Details

• China
• MAWiRe-21
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

Application: you need a CV and motivation letter. In the flyer/information sheet for Fudan University (LAW) it says that it is difficult to reach the minimum ECTS required for the mobility grant, but that is not true. It is not difficult at all to reach the 15 ECTS for the mobility grant, so don’t let this discourage you. Fudan University was my first choice, and my grade average is not very good. Visa: apply for the visa at the Visa Center in Vienna: you first complete the online application (they usually pre-check it within a few days), then print everything and submit it in person, and pick it up a few days later. Visa cost: 110€. Insurance: I recommend getting extra travel/health insurance, but you will also have to purchase the mandatory Fudan insurance (about 60€). Arrival and transportation: my flight was from Vienna to Shanghai and back also with Austrian Airlines (overall 850€). Plan how you will get from the airport to your accommodation. I strongly recommend downloading Didi (the Chinese Uber) before you arrive, because taxi drivers often do not speak English and misunderstandings can happen (my taxi driver drove me to the wrong adress, so I strongly recommend using Didi). Important Apps: download a reliable VPN before entering China (the WU VPN -> global protect, works well or LetsVPN), and set up Alipay and WeChat, because cash is rarely used and most payments are QR-code based. I connected my Revolut account with Alipay and WeChat.

2. Accommodation

I lived in the dormitory for international students Handan Campus (in the main building, code "0"). I had a single room, which I also recommend, because the double rooms are really small and the beds are literally next to each other. When you choose the room, take an even number because then you get a view of the Shanghai skyline and also choose a high floor number. It is first-come, first-served, and the application window is at 3am and starts only three weeks before the semester starts. So you have to be on time because there are not enough rooms for everyone. And even though the dorms are only for international students, everything is written in Chinese and when I applied I didn't even know what kind of room I applied to, because you need to be really fast, so I just clicked a high number and Building "0". Make sure your credit card really works (turn off geocontrol) because after choosing a room you have 30 minutes to pay a deposit (about 48 €) and after three days you can pay the rest (1800 €). When I arrived, I stayed in a hotel first because I didn't know that it was already possible to move in, because they don't tell you when you can check-in. And when you are there to check in, it will take you about 2–3 hours; it is really chaotic, because the people who are doing the registration don't speak English. I was lucky that a person who knew Chinese was next to me and translated everything for me. It was a great opportunity to meet people because everyone was just equally annoyed by the process. In the rooms there is no kitchen (but each floor has a shared kitchen). There is a dining hall 2 minutes away and the meals are really cheap. Single rooms have a small bathroom, a bed, a nightstand, a desk, a drawer, and a balcony. Don't be surprised when you book a single room and then see your room for the first time and there are two beds, because they also give those double rooms to people who booked a single room, you still live alone but have everything doubled. DON'T choose the sub-buildings (codes 1–9). When some of my friends moved in, the rooms were so dirty it was really disgusting (the shower was mouldy, the drains were full of hair, and there was old food and rubbish in the fridge), and they also have no elevator, so they had to go all the way up to the 7th floor (if you are unlucky). the dorms are 14 min away by car from the law building (walking probably 1 hour). I always went to law school and back by taxi, because it's really cheap (2–2,50 € per ride) and I didn't care. There is also a free shuttle bus between the two campuses, but you need to walk 15 min or bike 5-7 min to the station. Safety: 10/10, because you can only enter the Campus with a Student ID. There are a lot of cameras and secuirty 24/7 which made me feel really safe and also going on a walk at 2am felt absolutely save, also outside of Campus in the neighborhood.

3. Academic life at host university

Beautiful campus with a library next to the law school and two dining halls. In most courses, the class size is usually around 20 students. In my courses everyone was an exchange student; I did not have any classes together with Chinese students. Difference to WU: you don’t have to participate if you don’t want to, because it doesn’t count towards your grade. My Courses (worth 15 ECTS): Introduction to Chinese Law (Prof. XIONG Hao & Prof. LIU Lijun) One course paper (two parts and each 800 words) workload: course paper will take you about 4-6 hours (48h take-home-exam) worth 2,5 ECTS (credited as Ausländisches Steuerrecht in combination with International Law - not sure if both classes were necessary for crediting it) + Course Abroad Class is only two full days before the semester starts Chinese Practice on International Law (Prof. GONG Baihua) Grade: officially 50% class discussion (it was just attendance and one homework) and 50% Open-Book Exam. I think he always uses the same Open-book exam questions: 1.) bring your homework to class and hand it in (20 points) 2.) "Is there law in the international community?" (15points) 3.) "What topic from class was interesting for you? explain the topic." (15 points) workload: very low, both homeworks take about 30min and the only preparation you need for the exam is to download the power point files he will send into the groupchat each week (they expire to download after 2 weeks, so make sure to always download them) worth 5 ECTS credited as FS Internationales Recht + Ausländisches Steuerrecht/Course Abroad Class is once a week for 3 hours. Chinese Business Organizations (Prof. GE Weijun) Garde: 30% presentation (two people and each 15min), 70% course paper (minimum 5.000 words) presentation: make sure to also include a short comparison of Chinese Law and Austrian Law. He always asks that after the presentation. I recommend to just include it shortly in your presentation to avoid questions. course paper: you can choose the topic yourself it has to be related to company law and commercial law; 5.000 words (about 15 pages) worth 7,5 ECTS (credited as Course Abroad) Class is once a week for 3 hours. If I had to choose again, I would choose the same classes. They are not really interesting but easy to pass, all of them were easy A’s.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport: great. around 50 cent per ride (you just show your Alipay QR Code at the entrance and it will automatically charge you when you get out). Even though public transport is really cheap, I mostly went by Taxi (in comparison to Austria: REALLY cheap). Safety: 10/10, I never felt unsafe during my time in China. At Fudan University is a club for everything. In september/october there are sessions were you can try out different clubs. I joined the Archery-Club it was really fun and the people are really helpful and nice. It was 30€ for one semester and you don't need to buy any equipment.

6. Testimonial

It felt like five months of vacation with a little bit of university. I would 100% do it again.