It’s very simple: just apply and off to Shanghai!
But first a few facts and my experience:
Facts
Semester times:
Feb. – June 2017
On 02/18 I arrived in Shanghai and was able to take part in the O-week relaxed, but if you still have to write exams, you can come later by arrangement. The last exams will take place at the end of May / beginning of June, and the official graduation took place on June 10th. (Weather: bring a warm jacket and socks for the first few weeks or buy them cheaply there and expect humid summer temperatures at the end; in spring it is very pleasant. ) Visit act-test-centers.com to get information about vocational training in Switzerland.
Preparation and arrival:
Applying and organizing through MicroEDU was very easy and helpful. Thanks for your support! You will also be provided with information material in Germany and the contacts from Shanghai will contact you. When you arrive at the airport, you will be met by a Language Buddy, who will accompany you throughout the semester and who will also develop a friendship. Also in the introductory week you can quickly come into contact with other (international) students, also from other programs. The program coordinators in Shanghai will continue to help you change your visa in the first few weeks so that you are also accompanied step-by-step here.
- English Transcript of Records
- CV in English
- Proof of English is not required
- Flight: I had only booked the outward flight and planned my return journey at the end of the semester, but it is usually cheaper to book both flights directly.
- Visa (apply about four weeks in advance): After receiving approval and payment, Fudan University will apply for the visa documents. These include the “Admission Notice” and the JW202 form. Both are only issued for the duration of the course. After receiving the documents, a single entry visa can be applied for at the embassy. If you want to enter the country several times or do the internship, you have to apply for an extended visa in China, with the program coordinators helping.
Costs:
In total, you should be able to pay around 10,000 euros in advance when booking. A total of 12,000 – 15,000 euros is realistic and of course there are no upper limits. In any case, consider BAföG and apply for scholarships, whether PROMOS, MicroEDU , DAAD or political scholarships – just apply! I am very grateful for the CoCo grant of 500 euros! I was very happy for the appreciation of my project as well as the financial support! I can’t say exactly what I’ve invested in it, but I’d rather spend a nice long weekend in Guilin to get to know other facets of Chinathan for the tuition fees. All approximate information that is of course subject to fluctuations.
Tohee Dorm:
The apartments are large, although the standard is different, it is perfectly adequate. The location is right next to the university, which is an advantage, as is the fact that you live with your (international) fellow students. The 2/3-person shared flats have everything you need, you only have to buy kitchen utensils. But there are a lot of good and cheap restaurants and bars nearby, so you don’t really need to use the kitchen. Also supermarkets, a large mall and the metro station can be reached by bike in about 10 minutes. Alternatively, rooms in shared apartments can be found in the city center for a total of around € 1000 more, which are more central and you meet other people.
Apps:
WeChat, Express VPN, Ctrip, Smart Shanghai, Shanghai Metro, Alipay, ofo and / or mobike. It makes perfect sense to open a bank account for free and easily. Not absolutely necessary, but helpful.
My experience
USA, Australia, England or Spain. . . I couldn’t decide. Until I couldn’t get the renowned Fudan University in Shanghai out of my head. I was won over by the combination of an internship abroad, English-language academic courses with a social connection to China, which complement my studies, and a language course in which you can learn the most widely spoken language in the world. All of this in an international megacity with high economic relevance at the other end of the world – that leaves little doubt!
The reaction from friends and relatives to my Study Abroad plans has been very mixed. Many think of the smog and the mass of people, but some like me find it exciting. And the more I got involved with China and the Contemporary China Studies Program (CCSP), the greater my curiosity became. Now I’ve got to know Shanghai as a pulsating economic metropolis, China as an innovative economic power and, above all, China around all these country-specific prejudices. And yes, the crowd of over 24 million people (80,000 Germans) is well distributed and I discovered China on a bicycle, never before ignored so many electric scooters, tolerated the air pollution well, saw green instead of gray and experienced tai chi instead of hectic.
A friend from Boston said: “It’s local, yeah, so rural, but goood!” Compared to countries that I have already visited, I still had reservations about the Chinese culture or rather about some of the customs of foreigners. And yes, spit, popeln and belly shows in summer are more noticeable and take some getting used to, but after a few weeks I smirked about it. If the taxi driver fished more boogers out of his nose in the morning than I had breakfast, and flipped them away with relish, then I like to give generously more tips and forego change. Or when especially men stroll down the street near the university in broad daylight in pajamas, then it may be irritating at first, but a little amusing.
These reservations made it took some getting used to for me at the beginning, but also made it more interesting and exciting. In the end, I see the whole thing much more relaxed and can say that despite, or perhaps because of, the other, it was more adventurous than mainstream and yet more ordinary than exotic. And it’s really not that “different”, at least I can’t report any culture shock. I was rather surprised by the modernity of the city center.
The program
The CCSP program offers around ten different courses in English, plus a Chinese language course and the option of an internship. Everything related to China.
Differences to Germany: The course groups were smaller at the Fudan, which means that the opportunity for an exchange is greater. Otherwise, more and more was expected in the courses, in the form of short written papers and short tests in April (mid-term exams). In the end we mostly gave group presentations instead of writing exams. It may seem like more effort at the beginning, but it doesn’t scare you off.
3 courses + Chinese language course + internship
3 courses
- Doing Business in China: The focus is on business opportunities and challenges in China. Comparisons with Western culture were also made. It is interesting to follow Professor Nathan Wang and learn from his experiences.
- Global Sourcing and Supply Chain Management in China: Also Professor Nathan Wang, which made the courses significantly more interesting, as he can report on work experience in both Western and Chinese cultures.
- Political economy in China: exciting topic! All courses offer the opportunity to learn more about the history and culture of China.
Chinese language course
- Shanghai is very international, but a few basics in Chinese cannot hurt, the language course is ideal for this!
internship
I worked as a business trainee at the Association of German Mechanical and Plant Engineering Shanghai Representative Office (VDMA SRO) for two days a week, which I was free to divide up. I can only recommend the internship, because you meet other people again and get a different perspective and impressions of life there. As a result, I have z. B. met many (general) managers of German mechanical engineering companies on site. Being able to learn a lot about their business and current topics. Like me, the internship can be integrated during the semester or completed within a month afterwards. Overall, my week was full due to the combination of the three courses, language course and internship, but it was well used and still appropriate for a semester abroad. Furthermore, many excursions and activities are offered by the CCSP so that the culture and the country can be discovered in a sociable manner. The CCSP contacts are very committed, personal and helpful. You always have a contact person, no matter what.
City: The city serves all wishes!
If a New Yorker says he always thought NYC was the city of all cities until he got to Shanghai, then this surprising city shouldn’t be missed. You can’t stay calm for long. During that time I was very active in every respect and wouldn’t want to miss anything. But four months are hardly enough to discover everything, you can always find something new.
The city is:
- Fascinating
- Pulsating
- International
One meets:
- Tradition and modernity
- Old and new
- Past and future
One experiences:
- A developed and rapidly developing country full of culture.
The sum of all impressions and experiences makes the semester unique and unforgettable. I personally learned a lot from the inspiring and diverse people. It is also exciting to experience Chinese communism!
Leisure
Shopping:
The most exclusive and modern shopping centers and nice neighborhoods lure with dazzling trends on every corner, but everything is more expensive than in Germany. The fake market helps out with the necessary bargains. And the Fabric Market offers bespoke coats, suits, shirts and dresses at affordable prices. Many also have z. B. ordered through Taobao, which is really cheap. You need a Chinese bank account and the pages are mostly in Chinese.
To celebrate:
The party life is really very lively, whether international or Chinese clubs and bars, if you want to party, you can let off steam and meet many different people. The drinks in the clubs and bars are rather expensive (100 CNY), but there are many promotions such as ladies nights and more student pubs, so that you can celebrate cheaply. There is something for everyone!
Events and cultural events that go beyond museums and exhibitions are also constantly taking place. During my semester, the automotive (Dr. Dieter Zetsche and Leonardo Dicaprio came to Shanghai), a new car launch (Link & Co) and the Shanghai Fashion Week took place. But many other very well-known trade fairs, cultural exhibitions as well as districts and network opportunities offer a wide range of leisure activities. In Shanghai there are European quarters that tell the history of the city and lots of restaurants and cafes, so it really can’t get boring.
Possible excursions
Flights within Asia are affordable too, so there are tons of options. But even here a trip can quickly cost a few hundred euros.
Personal conclusion
There! Simply there! The international, vibrant city in China is full of life. A renowned university in a fast growing, modern city with culture and inspiring development opportunities offers many opportunities to develop. From cultural offerings to nightlife, there is something for everyone. From the sum of all the advantages of this exchange program, I have learned an incredible amount. It’s a bit different from Western experience abroad and yet without having to do without anything.
Biggest plus: the people you meet there.
Small minus: Is really not a snapper.
