Semester or Full Year Abroad in Beijing with TBC

My name is Kari Osowski and I am a Senior at Loyola University Chicago. Last fall, I backpacked through the Silk Road as an excursion of The Beijing Center! During my semester halfway across the world, I prayed with Tibetan monks in Xiàhé, walked a day in the shoes of Uyghur students in Ürümqi, spent the night in a yurt in Xinjiang, rode a camel in the Taklimakan desert and was on the UIBE International cheerleading team. Deciding to study at The Beijing Center was easily the best decision I’ve ever made at Loyola. If students are looking to challenge themselves, live in a completely new and diverse culture, and enhance your Loyola experience, China’s the place to be!

Great program that truly immerses you into the Chinese lifestyle and culture. I went with no language experience and was able to learn so much and even travel by myself through the country. The school planned trips are incredible, but some of the directors are a little strange. Just do what you want to do and explore everything. Take advantage of all the time to travel through the country. The classes are hard but taught in the Chinese fashion and the homework is interesting. The food is amazing there are so many options close to campus.

I learned so much and have memories from this semester that will last a life time. The TBC staff really go out of their way to make the massive and mysterious country of China seem accessible. I made friends that I will have for the rest of my life and can honestly say that I am a different person than I was before I studied abroad!

TBC is one of the best study abroad programs in China. The staff is extremely helpful, the faculty is very involved in their respective fields, the two excursions are phenomenal and I made some of my best friends while in Beijing. The location of the program is prime and the support system set up allows every student to really take advantage of their time abroad. I recommend this program to anyone who is thinking about going abroad. China itself is one of the best places to study abroad because of the culture, history and impact on the world currently and in the future: all of which is exemplified by the TBC program.
Can't say enough good things!

This was a great program! I did an entire academic year here, and loved the entire thing! The trips that are a part of the program are amazing - you get to see so much of China - its worth it just for that!

Went here without any knowledge of the Chinese language. I was looking to get out of my comfort zone, and I can definitely say I achieved my goal. This gives you so much knowledge of other things that are out there, other cultures and a different value system. It was my most amazing experience to date, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Am constantly trying to figure out when I can get back to China. It really didn't take long from only being able to say "hello" in Mandarin, to being able to head out to places on my own.

Definitely consider TBC. It's been 6 years since I've gone and I still think back to my time in this program constantly. You will have endless stories and experiences.

I couldn't think of any other way to "discover" China and learn its culture and language(s). The faculty and staff are incredible and the quality of academic opportunities and cultural excursions are unparalleled.

I wish I could have stayed a second semester. I loved the program and could not believe how much it enhanced my language skills. In the intensive language course I was able to skip a language level when I went back home!