China Internship Program
Frequently Asked Questions
I will graduate before/in June. Can I apply?
Students applying for the program must be Stanford students throughout their participation in the program. If you plan to graduate before the end of summer quarter 2010, please consult with your major department (e.g. the student services manager) to discuss deferring the conferral of your degree until the end of summer.
I will Coterm with a graduate status in the Spring Qtr. and yes, I will be a Stanford student while on the internship (leaving as a graduate student ). Does this mean I fulfill and can receive my B.S. degree at the end of Spring Qtr.?
Our only concern for the internship program is that you still be a Stanford student (of any type) returning as an enrolled student for Fall Quarter of the new academic year while you are on the internship. Since you will be a Cotem, you retain your student status (i.e. it continues even with conferral of the undergraduate diploma) over the summer as a student would if they were a junior and returning for senior year.
Will a minor in engineering be eligible to apply for the internship program?
The student must be an engineering major .
Will I get credit for my internship in China?
No. You will not receive any academic credit for participating in the China Internship Program .
What’s the Chinese language requirement?
Students who have not taken at least one quarter of Mandarin (or equivalent) will be required to take a language class in the spring quarter to prepare them for a summer in China.
I am on fellowship and am limited to 10 units. Can I audit the language course so that I don't use up my units?
No. It is the policy of the language center that all language courses must be taken for credit and no auditors are allowed.
You will need to work out with your advisor or student services manager how to accommodate this class into your academic plan.
About the essays in the application,
is there something about myself that
I should focus on?
There are two essays requested in the application.
The first one is your statement of purpose. It is important that we see that going to China helps you to fulfill your educational/career goals. Also, we want to know that you'll be able to handle being in China for 3 months, so any information about previous travel experience, experience with other cultures, or generally openness to new experiences would help.
The second essay (or set of essays if you're applying to multiple positions) helps us to evaluate your fit with that particular position. We need to know why you're applying for that position and what particular skills you're bringing to it. If you're selected in the first screening processes at Stanford, the essay will be given to the hiring company, so it should also convince them that they'd be excited about having you on board for this position.
Who provides funding for my internship?
Both the School of Engineering and the host company provide funding for your internship, i.e. round-trip airfare, a salary for housing, and meals. If you plan to travel or have extra expenses, you should prepare funding for yourself.
I am an international student; will an internship in China affect my status in the U.S.?
You must check with the International Center about how traveling to China will affect your current U.S. visa .
What if I need to arrive later or leave earlier?
The goal of this program is to give students an extended immersive experience in China. Therefore, we expect that students will remain in China for the full 12 weeks of this program unless they have advance written permission from the Internship Program Manager, Denise Chu, email: Denise.Chu@stanford.eduand the internship host company.
Can I intern longer than three months?
Some of the companies will allow (even encourage) an internship longer than 3 months. The program will support stays up to 6 months as long as the student does not officially graduate before the end of their internship. If you're interested in a 6-month stay, please indicate this possibility in your application.
When will I meet the other internship participants ?
You will meet the other internship participants during the pre-departure orientation program in Spring Quarter .
What if my passport expires or if I don't have one ?
You are required to make sure to have a passport that is valid six months after the date of departure from China with at least one blank page in the passport for the visa. If you don't have a passport, apply for one immediately. You need your valid passport to initiate any visa process .
Do I need a visa ?
You are strongly advised to check out the Chinese Consulate website for visa requirements. You are responsible for obtaining appropriate visas on time. Once you are accepted for the China Internship Program, we will provide you mroe information regarding visa applications.
Who will book my flight?
You can either choose to purchase your own airline ticket or ask the Program Manager, Marta Espinoza, to make the arrangements for you. Although SoE is paying for your airline ticket, there is a cap on the amount that will be provided. If you prefer to make your own reservations, we will discuss reimbursement procedures and paperwork at the pre-departure orientation session in May.
Do I need health insurance?
You must be covered by health insurance that is valid worldwide for the entire duration of your time overseas. If any medical treatment is necessary, you will be fully responsible for the costs. Therefore, you must obtain health insurance (which should cover medical treatment worldwide, medical evacuation, and repatriation of remains) for this summer.
Do I need to get immunizations?
You should consult with a physician or travel clinic well in advance of your departure to inquire about immunization recommendations. Some inoculations may require a series of shots or take weeks to become effective.
Contact Information
Key contact person:
Denise Chu
Internship Program Manager
Main Building, Rm 317
Tsinghua University
Beijing, China 100084
Phone: 86-10-6275-7311
Fax: 86-10-6275-7313
EM: denise.chu@stanford.edu
For questions related to academic and research matters:
Professor Pamela J. Hinds
Faculty Director
Terman 424, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-4026
Phone: 650-723-3843
Fax: 650-723-1416
EM: phinds@stanford.edu
Facebook
Twitter
RSS