Frequently Asked Questions
No translation available.
Application and payment related questions:
Visa related questions:
Internship related questions:
Homestay related questions:
General questions:
Application and payment related questions:
A: Firstly please read through the information on our website carefully to find out more about our internships, language schools and the cities where we offer programmes. The prices for our programmes are listed on our prices page. To apply, please click on our apply now page. For internship applications, we will suggest suitable and available host companies, based on your CV, preferred timeframe and preferred destination. If you would like to apply for an internship or several positions advertised on an external website or listed on our internship pages (click here for Qingdao and click here for Zhuhai), please quote the internship reference number(s) at the beginning of your message. If you wish to apply for a package without an internship, please indicate your preferred location and timeframe, as well as your current level of Chinese. We will then confirm your booking pending any further questions you have upon application. If you have any questions about the application process after reading these FAQs, please visit our contact page and get in touch with a member of our team.
A: All participants on our Internship programme have to be at least 18 years old. Internships are mainly provided for students from university / college, but you don't have to be a student to qualify. We have arranged internships in the past for many non-students, including people who haven't started University yet and older professionals who are looking for something exciting to do in China. All participants of our Language Classes or accommodation
must be at least 16 years old. Participants under 18 will be required to include a parent/guardian signature on their contract. Our programmes are mainly aimed at European and North American citizens, although we have also arranged programmes for many other nationalities, such as Malagasy, Australian and Moroccan. We are unable to arrange programmes for Chinese nationals. If you are a Chinese citizen who is looking for an internship or job in China, please visit our corporate site to find out about our career services for Chinese graduates and young professionals.
Q: What is a CV/Resume, what should this include and who shall I address my cover letter to?
A: Please click here to download our sample CV/Resume. Intern China handles your application and mediates between you and our internship host companies, to make sure the right person goes to the best fitting company, so please feel free to firstly address the application documents to Intern China.
Q: What is the procedure after I've applied?
A: Once we have identified suitable host companies, we then forward your application to the companies in order of preference. If a company wants to interview you by phone or skype before making a decision, we will put you in touch with them directly to arrange this. This is also a good way for you to learn more about the company before making a decision whether to take up any offer made by the company. After you have been accepted by the internship company and if you choose to accept their internship offer, we will send you a contract confirming your internship position and possibly also accommodation and/or language classes, depending on your choice of programme. You will then have to simply sign and scan the contract and e-mail it back to us. We will then confirm your position with the host company and send you your Invitation letter and instructions for the visa application and payment. For language class programmes (without an internship), after answering any of your questions in advance and confirming the timing and details of your class and/or accommodation, we will send you a contract to confirm your booking. You will then have to simply scan the contract and e-mail it back to us. If you book a homestay, we will send you the information about the host family at least 3 weeks before your arrival. This information includes how many members the family has, the family's address and some contact data if you want to get in touch with them beforehand. In most cases we will also send you a picture of the family. When you arrive in China we will have an introduction meeting at our office, whereby a member of our team will introduce practical aspects about living in China, getting around the city and introduce you to the sights and activities available during your stay. This meeting is also a chance to ask any initial questions you may have after arrival. A member of our team will then accompany you to your internship host company, if you have booked an internship.
Q: How much does it all cost?
A: Please refer to our prices page first of all and if any of the pricing is unclear, or if you have a request which isn't covered by the packages we offer, please contact us directly. The only major cost for one of our programmes which isn't included in the package prices is the return flight to China. For details on what is and isn't included in our package prices, please visit our what's included page.
Q: How early should I register?
A: Generally the earlier the better, but as a rule of thumb, it is best to apply up to 6 months before you plan to arrive in China. Of course we can also arrange programmes at very short notice, but to make sure a full range of internship companies are available and to leave plenty of time to book a cheap flight and arrange your visa, we recommend a few months to get everything organised. If you are unsure whether you have enough time to apply for one of our programmes, please contact us.
Q: How will I pay for the programme?
A: We accept payment online via PayPal or by bank transfer. Please visit our make a payment page for more details.
Q: Is it safe if I register and book online?
A: Yes. We have brought well over 500 interns to China over the past half a decade and have always taken our bookings online. You payment is 100% secure and our experienced staff in Qingdao and Zhuhai will always be happy to assist with your booking. Any documents you submit to us will be kept 100% confidential. Our principle is to offer you a reliable and professional service and if you prefer to speak to us on the phone or via. Skype, please look up our contact details on our contact page and find out about our team on our team page.
Visa related questions:
Q: How to apply for my visa?
A: Once we have completed your programme booking, we will give you detailed instructions for the Chinese visa application process. This process is surprisingly simple and requires you to fill in one form and to provide documentation which we will send to you, along with a passport sized photo. For more details on the visa application process in your country, please visit the following links:
UK: www.visaforchina.org.uk
Q: Do I need to do a health check for the China Visa?
A: No! This is only necessary for a working Visa. For the internship you will apply for an F-Visa (business visa), for which we will send you all the necessary paperwork.
Internship related questions:
Q: What industries do you offer internships in?
Q: Why are the company names on the list not published?
A: Intern China handles your application and mediates between you and our internship host companies, to make sure the right person goes to the best fitting company. We have worked hard over many years to build relationships with companies in Qingdao and Zhuhai and set up the internship programs at our partner companies in most cases. Therefore we want to avoid applicants finding the companies through our website and applying directly. In all cases the companies would prefer Intern China to deal with the application anyway, as we don't charge companies any fee for helping them to find interns.
Q: What kind of salary can I expect from an internship?
A: This largely depends on the type of company you apply for, how long you are able to stay for the internship and how strong your application is. Some of our internships are unpaid and almost all companies aren't willing to pay interns for stays of less than 3 months. There are exceptions to this, depending on the company. Generally internships allowances are low by western standards, as salaries for local graduates are typically only 2000 RMB per month, so companies do not want to pay foreign short term interns more than their permanent local staff. The low salaries are counterbalanced by a low cost of living in both Qingdao and Zhuhai. Some of our internships, however, are well paid, so please don't be put off if money is an issue. Generally our programmes give you invaluable experience which easily justifies the cost, if you accept a low paid or unpaid internship.
Q: How does the combination of Internship and Language course work?
Q: I don't know any Chinese, can I still apply?
A: Yes, of course! More than half of our participants are absolute beginners. Our Chinese learning programmes are open to students of all levels — beginner to advanced — and there is no previous knowledge required. Our programmes are a perfect opportunity to learn Mandarin Chinese as quickly as possible.
Homestay related questions
Q: Is it safe to do a homestay through Intern China?
A: Yes. We personally visit every family and get to know them before placing interns there. We have offices in both Qingdao and Zhuhai and can assist with any problems or difficulties you have with your family. We have arranged hundreds of homestays over the years and have never experienced a serious problem.
Q: When can I get detailed information about my host family?
A: We will send you the contact information and pictures of your family as early as possible, but at the latest 3 weeks before your arrival, so that you can get to know the family a little before you arrive.
Q: May I cook my own food?
A: Yes, with the host family's permission it is no problem at all.
Q: I am a vegetarian, is that a problem?
A: Don't worry. We have several host families who are vegetarians too and have had many vegetarians on our programmes in the past. Please specify this in your application and we can arrange either a vegetarian family or a family that is willing to cook vegetarian food for you.
Q: Am I allowed to bring some friends to visit me in my Chinese family?
A: Yes, but only with family’s permission. Most of the families are very open minded and welcome some additional visitors, so they can even learn more about foreign countries’ culture and customs. But please make sure that you ask them in advance.
General questions
Q: Is medical and accidental insurance required?
A: Yes. Please make sure that you book suitable travel insurance which is valid for China before you set off.
Q: Do I need any particular vaccinations before I arrive?
A: You don't necessarily have to be vaccinated before your arrival in China. Generally, there are some recommended, but non-compulsory vaccinations for your stay in China: Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus-diphtheria and measles if you did not already have them. For more details, please check: www.cdc.gov.
Q: What should I pack in my suitcase when I travel to China?
A: We would recommend you bring some basic medicines and products with you, although you will be able to purchase most things here and many traditional herbal equivalents. Examples include: eye drops, sun tan lotion, insect repellent, plasters, lip balm, hair dryer, preferred brands of over-the-counter medications e.g. cold, flu and sore throat tablets, travel sickness medicines, sunglasses, vitamins, any prescription medicine (be sure to bring a copy of the prescription with you), and an extra pair of prescription glasses, if you wear them. You may also need to bring a power adaptor for your electrical goods, if your country uses a different voltage/standard plug to China. In China we have a standard flat 2 or 3 pin plug which you will find across Asia, and the electricity voltage is 220 volts.
In terms of clothes, they are very cheap to buy in China so you can pack light, although make sure to bring your shoes if you have a bigger foot because you may not be able to find your size as easily as back home. Girls if you want to swim you should bring your own swimsuit or bikini because you will not find a good choice of western style ones here, and guys if you want something more than a tight swimsuit you may want to bring your own swimming trunks too.
Q: Where should I fly to and how can I find cheap flights?
A: You should consider comparison sights such as www.kayak.com, www.hipmunk.com, www.skyscanner.net or www.opodo.com to get an idea of the cheapest routes, or check through some of the cheaper airlines directly on their websites. The cheapest flights are usually via the Gulf… eg. Emirates, Etihad or Qatar Airways. These airlines are all very comfortable and have good entertainment on board, but take a bit longer though as you change planes in the middle east. Via Europe the cheapest are usually Air China, Finnair, Air France, KLM or Korean Air. There are also budget airlines like China Southern Airlines, Air Asia, China Eastern or Hainan Airlines which you could try. It is definitely much cheaper to book your flight to either Beijing or Shanghai (for Qingdao) or Guangzhou/Hong Kong (for Zhuhai) and book a separate (and usually very cheap) intern flight or even take the train or bus from there to Qingdao/Zhuhai.
Q: How can I access my money in China?
A: Currency exchange and cashing traveller's checks can be done in every major bank, at the airports and across both Qingdao and Zhuhai, for which you'll need your passport with you. It is easy and quick to withdraw money with your EC-Card, Credit Card or Debit Card at any ATM. Another advantage of using an ATM once you're here is that you don’t need to bring a lot of cash with you. If you are searching for an appropriate banks with favourable offers, the DKB (Deutsche Bank) in Germany or Halifax in the UK - money can be withdrawn for free or at a very low rate. For the latest exchange rate, we recommend you check out www.xe.com/ucc. In big stores, you can also use credit cards (Visa, Mastercard or American Express) or debit cards to pay for goods directly.
Q: Can I use my phone in China?
A: Don’t leave your mobile at home because our 'welcome package' contains a prepaid card for your mobile phone. We will let you know the number beforehand so that your relatives and friends can call you immediately after your arrival. If your mobile has a SIM-lock, you can buy a second-hand mobile in one of the small shops in Qingdao. In this case the menu language will be in Chinese characters so ask the chinese shop assistant to switch the language into English for you.
Q: Are there any big cultural differences I should be aware of?
A: Of course there are going to be some cultural differences; that is what makes travelling and international internships such interesting experiences! There are a couple of things you should be aware of, but nothing major that you should worry about:
Tap water in China is not pure enough to drink and so it should either be boiled first or you should drink bottled water which is readily available and cheap to purchase.It is a sign of hospitality in China to ‘force’ you guest to eat as much as he can; therefore it is respectful to leave a small amount of food on your plate when you are finished. In addition there isn’t the strict distinction between starters, mains and desserts in China and so sweet and savoury food will often be eaten at the same time.The chance to speak English is still rare for most Chinese, and so locals will often take the opportunity to talk English with you as a foreigner; it is a great chance to gain insights into Chinese culture and make new friends!
Traffic is bustling in China, and much less organised than in the West, so pay particular attention to road markings and make use of official crossings. For more general information, check out the following links: http://www.chinaculture.org, http://www.chinapage.com/china.html, http://www.chinaknowledge.de
Q: How does Intern China earn its money?
A: We pride ourselves on offering value for money and one of the cheapest programmes available for internships in China. We also feel that we offer something unique and of high quality, but we are well aware that our clients are students and want to make the program affordable for everyone. We make a small profit on language classes, internships and accommodation bookings, but as our group (see www.internchina.org/recruitment) earns more money through other HR activities, we are still able to offer this programme at a low price.
