applying for Udlandstipendium should also apply via the Fast Track. SU Styrelsen will make a guide available.Take note: Do not attempt to appy for SU via normal postage-service since this will prolong the processing time considerably.
Q: What is the price range in China?
A: The price in China is in general lower than in Denmark. Some examples (2012 prices):
- Eating out: It's cheap to dine out if you choose the local food:
- Breakfast: 10-15 DKK
- Lunch: 15-20 DKK
- Dinner: 20-40 DKK
Eating at the university canteens is even cheaper.
If you want to eat Western food prices are higher: a Big Mac costs around 15 DKK, a pizza at Pizza Hut costs around 60 DKK.
Local food stuffs such as vegetables, meat, fish, rice, noodles are much cheaper than in Denmark so should you choose to cook yourself you will find your expenses lower than at home.
- Transport:
- Metro to any station in Bejing: DKK
- Taxi: 8 DKK for the first 3 km, then 2 DKK for every additional km
- Sport on campus
- Renting a badminton court for 1 hour: 15-20 DKK
- Admission to the swimming pool
Language
Q: Do I have to speak Chinese?
A: No. The language of instruction is English and all examinations will be carried out in English. In order to help you to an easier everyday life in China you will be offered to join language courses in Chinese along side you studies.
Q: What is the language of instruction?
A: The language of instruction is English and all examinations will be carried out in English. Your teachers will come from both Denmark and China and communicate in English.
Q: Will I be able to take Chinese language lessons during my Master's studies?
A: Through SDC you will get access to Chinese language lessons alongside your studies. Please note that this is an optional offer and not a mandatory part of any of the Master's programmes. Language lessons cannot substitute any courses in the Master's programmes.
Educational matters
Q: What kind of certificate do I get in the end?
A: Upon completion of a SDC Master's programme you will obtain a double MSc degree with both a certificate from the responsible Danish University - fx. University of Copenhagen - and a certificate from Graduate University Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Q: What grading system will be used?
A: You will be given two grades for each examination result - one following the Chinese grading scale and one following the Danish grading scale.
Q: Who are my teachers?
A: The teachers of SDC Master's programmes come from all the Danish universities as well as Chinese GUCAS.
Q: Who are my fellow students?
A: You will be studying together with both Danish and Chinese students. Moreover, the programmes are open to applicants of all nationalities so you might be studying with people from all over the world.
Q: When will the programmes start?
A: The programmes begin in September 2012. From September 2013 more programmes will start up. To join one of the programmes starting in September 2012 you will have to apply for admission by April 2012.
Q: When can I apply?
A: The application deadline for the first SDC Master's programmes starting in 2012 is April 2012.
Q: Where and how do I apply?
A: Each Master's programme is lead by a Danish university fx. University of Copenhagen together with the Chinese university GUCAS. To apply you will have to follow the procedures of the leading Danish university as if you where to apply for admission to any other of the university's programmes. The application deadline will be April 2012. More detailed information will follow as the specific procedures get settled. Keep yourself updated at this website.
Q: Can I do an internship as part of the programme?
A: During the programme you will have the opportunity to do project work through an internship in a private company.
Q: Will I be able to spend time in a research laboratory?
A: During the programme you will have the opportunity to do project work which can partly be carried out in a research laboratory. Also, you will have the chance of spending time in a laboratory in connection to your thesis work.
Q: Where will I receive me lectures?
A: All lectures and classes will be given in Beijing. In 2012-2013 the programmes will be taught on one of GUCAS' existing campuses in central Beijing. From 2014 all SDC's educational activities will move to a new campus North of Beijing at the Yanqi Lake just below the Great Wall.
Q: For how long will I have to study in Beijing?
A: The Master's programmes are two-year programmes. All teaching takes place in Beijing, China. Each programme offers the opportunity to do project work in a company or in a research laboratory. During such a semester you will potentially stay somewhere else in China.
Q: Where can I get a job afterwards?
A: It depends on the specific programme that you join. Though, generally speaking all SDC programmes provide with a global cross-border perspective which makes you capable of understanding global processes and of working in not only a Chinese but also an even broader international context. The fact that you obtain a double degree - one from a well-known Danish university and one from Chinese GUCAS - eases your way into both the Danish and Chinese labour market.
Practical matters
Q: Where can I live?
A: The Danish SDC secretariat will make affordable housing available to students enrolled through one of the Danish universities.
Q: What about visa and residence permit?
A: If you get accepted into one of SDC's Master's programmes you will have to apply for a student visa at the Chinese embassy in Denmark. The Danish SDC-Secretariat will assist you in this procedure.




