It's easy to find study abroad programs, but less so to find immersion programs. So, here is a list of immersion programs in China and Taiwan that offer summer, semester, full year, and/or custom-length courses.
I'm calling these programs immersion programs because I personally feel they place substantial emphasis on increasing language proficiency. Many of the below have four or five hours of Chinese class each day and do not permit their students to speak English. If you know of other equally rigorous immersion programs, let me know at contact@laowaichengyuguide.com or reach out via my contact page here!
Updated June 2021. This is only intended to be a reference -- please check program pages for the most up-to-date information!
| Program | Administering Institution | Host University | Program Location | Sessions Offered | Cost* | Levels Taught** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Chinese Studies Program | CIEE Study Abroad | 北京大学 (běijīng dàxué) | Peking University | Beijing, China | TBD | TBD | Advanced High |
| Associated Colleges in China | Hamilton College | 中央民族大学 (zhōngyáng mínzú dàxué) | Minzu University of China | Beijing, China | Summer, semester, full academic year | Summer: $6,900 Spring or Fall terms: $13,400 Summer/Fall terms combined: $19,800 Both Fall Spring: $26,200 |
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced High; also offers independent study |
| CET Beijing | CET Academic Programs | 首都师范大学 (shǒudū shīfàn dàxué)｜Capital Normal University | Beijing, China | Summer, Semester, January Term | Summer: $7,700 Semester: $16,000 J-Term: Unknown | Novice, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced High |
| CET Harbin | CET Academic Programs | 哈尔滨工业大学 (hā'ěrbīn gōngyè dàxué)| Harbin Institute of Technology | Harbin, China | Summer, Semester | Summer: Unknown Semester: Unknown | Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced High; also offers independent research track |
| CET Kunming | CET Academic Programs | 云南大学 (yúnnán dàxué) | Yunnan University | Kunming, China | Summer | Unknown | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
| CET Taiwan | CET Academic Programs | 国立台湾大学 (guólì táiwān dàxué) |National Taiwan University | Taipei, Taiwan | Summer, Spring, Fall | Semester: $16,000 Summer: $9,000 | Novice, Beginner, Intermediate; also offers internships |
| Chinese Language Institute Immersion Program (CLI) | Chinese Language Institute | N/A — CLI has its facilities | Guilin, China | Highly customizable, so you can go for two weeks, two months, a year, or anything inbetween; Summer, Fall, Winter January Term, Spring | Varies significantly since the program is so customizable. See their website. | Novice, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced High |
| Harvard Beijing Academy | Harvard University | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Intensive Chinese Language Program | CIEE Study Abroad | 北京大学 (běijīng dàxué) | Peking University | Beijing, China | Summer, Fall, Spring | TBD | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced High |
| Inter-University Program | Stanford University | 清华大学 (qīnghuá dàxué) | Tsinghua University | Beijiing, China | Summer, Spring, Fall | Summer tuition: $6,000 Semester tuition: $10,000 | Intermediate, Advanced |
| International Chinese Language Program | 国立台湾大学 (Guólì Táiwān Dàxué) | National Taiwan University | 国立台湾大学 (guólì táiwān dàxué) | National Taiwan University | Taipei, Taiwan | Summer; Spring, Fall, and Winter quarters | Fall, Winter, Spring tuition: $4,700 Summer: $5,200 | Novice, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced High |
| Princeton in Beijing | Princeton University | 北京师范大学 (běijīng shīfàn dàxué) | Beijing Normal University | Beijing, China | Summer | $8,000 | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced High |
| Summer Accelerated Chinese Language Program | CIEE Study Abroad | 华东师范大学 (huádōng shīfàn dàxué) | East China Normal University | Shanghai, China | Summer, Fall, Spring | TBD | Novice, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced High |
| Taiwan Intensive Summer Language Program | American Councils for International Education | 国立成功大学 (guólì chénggōng dàxué) | National Cheng Kung University | Tainan, Taiwan | Summer | $8,300 | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
| TMI Chinese | Taiwan Mandarin Institute | N/A — TMI has its own facilities | Taipei, Taiwan | Highly customizable, so you can go for two weeks, two months, a year, or anything inbetween; Summer, Fall, Winter January Term, Spring | Varies significantly since the program is so customizable. See their website. | Novice, Beginner, Intermediate |
* Program cost includes tuition and room and board. It does not include personal, travel, dining, visa, or other expenses.
** How many years of college-level study are recommended for each class level (I came up with this scale myself to help people find programs more easily -- check individual program pages for more specific information):
Novice = none
Beginner = one year
Intermediate = two years
Advanced = three years
Advanced high = four or more years
Heritage = growing up speaking Chinese at home