It was clear to me from the start that I would spend my semester abroad outside of Europe. Short for FDU by abbreviationfinder, the Fudan University of Shanghai I particularly liked it in several respects: the world-renowned University enjoys a very good reputation and is one of the best universities in China are top of the very exciting Shanghai location, coupled with the Chinese mentality and culture. .
Study and University
The campus of Fudan University is huge and offers a few football, tennis and basketball courts as well as supermarkets, bike shops and all kinds of facilities that are needed for student life. The lessons for the CCSP program only cover two buildings, which was very pleasant for orientation – especially at the beginning.
It is difficult to assign the CCSP program to just one degree program, since in addition to classic business administration subjects such as international marketing and supply chain management, subjects in psychology and cultural studies are also offered. It is precisely for this reason that the courses (which, by the way, are exclusive to international students) meet many students from a wide variety of disciplines – the majority, however, come from economics.
The lectures are held exclusively in English and their content is strongly related to China. The small course size of 15-30 students mostly enabled an interactive exchange between professors and students. Everyday student life and workload are more structured than in Germany due to compulsory attendance, intermediate tests and homework, which I found very positive. Although the study curricula initially distributed with all the homework, tests and presentations can be daunting, there is still plenty of time for other activities besides studying. At the end of the semester, presentations in group work are held instead of exams.
I can highly recommend the offered Chinese course, as a little Chinese can help a lot in everyday life and it brings you a little closer to the culture.
In addition to the introductory week, the CCSP program includes some joint excursions, dinners and activities to get to know the city, culture and fellow students better.
Life
Like most international students, I lived in the Tohee International Village. I can highly recommend the dormitory because it is right on campus and you quickly came into contact with many other students there. The 2 or 3 person shared apartments have a large living room and were therefore often the meeting point for evenings together. When moving in, everyday items such as plates and cutlery have to be bought again, but the apartment offers everything in terms of equipment and furniture. Unfortunately, the apartments are poorly insulated and, depending on the location, the adjacent street can be very noisy and it can get very cold in winter – so don’t forget your ear plugs and thick socks;-).
It is very advisable to buy a bicycle right at the beginning, as the daily walk across the campus or to the metro station or supermarkets can take a long time. In the immediate vicinity of Tohees there are many shopping opportunities, a large Walmart, a mall and all kinds of restaurants and bars. There are two metro stations in the area, which can be reached by bike in about 10 minutes. It takes about 20-30 minutes by metro to get to the Bund – due to the low prices, it is also worth sharing a taxi, which takes about the same time.
Shanghai is a very exciting and diverse city. The mix between traditional Chinese and Western culture is what makes this city so appealing and makes it very pleasant, especially for “newcomers to China”, if you want to escape the foreign culture. There are many ways to go out and enjoy the nightlife – the party promoters will advertise you and lure you into the clubs with free drinks and free entry;-) The smog pollution is still relatively low compared to other Chinese cities such as Beijing (excluding the month of December).
Since there are still many free weekends left in addition to your studies, you will definitely use the time like everyone else and explore China. It is precisely when you travel that you really become aware of the diversity of China. It quickly becomes clear that this country has so much to offer and that you have to think carefully about where to go. I’ve seen the cities of Wuzhen, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Beijing, Suzhou, Hong Kong, Xi’an and Hainan Island – all highly recommended. Prepare yourself for exciting journeys, communication with hands and feet and unique experiences.
Cost and Visa
Contrary to all recommendations, I decided against the resident permit as a visa and I definitely do not regret this decision. If you are not doing an internship (the resident permit is required for this) and you do not want to go abroad during the semester (this also includes Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong), it is not worth the effort and additional costs of changing your student visa. Many of my fellow students lost a lot of time and nerves when applying and, due to the validity of the new visa, had to leave the country immediately after the end of the semester.
For me the cost of living was about the same as in Germany – the higher rent compensated for the cheaper food prices. Be sure to set aside enough money for travel, festivals and gifts as these make a big difference. A total of 12,000 – 15,000 € can be expected.
Conclusion
I can only highly recommend the semester abroad at Fudan University! You will gain a lot of experience, get to know new cultures, make new friends and generally have an exciting time that flies by. During my stay, I never regretted my choice to go to China, and you will quickly notice that many prejudices do not apply at all. The 4 months were too short for many students and therefore some wanted to come back to China again. So if you should have the opportunity: take advantage of it!
