Details

• China
• BBE-18
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

The application process is pretty simple, and there are two rounds. So, if you do not get into your first options, you have the possibility to apply to the remaining spots. Try to research the destinations you are choosing, such as visa regulations, living costs, means of transport, and just overall seeing if you think that country would fit you. China only gives an X2 visa whenever you are studying for less than 180 days, which means that you only get one entry into the country and cannot travel outside of China for the duration of the semester. That is a good and bad thing, because you can not leave, but also you get to travel within China, which is amazing. The list is long but my travel highlights were Guilin (Yangshuo) and Zhangjiaje. Also, be prepared that if your phone only supports esim you cannot get a Chinese phone number (which you will need for everything there). What I did was that I put the Chinese phone number into an old phone, just to receive text messages and calls, and just used an eSIM for internet only on my other phone (I would recommend going with trip.com, which is the website you will have to use for anything travel-related in Asia; they also have super affordable eSIMs).

2. Accommodation

If there are any spots left, the university may offer you a place in the on-campus dorm, but it is very rare as they are very limited and give priority to the students with Chinese Scholarship. The dorm I stayed in was called International Apartments 1515, and it was recommended to me by my university. It was a private room, with a private bathroom and a shared kitchen (which was shared by the whole building). The location was very good, it had two metro station connections as soon as you walked out of the building, and pretty close to the university (only 8 min by bike). There were a lot of shops and restaurants around the area, and even a 6-floor mall in front of it. Getting to the city centre was also really fast and easy with the metro connections. Overall i would recommend it, it is good for just one semester, and they also offer you a short-term contract so you do not have to pay for the whole year. But if you are a person who really likes to cook and does not prefer eating out i would not choose this option, as the kitchen was very inconvenient and not in the best condition.

3. Academic life at host university

You could find almost anything you needed on campus. There were many canteens, shops, coffee places, bakeries, and more. The campus was so big that people usually biked to get from one place to another. All of our lectures were held in a new, modern building right outside the main gate of the campus, where SEM is located. The course requirements are pretty much the same across classes, so I would recommend choosing subjects that interest you or that fit your schedule best. The canteens are really good once you get used to them, and they are also very affordable. You can choose between buffet-style meals or made-to-order dishes like soups, ramen, and noodles. Make sure to try the chocolate muffins from the bakery in the Beiyuan Diet Square Canteen. The university also offers many sports activities; you can either join groups to play with or book fields yourself with friends. I joined the tennis group, which was really fun, and I could also book courts on campus for as little as 50 cents per hour.

5. Every day life in the host country

Life was very fast-paced in Shanghai. There was always something to do, and days would go very quickly. Public transport was very convenient and cheap. Also, taxis (DiDi) were super accessible and with crazy cheap prices compared to Europe. Sometimes you would pay as little as 10 euros for 1.5hours ride, meanwhile the average for rides within the city was 3-4euros. There were a lot of parties, which were usually free for students until midnight. Also, the rooftop parties were a highlight of the semester, before it started getting cold. The views from these parties were amazing, and the music and drinks were really nice. Also, safety was never an issue; the people are always very respectful, and the city was always clean.

6. Testimonial

Going to Shanghai was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. Although it was hard and challenging at first, it helps you grow as a person. You get to see so many new things and experience a completely new culture. I would recommend going to Shanghai to every student who is currently applying for an exchange. It is a very student-friendly city, very cheap compared to most other places, and there is so much to do. You can never get bored. And along the way, you will meet a lot of people who will become like a second family when you are that far from home.