I am 17 years of age but have already finished high school. Can I apply?
Yes, but you must have been given a formal offer of (and be able to show evidence of) a place at a university.

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I am 18 years of age but won't finish high school until 2010. Can I apply?
No, you need to be of university level education or higher to apply.

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I am 18 years of age and have finished high school. Can I apply?
Yes, as long as you have an offer of a place at university.

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I won't receive my TOEFL scores until May, can I still apply?
Yes. However, if you are accepted your offer will be conditional on meeting our minimum requirements on the TOEFL test. You should send us your test results as soon as you have them.

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How do I select a course?
Firstly, you should read the information about Courses on the LSE-PKU Summer School website. This will explain the prerequisites for the specific course and what the course is about. Then you should be able to decide whether the course is interesting to you and whether you have satisfied the course prerequisites.

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Can I take two courses at the same time?
No, it is not possible to take more than one course at the same time. Each course requires full-time participation in order to cover all the required material, with usually lectures taking place in the morning and classes in the afternoon. We advise students to do up to three hours private study per day to keep up with the fast pace of the course, although this does depend on their ability.

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When do I have to apply?
The closing date for applications is 14 June 2010.

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When will I receive notification from the LSE-PKU Summer School Office?
Once your application is received by the LSE-PKU Summer School Office, an email will be automatically sent to you confirming that your application form has been received and is being considered for approval by an academic director. If the application is straightforward and successful, you will receive decision by email within approximately 10 working days from receiving your application.

If we require any further information from you or need to take up references, this will obviously take longer but we will try to make a decision within one month.

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How is my application assessed?
The academic director will assess your application by looking at your university transcripts, the details you have given about the prerequisite subjects and your English proficiency. It is important to list the text books used on the course so its level can be assessed.

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How quickly will a decision on my application be made?
We are to make decision within 10 working days after receiving your application. Usually we inform you via email of our decision as soon as we make it. The decision may be delayed if your application documents are incomplete or fail to meet what we require. Thus do make sure that you have included ALL the REQUIRED documents in your submission and you have paid your application fees

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What happens if my application is unsuccessful?
You application will be checked by the Academic Director in order to ensure that meets the criteria. If you apply for a course that has pre-requisites and you don't fulfil them, the second choice will be offered instead. In any case you will be informed as soon as possible.

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What do I need to support my application?
This depends on the specific course you apply for. Usually, you need to provide your university transcript(s) if the applied course has prerequisites on your competence, and English exam result if you are not a native speaker.

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Do I need to take an English test?
All applicants whose mother tongue is not English are subject to the requirement of proving their English proficiency. You do need to demonstrate that you can comprehend English to a good standard. You can do this by either:
If you have taken a TOEFL or IELTS exam you need to state your score. Or
If you have learnt English at school or university for a number of years you do not need to take a TOEFL/IELTS exam as long as you are confident that you will be able to understand university lectures and write examinations in English. You should state this experience on the application form or in the form of an accompanying statement.

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Do I need an academic reference?
Yes, but we would only take up the reference if it was unclear from the rest of your application that you would be suitable for the course applied for. If you have been out of academia for a long time then it is more useful to have the contact details of your line manager.

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Do I need to provide an official translation of my transcript?
It is not necessary to provide an official translation of any documents used to support your application. It is sufficient to highlight the relevant prerequisite courses and translate these course titles. However, if you are concerned that your qualifications may be unclear, you should contact the LSE-PKU Summer School Office for advice.

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Do I need to include a letter of reference with my application?
No. Whilst there is space on the application form for you to nominate one referee, it is not necessary to include a written reference. In the unlikely event that we may require more detailed information pertaining to your academic background, the LSE-PKU Summer School Office will contact your referee directly.

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Should I fax a copy of my application?
No. If you do not apply on-line, the only alternative is that you must send your application to us by post. Faxed applications will not be accepted.
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How will the LSE-PKU Summer School Office contact me if needed?
If you supply us with an email address then we will use this method to contact you about your application. Please make sure that you include the correct punctuation and that it is case correct. If the email address you provide is not correct, we will not be able to contact you by email. If you do not have an email address, we will contact you by phone, fax or letter.

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How should I contact the LSE-PKU Summer School Office?
Due to international time differences, it is often easier to contact the LSE-PKU Summer School Office by email. We answer email enquiries usually every day day or within 5 working days. Where an email needs to be forwarded to another department or a lecturer then a delay in receiving a reply may occur.
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How do I withdraw from the programme?
You should immediately inform the LSE-PKU Summer School Office of your withdrawal by email. It is important that you do so as soon as possible so that we can arrange a refund of tuition fees (we do not refund application fees).

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Do I need a student visa to enter China for the LSE-PKU Summer School?
The majority of participants on the Summer School do not need a student visa. As the programme lasts two weeks in length, students usually can enter China as tourists with a tourist visa. If you have any visa enquiries you should refer to the website of the consulate affairs section of Chinese Embassy in your country.

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Are there prerequisites for the course?
Depending on individual courses, some have and some do not have prerequisites. Please check carefully the information about Courses at the website or in the brochure.

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Can I appeal if I am rejected from my first choice course?
You can make an appeal as long as you have additional information to support your application. For example, your application may be rejected because your TOEFL scores are below the minimum required level. If you were to retake the test and achieve the required scores, you should contact the LSE-PKU Summer School Office to have your application re-assessed.

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Can I apply to both the London Summer School and the LSE-PKU Summer School for alternate sessions?
Yes, of course, but you need to apply to each one of them separately.

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What will my timetable look like?
Please see Sample Timetable

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What is the difference between a lecture and a class?
All course participants attend lectures together as a single group. Lectures are usually presented by the Professor(s), and are, in the main, a listening and note-taking exercise, though the exact format depends on the individual teacher. Participants on the course will be divided into smaller groups if necessary for one-to-two-hour classes, which normally take place in the afternoon. Classes present an opportunity to work through problem sets or case studies, present seminar papers and discuss them, and to discuss any problems arising from the morning lecture with a teacher and classmates. Around the world what are called classes at LSE may be known as tutorials or seminars.

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How much credit will I get for taking a summer school course?
It is up to your own university to evaluate our courses and decide the amount of credit you will receive. The LSE-PKU Summer School Office is happy to provide any necessary information to your registry or academic advisor to help them evaluate the courses. Please also see the credit guidelines on our website.

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Can I change course?
Your application will be assessed on the basis of the course that you applied for. In exceptional circumstances the academic director can review the application in order to allow the change of course. Please contact the office for further information.

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When will the final exam take place?
The final exam will usually take place on the last day of the programme (Saturday 21 August 2010) and participants can expect to be finished by 12 noon. Any changes will be announced at the beginning of the Summer School. There are no exceptions to take the examinations at the given time and date and this should be taken into account when booking return flights.

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Do I need to do any reading before the course starts?
It is recommended that you undertake as much pre-course reading as possible. It is in your advantage to consult the bibliography listed on the course description on the website and in the brochure.

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Do I need to buy the coursepack?
Your coursepacks are included in your fees and they will be distributed when you register at PKU. The coursepacks include all the required reading materials of the courses and it is unnecessary for you to look for them by yourself. The coursepack is essential to your work in the course.

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Can I have/buy the materials for another course?
No, the copyright rules for course materials mean that only students registered on a particular course can receive the relevant course materials.

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Can I know the names/email addresses of the other people on my course?
Due to the LSE data-protection regulations, we are forbidden from providing personal or contact details of others on your course. However, students may voluntarily establish their own contacts.

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How much money can I expect to spend during my stay in Beijing?
It is very difficult to advise students how much money they will need during the programme particularly as students do different things during their time in Beijing.

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Do the Summer School courses count towards the LSE or PKU undergraduate programme?
The LSE-PKU Summer School courses do not count towards a degree at the LSE or PKU. The LSE-PKU Summer School is not seen as a way of gaining entry to any UK or Chinese universities, repeating failed courses or a way of graduating quickly. However, the LSE-PKU Summer School courses have teaching and course content based upon LSE degree programmes. Several institutions around the world will recognise the courses for credits.

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Can I attend Chinese language classes?
Peking University Language Centre has arranged ad hoc courses for LSE-PKU Summer School Students. Please see the front page and use the application form provided

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Can I combine a Summer School course with work?
The LSE-PKU Summer School courses are full-time and intensive and we strongly advise that they should not be combined with work. Although there are only approximately 4-5 hours of teaching per day, these hours are fixed and cannot be arranged around work commitments. Furthermore, you can expect to spend 2-3 hours in private study in order to get the most from your course.

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Will I have full access to the library?
All LSE-PKU Summer School participants are encouraged to make full use of the PKU facilities and will be given a library card once they register.

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Am I able to contact academic staff before the start of the course?
You may contact academic staff before the start of your course, but it is advisable to do so through the LSE-PKU Summer School Office. Email enquiries should be sent to lse-pku.programme@lse.ac.uk. If the course leader has provided an email address or telephone number on the course outline, you may contact the relevant person directly. Obviously the academic staff are very busy during term time so please keep correspondence to the minimum or go through the LSE-PKU Summer School Office.

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Can I sit examinations remotely or earlier?
It is against University policy to allow summer school students to sit examinations at a location other than at the PKU.

Please see the description of each course for assessment arrangement, including examinations. Please also ensure that you have read and understood the examination arrangements as we cannot make any other arrangements outside of the exam schedule. The exams will finish by 12 noon on Saturday 21 August 2010 and so the earliest you can expect to arrive at Beijing Capital Airport would be 2pm, subject to traffic conditions. We cannot allow anyone to sit exams earlier or later than the scheduled time even if your flight time clashes with exams. It is also not possible to make any alternative examination arrangements such as taking home exams.

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Can I purchase coursepack in advance?
No. Coursepacks are distributed at the first lecture. If you have any questions please direct these to the LSE-PKU Summer School Office. However you will need to have read those books on the reading list.

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Can I bring my own laptop?
Yes. Full details of the IT facilities and any requirements for laptop access will be supplied with your information pack. Please contact your hotel with any questions about wired and wireless connection in your room.

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When do I pay the tuition fees?
You should pay your tuition fees on receipt of your formal offer letter and invoice. Your place on the programme is guaranteed only once your fees are paid in full. We ask that tuition fees are paid within two weeks from receiving your offer letter and in any case not after the 14 June 2010. If you wish to claim a 10% discount for an early application, then your fees needs to be received by 31 march 2010. Fees must have cleared through the LSE-PKU Summer School bank account before you can register for your course and attend lectures. The LSE-PKU Summer School may reallocate course places in those cases where the tuition fee remains unpaid.

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Can I pay by bank transfer?
The LSE-PKU Summer School Office does not accept payment by bank transfer. If you need any help to organise the payment of tuition fees contact the LSE-PKU Summer School Office email lse-pku.programme@lse.ac.uk.

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Will I get a refund if I withdraw from the programme?
Yes if you withdraw up to the start of the Programme. Please see the refund policy on the Fees and Payments section. If you pay by credit card we can refund the amount back on to your credit card. If you pay your tuition fees by another method we can only send you a sterling cheque for the amount.

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Does the LSE or the PKU offer any financial aid for Summer School students?
Unfortunately neither the LSE nor the PKU is able to offer any financial assistance to the LSE-PKU Summer School applicants.

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Do I have to take the exams? Will I still get a certificate?
You do not have to take examinations if you do not want to. You will receive a Statement of Attendance provided you attend 80 percent of the classes. If you take the exams you will receive an LSE-PKU certificate with your marks.

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Will I get a qualification for taking a Summer School course?
There is no externally recognised qualification (eg ACCA, CIPFA). Students taking a Summer School course may receive credit for taking the course from their own institution. However, you will receive an LSE-PKU certificate on successful completion of the course.

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How do I order transcripts?
You can request a trascript by email to the LSE-PKU Summer School Office. If you want your trascript to be sent to your institution please provide the address where your transcripts should be sent. There is no charge for sending transcripts for the first year after your course has finished, thereafter there will be a small administrative charge.

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When will I receive transcripts/certificates?
Transcripts and certificates of the programme are usually sent out in late September or early October.

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