The International College of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) welcomed its first batch of international students for the 2013-2014 academic year at its opening ceremony held in Beijing on September 11, 2013. 

Academician WU Yueliang extended warm welcome and hearty congratulations to the international students. He introduced the background, mission and the future aims of the International College, and also encouraged the international students to cherish their time at UCAS and to be active in study and creative in thinking.    

This year, the International College has admitted 112 graduate students from developing countries as recipients of the 2013 CAS-TWAS President's Fellowship. Altogether there are nearly 200 graduate students from 42 countries pursuing master or doctoral degrees at UCAS in the 2013-2014 academic year. 

The establishment of the UCAS International College enriches the international environment of UCAS, attracting excellent overseas students and creating a multinational academic atmosphere. 

Rebecca, a representative of the upcoming international students addressed the opening ceremony. "We are both humbled and grateful for granting us fellowship awards to study in this world-renowned university, which has a great reputation and stands very high among the profiles of top performing universities."  

Nnaemeka, a student from Nigeria, expressed his feeling about studying in China. “Studying in China is something I've always dreamed of because it is an excellent opportunity to explore one of the world's most diverse and multicultural countries."  

The opening ceremony ended with a Chinese song "Friends" performed by all international students present. In the next four to five months, the new international students will take Chinese courses as well as other professional courses.