Go Abroad China organizes your complimentary airport pick-up as soon as we have your flight details. Your GAC program coordinator will be there to welcome you at the airport and will take you to your accommodation.

Go Abroad China recommends that you arrive on the specified arrival dates for each program, which are selected to allow you a few days to settle into your new accommodation, start making new friends and to explore your local area! However, if you need to arrive before the program start date, or you want to extend your stay after the program officially ends, this can be arranged for a small additional fee.

The GAC program fee includes tuition, excursions, and activities, as well as accommodation. For homestay and shared apartment options, breakfast and dinner are also provided. While food isn’t included for other accommodation types, there is a wide range of cheap and expensive restaurants in all cities.

Some extra money is needed for lunch and transportation, as well as additional recreational expenses. The amount of spending money you’ll need in addition to the program fee will depend on what budget you allocate for food, transportation around the city, entertainment, and shopping. If you like shopping, bring a little extra!

As a general guide:

• It costs around 15 RMB to have lunch or supper at outside restaurants. You can save money on your meals by eating in the university cafeteria or other restaurants near the school. These meals can usually be bought for around 8-15 RMB (US$1.25-$2.50).
• It costs 4 RMB for roundtrip subway fare and RMB 0.80 for roundtrip bus fare between your homestay and campus.
• Study abroad students often bring extra spending money for recreational activities and meals with friends, as well as for personal purchases and gifts.

We have found that around US$75 to US$100 a week would be more than enough for basic expenses and some city exploring. If you like shopping a lot, you may wish to make your budget a little bigger.

 

Yes, there are ATM/cash facilities available on most campuses and within short walking distance of all GAC accommodation. Currency can be exchanged upon arrival at the airport or local bank branches with the presentation of your passport. GAC staff can help you exchange money if you're nervous about doing it on your own.

Some students find that opening a local Chinese bank account makes it easier to manage their money and student budgets. GAC staff will help you through the process of opening one in the first few days after you arrive.

It can be quite expensive to regularly transfer money in and out of a Chinese account through international bank transfers or online. We find it works best if you can deposit cash to fund your account.

Most places in China still do not accept credit cards, so it is essential you have access to cash. Your GAC program coordinator can help you exchange money into RMB upon arrival at the airport or the following day at nearby banks. Also, most ATMs accept overseas debit cards, and you can withdraw money in RMB (with a service charge). For long-term students, it is also possible to open a bank account in China and wire money from your home country. Traveler’s checks are also an option, though many banks are unable to or inexperienced in cashing them.

It can be quite expensive to regularly transfer money in and out of a Chinese account through international bank transfers or online. We find it works best if you can deposit cash to fund your account.

Most Western-style goods are available for purchase in China. However, particular items and specific brands may be difficult to find or can be quite expensive. Students who prefer certain brands or would like to spend less while they’re in China may prefer to bring these items from home rather than purchase them here; these can include deodorants, tampons, dental floss, pain medication, and beauty products. See our Pre-departure FAQs for more information.

Go Abroad China recommends that you arrive on the specified arrival dates for each program, which are selected to allow you a few days to settle into your new accommodation, start making new friends and to explore your local area! However, if you need to arrive before the program start date, or you want to extend your stay after the program officially ends, this can be arranged for a small additional fee.

The amount of money you’ll spend on food will vary according to your taste. You can have a meal at a street stall for as little as 5 RMB, or you can go to a fancy restaurant and pay upwards of 500 RMB per person. The average meal is usually around 20 – 40 RMB, including beverages.

Chinese food is generally much cheaper than Western food, though competition among restaurants in areas with high numbers of international students live can drive the prices of burgers and sandwiches down to very reasonable prices.

All apartments are equipped with cooking facilities such as a gas stove, microwave, ventilation system, and a limited amount of utensils.

As a vegetarian, you will be able to enjoy many meals in China as it is customary to see dishes prepared with noodles, tofu, and various vegetables. Many vegetarian dishes can be seen on menus across China should you choose to dine out.

It is safer to drink bottled water while you are in China, we recommend that you avoid drinking tap water.

On the day of your arrival, your GAC Program Coordinator will take you to your accommodation and help you settle in. They will review all the living arrangement details you need to know. You’ll be shown the essentials such as information on your university campus, the internship company, nearest bank and cash machine, supermarket, and local cafés and restaurants. There will also be a welcome dinner to get you acquainted with staff and fellow GAC students.

All the university campuses have gym and fitness facilities, as well as in the areas surrounding GAC housing. Memberships vary depending on the type, location, and length of time you wish to sign up for. A handy hint is to go with a fellow student or sign up for a longer period to get the best deal.

If you aren’t happy with your roommate and host family after your arrival in China, your GAC program coordinator will arrange a different apartment or host family for you. However, this rarely happens. Most GAC program participants and host families get along very well and often forge life-long friendships.

Every apartment has its own washing machine. For dry cleaning, there are Laundromats available in the surrounding area.

The electricity standard in China is 220V. There are two types of plugs typically used in China; the North American standard two-prong ungrounded plug and the Australian standard three-prong grounded plug (two blades in a V-shape with a grounding blade above).

You can contact your family using the mobile phone provided to you by Go Abroad China. GAC will also provide free skype to call back home. Other methods of communication can be email, WhatsApp or WeChat.

With proper planning and timing, you’ll be able to travel around the country before and after your program, or on weekends. Go Abroad China will assist with travel arrangements such as hotel and ticket bookings.

Although most Chinese cities are safe and foreigners sometimes travel alone, we highly recommend that you travel with at least one additional person. Don’t forget to inform your GAC Program Coordinator and your teachers if you are planning to take a trip outside the city you’re studying in.

• Winter (December – March)in Beijing is cold, dry, and windy. The capital sometimes experiences one or two snowfalls each winter, and the temperature lingers around 0°C for most of the season.
• Spring (April – May)is brief, but temperatures are pleasant (13 – 18°C). There are occasional dust and sand storms brought about by the sand from the Gobi Desert.
• Summer(June – August) is hot and dry with occasional rain showers. The average temperature is 26°C.
• Fall/Autumn (September – November)temperatures range from 5 – 15°C.

Yes. Unlimited hi-speed wireless internet access is available in Go Abroad China accommodation, and there is a service available for setting up your internet from the internet store on campus. GAC staff will show you where and how to set this up during your orientation on campus.

Adapters, converters and multi-plug power strips can be purchased locally at supermarkets and electronic markets.

Yes, all these facilities are usually within walking distance of our accommodation. GAC staff will show you where these areas are located during your first few days of arrival to get you acquainted with your new home and local area as soon as possible.

Yes, we believe it is. Each family undergoes careful screening, including personal interviews, as well as having a security check completed before a family is accepted. Housing units are usually owned, not rented, by the host families while most hosts have professional careers. Many families are located in a pleasant community where there is 24-hour security service.

Your accommodation will be centrally located either within walking distance or within a maximum of 30 minutes travel on public transport to your campus, off-peak.

Yes. Depending on your country of origin, travel vaccinations are usually not compulsory. However, we do advise all applicants to get travel vaccinations before they come. We recommend that you check the following vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Japanese B Encephalitis, Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Typhoid. See your local travel vaccination clinic for more information and travel vaccination support.

While we have a diverse range of delicious and flavorful food available, we have found that it is not uncommon for foreigners to have food allergies or an aversion to some food products, their smell or taste. In China, we use an abundance of oils, nuts and other ingredients. If you are eating out, be careful to choose foods that will be safe for you to eat and avoid eating street food. Let our team know of any food allergies so we can notify host families and help you to eat safe foods.

Our apartment complexes are located near medical facilities. You may also go to any international hospital or clinic while traveling throughout China. A staff member will accompany you at all times.

Yes, there are many pharmacies located that supply Western and Eastern medicines. However, we still recommend that you bring your own medication just in case you are very particular about the brand and type of medicine you are using. Also, buying western medicine in China can be more expensive.

Yes, Travel and Medical insurance are included in all of the programs (except the very basic packages). The policy coverage begins the day you start the program and ends the day you finish the program. The insurance company adopts a reimbursement system where the fees would be paid upfront by the participant and then reimbursed upon approval.

China is considered one of the safest places to travel in Asia. Most of the country's major cities, such as Shanghai have very low rates of violent crime. The most common types of crime travelers experience are petty crimes such as pick-pocketing. We advise our students to pay close attention to their wallets and valuable belongings, especially when they are in-transit on buses, trains or subways

At GAC recognize that students need supervision and that high school students need even more supervision. We, therefore, have measures in place to ensure their safety abroad (and your peace of mind). Our onsite staff is on-call 24/7 to assist participants in any problems that might arise during their stay in China. All of GAC's program activities and excursions are organized and run by staff members, and take place during the day in safe locations. Unless otherwise permitted by their parents, high school program participants must return home each weekday evening for dinner with their host family. During weekends and special occasions, students may ask their host family permission to have dinner elsewhere.

All high school participants are required to notify their host family about their destination and approximate return time if going out with friends in the evening. We highly recommended that parents inform the GAC staff about the weekday and weekend evening curfews their child has in place at home. Our staff can then make sure that the student's host family enforces this curfew.

Our apartment complex has 24/7 security guards and video surveillance. Also, there are always police patrolling the area. The safety of your child is important to us, and we believe minors should be accompanied by a legal guardian or parent.

We also require participants to inform us before they plan any out-of-town trips so we can assist them and know what their itineraries are in case of emergencies.

Upon arrival, all of Go Abroad China’s participants will receive a SIM card which can receive and make local calls and GAC’s Skype account number to make international calls. The mobile has a dual-SIM feature allowing them to use their international SIM card in case they have one.

Also, our team is available 24/7 and can receive calls from any of the numbers listed on the Contact Us page. The universities do provide support in English, however, Go Abroad China will know more about the whereabouts of your child than the university.