Details

• China
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

Preparation for the exchange mainly involved visa processing and staying on top of communication, as the university sends out many emails with specific deadlines for submitting different documents. I'd strongly recommend reading these thoroughly and completing all requirements as early as possible. One important tip: the mandatory health check should not be done in Austria, even if recommended, since it is often not accepted as valid. Getting it done in China instead is both accepted without issues and significantly cheaper.

2. Accommodation

The university provides student housing, with applications opening around one month before the semester starts. Dormitory rooms are small and shared with one other person, with communal toilets and showers on each floor. The dormitories also include study rooms, activity rooms, and a small gym. The cost is very reasonable with around €200 per month. Payment is required upfront, and residents are allowed to stay until mid-July. If you leave earlier, the remaining amount is reimbursed. Most of the dormitories available for selection are located in the northern part of campus. One tip: avoid building 23 of the Zijing dormitories if you can choose otherwise.

3. Academic life at host university

Tsinghua offers a wide range of courses to choose from, with workloads varying significantly, from very light to quite heavy. Economics classes in particular tend to be more demanding, while most other classes are fairly reasonable. Grading also varies a lot between courses: some are graded purely on participation and presentations, while others involve difficult exams, occasionally even bell-curved. Overall, I had very interesting lecturers throughout my exchange.

5. Every day life in the host country

Tsinghua offers outstanding sports facilities, along with clubs for almost every imaginable sport, from climbing to curling to swimming. The campus itself is huge and functions almost like a small city, with canteens, restaurants, and supermarkets. The canteens in particular are extremely affordable, with a full meal costing less than €3. Most people get around by bike. I bought my own, though the free "Didi-bike" bike-sharing service is also available everywhere on campus once you register through the mobile app. Beyond campus, exploring the city and surrounding areas is highly rewarding, and I'd definitely recommend also exploring other cities using China's high-speed rail network.

6. Testimonial

I had an amazing time and met wonderful people from all over the world. Campus life was fantastic, and exploring both Beijing and other cities made the experience even more memorable. Looking back, this exchange definitely exceeded my expectations.