Fudan University, Shanghai

[Conway]

I just got accepted into Fudan University's medical school, one of the best medical schools in China, somewhat considered an "Ivy" within China, and among the "Top 100" schools in the world (according to Times Higher Education).

I know it's a good school, I was just wondering if anyone else is going?

I've been trying to decide between going to this program (which is 6 years - including one year of pre-med and a required internship year), or going to a PA program outside London (which is a 2-year Masters program).

[shadow7]

is it in english??

I just got accepted into Fudan University's medical school, one of the best medical schools in China, somewhat considered an "Ivy" within China, and among the "Top 100" schools in the world (according to Times Higher Education).

I know it's a good school, I was just wondering if anyone else is going?

I've been trying to decide between going to this program (which is 6 years - including one year of pre-med and a required internship year), or going to a PA program outside London (which is a 2-year Masters program).

[Conway]

Yes, it is in English, though to do well in clinical, I assume fluency in Mandarin would be nice. Fluency in Shanghainese would be even better. I'm fluent in Mandarin, though not in Shanghainese.

[shadow7]

theres not much of a difference... just an accent

[Conway]

There's quite a big of a difference between Shanghainese and Mandarin. I know that you're in Tianjin, where the local dialect is very similar to Mandarin (Mandarin is the local dialect of the north - around Hebei, Beijing area). Shanghainese belongs to another family, part of the "Wu family" of dialects, I believe...but I digress...

[dreama]

Hi Conway,

If you don't mind me asking, why have you chosen FU over the other med schools like TMU/SYS/CMU when it is a 6 year program? I'm guessing FU is more recognised locally? An old classmate of mine in highschool got into that program at FU after graduating from physiotherapy but am not in touch with him so I was just wondering what made you choose that program. Could you also give us a brief rundown on FU? tuition fees, entry requirements, advanced standing, etc.

Thanks heaps.

Dreama

[devildoc8404]

The main question I see here is: "Do you want to be a doctor, or do you want to be a PA?"

There's your answer.

[shadow7]

There's quite a big of a difference between Shanghainese and Mandarin. I know that you're in Tianjin, where the local dialect is very similar to Mandarin (Mandarin is the local dialect of the north - around Hebei, Beijing area). Shanghainese belongs to another family, part of the "Wu family" of dialects, I believe...but I digress...

Yes i was unaware of this... wat i knew was that it is merely a difference in pronunciation and accent
However,
the government does not ecouraged it in newspapers and schools, so ull be thought to speak mandarin and not shanghainese.
The government has launched many campaigns encouraging mandarin and by 2010 service industry workers will be required to take a mandarin fluency test.
So u wont have much of a problem.

Did you apply to TMU along with Fudan?

[Conway]

I am choosing Fudan because it is among the best of the best in terms of medical schools in China, and its graduates (albeit domestic students) have gone on to land great residencies in the US, despite having to conquer a language barrier. Shanghai is a very liveable city, and since I am fluent, it won't be a problem. I was in Shanghai last summer, and out of all the cities I visited in China, it was one of my favorites. Fudan is also a rather old institution, and only the best of the best go to China. I'm not a top student, but I think the opportunity to study in such an environment is a chance I can't pass up too easily.

In other words, it's analogous to being offered a seat at Yale or Princeton, and not going.

For the program I'm doing (the 6 year program in English), the tuition is about $10,000 a year, and dorm fees come out to about $300 a month for a single dorm room. Off campus is cheaper, but for now I'm staying in the Foreign Students' Dorm (which is really nice, according to my friends who've studied abroad there). Entry requirements are that you have "satisfactory" high school grades. I also sent in my college transcripts and notarized copies of my diplomas.

From what I know, there is no advanced standing.

No, I ended up only applying to Fudan in China. I was also thinking of applying to Zhejiang. Tianjin is a good school too, but Fudan's program is usually considered on a different caliber in terms of name recognition. However, there is one drawback, in that this is their first cohort of foreign students into their English program. They had another cohort back in the 80s, and out of that class of 30, 28 were able to successfully practice overseas.

Also, from what I heard, most students in the Fudan program are students from Singapore and Malaysia of Chinese descent.

[esterase]

Congratulations on being accepted to Fudan!

[Z1-CN]

congratulations as well! :)

[Z1-CN]

So different universities across China have different curricula? That is strange. Some 5 year some 6?

[Conway]

Strictly speaking for domestic Chinese students, there are different levels - 5 year programs are generally seen as the most basic type of education for a physician, a Bachelors. Masters degrees (including a specialty) can be obtained with a 7-year program, and 8-year programs are equivalent to an MD.

For the English programs, from what I know, some schools that are 5 years don't spend too much time on Pre-Med (ie, Zhejiang), while Fudan requires the pre-med courses as their first year curriculum, thus making it 6 years. This time also includes a final year of internship.

Thus, at Fudan, it breaks down like this:
Year 1: Pre-Med (at Fudan's Handan Campus (main campus))
Year 2: Basic Sciences (at the Medical Fenglin campus)
Year 3: Basic Sciences
Year 4: Clinical Sciences (done at one of Fudan's 10 teaching hospitals, mainly Zhongshan and Huashan Hospitals)
Year 5: Clinical Sciences
Year 6: Internship Year

I know that Zhejiang allows the internship year to be done back in the student's home country, and Fudan has said that it might be able to do that, but hasn't confirmed anything yet.

[Conway]

I found a video on Youtube on Fudan:

YouTube - Fudan (http://youtube.com/watch?v=nq-GM-Wx7sg)

[esterase]

Found out I've been accepted to Fudan as well! They said I should be expecting the acceptance letter and other relevant documents soon.

[shadow7]

Congrats esterase.

[Conway]

Yup, they told me by the end of June. Only a few days left til July...

[esterase]

Thanks, Shadow!

Yeah, I'm really glad I called them earlier this week. It's great to at least know that I've been accepted, but I haven't even received an e-mail yet. I'm just hoping I'll receive everything without having to bombard them with phone calls.

[hlvoon88]

I am from Malaysia. I got the offer letter from Fudan earlier today. I am worried about the recognition of the MBBS degree from Fudan. Is the degree recognized in UK and US?

[esterase]

Just received my acceptance letter as well.

[Conway]

I got mine today too!

[SwedenForTheWin]

You guys got any contact email for them? I tried to send a email to a email adress on their website but got it rejected...

[Conway]

Email the Foreign Students Office - their email is at www.fso.fudan.edu.cn (http://www.fso.fudan.edu.cn)

Or, from my experience, your best bet would be to call them during local business hours. (9am-4pm Beijing time)

[SwedenForTheWin]

Email the Foreign Students Office - their email is at

Or, from my experience, your best bet would be to call them during local business hours. (9am-4pm Beijing time)

Conway, you got msn? Or email or something? Can i email you a couple of questions?