International business

meesh140

Hi everyone
I'm considering studying international business with Chinese and would really appreciate some advice.
I have a few questions....
1. Learning Chinese? How difficult is it? Is it do-able?
2. My main concern - the year abroad
Is it possible to visit home during the year?
Expenses? Are there some grants available? Like how do u survive from day
to day?
Accommodation? How is that organised?
3. The university in china? Are the lectures taught through Chinese or English?
4. What is the drop out rate like in the course? I already failed computer applications and don't want to fail another course.


any other information would be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance.

SB69

meesh140 wrote: »

Hi everyone
I'm considering studying international business with Chinese and would really appreciate some advice.
I have a few questions....
1. Learning Chinese? How difficult is it? Is it do-able?
2. My main concern - the year abroad
Is it possible to visit home during the year?
Expenses? Are there some grants available? Like how do u survive from day
to day?
Accommodation? How is that organised?
3. The university in china? Are the lectures taught through Chinese or English?
4. What is the drop out rate like in the course? I already failed computer applications and don't want to fail another course.


any other information would be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance.

First of all i'm studying Applied Languages in second year and will be going to Spain in September!

1. I have no experience of learning Chinese, as that, along with Japanese scare the crap out of me. But I know the chinese classes are very small - meaning better learning opportunities. Every language is do-able it all depends on how much effort you're willing to put in. I didn't pic Jap or Chi because I really didn't want to learn a new alphabet and I have no intentions of ever visiting either countries. You really shouldn't worry. When learning a language you should look at the things that are easy in it and not the things that are difficult, as you will overcome the difficult things when you get there. Chinese has no verb conjugations like english, for example - In English we say, I eat, you eat, she eats etc. in chinese they only use "eat" - I eat, You eat, she eat. There's very little tenses in Chinese as well.. Like English has over 15.. chinese has less than 5, or something like that. I think it could be 3/4, but I'm not too sure!

2. The year abroad is obligatory. Flights to China from Ireland are pretty darn dear, so if you can afford to return home throughout the year, you can leave during breaks if you wish. When I go to Spain I only intend on returning at Xmas and that's it! You will still be eligible for your maintenance grant if you're actually eligible for it in Ireland. Unlike countries in the EU, there are no erasmus grants available for china to cover the cost of flights etc. This goes for Mexico and Japan as well, but there are special scholarships for Japanese, if you're pretty good at it. The Erasmus grants are generally over €1000 but they're only available for Spain, Germany and France, so you'll have to save up otherwise. China is extremely cheap, that goes for food, accom and general expenses. It is a communist country after all, so you could live off of your grant (if you have one) quite comfortably. China doesn't celebrate christmas, so in regards to christmas holidays, I don't know how that would work. Accomodation is generally organised by the student, I don't know if its the same for china, but I have to organise my own accom for Spain.

3. Yes, the lectures are thought through chinese. Try and find some English speakers, so you don't find it too overwhelming. That goes for every country. The whole point of the year abroad is to be immersed in the language and culture, in order to improve your language capabilities. Don't let this put you off, because you'll have a good grasp of the language come 3rd year.

4. I don't know about the drop out rate. You'll have to talk to the course head about that. If you think you're going to have an interest in the course, then dropping out shouldn't be a problem. Just make sure you're putting yourself in the right course because business and languages are much different than computer applications. Dropping out and the work you put in is entirely in your hands.

Cravez

Just letting you know that all International Business Courses in DCU are being Discontinued. They are however being reformed into a new course called Bachelor of Business Studies - International. There is now less credits towards languages and focuses more on Business (roughly 40 Credits Business 20 credits language).

Iv sent you a PM Meesh with the contact details of the Course Chairperson of the course if you want to get in touch directly as it might be handier.