Language courses abroad

The programme is open to all students and recent graduates (within 12 months of graduation) from Università Cattolica.

No prior knowledge of the Chinese language is required: the courses cover all levels, from complete beginner to advanced.

• Fall 2026: Applications are closed.

Applications for the Spring 2027 intake are expected to open in October, while those for the Summer 2027 intake will open from January 2027.

Fall 2026

* NB: The 4-week course (option A) is not suitable for absolute beginners.

Apply here

Departures are scheduled at three points during the year.

Courses take place in the following periods:

• Spring: March - June (courses duration: 4 weeks, 12 weeks, or one semester)
• Summer: July - August (courses duration: 4 weeks, 6 weeks, or 8 weeks)
• Fall: September - January (courses duration: 4 weeks, 12 weeks, or one semester)

Details for Spring 2027 and Summer 2027 will be published in the coming months.

Courses are available for all levels, from complete beginner to advanced.

Before departure, each student must take an online placement test to determine the most appropriate level.

The 4, 6, or 8-week courses only offer the regular option, consisting of 20 hours per week.

The 12-week and semester courses offer both the regular option (20 hours per week) and the intensive option (30 hours per week).

• Regular course (20 hours per week): classes from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
• Intensive course (30 hours per week): classes from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.

The courses are intended for international students and are taught by native-speaking instructors specialised in teaching the Chinese language.

Each class will consist of approximately 20 students.

We recommend staying in Building 17 or at the Conference Center (single, double, or quadruple rooms). In these dormitories, rooms are equipped with a private bathroom and a shared kitchen on each floor. Each floor is also fitted with coin-operated washing machines and dryers. The accommodations are located on campus, just a few minutes’ walk from the classrooms where lessons take place.

Booking accommodation is the student’s responsibility and must be done independently through the BLCU portal once enrolments have closed. Enrolled students will receive all the necessary information on how to proceed during the first meeting with Cattolica International, scheduled in the days following the close of enrolments.

Find here all information about the different options of accommodation available.

The campus BLCU is located in the university district of WuDaoKou, about 15 km from Tiananmen Square – considered the city centre – and 35 km from the international airport.

Numerous facilities are available on campus, including:

• Libraries
• Bookshops
• Shops and minimarkets
• Canteens
• Cafés and restaurants (Chinese, Japanese and international cuisine)
• Sports centre (indoor swimming pool and gym, running track, basketball, tennis, volleyball and football pitches)
• Bank (currency exchange and cashpoint services)
• Health Centre
• Post Office

Access procedures for the various facilities can be verified directly on campus.

The cost of the programme varies according to the chosen option and type of accommodation.

• Programme fee (non-redundable): to be paid at the time of registration for the programme; it includes:
  • Orientation and support during the registration phase for courses at BLCU
  • Pre-departure assistance
  • 24/7 active Italian emergency number during the stay abroad
  • Assistance upon return, regarding the validation procedures of exams taken abroad
  • Application fee
  • Health insurance for the duration of the programme and Safety App
  • Post-return self-assessment session “Welcome Back: unpack your experience!” organised by Cattolica International
• Tuition fee: to be paid directly to BLCU; it includes:
  • Chinese language course of 20 or 30 hours, with final exam
  • Teaching materials
  • Certificate of attendance
  • Access to all BLCU campus facilities
• Accommodation: to be paid directly to BLCU. The cost of the accommodation depends on the type of room and the dorm. You can verify the prices here.

The following are not included in the programme cost and are therefore the responsibility of the student:

• Return flight to/from Beijing
• Visa issuance costs (approximately €150)
• Room deposit of approximately 600 CNY, to be paid at check-in (refundable if no damage occurs to the accommodation facilities)
• Meals (the BLCU campus has a student canteen and numerous bars, restaurants, and supermarkets)
• Any personal expenses during the stay abroad

NB: We recommend purchasing the flight only AFTER completing the application on the BLCU website and receiving the admission letter.

In the event of being unable to depart, the programme fee payed to Cattolica International is not refundable.

It is the responsibility of the student to verify if the tuition for the programme and for the accommodation are refundable.

All students who take part in the programme as their first international experience will receive, upon return, 1 additional CFU (university credit) for International Activities.

Students from the Faculty of Linguistic Sciences may request recognition of the oral mid-term Chinese language exam by completing, prior to departure, the study plan abroad and the programme plan.
Detailed instructions regarding the specific recognition procedures will be available after registration in the Documents section of the student’s dashboard on the international mobility portal.

1. Attend an info session.
    
2. Complete the online application: during the application process you will be asked to confirm your personal details and upload a copy of your passport, which must have at least 6 months’ remaining validity. If you need to renew or apply for a new passport, please contact our offices. Select your preferred option and make the payment for the programme fee.
    
3. Select the chosen option and pay the application fee.