Twelve lucky students will be accepted into the program. As part of the program, participants will take a year of Chinese language their freshman year and will travel to Taiwan in May for three weeks on fully funded study tour. Students will need to complete the Chinese course requirements (with grades of no less than B-), of course, before travelling in May.

Students are selected based in part on their academic excellence, but also on their desire to absorb all they can about Chinese Studies both inside of the classroom and out. We’re going to have a wonderful and intellectually exciting time exploring real world issues of history, politics, economics and culture! The program is looking for student leaders who can serve as ambassadors for Furman and who will share their experiences and knowledge with others upon their return. Many, though certainly not all, of our past participants in other similar programs have become exemplary Asian Studies majors or continued their Chinese language studies paired with one of Furman’s more than two dozen academic majors. We’re particularly excited this year to be working not only with students fascinated by international cultures, but also those primarily interested in Chinese Studies. Nearly all past participants have become leaders in some capacity across the community.

That’s perhaps the most exciting part of all! In addition to exploring Taipei, the political capital, we’ll travel to some of the most spectacular mountain landscapes, see historical landmarks, experience fascinating ethnic minority cultures and meet with government officials, Non-Government Organizations, villagers, and academics.

The 2025 Program will be co-directed by Dr. Kate Kaup (Professor of Asian Studies and Politics and International Affairs) and Dr. Dongming Zhang (Associate Professor of Asian Studies). Both have vast experience conducting study away trips and working with students. Both directors speak fluent Mandarin and have led well over a dozen group study tours to China.

Well…that really depends. Did you love the first year?? Eager to learn more about China, Taiwan, and Chinese language? We encourage you to take additional classes with us and/or to even consider a major in Asian Studies or Chinese Studies!

Please visit Furman’s Asian Studies Department Website for an online application. The 2025 applications will be available May 17th, and applications are due June 28th. Admission into the program will be announced by July 3rd.

No worries! You can just register for classes as if you were not participating in the program, and after you have been successfully added to the program, the registrar will adjust your schedule accordingly. You’ll receive your course assignments at the same time all freshmen do, so you won’t even notice the difference. All participants will take a year of Chinese Language classes. Most participants will have no prior Chinese training, but if you’ve already taken Chinese we will place you in the appropriate class.

Absolutely! Further language study beyond one year is available but is completely optional. If you are pursuing a B.A., remember that you’ll need to complete a language course 201 or greater for graduation, so you might consider at least completing CHN 201. Furman University offers four years of nationally competitive Chinese language study and a language house on campus.

Well…yes. And that’s a big part of what makes it so interesting and fun. Furman has nationally recognized Chinese language faculty to help you master the language and state of the art language lab resources. The majority of students who take Chinese at Furman have no previous exposure to the language, and perform very well. While the writing system and tones can be challenging, most students find the grammar easier than Romance languages and you’ll be able to start trying your Chinese in real world conversations in no time. In addition to the dynamic classroom experience, if you’re interested you’ll be able to participate in all sorts of extracurricular offerings where you can learn more about Chinese culture and practice what you’re learning in class. These outside activities range from cooking classes, to learning Mahjong, chatting with Chinese visitors or classmates from China over lunch, guest lectures, Chinese film screenings, etc. If you would be interested in speaking with a current Chinese language student to learn more about Chinese classes at Furman, we can arrange a conversation—in English or Chinese!

No. Roundtrip international flights, all travel within Taiwan, food, lodgings, and cultural experiences are covered by the program. The only money that participants will need on the trip is spending money and expenses related before the trip to securing passports and visas (visas for non-US participants; no visas required for US citizens).

Twelve students will be chosen as participants.

Taiwan remains one of the safest places in the world for international tourists. Crime rates are much lower than in the United States. The program directors are very alert to political and health issues affecting Taiwan, and they constantly monitor the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, State Department, and Embassy websites for any changes to the current, very stable situation in Taiwan. While this program aims to be fun and enriching, student well-being is always the top priority.