·
ABOUT
Students
looking for great engineering and computer science programs need look no
further than Tsinghua University in Beijing, which since 2015 has been ranked
as one of the best in the world for both disciplines.
Tsinghua
University was established in 1911 in the wake of the anti-colonialist Boxer
Rebellion, which saw the US fine China $30m as punishment. In 1909, President
Theodore Roosevelt negotiated with Congress a reduction in the sum, with the
leftover money earmarked for university scholarships for Chinese students to
study in the US. Tsinghua University was established as a preparatory school
for the students’ trips abroad.
Today,
Tsinghua’s motto of “self-discipline and excellence” has taken it far. Most
university rankings place Tsinghua among the best universities in China, and
famous alumni include President Xi Jinping himself, who graduated with a degree
in chemical engineering in 1979. Tony Blair, Henry Kissinger, and Bill Clinton
are among the distinguished guests who have spoken at Tsinghua.
The
university is academically organized into 20 schools and 57 departments
covering a broad range of subjects, including science, engineering, arts and literature,
social sciences, medicine. Xinya College was established in 2014 as the
school’s residential liberal arts college as part of a series of reforms to
undergraduate education. Unlike other Tsinghua students who must choose a
specific major upon enrollment, Xinya students can declare their majors at the
end of their freshman year.
The
campus of Tsinghua University is located in northwest Beijing, in the Haidian
district, on the former site of the Qing Dynasty royal gardens. As such it
retains Chinese-style landscaping as well as traditional buildings, although
many of its buildings are also western in style, reflecting its American
heritage. Like its archrival Peking, Tsinghua is known for having one of the
most beautiful university campuses.
On
campus, students keep themselves occupied with more than just academic study
(although the heavy workloads mean studying is always a priority). There are
more than 110 student clubs and associations covering interests such as science
and technology, health and fitness, humanities, arts and public welfare.
Overseas
students are particularly encouraged to join in the fun, with a host of
extracurricular such as welcome parties, New Year’s parties, graduation
parties, and visits to cultural and historical landmarks.
Tags:
Education