2025 Global Journalism and Communication Master’s Program on The Belt and Road Initiative

I. Program Description

1. About BRJC Program

The School of Journalism and Communication, Renmin University of China launched the Global Journalism and Communication Master’s Program on Belt Road Initiative (BRJC) in 2017. The program was officially launched in March 2018. BRJC, a two-year professional Master’s program taught in English, aims at training communication talents with international perspectives, multimedia reporting and storytelling proficiency, and dedication to promoting mutual understanding between different cultures and countries.

The program’s curriculum consists of a variety of intermediate and advanced-level communication and journalism courses, including media history and theories development, media industry, practical skills and research methods. Additionally, the program offers Chinese language training and courses on Chinese politics, economy, society and culture.

In the first year, students focus on coursework, reporting practice. In the second year, students focus on social practice or media internship, and work on master’s theses on practical topics. Students in the program work closely with advisors and other faculty members. All the multimedia production facilities and studios at the school are available to students on appointment basis.

2. Core Courses with Credits and Semesters

Students are required to complete at least 29 coursework credits to fulfill the graduation requirements and theses to obtain the degree. Students are required to take 7-credits public courses, 4-credits method courses, 8-credits elective courses and 6-credits comprehensive literacy courses.

Components	Courses	Credits	Semester
Public Courses	Contemporary Chinese Politics	3	1
	Chinese Language Study	4	1
Method Courses	Methods of Communication Research in Journalism	2	2
	Academic Norms and Thesis Writing	2	2
Elective Courses	Contemporary Chinese Society	3	1
	Contemporary Chinese Foreign Policy	3	1
	Media and Cognitive Research	2	1
	Human- Computer Interaction and Design Thinking	2	2
	Practice and Frontiers of International News Reporting	2	1
	Global Journalism and Communication	2	1
	Research Design in Journalism and Communication	2	1
	Theories of Communication	2	1
	Theories of Journalism	2	2
	Digital Communication Technology and Application	2	1
	History of Chinese and Foreign Media	3	1
	Emerging New Media Technology: Design, Creative and Innovation	2	2
	Socialized Communication	2	2
	Business and Financial News Writing	2	1
Comprehensive Literacy Courses	Communication Effect Measurement Workshop	1	1
	Social Data Analysis Workshop	1	1
	Quantitative Research Workshop	1	2
	News Editing Workshop	1	1
	Intelligent Communication Workshop	1	2
	Research Design Workshop	1	2
Social Practice	Social practice	4	3

[*subject to revision at the start of the program]

3. About the School of Journalism and Communication, RUC

Over the past 60 years, the School of Journalism and Communication at Renmin University of China, known as the ‘cradle’ of the country’s journalists and communication professionals, has graduated more than 10,000 students. The school currently has about 1200 students in its BA, MA and PhD programs. The number of international students continues to grow.

The school has established a tight bond with prominent universities in the US, Canada, Russia, Britain, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The school offers courses in English at the BA, MA and PhD levels and promotes overseas studying for both undergraduate and graduate students.

II. Application Qualifications

Applicants should:

1. NOT have Chinese nationality; Hold a valid ordinary passport;

2. Be physically and mentally healthy; Not have criminal record;

3. Have acquired a bachelor degree or above;

4. Have a good command of English: the overall score of IELTS must be 6.0 or above, or TOEFL score must be 90 or above. Applicants who have obtained an English-taught degree should provide a certificate of language instruction issued by their previous universities. Applicants who are native English speakers are not required to submit English proficiency certificate.

5. Be subject to the additional nationality regulations of Ministry of Education of People’s Republic of China.

III. Application Time

Self-financed applicant:

December 3, 2024- May 31, 2025

Please note:

(1) Chinese Government Scholarship (Type B: High-level Program) applicant: December 3, 2024- February 15, 2025

(2) International Students Office (ISO) of RUC will review the application materials during the application period. Applicants who do not pass the preliminary online review shall resubmit the application materials before the deadline. Late application will not be accepted after the deadline.

IV. Tuition (per academic year) and Campuses

BRJC Program is a two-year program, and the annual tuition fee is CNY 20,000.

According to the university charter, our institution operates across the Zhongguancun Campus and the Tongzhou Campus.

V. Application procedure

1. Online Application

Applicants must log in to the International Students Application System of Renmin University of China (http://international.ruc.edu.cn/application) within the application time, fill in the application information authentically, upload the application materials and pay the application fee online in the system. The application fee is RMB 800. The application fee will not be refunded.

2. Qualification Review

RUC will review the applicants’ information and materials in the application system within the application time. Applicants who do not pass the online preliminary review should re-upload the related information or documents in time within the application period.

3. Mail Documents

Applicants should mail the hard copies of the application materials to the university through EMS or SF-Express within one week after passing the Qualification Review.

4. School Review

After the qualification review, the school will review the application documents. The applicants will get the interview notice if the check of the application documents is done.

5. Admission and Enrollment

The university will publish the result of enrollments from March to July, 2025. Students should hold the admission documents including admission notice for onsite registration in September, 2025. The university will re-check the applicant’s information and documents after onsite registration. If there were any violations or fraudulent situation found, the university will turn down the admission.

VI. Application Documents

1. Application Form for International Students of Renmin University of China (Original)

After online application, the system will automatically generate an application form. The form should be printed and signed.

2. Final Education Certificate

1) Applicants who have graduated should submit the copy of their final education certificate, with the notarization or verification of the final education certificate by the institutions entrusted by the Education Ministries.

2) If the applicant is currently a student at school, please submit the original Certificate of Expected Graduation issued by the current university. The copy of their final education certificate, with the notarization or verification of the final education certificate by the institutions entrusted by the Education Ministries must be provided to the university before registration.

3. Transcript (Original)

Transcript must include a list of all completed courses up to graduating year. If the score is not in centesimal system, an explanation of the grading scale is needed.

4. Copies of the Information Page of the Passport

The applicant must hold an ordinary passport. The validity of the passport must be later than March 31, 2026. If the applicant is currently in China, please provide the copy of the visa page (if any).

Notes:

1) The university does not accept applicants who hold the following documents to apply as international students: "Travel Permit of the People's Republic of China", "Exit Entry Permit of the People's Republic of China", "Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents", "Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents", "Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao/Taiwan Residents of the People's Republic of China", etc.

2) Applicant is not allowed to change the passport or personal information from the date of application until 3 months after onsite registration. The personal information includes name, gender, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and etc. If it was unavoidable to change your passport or personal information due to extremely special circumstances or force majeure, a written application should be submitted to the University for the Consent from the university. If the identity documents and personal information submitted by the applicant did not match the personal information provided during the application and admission process, the university will turn down the enrollment procedures.

5. Two Recommendation Letters

Two recommendation letters from two professors or associate professors written in Chinese or English are mandatory. The recommendation letters must contain the signature, name, position, work unit, and other information of the recommender of the referee.

6. Personal Statement and Study Plan

The personal statement and the study plan shall be written in English. It provides an opportunity for you to present yourself including personal study and work experience, academic research achievements, research plans, career planning after graduation, etc.

7. Foreigner Physical Examination Form (Original)

The Foreigner Physical Examination Form should be the original document in English or Chinese. The template of Foreigner Physical Examination Form can be downloaded on the website of International Students Office (http://iso.ruc.edu.cn/ENGLISH/Download/ApplicationDocuments/index.htm). The applicant should go to local authentic hospital for physical examination in strict accordance with the items specified in the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. A physical examination form missing items, photo, cross-page seal, signature of the doctor, and the seal of the hospital is considered invalid. The validity of The Foreigner Physical Examination Form is 6 months.

8. English Proficiency Certificate

The overall score of IELTS must be 6.0 or above, or TOEFL score must be 90 or above. Applicants who have obtained an English-taught degree should provide a certificate of language instruction issued by their previous universities. Applicants who are native English speakers (including those of Chinese descent born in foreign countries) are not required to submit English proficiency certificate.

9. Proof of Economic Capability (choose one of the following)

1) The Employment & Income Certificate of the applicant or the guarantor

2) The Bank deposit of applicant or the guarantor should be no less than RMB 30,000.

10. Statement of Guarantee (Original)

The template of the State of Guarantee can be downloaded from the website of the International Students Office (http://iso.ruc.edu.cn/ENGLISH/Download/ApplicationDocuments/index.htm). The Statement of Guarantee should be signed by the economic guarantor.

11. Certificate of No Criminal Record (original or notarized copy).

1) Applicants who are currently not reside in Chinese mainland should offer the certificate issued by the local public security department.

2) Applicants who are currently reside in Chinese mainland should offer the certificate issued by entry and exit administration departments of China.

The Renmin University of China Commitment Letter for Non-Criminal Record on International Students Office website is not for the Master Programs in English, and it cannot be used as the Certificate of No Criminal Record.

12. Nationality Proof

According to the Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Letter No.12 [2020] of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, some applicants shall provide additional materials as National Proof Documents.

13. Other Supportive Documents

Copies of published academic papers, awards or other research results may be attached if necessary.

Matters needing attention: All application documents shall be in Chinese / English. And all application materials will not be returned once submitted.

VII. Scholarships Application

1. Chinese Government Scholarship Type A: Bilateral Program

The applicant should first apply to the dispatching authorities for overseas study of your home country, such as Chinese embassies and consulates abroad or other organizations. Applicant should log in to the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System (https://studyinchina.csc.edu.cn), and fill out the application form and choose Type A. The first choice of the university should be Renmin University of China.

The dispatching authorities will send the application information to the university to decide whether the application can be approved by qualification and interview.

2. Chinese Government Scholarship Type B: High-level Program and Silk Road Program

The applicant should apply to the university and the Chinese Scholarship Council at the same time while applying for the master program. Applicant should log in the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System (https://studyinchina.csc.edu.cn) and fill out the application form by choosing Type B, High-level Program or Silk Road Program. Agency number of Renmin University of China is 10002.The final name list will be issued by the China Scholarship Council. The application period and enrollment guide will be further notified.

3. Beijing Municipal Government Scholarship

The scholarship will provide tuition reduction to the students for the first academic year accordingly. The application requirements and procedure will be further notified.

4. The School of Journalism and Communication Scholarship

The School of Journalism and Communication will set up scholarship for BRJC students to assist partial tuition, depending on the comprehensive evaluation of applicants. The scholarship cannot be obtained with CGS or any other scholarship at the same time, and it cannot be used to waive tuition fee. Details will be informed before registration.

NOTE

Your application to our program does NOT constitute an automatic application for the CGS or any other scholarships, and our program administration and admissions team is NOT involved in any award decisions for scholarships. Your success depends on the competitiveness of your application, which you directly submit to the according authorities.

If you want to apply for the CGS Type A, please submit your application directly to the China Scholarship Council branch responsible for your home country (this is usually the Chinese embassy). Please also note, that Chinese embassies in different countries may set slightly different application deadlines for this scholarship, so please contact the according authorities well ahead of time.

VIII. Contact

1. Contact information of international Student Office

For any question or inquiry about application materials, scholarship information, registration fee, etc., please consult the International Students Office.

Tel: 86 10 62512698

Fax: 86 10 62515343

Address: Room 108, International Cultural Exchange Center,

Renmin University of China, No. 59, Zhongguancun St.,

Haidian District, Beijing, China

Post Code:100872

E-mail: admission @ruc.edu.cn

Website: http://iso.ruc.edu.cn

2. Contact information of School of Journalism and Communication

For any question about the BRJC program, please consult our program admissions team.

E-mail: 20180046@ruc.edu.cn;dixinyue@ruc.edu.cn