http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468 en Beijing University LLM taught in English - LLM GUIDE Discussion Board Fri, 14 Apr 2006 13:20:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#16468 The Peking University (Beijing University) Law School will start its English conducting LL.M. programme in Chinese Law: http://www.law.pku.edu.cn/llmp/en_01.asp As the university is the best ranked university in China, as well as its law school are best ranked in China too, does anyone has comment on this LL.M.? Sat, 15 Apr 2006 13:41:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#16540 Wow! 160,000RMB is 13 years salary for the average Chinese person. It seems to me that they're just cashing in... Beijing(Peking) U is has a great reputaton but not yet for teaching foreigners law. I think they'd be wise to reduce that tuition... Thu, 11 May 2006 18:21:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#17956 160,000 RMB is about one year's salary of a normal whitecollar staff in middle sized foreign company in China. In China, the MBA program for local students conducted by a pretigious university shall cost 100,000 RMB. Sat, 13 May 2006 04:49:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#18005 as an insider, I think it absolutely not worth the money.... If you just want to experience the Chinese Civil Law..You can be an intern in a local internatinal law firm..... You can learn more there Wed, 17 May 2006 14:58:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#18138 I agree with law thinker. 160,000RMB is excessive, unjustifiable and seems to lead one to the conclusion that PekingU is simply setting up this program to cash in. While it is true that an LLM at PekingU costs less than an LLM in many American universities it still costs a lot more than comparable programs in the rest of Asia and when the cost of the LLM is compared with the average wage in the country it is excessive. If the average wage for a skilled Chinese graduate in Beijing is 3000RMB per month (I have several friends who are working there and earning this amount) this amounts to 36,000RMB per year. On this calculation it would take a Chinese worker close to 5 years to afford to take this LLM program. That is like an LLM for foreigners in the USA costing $180,000. Why do people so readily accept that foreigners should pay twenty times the local tuition rate? The excuse that foreigners have more money and should therefore pay more should be no longer be tolerated. Fri, 19 May 2006 21:59:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#18226 janerichardson was right, it was just a scam, apply HKU/CUHK/CITYU is a much better choice. Sun, 18 Feb 2007 04:10:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#24644 How do you know that the PKU program is a scam? Are you a student or did you do limited research on the web? It is certainly not a scam. The professors are high caliber, with many friends in China and in the U.S. (and elsewhere in the world). I think it is a great program and you get a lot out of it. The program is taken very seriously and the professors prepare extensively for the classes. It has a rigorous reading list and you will be exposed to great lectures. I think it is a hasty judgment to say it is a scam because of the price tag, which is far less than Tsinghua. With the economy in China booming and companies/firms/private equity investors flocking to China, it will become more and more difficult for you to be admitted into PKU and the degree will be more and more desired. Additionally, the ministry of education requires all LLM programs to be two years long--Tsinghua's is only 1 year long AND costs more per year than BeiDa (and only a little less than both years at BeiDa combined). I am NOT accusing Tsinghua's program of being a scam either, I'm just saying that BeiDa's program is pretty reasonable AND doesn't violate any guidelines. A reason for the tuition rate is because it is illegal for Universities to raise tuition for Chinese students, therefore, to stay on the cutting edge and compete with other schools, and to earn more revenue (which is sorely needed as living expenses and costs continue to rise in China), one solution is to look towards foreign students. U.S. schools raise tuition all the time. Imagine if U.S. schools could not raise tuition--then where would it get the money to maintain (and improve) the quality of education? It's not b/c we're foreigners and they want to rob us or they are greedy so they think we should pay more. It is a valid and pratical reason--they simply need the money b/c they can't get it the way schools in the U.S. can get it (i.e. by raising tuition rates). However, this does not make the program any less valid. You get out what you paid for it. Everybody wins. What do you have to say about NYU's LLM program that accepts almost everyone and comes with a price tag of $50,000? (and NYU's LLMs are useless except for tax--as are most LLMs in the U.S.) Hong Kong has its benefits, but Beijing is still the capital and the political muscle of China. If you want to make connections, Beijing is the place to be. Also, BeiDa is world famous and is ranked as the #1 law school in China. The name of BeiDa alone will draw attention to your resume and may be the extra nudge for potential employers to get your foot in the door. Fri, 23 Feb 2007 02:06:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#24889 I study LLM at Tsinghua, the law school next door to BeiDa. I am not aware that there is such regulation requiring the LLM in China to long for 2 years. I think it should not be legislation but rather just a guideline laid by the relevant authority. Actually though the study period is longer, the course works offered by BeiDa are similar to those by Tsinghua both in term of contents and number. I also notice that the course works in BeiDa are for one year and the second year is for thesis writing and internship. In this respect, a gap between these two programmes is really close. Overall, Tsinghua is always ranked the first amongst Chinese universities in all polls. Chinese people also recognise Tsinghua as the national most famous and reputable university. Specifically speaking on the law schools, it is relatively bold to claim which school is the first rank. Even Chinese scholars or students rarely claim their schools as the best one. On the contrary they normally say they are the best in specific field of legal studies. For instance, the best school for criminal law may be Beijing Normal University (Bei Shi Da), public law may be Chinese Political Science and Law University (Zheng Fa), civil law may be People University (Ren Da), etc. Tsinghua as one of elite schools seems to mainly focus on civil and business laws. As such, to claim Tsinghua or BeiDa as the best law school is just a funny bluffing between students of two neighbouring schools. Even Chinese law students in BeiDa do not often really claim that. Further, the modern Chinese law study has just started since the legal reform in 1979 following the open-door policy. More interestingly the first substantive piece of Chinese civil law became into force in 1987 (8 years before Tsinghua law school resumed its operation in 1995). Modern Chinese legislations are very nascent and they could not make any real difference in legal teaching and training amongst law schools. And this supports why the Chinese law schools do not dare to claim as the best in the league. Prior to the legal reform the Chinese legislations were very few and substantially based on the planned economic system. The subjects taught in the law schools during such period were mainly those economic related laws, criminal laws and socialist ideology. However, BeiDa is indisputably recognised as one of the best law schools. Also in fact Tsinghua and BeiDa law schools have very close exchange and cooperation. One course in my LLM was also taught by a professor from BeiDa, whose style made a bit different from Tsinghua pragmatic approach. I personally feel that Tsinghua is energetic, dynamic and pragmatic. I also strongly believe that Tsinghua’s style of hard working, moving fast and adhering to practice would drive Tsinghua law school to sooner leave others lagging behind. Tsinghua as the best in country also aims high at being the world class university by 2020. LLM offered by the law school is one of Tsinghua’s showcases, apart from the MBA offered by the School of Economic and Management. This year Tsinghua encourages other 7 schools to offer degrees taught in English inspired by the models of LLM and MBA. Tue, 27 Feb 2007 01:02:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#25115 The debate between Tsinghua and Beida is an eternal issue for domestic Chinese and now extends to international community! My view is that it does not matter between the two for your job-hunting in China. It can add some value but probably not the key selling point. The real issue is who you know at the southeast area of the Beijing town (Guo Mao & CBD), not your study locations around the northwest side(Zhongguancun). But if you want to have fun in Beijing, that will be a different story. Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:52:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#25293 The Peking University (Beijing University) Law School will start its English conducting LL.M. programme in Chinese Law: http://www.law.pku.edu.cn/llmp/en_01.asp As the university is the best ranked university in China, as well as its law school are best ranked in China too, does anyone has comment on this LL.M.? If you can't speak Chinese, forget about it. All Chinese laws are printed in Chinese and the translated version is terrible. If you did not study Chinese lanuage yet, go to a Chinese language class. Learning the language first would make you in a better position to understand Chinese law. Chinese law is statutory, hongkong follows England case law. It is quite different for this reason. Suggest you going to UIBE to learn Chinese law, international law, Chinese commerical law, because this school has more teachers who came back from US and can speak better English. They have been systematically teaching Chinese law to foreigners. Just my 2 cents. Sun, 04 Mar 2007 18:05:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#25728 Pairot: What's funny is that you say claiming BeiDa is the best law school is bold, but you claim that Qinghua is well known in China for being the most famous and reputable university--are you being hypocritical? You probably aren't aware that the ministry of education requires 2 years for accreditation of an LLM program because that's not something Qinghua touts to its would-be students. This is also something that has been confirmed by professors at other universities also wishing to start an LLM program--it must be two years to be accredited. Therefore, your lack of awareness does not constitute a lack of the regulation. If Qinghua is only one, then it is either not accredited, or it found a way around it (Hu Jintao did graduate from there...) According to the most recent rankings in 2007: " edu.sina.com.cn/l/2007-01-08/1747136912.html Top Law Schools: 2007: 1. A++ Beijing University 2. A++ People's University (Beijing) (same as Renmin) 3. A++ Wuhan University 4. A++ Tsinghua University 5. A+ China University of Political Science and Law (Zhengfa Daxue) 6. A+ Jilin University 7. A+ Fudan University 8. A+ Southwest University of Political Science and Law (Xinan Zhengfa Daxue)(Chongqing) 9. A Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (Zhongnan Caijing Zhengfa Daxue) 10. A Zhejiang University 11. A Xiamen University 12. A Zhongshan University 13. A East China University of Politics and Law 14. A Nanjing University 15. A Nankai University (Tianjin) 16. A Huazhong Normal University 17. A Suzhou University 18. A East China Normal University 19. A Shandong University" Wed, 21 Mar 2007 17:06:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#27461 interesting ranking list, enemy...I always thought Qinghua was #2 but it looks like it is ranked #4!!?! I happen to like my classes at Qinghua, although some students don't seem to be very serious. I think the Qinghua program is pretty good for its second year in existence. I do regret a little not knowing about Beida's program first as I would like to have applied but I don't regret attending Qinghua's program. regarding the beida professor that teaches at qinghua, apparently, (according to my chinese beida spies I met at lush--haha), the civil law professor at beida was going to start working at qinghua law school instead and started the qinghua LLM program. apparently the beida dean didn't like him so made some calls and qinghua revoked its offer of employment to him (so much for illegalizing guanxi in china!) so the civ law professor had to stay at beida against his will. i think because he started the two llm programs, he gets to still teach at qinghua but not as a full time qinghua professor. how's that for messed up? from what i gather it's pretty much common knowledge among the chinese students at beida (and maybe qinghua) so it's not a secret you will "blow" by posting it on here. Tue, 15 May 2007 03:46:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#31481 For those of you at Qinghua (or any other English programme), what were your job prospects like after finishing the degree? Did you work in China? Return to your home country? Did you all have JD degrees before starting? Where did you article? Did you get job experience in Beijing while you were there - and how did they set that up, or how did you get placed? Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:53:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#32956 Hello everyone, I have applied for this LL.M. However, I do not have much information in regards to workload and other such academic requirements. Does anyone have first hand information in this regard to share with us? Many thanks in advance, Psycs Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:14:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#32979 hi psyc Fri, 22 Jun 2007 18:54:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#32985 Hi, shock. Yes, I have already been admitted. I will be going on September, I am just awaiting my admission package. See you there… Sat, 23 Jun 2007 11:18:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#32995 that's Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:13:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#35329 Hello, I'm a italian law student and I'd like to register to the LL.M. in chinese law taught in english of Beijing University. Can anyone give me some infomations about the course, if there is a campus where to live, if it's the most important LL.M. in China and if it's important to find work after the degree. Thank you, Federico Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:59:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#35368 Hi Fedefra Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:03:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#35582 Hi shockresist, i read your post and I thank you for the infos. But i have another question: You wrote "the first Italian lawyer is my classmate" so I ask you if to partecipate at LL.M is necessary to be a lawyer or is sufficient to have a law degree from another law school. Thank you Fedefra Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:36:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#35631 hi, Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:42:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#35686 Ok.. I did not remember this double possibility to partecipate. However, you said that you have an italian classmate, can you ask him if i can contact so I speak also with him? Thank you so much. Fedefra Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:22:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36029 hi fedefra, Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:06:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36030 Hi, how can I do to send you a private message? However my email is federico.fabiano@hotmail.it Thank you very much Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:44:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36052 maybe you'll get that too. Sun, 11 Nov 2007 09:59:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36554 Hey, wondering how this LLM is working for those involved. I spent last summer down the road at Ren Da, and loved it emmensely. Was hoping that the LLM students were having just as good a time. Check out Cro's Nest, best pizza in North (Bei) Beijing. Anyway, some things I wanted to say: 1. Ren Da is obviously the best law school in China, and I don't give a shit what people say, Bei Da is for punks! 2. I have heard that knowing Mandarin is THE MOST important thing a candidate can have when applying for a job, not knowing Chinese law. Thus, if you are not learning Mandarin while studying your LLM, you are screwing yourself. I hope everyone is loving Beijing. I will be moving back this coming summer after I take the bar! Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:31:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36573 uni? Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:45:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36592 Kro's, sorry, is actually kinda a jaunt from Renmin Daxue. It is actually much closer to BeiDa, like on the west side of BeiDa near the Northwest corner of the University complex. I think this is right, I am having a hard time visualizing it. Go to BeiDa and ask the most westernized person you see. Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:41:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36604 oh. okay. haha. ar? Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:18:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36605 I am planning on moving to Beijing to begin practice sometime next fall. I will be taking the Bar here in the states in July, and will need some time to wrap up my life here before I move. I have considered doing an LLM, specifically with BeiDa. My desire to go through with an LLM is very low however for two reasons: 1) I am extremely tired of school, having had no break in it since I was 5yrs old, 2) I have heard that the LLM is not as important if you're practicing in China, and that having the language down pat is the most important thing. I have thus considered going to a language school for a few months when I get there to get my Mandarin up to snuff. Are you doing an LLM at RenDa? I loved that place and would go back in a heartbeat to hang with some of my friends there. I absolutely love Beijing! Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:54:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36644 I am doing the Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:57:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36645 In reference Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:58:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36646 我们能不能用中文写posts？我试一下。 Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:59:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36647 那么好！可以用中文写！：）我的中文一定会有错，不要侮辱我！：） Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:17:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36650 Hahaha, you almost scared me away jumping into characters. I must let you know that my Chinese reading is even more limited than my speaking and understanding. About all I can get out of this last post is "Beijing" and I'm not even really sure it says that! Anyhow, my Chinese is rather poor so I've been working on that with the Rosetta stone program here in my free time. As you said, doing school and language lessons is very difficult, and thus my plan has been to study as much as I can and then take an intensive emersion language program when I arrive in Beijing next fall. Hopefully that will be enough, but if it isn't I will just keep working on my language until I get it right. As far as RenDa goes, I can only tell you what I know from being a student there. The people were all very nice, aside from the occassional stare that is common for westerners. The law faculty was exceptional, as were the facilities if you need to do some studying away from BeiDa. Probably the best thing about RenDa is the Friday evening "English Corner." BeiDa may have something similar, but I haven't heard of it. Basically everyone who speak English for miles around comes to the square at the East gate entrance to RenDa, where they mill about and try to use their English with one another. They especially love when a native English speaker is present. The one time I attended I spent almost three hours talking to an enraptured group of about thirty 20-40 yr old Chinese about America. I also met a very beautiful law graduate who I continue to speak to. Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:01:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36671 my classmate finds it Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:55:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36791 hey guys, i was wondering whether i am eligible to apply for the beijing university LLM program because i am currently doing my undergrad degree in economics and political science, with a minor in international relations. do i have to have a bachelor of law in order to be eligible for the LLM program? also, what LLM programs does beijing university offer (aside from chinese law)? thanks! Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:27:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36803 P Thu, 22 Nov 2007 00:59:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36819 Hmm, I want to do an LLM because I want to become a Lawyer, specializing in either International Law and/or Economic Development in Third World countries. I've heard that Law requires a lot of readings though, so that sounds pretty tough...but I am willing to try catch up (if I can get in, that is, I heard from my relatives in China that Beijing U is one of the toughest to get into). I am definitely interested in the topics you mentioned, especially International Law. May I know the minimum grades required for entrance, and whether Beijing U requires LSAT/work experience? Thu, 22 Nov 2007 00:59:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36820 Oh and by the way...thank you for your answer! =) Thu, 22 Nov 2007 06:19:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36826 P Fri, 23 Nov 2007 08:07:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#36864 I would agree with Shock that a JD will go much further for you than an LLMin terms of getting you towards a practice in international law. Many people look at an LLM as a way to supplement a JD, though I suppose for more academically minded individuals the LLM could be a pursuit on its own. Just understand that an LLM will be worthless in the US without an accompanying JD. Further, as Shock says, without you being a Chinese national, you cannot sit for the Chinese bar (OMG one of my friends just wrote that she passed the PRC national bar and I am so excited for her because the pass rate is so low). I would suggest doing a study abroad in China during the summer of your first year of law school. This would set you up perfectly, along with a course load focused on international law, to one day practice in China. The LLM can wait until you get your JD, and only if you feel unprepared to enter the Chinese legal market without it. Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:44:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#37776 Hi Guys, I was accepted into the Spring 2008 class for the Tsinghua LLM program starting in Feb. I am from Australia and don't have much idea of how good the program is, its reputation (considered by local, HK and also Western standards), and what the courses are exactly like. Also I'm not sure how it stacks up to Beida's program. Can someone please provide some clarity around this? Would appreciate any and all of your insights as I am one confused person! Sorry if you noticed this post in multiple topics since I wasn't sure which one people look at the most. Cheers Sat, 22 Dec 2007 19:05:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#37849 :P Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:40:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#42641 Hi, is anyone applying for Peking Uni's LLM here? I thought I'd update interested applicants on some recent innovations to the program. As you may know, the PKU LLM is pretty new (much like Tsinghua's LLM) so changes are coming pretty quick, in response to student needs. 1. In response to student demand for more Chinese instruction, a new course called Legal Chinese was opened. Each class, we study some Chinese text, do the vocabs and are instructed on the usage of the terms. Then next class, the first our, students prepare presentations in Mandarin using the vocabs we learned. 2nd hour is for new material. 2. The school secured some new scholarships from the Beijing Govt for students based on grades. So study hard! 3. Haha, and facilities are constantly improving. A ceiling-mounted projector was installed in the classroom so that professors can use PPT more efficiently for class lectures. Good luck to applicants! Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:39:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#43012 Hi, I'm actually applying to both Tsinghua's LLM and Peking's. However, I don't quite understand how to make the 800 RMB payment for Beida's LL.M. I understand that fee must be paid and included in the same mailing packet as that containing the application materials. About this, but I don't quite get how. Does anyone know if I can I wire transfer this amount to some account to make the payment? If this is not an option, how else can I make the payment? I'm currently in Mexico and I understand that foreign currencies and/or traveler's checks will not be accepted. Thanks!! Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:24:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#43059 Hi, I applied to both programs. I actually paid the applicatiion fee for both Tsinghua and PKU in US dollars (l applied last year). I wired the money to PKU then attached the evidence of transmission to PKU to my application materials. Have you contacted Laura via llmpku@gmail.com? I'm sure she can give you the details. Just message us here if you can't find Laura! Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:54:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#43140 Thanks population! I did write to her and got a response regarding the account in the Bank of China where I can transfer the money to. However, she said there wasn't a swift code and when I went to the bank, they couldn't find it with the info she gave me. By any chance, do you still have the account info of where you sent the application money? thanks! Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:58:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#43166 hi, i remember i had this same problem when i applied. tsinghua has a swift code right? but pku doesn't have a swift code. i was able to send the money to pku through their bank account without supplying a swift code though. just ask the bank to try it, i guess. oh, laura says the rules changed. they only accept rmb, no dollar this time. Mon, 24 Mar 2008 02:18:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#43675 Thank you so much. I talked to Laura and got all the info I needed to transfer the money. Now its just a matter of waiting for their response! :) Sat, 19 Apr 2008 09:19:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#45970 I was an LLM student in their first year, last year. I have shared some of my thoughts on as to whether the LLM was worth it, in our firm blog, www.chinalawpracticeblog, link to http://chinalawpracticeblog.com/?p=25. Take a look, I encourage you to post any comments or questions you have. Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:50:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46141 Hi, I've been accepted into the LL.M. in Singapore/Shanghai organised by NUS and in Beijing by BeiDa. I'm really happy but I'm in two minds. Any suggestions? Thank you Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:24:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46145 Hi, my colleague was admitted to the LLM in International Business Law last year in NUS too, but last year, it was jointly organized by NUS and ECUPL in Shanghai. Are you sure that the counterpart this time is BeiDa and not ECUPL? Anyway, if it *is* Beida, it seems like this is going to be the first time that this is offered ever. I knew that my colleague didn't enjoy so much some of the sessions in Shanghai which were taught by ECUPL profs, but last year, they flew profs from NUS to teach courses in Shanghai (which I thought was odd, because why have the 2nd segment of the program in Shanghai if NUS profs will teach it anyway?), and she liked those classes taught by NUS profs. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:05:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46262 Hi, is there anyone who received an admission from Beida? I got it the day before yesterday. Everyone in Tsinghua LL.M. program says Tsinghua LL.M. is the best one in China. Their argument is based on financial strength of Tsinghua (Tsinghua has better buildings and facilities, and their LL.M. is well-financed, etc) and overall alumni network of the University (i.e. Current Chinese leader, Mr. Hu went to Tsinghua). Any different opinion here? Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:37:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46264 Hey atty.ed, I'm a student in the program right now in PKU. I have not been to the Tsinghua campus myself, but my classmates who have been there say that the campus is beautiful. I would love to study in a beautiful campus too, but I think we in Peking Uni have everything that we need, like a classroom and a ceiling-mounted projector. Then again, we don't really need lots of equipment for law studies, like lab equipment and such. I would say that the primary strength of the Peking U program over the Tsinghua program is the small size. Right now, we are only 14 in the program, with two short term students, so that really opens up opportunities with interaction with the professor, more time in class to debate points, etc. I would also say that the admin listens to us. The school will help you get internships even during the semester if you want to do an internship while studying, the school opened up a new elective in Legal Chinese since we all said that we wanted more Chinese language instruction after the beginners level class, we have lockers, etc. Stephenlou has a good blog entry in his blog regarding teaching quality in Peking Uni. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:58:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46480 to see the LLM's real life in tsinghua http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqfdhnhgXUw http://www.xn--fiq.com/blog/2006/06/14/go-tsinghua-video/ and that's great Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:38:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46598 Population and s-eric, thank you for your comments and posts. It's very hard to make a desicion... Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:22:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46618 Hey, did you figure out where you want to Tsinghua or Peking? Any other information would be great. Personally, I believe Peking sounds great. Though, the post made by the past student with the link to the article is swaying my opinion. What do you think? Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:41:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46645 Hi murph, where are you from? Did you also get admissions from both Beida and Tsinghua? I've got one from Tsinghua today. Thus, I am at a loss which school I should choose. My Chinese friends who went to Beida law school strongly recommend that I should choose Beida because Beida has much longer history (not LL.M. but law school history), and consequently much better alumni networks when it comes to law school. They argue even many of Tsinghua professors went to Beida. Well...it's really tough decision. Any comments or suggestions? Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:30:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46647 Hey, Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:32:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46648 Hey, I got letters from both as well, send me an email at jb308@kent.ac.uk and we can discuss it further. Mon, 05 May 2008 21:24:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46889 as a Beida (well we the Chinese students are most often use PKU short for Peking University) law school graduate who had studied there for 7 years, i'd say that beida law school and tsinghua law school are doubtlessly the best two law schools in PRC and i personally regarding beida law school as the stronger one of the two, because: 1. beida law school has a history of over 100 years while tsinghua law school is very young, started public recruiting only since 1999 (before that tsinghua law school has several year of "trial operation", only admitting students transferred from other departments of tsinghua). of beida law school graduates there was Wang Tieya, the former judge in international court, who also used to teach international law in beida law school (and some of the international law professor now teaching in beida law school used to study with Mr. Wang), and many other world famous scholars. 2. tsinghua has an obvious advantange over beida in that it has more fund, but i believe buildings and furnitures are not the most important factors in evaluating a university, or law school. 3. as to gerneral reputation of the two universities, tsinghua's strenth in in engineering while beida in art and science and law. they're the best two in china, hard to say which one is the best. tsinghua students are more practical, while beida students are more liberal. hope you may find the above comments useful. i love beida; we all call it out spiritual home. hope you'll love it too. Wed, 07 May 2008 16:05:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46979 Hi, I have got an admission from PKU's LLM and decided to go there. My biggest concern is a house. PKU website says "Students should afford their own accommodation. Peking University Law School will assist the students to arrange their accommodation." I have a family (a wife and a baby). My wife is worried about security and daily management (she does not speak Chinese). How does PKU assist the students to look for a room? Wed, 07 May 2008 17:23:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46985 Hi, congratulations with your admission. PKU will assign a student host to you who will assist you with the search of an apartment that's suitable for you. The student host will have contacts or can look up Chinese language websites that list apartments. I am a student in the LLM program and I have a classmate who is exactly in your situation; he has a non-Chinese speaking wife, only they have three kids. They decided to get an apartment in the central business district rather than an apartment that's closer to the PKU campus (the CBD is about an hour's commute) because he says that there's a larger foreign community in the CBD which does the things that they do (like Church, or Halloween, the Colombian embassy, etc). But you can certainly live near the school and your wife will probably still be able to keep herself occupied. So many malls are being constructed and are opening around school, so shopping, groceries, movies, eating out, karaoke, drinking, buffet will not be a problem. Security is usually not a problem. My US classmate who has three kids here in China says that he feels that there are less physical threats here in China than in the US. No guns are allowed in China, and cops don't carry firearms. :) The payment of bills varies. In the apartment where I stayed before, I got the bill then just went to the bank and paid via ATM. Some of my classmates have rechargeable electricity/gas/water cards, so you just keep charging your card (not sure how this works exactly). ATMS have bilingual instructions. Oh there are quite a number of banks around also near the school, but if you want Citibank, you have to go to CBD. Just a tip regarding house-hunting -- make sure to get an apartment in a new building. A newly built/renovated apartment unit in an old building is NOT equivalent to an apartment in a new building. New buildings generally have good piping, no cockroaches. So if you are sensitive to cockroaches, and enjoy Western style toilets that flush toilet paper, get an apartment in a new building. I cannot emphasize this enough. A good way to tell if it is a new building is if it has an elevator. Wed, 07 May 2008 18:17:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#46990 Hi population, Thank you very much for your helpful advice. Your comments are always informative. Actually, I have got admission from both PKU and Qinghua. Your comment really influenced my decision. By the way, do you speak Chinese? I know PKU LLM program includes Chinese language class, but I think it is not enough. How do LLM students learn Chinese? Wed, 07 May 2008 22:12:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#47003 Hey everyone, I was also accepted to both PKU and Tsinghua and as many of you, I'm currently debating on which program to attend. Do you guys know what are the class schedules for both Universities? I've read about the compulsory classes and what not but I still don't understand wether we'll be in class all day long or however that is going to work. Thanks a lot Ani Thu, 08 May 2008 16:08:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#47070 N&A, Lic.Ani -- private responses sent Fri, 09 May 2008 11:08:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/16468/last#47091 I thought that others might find this response useful, and am reposting it here. N&A -- Peking University LLM offers a basic Chinese language class. We've suggested that a more advanced Chinese language class be offered too, for those who are starting with a more advanced competence of Mandarin. I know that Legal Chinese will be offered both semesters next year. I have been learning Chinese by hiring private tutors, getting language partners, watching chinese TV, reading Chinese novels over the internet, taking vitamin supplements to boost language acquisition, etc. I hope you have also researched other sources apart from the replies I have been posting here! stephenlou has a good article on the LLM program, and a link can be found somewhere on this page. Lic.Ani -- congratulations with your admission! You should post in the "LLM in Tsinghua" website and s-eric will prolly give you a response. Our class schedule is like this: First Semester Monday--nothing Tuesday--9-12something, 2-4language, 530-730something every other week Wednesday--10-12elective, 240-430something Thursday--9-11something, 130-330language, 330-630something Friday -- 9-12something, afternoon is for field work every other week Second Semester Monday--930-1110language, 240-430elective Tuesday--9-12something, 240-430something Wednesday--nothing Thursday--9-12something, 2-5something, 7-9something Friday--9-12something, afternoon for fieldwork every other week