Program Reviews

Finished uni in Sydney and had no idea what to do next. I didn't want a normal gap year of just backpacking — I wanted something that would actually help my future. GAC's gap year program was perfect.

I spent 6 months in Beijing: interned at a marketing agency in the mornings, studied Mandarin at BLCU in the afternoons, and explored China on weekends. The team arranged everything — my internship, classes, shared apartment with other interns, even weekend trips to the Great Wall and Xi'an.

My Mandarin went from zero to holding conversations. My internship gave me real experience I still use in interviews. And the friends I made are from all over the world.

If you're Australian and thinking about a gap year, skip the usual backpacking route. Do something that builds your future. This was the best decision I ever made.

As a software engineering graduate from Poland, I wanted hands-on experience in AI and machine learning. GAC placed me with a tech startup in Shenzhen — China's Silicon Valley. I worked on real projects, building algorithms and optimizing code alongside experienced developers. My Mandarin was zero, but the team spoke English, and weekly lessons helped me get by. The apartment was modern, and the 24/7 support team was always available. Within two months of returning home, I received two job offers — both mentioned my China experience as a key differentiator. If you're in tech, this is the program.

My 16-year-old son spent 6 weeks in Beijing with GAC's high school program. We were nervous sending him alone, but the homestay family treated him like their own child. He studied Mandarin in the mornings and went on cultural tours in the afternoons — the Great Wall, Summer Palace, and even a visit to a local high school. He came home speaking more Chinese than after two years of classes here, and with a second family in China. The 24/7 supervision gave us total peace of mind. Highly recommend for any teen wanting a real cultural experience.

Interning in Shanghai with GAC completely changed my career. They set me up with a PR agency, and I got to work on actual campaigns for global brands. My mentor showed me how Chinese media really works and how people there think as consumers—stuff you just don't get from books. The team sorted out everything: my visa, a place to live, even getting a bank account. Three months after I got back to Spain, I landed a job in international business development. Every interview I had focused on my time in China. Honestly, it was worth every euro.

I’m honestly loving the GAC homestay Chinese program this semester! Living with a host family is such a fantastic experience—I get to practice Chinese nonstop in real daily conversations, not just in class. The teachers are attentive and professional, providing detailed feedback instead of just simple praise, and the immersive environment really speeds up my progress.

My host family is warm and welcoming, always sharing delicious home-cooked food and interesting local customs with me. On weekends, there are all kinds of cultural activities, city tours and family-style outings that let me experience authentic Chinese life deeply. I’ve not only greatly improved my listening and speaking skills, but also learned a lot about traditional culture and social manners.

Everyone here is friendly and helpful, from the teachers to the host family. I’ve made many nice friends and truly felt at home in China. This program combines language learning, cultural experience and daily life perfectly. It’s been an amazing journey of growth, and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

I’ve been absolutely loving my time in the GAC program this semester more than I ever expected! The personalized Chinese learning here is nothing like traditional classes—our teachers tailor the lessons to our own learning paces and weaknesses, focusing on the parts we struggle with instead of following a rigid textbook. Every class is full of interactive speaking practices, so I never feel nervous to speak up and my oral Chinese has gotten so much more fluent in such a short time.

What’s more, the internship that comes with the program has been such a valuable eye-opener. I’ve gotten hands-on experience with real business tasks, learned how to collaborate efficiently with team members, and picked up so many practical work skills that you can never learn from books. The mentors here are incredibly patient, always willing to guide me through challenges and share their professional insights.

I highly recommend GoAbroadChina for anyone looking to intern and immerse themselves in China. From start to finish, their internship program in Shanghai was seamless, thoughtful, and incredibly rewarding.
They matched me with a host company that aligned perfectly with my major, giving me real, hands-on professional experience that boosted my career skills significantly. Beyond the internship, the program included structured Mandarin classes that helped my Chinese improve dramatically in just three months. What's amazing is, on weekends, they organized wonderful trips to ancient water towns around Shanghai, letting me experience authentic Chinese culture firsthand.
My three months in Shanghai were full, meaningful, and eye-opening. The GoAbroadChina team was supportive, responsive, and truly cared about making my experience great. This program balanced professional growth and cultural immersion perfectly, and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Interning in Shanghai through GAC was honestly a game-changer. I joined a marketing startup and had real responsibilities from day one, which pushed me to grow fast. GAC handled everything—visa, housing, support—so I could focus on the experience.

Over time, I got much better at working with people, communicating in a business setting, and understanding how things actually run in the workplace. The small Chinese classes helped a lot too—my speaking improved way more than I expected.

On top of that, having international experience in a fast-growing market really made a difference—I’ve already seen more job opportunities come my way.

Overall, super grateful for the experience. Couldn’t have asked for a better setup.

I spent three months studying Mandarin at BLCU, and honestly, it was unforgettable. My host family treated me like one of their own—every night they cooked traditional dishes and patiently helped me practice Chinese at the dinner table. The classes were serious, but I actually had fun. The teachers really cared about how each of us was doing, and I started out not knowing a single word. By the end, I could chat with locals, order food, and even haggle over prices at the market.
Whenever I needed anything, the GAC team was right there to help. Visa stuff? Sorted. Weekend trips? They always had great suggestions. I feel like this whole experience flipped my world upside down in the best way. I’ve already told three friends to sign up with GAC, and I totally recommend it.

Interning in Shanghai was life-changing. GAC placed me with a marketing startup where I got real responsibility from day one. The team handled everything — visa, housing, support. Came back with job offers. Russia is also one of the world's competitor market for job seekers and newly graduated. Definitely helped with getting many job offers cause many Russian employers prefer the graduates with experience from the world's rapidly growing country. Thanks to Go Abroad China for all the support along the journey.