Student Responsibilities While Studying in China

Studying abroad is a privilege and comes with a good deal of responsibility. Students should remember at all times that they represent not only themselves and their families, but also their country, their school, their study abroad program, and their host family.

Of course, your child will be responsible for all of the paperwork associated with traveling and studying abroad. These include:

 Securing a passport and Visa
 Filling out forms needed by the host school
 Getting courses approved by the home school
 Making the necessary travel arrangements

While your child is abroad, there will be occasional forms which need to be filled out. These may be for the host school, the home school or college, the study abroad organization, or the U.S. and Chinese governments. Many of these documents are time sensitive, making it imperative that your student fill out all requested forms in a timely manner.

In addition to this, your child will want to spend some time familiarizing themselves with the host country. This can be done by speaking with returning exchange students, reading or watching documentaries about the host country and attending all meetings and training sessions offered by the study abroad program.

You will also want to work out a financial plan for your childt before leaving the country. It is important that your student knows and understands how much they will be allowed to spend and has come up with a plan for staying within her budget.

Of course, your child will be expected to participate in the educational experiences provided. While there will be many opportunities for leisure and enjoying the local culture, your student’s primary responsibility in a study abroad program is to study, not to party.

Make sure to set up and follow a communication plan before your student leaves the home country. Besides the fact that you will simply want to able to talk with one another, it is important that your child keep you informed about his or her academic progress. FERPA laws in the United States make it unlawful to release grades directly to you if your child is legally an adult (18 years or older). While the grades of high school students can be legally be shared with parents, you’ll probably want to hear all of the details from your child, not just the grades they’ve received.

While in China, your child will be expected to follow all of the laws of the host country, as well as the rules, regulations, and policies of the host school. Finally, students are expected to be respectful of the host family and the way they run their household. While most students studying abroad find that they have become welcomed as “members of the family,” it is important for your student to realize and respect the fact that each family has its own customs, traditions, and rules, some of which may be quite different from what they have become accustomed to while growing up in your home.

Next Step China has created the following guide to help parents feel comfortable about having their child study abroad in China. Please view the topics below for more guidance.

Studying Abroad in China: A Guide for Parents

The Benefits of Studying Abroad

Why and Where in China to Study Abroad?

Where to Start: Choose a Program for Studying Abroad

Is Next Step China the Right Study Abroad Program for Your Son or Daughter?

Student Responsibilities While Studying in China

Before the Student Departs: Preparing Your Student to Successfully Study Abroad in China

In China: What You and Your Child Can Expect

Other Opportunities While in China

What Life Will Be Like for Your Child While in China

Studying Abroad With Next Step China