China Summer Camp 2020

Confucius Institute Summer Camp 2020

Students are now invited to apply for the Confucius Institute’s (CI’s) annual Summer Camp to China, which this year will run from 6th to 19th of July 2020.

What is included?

20 individuals from Bangor University’s Confucius Institute will join others from the Confucius Institutes in Bucharest, Romania and Barbados for a two-week trip to China, including a long stay in Beijing and a visit to Tai'an in China’s Shandong Province.

An itinerary will be provided and, once in China, the group will be chaperoned by Student Guides from our funding body Hanban and our partner University in Beijing – the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL). Summer Camp attendees are expected to pay for their return flights between the UK and China (prices typically range between £400 and £700), and also to pay for their own visa fees (around £150) and travel insurance. All other (non-personal) expenses within China (accommodation, food, travel to Suzhou etc.) will be covered by the Confucius Institute’s funding body Hanban.

Who is eligible to apply?

The CI Summer Camp is open to all individuals who have had some experience of studying Mandarin and/or a strong interest in Chinese culture. All applicants will need a valid passport (with at least six months validity). Although Student Guides will be on hand to chaperone the group and sort out any problems once in China, we suggest that younger students (aged 16-18 years) consider applying with a friend as there will be a lot of new experiences to take in. Parents, guardians and teachers are welcome to accompany students, but they would be expected to finance themselves.

Other requirements

As part of the Summer Camp, attendees are asked to sit the Level 1 Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) exam (basic Mandarin – understanding simple words and sentences) during their visit to China. To prepare for this exam, the Confucius Institute will be providing a series of training classes (30 hours of Chinese lessons in total), which will be held at Bangor University over five full Saturdays in May/June, 10am-4pm (exact dates to be confirmed). The exam is a formality to demonstrate a commitment to learning Mandarin and there is no requirement to pass. Further tuition can also be provided for those interested after the Summer Camp.

How to apply

We are now inviting applications for this year’s Summer Camp. It is expected that places will fill up quickly as only 20 are available each year, so if you would like to attend, please download and complete the application form (here) and return it to Lina Davitt (l.i.davitt@bangor.ac.uk) or by post to: Lina Davitt, Confucius Institute, 9th Floor Alun Roberts Building, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, LL57 2UW) no later than Monday 30th March 2020.

Allocating places

The final 20 places will be allocated by Hanban, our funding body, and we aim to confirm whether applicants have been successful by mid-April so that flights can be booked in advance.

Thank you for your interest in our Summer Camp this year. We look forward to hearing from you.