• A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Oral and written proficiency of Mandarin Chinese equal to one year of language study at Skidmore College (FC101 & FC102). Students may meet this language requirement in the following ways:
  1. Successfully complete FC101 & FC102 at Skidmore College or approved equivalent at another institution.
  2. Demonstrate oral and written proficiency at FC102 equivalency or higher, based on result of Skidmore College Chinese Literacy Test.
  3. Successfully complete a pre-approved summer intensive Mandarin language program. A list of pre-approved summer programs is available from OIP or the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature.
• Ability to demonstrate, through personal essay and recommendations, the level of maturity and self-motivation needed to succeed abroad

If you do not meet the requirements above, you must petition to apply to study abroad.

Customarily, second-semester sophomores and first-semester juniors apply to study abroad. Students at other stages in their Skidmore education must attend a mandatory advising session with an OIP advisor. After this initial meeting students are required to:

• Submit a letter of faculty support (preferably from the instructor of the student’s Scribner Seminar).
• Submit a one page letter explaining why they want to study abroad outside of the junior year. Students need to indicate in the letter what their academic plans are for the remainder of their time at Skidmore.

To Apply

The Skidmore in Beijing Program is offered for the Fall semester only. The application deadline is March 15. Applications may be accepted after the listed deadline on a case-by-case basis.

If you are a student receiving academic or physical accommodations you should be aware that the program may or may not be able to provide the same accommodations. The Office of International Programs staff is available to discuss your current accommodations to determine what accommodations can be provided.

Meet with the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities in Starbuck Center before you go away. The Coordinator can provide you with a statement of approved accommodations that would be granted at Skidmore during the time you will be in the foreign country. Feel free to discuss any disability-related questions related to study abroad with the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities.

Office of International Programs

Skidmore College
815 North Broadway
Starbuck 202
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

phone: (518) 580-5355
fax: (518) 580-5359
oip@skidmore.edu

• Beijing - the City
• Program Description and Dates
• The Skidmore-IES Connection
• Courses and Credits
• Field Study
• Orientation and Cultural Activities
• Housing
• Requirements and Application
• Cost
• Welcome to Beijing