Location:

Beijing, China

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Summer

Program Overview

Program Description:

The London School of Economics and Political Science and Peking University have collaboratively run the LSE-PKU Summer School in Beijing every summer since 2004. The two-week English-language international Summer School offers university-level courses in subjects including economics, management, international relations, media and law, all with a focus on China and Asia. The programme is taught by outstanding faculty from Peking University and LSE. The programme attracts students and professionals from around the world, 300 participants from 44 nationalities in 2013, 98% of whom said they would recommend the programme. More than a quarter of participants are graduate professionals working in a wide range of related fields, including business, finance, public policy, international affairs, NGOs, media and law. The students who attended in 2014 came from 140 university and other higher education institutions. Participants take one intensive course for the duration of the summer school, typically comprising four hours of lectures each morning and 90m minutes of classes each afternoon – a total of 48 contact hours over two weeks. Each course is assessed, including a final examination, and successful students are awarded a certificate and transcript. The LSE-PKU Summer School is not a Chinese language course. However, LSE-PKU Summer School participants are eligible to enrol on a beginners' level Chinese language course at the prestigious Language School at Peking Univeristy.

The LSE-PKU Summer School offers a wide range of courses, each bringing a social science perspective to issues facing China and Asia today. Courses offered on the 2014 LSE-PKU Summer School include:
• Everyday China: Anthropological Perspectives on Culture and Society
• China in Comparative Perspective: The Political Economy of Development
• China's Economic Transition: Past trends and future prospects
• The Global Economy: Rethinking world leadership and the great shift East
• World Trade and Global Finance: China's growing role
• Rebalancing the Global Economy: China, Europe and Latin America in long-run comparative perspective
• Corporate Finance in a Global World: Challenges and opportunities
• Inside the Dragon: Chinese Politics and Public Policy
• Urban Asia and China: Cities, society and development
• Towards a Sustainable Future: China’s Environmental Challenges
• Power Shift: The Decline of the West and the New International Relations of the 21st Century
• Opening the Black Box: Understanding Chinese Foreign Policy Making
• A Rule of Law: The Dynamics of Chinese Commercial Law in an International Context
• Behind the Screen: Understanding global media industries
• Management, Entrepreneurship and Global Leadership
• Demystifying China: Understanding business and marketing strategies in China
• Philosophy and Public Policy in Contemporary China
• A Complex Society: Social issues and social policy in China

Contact hours and teaching methods The LSE-PKU Summer School is an intensive programme. All courses are full-time and consist of a total of 48 contact hours Monday – Friday over the two-week period, including 36 hours of lectures and 12 hours of classes. An average of about 20 additional hours are required for reading and exam preparation. Lectures, which are attended by all participants on each course as a single group, take place in the mornings. In the afternoons the course divides into smaller class groups where problem sets, case studies or seminar papers can be discussed in detail. A typical day during consists of lectures from 8:30am-12:30pm and class groups from 2:30-4pm, though sessions may be slightly shorter in the second week. Students are advised to have the reading list for the course ready before the beginning of the programme. A course pack of theoretical readings and case studies will be given to students at the beginning of their course in Beijing. Assessment and Certificates All LSE-PKU Summer School courses are assessed and graded, and a transcript and certificate is provided to all students who successfully complete their course. Closed-book final examinations take place on the afternoon of the final day of the programme and are two hours in length. All participants are encouraged to take the final examination, but those who elect not to can be awarded a Certificate of Attendance if they have attended at least 80% of the taught sessions. Courses are generally assessed on a midterm paper and a final examination, but other elements such as mid-term quizzes, group projects and student presentations may also contribute. Full details of the assessment criteria and deadline dates will be provided at the start of the programme. Please see the description of specific courses for further details. Study facilities During the LSE-PKU Summer School, participants will have access to study facilities at Peking University including computer rooms, library, campus wireless network, printing services, etc. Chinese Language Courses Participants on the LSE-PKU Summer School are able to apply to study on a Peking University Chinese language course alongside their main programme. The course comprises ten hours of study over seven days. A separate fee is charged by Peking University for this course. Applications for the Chinese Language Course can only be submitted by students with confirmed places on the LSE-PKU Summer School.

Setting Description:

The programme is based at Peking University's beatutiful campus in Beijing, China.

Cost:

The tuition fee for taking one course on the LSE-PKU Summer School is as below. Standard rate: £1,350 Student rate: £1,150 The student rate is available to current full-time university and high school students, and also to alumni of LSE and Peking University. A further £100 discount is available for all fully completed applications received by 31 March 2014. Standard rate – Early applicants: £1,250 Student rate – Early applicants: £1,050