Duke Kunshan University offers field research programs, including visits to local wetlands. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"The whole idea is to provide a broad base that we think students interested in social sciences will benefit from," Gao says.

About one third of the students on campus will be from overseas.

"We want to have a diverse student body," says Denis Simon, executive vice-chancellor of Duke Kunshan University, adding that the measure is important to make the university global in appeal.

Nick Peoples from the US came to Duke Kunshan University for the "global learning" semester in 2015. Later he enrolled into a similar Global Health program for relevant knowledge.

"I wanted international experience" in studying global health, he says.

Peoples says he enjoys the discussion-based courses, the small-class environment, research opportunities as well as the rapport between the students and teachers.

"The campus is a very closely-knit community. So, we know our professors very well, some of them on first name basis," he adds.

The university will provide its undergraduate students access to its Global Health Research Center, Environment Research Center, Institute of Applied Sciences and Engineering and a computer laboratory. Students can also tap into research opportunities at both Duke University and Wuhan University.

"If students can work in the cutting edge of knowledge, they can bring that knowledge to the classroom, and that can have a positive impact on their overall education experience," says Simon.

The school will also offer merit-based and need-based scholarships to qualified Chinese and foreign students.