These areas are the subject of intense debate in China, Gold said, adding that it is unclear whether such courses would be available to the American students.

Gold said the CSC will provide money for transportation, living expenses, tuition, and a small allowance.

The CSC was organized by the National Academy of Science, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Social Science Research Council, Gold said.

The funding for the exchange program will come from the U.S. government, Beemer said.

The CSC, Gold said, is making an effort to send people who know the Chinese language. The exchange committee required a minimum of three years work in Chinese language, he said.

Most of the people he know from other countries who went to China spent most of their time there learning the language, Gold said.

Hofheinz said that Harvard's role in the exchange program had been to distribute information and applications to interested persons.

Some universities have bilateral exchange agreements with Chinese universities, Hofheinz said, distinct from the program Gold has applied to participate in because the universities involved provide funding and handle details.

The U.S. government role in those programs is restricted to issuing visas, he added