Study Chinese Medicine in China

Universities and institutes of Chinese medicine welcome foreign students to study traditional Chinese medicine. It is important to note that in China, universities have a higher status and are therefore more recognized than institutes. Not all Chinese institutions can accept foreign students.
China has a service to guide foreigners who want to study in China: http://www.edu-ambchine.org But the site is all in Chinese...

The courses offered in universities are in Chinese or English (less common). For students who do not speak Chinese at all, a year of Chinese language study is offered and generally sufficient to follow the courses. It's a bit tough at the beginning, but you learn very quickly. The Chinese curriculum consists of four hours of classes in the morning, and the afternoon is free. After a year of serious study, you can speak Chinese fluently. If you study for two years at this pace, you will have a very good level. Generally, students do one year of language study and then directly study a specialty. The vocabulary of the specialty is quickly integrated in the first few months.

In China, the standard curriculum is the bachelor's degree (four years except for medicine which is five years), the master's degree (three years), and the doctorate (three years). To become a doctor in China, you need at least a bachelor's degree plus one year of internship to validate the medical practice certification. If you do not pass this validation, you cannot practice medicine in China. This means that you can have a doctorate without necessarily being a doctor. Some pursue research studies and do not practice medicine. However, this certification is not necessarily required for foreigners who want to practice in their own country. Each country has its own legislation regarding Chinese medicine and the recognition of Chinese degrees and certifications.

Other courses ranging from a few weeks to one or two years are also offered for beginners or as advanced training.

It is very important to know that, unlike Western Chinese medicine schools, the Chinese curriculum includes a streamlined curriculum of Western medicine. In China, a doctor cannot be only a "Chinese medicine doctor." Private practices are very rare, and doctors mainly work in hospitals. They are therefore expected to know Western medicine. Moreover, both therapies are used together in many cases.

Tuition fees for foreigners are much higher than for Chinese students. The curriculum is sometimes slightly different from that of Chinese students (fewer political courses, for example). Each university can decide on its curriculum and examination methods. It is best to inquire directly with the department that handles foreign students. Here is the link to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine regarding tuition fees and required levels: http://www.njucm.com/fremdness/fremdness.asp

Finally, for the undergraduate program (five-year bachelor's degree), it is advisable not to choose universities in Beijing and Shanghai because the number of students per class is too high. Otherwise, the most recognized universities of Chinese medicine are those in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Chengdu. Kunming is also sought after, particularly for its exceptional climate, multicultural richness, and geographical location (foothills of the Himalayas), which provides an exceptional botanical wealth for the pharmacopoeia.

You can find a lot of interesting information on the English website of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine: http://www.njucm.com

Useful Addresses:

Beijing University of Chinese Medicine:
11 Bei san huan East Road
Zhaoyang district
Beijing 100029
Website: http://www.bucm.edu.cn

Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine:
1200 Cai lun Road
Shanghai 201203
Tel: 0086-21-51322222
Website: http://www.shutcm.com
In English: http://www.shutcm.com/english

Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine:
282 Hanzhong Road
Nanjing 210029
Tel: 0086-25-86798167, 86798206, 86798168
Fax: 0086-25-86798167, 86798168
E-MAIL: njuiec@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.njutcm.edu.cn
In English: http://www.njucm.com (on this site you will find a lot of interesting information for foreign students).

Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine:
37 Shi er qiao Road
Chengdu 610075
Tel: 0086-28-87784542
Fax: 0086-28-87784606
Email: cdutcm@yahoo.com.cn; wsc@cdutcm.edu.cn
Website: http://www.cdutcm.edu.cn
In English: http://www.cdutcm.org