Russel Group University first to accept Chinese qualification
The GAOKAO exam is the Chinese equivalent of A-Levels and will now be an accepted form of results for students wishing to attend the University of Birmingham for an undergraduate course in 2019.
University of Birmingham Vice-Chancellor David Eastwood said: “We are further opening access to Birmingham’s wealth of educational opportunities for the brightest and most dedicated Chinese students by accepting this rigorous and important qualification. I look forward to welcoming these high-flying students to the University of Birmingham.”
The Gaokao exams are taken in June, similar to the British higher education exams, and sees students tested in Chinese, Maths, and a foreign language.
A spokesman for the University of Birmingham said: “Gaokao is increasingly accepted by universities in Australia, the USA, Canada and mainland Europe. Birmingham will only be considering high quality students who achieve a minimum 80 percent Gaokao score and meet additional academic and English language requirements.”
The entry requirements vary depending on the region that a Chinese student lives in.
The University of Birmingham has strong links to China in both exchange programmes and the China Institute that is hosted within the university.
The university is connected to Fudan University, Nottingham University Ningbo Campus, and Shanghai Jiaotong University.
Chinese students also come to the UK to study at the University of Birmingham and applaud the cities diversity.
Yuyao Wang, a post-graduate student, said: “Birmingham is a city that offers diversity. It blends different cultures and welcomes them all. You can find all kinds of things you need in the city centre, and it is also easy to visit other cities from Birmingham because of its great location and excellent rail network.”
The China Institute aims to encourage a greater understanding of China and its place in the world. This is done by encouraging collaborative research, hosting Chinese colleagues and partners, and raising the profile of work undertaken in China and the UK.
Professor Jon Frampton, Director of the University of Birmingham’s China Institute said: “The University of Birmingham has a long history of educating students from China and one of our most famous graduates is Li Siguang — the founding father of Chinese geology.”
