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Health and Safety

The following is information specific to the PKU-Yale program that may be useful for prospective students, current students, and parents. For general Yale undergraduate study abroad safety information, please visit the IEFP health and safety Web site.

Health

Medical Facilities

The PKU-Yale staff provides students with information about medical facilities available to them while they are in Beijing. Peking University has an on-campus clinic for minor maladies, while Beijing has a number of Western-style hospitals and clinics that offer emergency services and can address more serious needs. PKU-Yale staff has been in contact with doctors from Beijing United Family Hospital, who have much experience treating foreigners and are aware of the needs of overseas students.

Mental Health

Occasionally, living abroad and experiencing culture shock can trigger emotional or psychological issues or can worsen existing issues. In the event that problems seem overwhelming, we have access on campus to Lani Wang, MSW, an experienced psychotherapist: .

The clinical psychological staff at Beijing United Family Hospital also offers inpatient and outpatient mental health services. There are several psychologists on the staff and all sessions are conducted in English. Dr. Rob Blinn, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, gives a presentation to Yale students during the first week of classes.

Avian Flu
Koster Health Insurance
Yale Student Travel Assistance Program

Safety

Beijing

In general, Beijing is a very safe city; few students encounter any safety problems, and harassment of women is extremely rare. There is little violent crime, but pickpockets can be a problem, particularly in crowded areas. It is also important to be careful while crossing Beijing streets, which can be treacherous due to heavy traffic.

Campus Security

Peking University is an enclosed campus with multiple guarded entrances. Pedestrians may enter freely, but cars must be cleared by the guard on duty. Building 42, the dorm that houses PKU-Yale participants has a 24 hour security guard in the lobby, and the doors are locked during night hours. Students may still enter using their key card. The two floors designated for PKU-Yale students are also restricted by key card access.

U.S. State Department

The Yale-PKU staff monitors US State Department travel warnings and public announcements regarding China and neighboring countries. Yale-PKU staff also recommends that participating students register with their home embassy. Registering with the Consular Section will allow the embassy to contact students in case of emergency. US citizens can register with the American Embassy online by going to the Department of State travel site and clicking on the travel registration link http://travel.state.gov/travel/abroad_registration.html. For other countries, please contact the Resident Director for instructions.

 

Health and Safety