Planning
The preparation was very pleasant with MicroEDU and everything was settled quickly. If questions arose in the meantime, they were also answered professionally and quickly. Arrived in China, there were some inconsistencies regarding the visa on site, which, due to a recent change in the law, no one in China knew exactly how to deal with it. However, I didn’t have any difficulties that would jeopardize my stay.
Accommodation
I decided on the Tonghee (also called Tohee), which is right next to the campus. This gives you the opportunity to always have an international environment (USA, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Korea. . . ) around you and to use this as the perfect start to explore the city. There are two metro lines attached (line 10, line 3) that can be reached by bus in a few minutes, on foot it takes about 15 minutes. You can buy bikes all around the campus, but don’t forget to haggle. Visit anycountyprivateschools.com to get information about 7 best cities to do an internship in Germany.
The rooms are very spacious and offer in the front rows of buildings (building 2, 3, 4) from the 8th floor a very wide view of Shanghai, where you can even see the beautiful skyline of Shanghai. If you are hungry, there is a whole street on the doorstep that offers everything from pasta, soups to burgers. From 6 p. m. street food vendors will also appear with delicious dishes and a large selection of fresh fruit.
Education
I decided to take 3 courses + Chinese language course + 1 month internship. The choice of courses in the CCSP (Contemporary China Studies Program) is very diverse, I have chosen market placement, doing business in China and international marketing. I then did the internship full-time. You have the opportunity to do it during the semester, the prerequisite is at least one day per week, whereby most companies would like more effort, if it is compatible with your courses, this offers an even deeper insight into the Chinese world of work.
The lessons were held in relatively small groups (approx. 20-30 people) in very understandable English. The lecturers were also very qualified, some with an impressive professional background, so that the lessons were much more practice-oriented than at a face-to-face university. The workload during the semester is very dependent on the courses, from small assignments, presentations to tests, everything is possible. The scope is feasible, but a lot comes together at the end of the semester.
If your main motivation is learning the language, I would recommend that you really only focus on the language without further courses. You take a lot of vocabulary from the beginner’s language course, but the very international environment with other students quickly catches up with you and you then communicate mostly in English. You will much prefer to spend the free time that is available to you in addition to the tasks in the courses to get to know the city and the country.
Shanghai and China
You will live and study in Shanghai, but you will not be able to sit quietly for long once you have a look at what China has to offer! Check out places like Guilin, Yellow Mountains, Hua Shan, Wuzhen, Hainan beforehand. In addition, you can reach Beijing, Tokyo, Hong Kong and many other places within 2-3 hours by plane. So think carefully about what you would like to see and orient yourself to the season in order to find the right weather and also to avoid the expensive high season.
Shanghai itself is a beautiful city that cannot be explored thoroughly enough even in 5 months. It has a unique flair that combines the mixture of colonial buildings with modern architecture. Anyone who has ever walked along the Bund and looked at the skyline in the evening will not forget it so quickly.
It is the most international city in China and although you can communicate with English in many places, you quickly notice that at least the basics of Chinese are very helpful. The people are all very lovable and if you are looking for contact with Chinese students, this is easily possible on campus. In general, they are very interested in getting to know foreign cultures and “made in Germany” has a fascination for many Chinese on a personal level as well. For me personally, one of the greatest gifts from my time in China is the many conversations I had and in which I was able to refute prejudices and, over time, also had very interesting personal conversations.
If you have concerns about the food in China, then I advise you to forget everything you know about Chinese restaurants (in Germany). China has an incredible variety of culinary dishes! In short, if Germany is known for its engineering skills and technical innovation, China is the master when it comes to cooking! It is worth considering leaving a little space in your suitcase and equipping yourself with a tailor-made, chic coat, shirt or suit in the Tailormarkt.
Costs
This point is really the only downside to be noted. Studying abroad is anything but cheap and the many temptations in and around the country can make it much more expensive very quickly. The cost of living is really very cheap, if you get involved in the very cheap and, above all, very tasty street food, you only pay 15-20 kuai (approx. 2-3 euros) per large portion. However, you can also find all dishes that you know from Europe in Shanghai, which then cost the same or even more.
Conclusion
If you have the inner desire to experience a foreign culture, want to broaden your horizons, explore the prejudices of a foreign culture, then embark on the adventure “China” and follow the call to Fudan University in Shanghai. Personally, I don’t want to miss a single moment of my time and would like to stay longer.
