Has anyone on here (non-Chinese) ever studied at a Chinese university?

If so, what was your experience in terms of knowledge gained, difficulty of classes, teaching method, enjoyment, etc?

Also, how would you compare you experience at a Chinese university to a university back in your home country?

I heard that the Chinese utilize a lot of rote memory learning.

I'm an American with a BA degree from YNNU, major was Chinese, minored in Economics and Trade. This meant I didn't have to study classical Chinese, but rather basic economics/business type classes.

I never went to college in the states, but yes, the Chinese depend on rote learning. Almost all the classes consisted of listening to lectures, and then memorizing a few things at the last minute to pass the mid-term and final, which make up 90% of the grade between them.

I studied strictly language classes for 3 years at YNNU before joining a class of mostly Vietnamese students in their third year of study (for a degree), graduating with them the following year. This was probably the most difficult part for me. I was incredibly isolated for two years. All my classmates related in Vietnamese, only talking Chinese to talk to me or the teacher, so it got pretty lonely.

Personally I also reacted to some of the shame techniques the teachers would use in class to try and stimulate my classmates to study harder, come to class more regularly etc. I was never the object of these attacks, but it grated on me just to hear them, many many threats that were rarely followed through on, but made for an uncomfortable environment emotionally.

Knowledge gained? Given the lecture teaching style, the most I can say is that I've got a better grasp of the Chinese vocab. related to economics/business/trade. My oral ability actually went downhill during those last two years of study, since so much time was spent just sitting in class listening, with very little classroom interaction.

None of the classes were that difficult, but I hadn't focused on writing before entering the degree program, so I was playing catch-up. It was quite obvious that almost all the classes were dumbed-down for the foreign students. Generally speaking, I'm told that Chinese Universities are difficult to get into (for the Chinese students) but easy to graduate from. I found this to be true. While I graduated at the head of my class, it was disgusting to see some classmates who rarely even showed their faces in class also able to graduate.

All in all, I'm glad it's done, but wouldn't do it again or recommend it to anyone facing similar circumstances. I should say I met some really good teachers, and have many memories which help to define the culture for me, but it really took a toll on me personally.

thanks for sharing Baiyuxiang.
Does anyone have any experience with graduate programs tailored to international students? I am thinking of the courses at Tsinghua and Peking University.