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Chongqing University

China 2019/2020 Partner universities

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Arts

Field of study:
Chinese Studies

Level of study during period of placement:
Bachelor

Language used:
Chinese

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
autumn 2019

Period of placement (from-to):
2019-09-03 - 2020-01-15

Number of months:
4.5

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
At the website of Chongqing University, but only for regular programs, not for language programs like mine.

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
Passport, Medical Report, diplomas from reached education, current transcript of records, confirmation of study.

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
Because I applied through Masaryk University I had to apply at the beginning of January and registration at Chongqing University was 3rd of September, so about 8 months ahead.

Did you need a visa?:
yes

Documents and materials needed for a visa:
Passport, photos, acceptance letter and visa application form from the university.

Length of wait for visa:
Less than one week.

Fee for the visa:
About 4000 Czech Korunas.

Studies
Did you have a Learning Agreement signed before your departure?:
yes

If not, why not?:

Before your departure did you know how your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
No.

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
Yes. Drastically.

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
You can't choose your courses, they're the same for each level, but you can change your assigned level if you want to.
As for optional courses you can choose from a few sent to you by email and register for them, they begin in the middle of the semester. Also you can opt out if you don't like it.

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
Yes, language level assessment exam and then final exams for each course.

Does the school use the ECTS system?:
yes

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
Teachers just talk a lot of Chinese at everyone, following Beijing's Chinese language teaching books, lots of homework, you'll be forced to study lots of new characters.

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
I would say quality is a bit better, but very differently better not directly better. Just because it's all Chinese all the time it sticks a lot, but the way of teaching is so different and sometimes better but mostly probably even worse than at home university.

How did you receive study materials?:
Bought books.

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
Not really, normal courses no choice and optional not very interesting to me and very difficult.

How well is the school library equipped?:
No idea, I'm scared of libraries, but it looked very big and had nice assisting machines/computers.

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
No requirements, just need a smartphone with 微信 and some data or WiFi.
You probably can't really access any computers, maybe in the library or somewhere, and Internet access is quite simple, great data, not that many free wifis. But BEWARE OF CHINESE FIREWALL.

Options from printing and copying:
You don't need to print anything, but you can print some documents you need in the international office for free and if you need to copy materials then there's like a million printing stores around the campus.

Does the foreign school/student organisation arrange special events for exchange students?:
yes

If yes then what?:
International student parties.

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
5

or describe in your own words:
Nothing, you never meet Chinese students unless you actually go out of your way to go meet them and talk to them in the different buildings and such.

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
On international students' campus.

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
500 EUR

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
In RMB. Not Euro. I won't convert since that's stupid, currency prices change.

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
Old and dirty. Take advantage of the cleaning service. You'll have to buy a lot of everyday things to survive.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
About a month ahead.

What are the catering options?:
No idea.

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
Food very cheap. Clothes about the same. Mostly everything 2 or 3 times cheaper.

Transport to location of placement:
Plane and didi or taxi, but be careful to take real taxi outside not the overpriced people inside who want to give you a ride. Or subway, that's how I did it, cheapest but it's pretty difficult at first.

Rough prices for transportation:
Subway 2-8 yuan, didi half the city 35 yuan, bus 2 yuan

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
Use buses subway and didi and for trains and stuff use 微信.

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
Subway, bus, didi, taxi. No bikes.

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
Just visa, everything gets sorted after arrival.

What health insurance did you use? (rough price, advantages, disadvantages, is it necessary to arrange insurance at the university other than your home (Czech) insurance?):
Czech and Chinese, Chinese is mandatory but try to argue to not have it if you can, the Chinese insurance is an actual scam! Try to dodge it!! It's 400 yuan per semester.

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
Yes.

Did you work during your studies?:
No, it's prohibited, you'll get deported.

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
No idea.

Tips for free-time activities:
See everything, try everything, so many cool things to do, just choose. My tip would be to see lots of things in Chongqing.

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
90000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
20000 CZK

Number of supported months:
4.5

Total number of months:
4.5

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
Chongqing university scholarship for partner university students.

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:
Grant from above. About 30 000.

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
4000 CNY

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
4000 CNY

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0 CNY

c/ amount of other fees (which):
0 CNY

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
3000 CNY

a/ of which for accommodation:
500 CNY

b/ of which for catering:
0 CNY

c/ travel and recreation:
500 CNY

Any comments to the average monthly expenditure:
Mostly food and everyday goods.

Recognition of foreign studies at the home faculty
How many credits did you gain during your studies (in the system of the foreign school)?:
22

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
28

Did you know in advance which of your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
No.

What problems did you have with recognition?:
No issues so far.

Overall assessment
Assessment of personal benefit (1 = excellent):
1

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
2

Evaluate the information and support provided by the foreign school (1 = excellent):
3

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
We got scammed by the Chinese insurance company. And without Chinese bank account there's many problems.

What would you recommend to take with you:
Your phone, warm clothes and a big umbrella.

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
The food in the students canteens in the campus is so good and so cheap.

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
That we could never meet the Chinese students naturally, we were so separated.

Further comments: