About China
Officially known as the People’s Republic of China, this country is located in East Asia. It is the world’s most populous country and borders 14 countries. The capital of China is Beijing and the largest city is Shanghai. Beijing is known as the country’s economic, cultural and communications center, while Shanghai is a leading industrial base. Hong Kong is an important trading center and port. China is one of the world’s countries with a deep-rooted history and the oldest civilizations. Over the years, China has become technologically and scientifically stronger and has carved out a place for itself in the wider world. In a short period of time, China has shown remarkable growth in all sectors. During these years of development, remarkable progress has been made in the fields of health, education, resources and equipment.
Courses offered in China for international students
With one of the most developed economies and excellent infrastructure, China attracts Pakistani students who want to study abroad. With the development of medicine, engineering and many other fields, China is the preferred destination for students wishing to go abroad to study. In the last decade, students have gone to China to study MBBS, engineering, language programs, arts, culture, tourism and many other fields.
With so many reasons to study in China, students often overlook points that can create obstacles during their years of study. No country is perfect, and like any other country, China has its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages and disadvantages of studying MBBS in China
Cultural differences: Pakistan and China are neighbors. These two countries have different cultures. China is believed to have one of the oldest cultures in the world. Initially, students may face some problems with the culture of this country, but with time they can easily adapt to this new culture. Moreover, studying in another country gives students the opportunity to learn new things and a new culture, and get to know more people around the country. This is not only true for this country. Students have to adapt and learn a new culture in any country they want to go to.
Language: Chinese is known as one of the most spoken languages in the world. In addition, Chinese is the only language that still has a pictographic writing system. For this reason, students often choose to go to China to learn this popular language. Although Chinese is not an easy language to learn, and this may seem like a barrier for students planning to study a course in China. As in any other country, students studying MBBS in China or any other course need to have a good command of the language as they have to interact with the local population for their daily needs during their stay. For medical students in particular, language learning is an integral part of the program as it helps them to better understand the patient during their years of clinical practice. Learning the language opens the door to many opportunities and helps to make the stay during the studies easier. This is not a disadvantage of studying MBBS in China, but an advantage if you look at it positively.
Top-ranked universities: there’s no doubt that China is among the most developed countries in the world. Many other countries may envy China’s growth over the years, but every country wants development. The foundation of any country’s development is its educational structure. China has some of the world’s most highly ranked universities that attract students.
Minimum eligibility criteria: Universities in China have certain eligibility criteria to accept applications from international students. Unlike other countries, most universities have minimum eligibility criteria for accepting applications for MBBS in China. For universities with good national and international rankings, these criteria are even higher. As the level of education in the country is high, a student can remain optimistic and get a good education even with limited opportunities and slightly low grades.
Universities of choice for foreign students: China has more than 180 universities listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, but only 45 medical universities are approved by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China to admit foreign students. Despite the fact that Chinese is the most spoken language in the country, the curriculum at the 45 medical universities is in English. The learning environment is English, which makes it easier for students to study at any of these universities.
Higher exchange rates: The local currency in China is the Chinese Yuan or Renminbi (RMB). Higher exchange rates can lead to high study and living expenses. Not to worry, the average tuition and residence fees are still below the exorbitant fees charged by private medical institutions in Pakistan. There are also no capitation fees. Since all medical universities in China that admit international students are public universities, tuition fees are relatively low, as are residence fees.
Different weather: because China is located above Pakistan, its weather is cooler than Pakistan’s. It can be difficult for students to adjust to the climate in China, but they get used to it with time. In some northern regions of China, winters are very cold and students prone to winter illnesses should avoid universities located in such provinces. Students may choose to study at universities near Shanghai where the climatic conditions are stable and adaptable to Pakistani students.
Different disease patterns: Weather conditions and temperature are different in China and Pakistan. The different weather patterns also lead to different patterns of illness in the two countries. Students are often misled on this issue and are forced to choose another country to study MBBS abroad even though they have chosen to study MBBS in China.
Contrasting eating habits: The food choices and eating habits of the population in the two countries are different. It should not be forgotten that China is a different country with a different culture, different weather, different people, and a different language. In every Pakistani state, people make different food choices. If a student wants to continue his/her studies in another state, his/her eating habits will change. China as a whole is a separate country offering different cuisine. It is not difficult to adapt to new eating habits during a long stay.
Fraud and scams by unauthorized agents: this is the most common threat to all students planning to study MBBS abroad or any other course. A student who has just graduated from the school chosen by his parents faces the biggest challenge to choose the right agent to guide him. In today’s world, most academic advisors are more marketing advisors who are simply working to achieve their goals. To study MBBS in China, you need to approach an authorized university representative to successfully submit your application.
CONSLUSION
In conclusion, China is a country that is highly sought after by students due to its quality education, and developments in the fields of medicine, engineering, communications, commerce, etc. For MBBS students, China offers an internationally recognized degree on a low budget, numerous scholarship opportunities for meritorious students to encourage them, a simple admission process with minimal paperwork, easy connectivity between the two countries, and access to international experience, high-quality education in top universities with world-class infrastructure, excellent clinical experience and a stay in a country with growing power
