The public courses are offered by the International College and are mandatory to all foreign graduates at Zhejiang University

                Basic courses teach the fundamentals in conducting research with lessons on how to do fieldwork, writing academic papers and reports. These courses should prepare students for the initial phase of their thesis. Basic courses also consist of a series of comprehensive lectures on various Chinese topics given by ZJU professors and visiting professors with comprehensive knowledge and expertise within certain areas of China.

                In addition to the public and basic courses, all students can also take module courses to fulfil the required credits for their graduation. Students can choose either to follow one specialization or combine courses from different specializations in line with their academic interests. One-year students are required to take at least 12 credits in module courses, while two-year students are required 16 credits. Courses with * are taught in Chinese).

                It is a fundamental component of the MCS program that students engage in the Chinese language both in- and outside of the classes. The Mandarin Electives provide the framework for students to improve their Chinese proficiency and it is a necessary complement to broaden and deepen the understanding of the contents from the module courses. Mandarin courses are provided at elementary, intermediate, and advanced level: