Mobility specification

Country:China

Institution:Shanghai International Studies University

City:Shanghai

Program:Selections and quotas

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2022/2023

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts / Center for Chinese Studies

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?neutral

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?Basically, it was necessary to enroll in as many courses as possible, which meant enrolling in all available electives to get 20 MUNI credits, since these were electives equivalent to D. But that wasn't a problem, more or less those electives were online for online tests and homework.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Probably not surprising, we had Chinese 8-12 approx every day plus online electives. The teachers were amazing and the lessons were meaningful, you learned. But we went at a very fast pace, at MUNI we got through 1 textbook per semester, so about 20 lessons, at SISU we got through like 2 textbooks per semester or so, or half that we finished the next semester.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?I came in at the time of covid when everything was cancelled and closed and we were online for the first semester, so I can't quite tell, but it's definitely being done today - welcome parties, different student societies....

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?I haven’t noticed

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:10000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?I didn't have to pay for accommodation or school, so it was purely my personal expenses. It could have been even cheaper, but I didn't eat in the cafeteria, but I ordered food, took taxis a lot, not the subway, fitness, shopping, etc...

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Eat at local Chinese restaurants, buy a bike pass and shop through PinDuoDuo not TaoBao.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?with gestures

How does public transport work in the city?runs like clockwork

And what about transport outside the city?runs like clockwork

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Baidu app - maps but also transport, everything, Chinese apps Ctrip and Qunar (but Chinese versions) for tickets, but you can find train, plane and accommodation tickets perfectly fine via wechat ! Subway and bus ticket also in the Alipay app, also taxis directly via wechat or alipay - search DiDi. Add your school card to your apple wallet or metro card and recharge it only on your mobile and just tap your mobile when you ride public transport.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?yes

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?perfect

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Shanghai is not such a touristy city, you can get through the main tourist attractions pretty quickly. I haven't even walked a lot of them yet because I found the tickets expensive and you can find an alternative. Do you want to go to the Pearl Tower? You better go to the bizniz tower on the highest available floor where you'll find a cafe. There's also an observation deck on the top floor of this building, but you can go lower down to the cafe and it's free. Also rooftop bars (take advantage of the rooftop parties). You also have to go to the Silk Market - Shanghai Technology Museum stop - it's a fake market - only go if you know what you're looking for!

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Suzhou, Hangzhou, Zhangjiajie, HongKong, Nanjing, I haven't been anywhere else yet :D

Share your best experience:There are too many experiences to choose just one, you need to go and experience your own! Don't sit so much over books but go out, have fun, meet people and travel!

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?Embassy of the Slovak Republic/Czech Republic

What is needed?Check the website, it's changing, but you won't get a student visa without an admission letter. The other papers are easy.

How long does it take approximately?Express 2 days, otherwise about a week

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Visa, space in your passport, have an admission letter ready to take with you just in case, write down the address and contact details of your accommodation somewhere, as you will fill this in at immigration every time you arrive. Just don't forget the VPN!!! It's very hard to get one in China, that's the most important thing.

Can you pay by card?almost nowhere

What not to forget when packing?Nothing special is needed, in winter it is as cold as in SK and in summer like a sauna, a proper hell. Don't forget personal items like medicines, contact lenses and similar medical stuff that you probably can't get your brand in China.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?Lifetime experience. If it wasn't for Shanghai, I wouldn't be here either.