Beijing Normal University

The MA in Comparative Education for International Students is a unique course offered by the International and Comparative Education Research Institute at Beijing Normal University with support from the Institute of International Education at Stockholm University. This course, with generous financial support from the Chinese Government,is designed to enhance educational and cultural exchange between China  and other countries, and to train talented individuals who can contribute to globalization and internationalization in the fields of educational management, leadership and policy-making worldwide.

The MA course in Comparative Education for International Students is modeled on the core-course system designed by the Institute of International Education at Stockholm University. This system has a proven track record of effectiveness in training of over 30 years, and the course at BNU is focused on a series of contemporary educational topics that are relevant to all countries, especially developing nations.These include promoting educational equality, high quality education,education for sustainable development and ICT education. Based on the rich international resources of Beijing Normal University, it has a strong team of professors and faculty members, and aims to become a high quality and world-class international course.

Tuition and Fees
Tuition: RMB 50,600 (for 2 years)
Living expenses in Beijing:
On-campus lodging: RMB 1,800-2,700 per month
Other expenses: RMB 1,700 per month on average
Health Insurance: RMB 600 per year

The Aims of the Course
The MA in Comparative Education for International Students aims to train talented individuals from all over the world so that they will develop a deep understanding of educational theories and acquire a wide knowledge of fundamental trends in educational reform and development worldwide. The course aims to meet the demands of the international labor market by training individuals who have highly developed international communication and educational management skills, and will go on to work in international organizations, governmental authorities, NGOs and related areas.

The objectives of the MA in Comparative Education for International Students include:

Educational Knowledge: understanding theories and methodologies of comparative education, major trends in international educational development and educational practices in various nations. 
Educational Abilities: to possess an international perspective when analyzing issues of educational policy, management, leadership and evaluation, to identify similarities and differences in education in various countries and areas, to summarize the universal characteristics of educational development worldwide, and to learn from international experience in educational practices. 
Educational Attitudes: developing an approach to analyzing international experience consciously and critically, maintaining an open mind to rich and diverse educational practices worldwide and respecting the unique characteristics of educational practices in various countries and regions.  
course Requirements
The MA in Comparative Education for International Students requires the completion of a number of credit modules and a MA thesis. As a unique feature of the course, it allows students to use knowledge and abilities developed through their taught modules to examine an issue relevant to their own professional lives or interests. In this way, the course aims to develop effective managers and leaders in education.

Credits: At least 34 credits are required (1 credit equals 18 class hours),including 8 core courses (2 credits for Chinese History and Culture and for an Internship respectively; 3 credits for others. 22 credits in total), and at least 3-4 elective courses (1-2 credits for each course. 6 credits in total).In addition, 1 MA thesis is required, for 6 credits. No fees will be charged for additional credits.

Mid-Course Examination: Master’s degree candidates must first pass the mid-course examination at the beginning of the third semester, and may then proceed to the MA thesis-writing period. Candidates should complete at least 18 credits in the first academic year and submit a thesis proposal, to be examined and approved by their supervisors. An examining group is responsible for the examination of the thesis proposals. Those who fail to pass the examination will have the opportunity to apply for a second-round examination if they have the support of the examining group and their supervisors. If the proposal fails to pass the second-round examination, the candidate will not be permitted to continue the course.

MA Thesis: After enrollment in the MA in Comparative Education for International Students, the candidate should select a theme for thesis study under the direction of his/her supervisor. We encourage candidates to pursue topics relevant to their own professional backgrounds and interests. The final MA thesis should be written in English and the length of the thesis should be 60-80 pages (Times New Roman 12 point font and 1.5 line spacing). A final thesis defense is required.

It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that his/her proposal passes the thesis proposal examination in the third semester, to submit a complete version of the thesis to the supervisor at the beginning of the fourth semester,and to submit a final version of the thesis for assessment and attend the oral defense in May of the fourth semester. The oral defense committee will assess the theses and grade them on a scale from A to F according to their qualities. The University’s Degree Evaluation Committee will finally decide whether to bestow Master’s degrees upon the students.
Duration: The MA in Comparative Education for International Students isa 2-year course and students should complete their courses within 2 years.Graduation cannot be postponed or deferred and scholarships cannot be extended or increased. Suspension of study (and of the scholarship) will be offered according to relevant regulations, only if a candidate has exceptional circumstances which prevent continuation of study, such as health problems.The suspension shall not be longer than 1 year.