Stories from Abroad
During my trip to Poland, I met a lot of nice and interesting people, and also got a huge amount of new knowledge.
It was an incredible experience for me, it helped me develop the skills of an architect and also gave me grounds for thinking about my future. All teachers at the university could not only present the material perfectly, like true specialists in the field of pedagogy, but they were also practicing specialists in various fields like Design, Architecture, Landscape, Engineering and much more, which gave not just a good-looking cover, but really deep knowledge with an individual approach to each student.
Thus, teachers direct students in the right direction, because they are really interested in becoming future graduates as architects and not only.
Before an internship
In fact, by studying in detail all the information that the international department and the host-university give you, you should not have any difficulties in preparing for a trip abroad. The only thing is that you should not put off anything, as soon as there is an opportunity to receive some kind of document, participate in scholarships, etc. - all this must be done at once, because the extra fuss at the end of the deadline will spend you a lot of nerves, and why be stressed before such a wonderful trip.
VISA
The D visa is not the usual type of tourist visa that people use to travel. It is issued to persons wishing to stay abroad for at least six months due to study or work. All the necessary information with a list of documents is available on the website of the Polish Embassy.
Also, to receive it, you need to have original invitation letters from a "foreign company" – University - therefore, use the mail to receive it, and this may cause problems due to the work of our post-offices. Hah. It is also better to take care of obtaining the letter in advance - that is, as soon as you are shown an invitation - immediately ask it to be sent to you in order to obtain a visa soon.
Possible difficulties
Upon arrival in the country of study, you may have a lot of questions about ordinary household chores. Even at the stage of paperwork, the host university provides the opportunity to participate in the Buddy-program - a program for providing you with kinda curator. I strongly recommend that you participate in it, because Buddy will help you with any difficulties that you may have upon arrival and answer all your questions - from everyday life, to going to the hospital and making an appointment if you do not know the language.
Also, if there is a question connected with housing, then the best option is a dormitory that the university will provide you with - it is cheap and cheerful, very comfortable conditions for its price. But if you passed an opportunity with a dormitory, then the Airbnb website will help you with the choice of apartments.
In conclusion, I would like to say that I am really glad that our university provides such an opportunity - an internship abroad. It's an unforgettable experience.
The exchange study life is very interesting and it allows me to see different countries and cultures.
Impressions from the internship in general
Studying in Germany has made me know many friends from all over the world. We study and live together and talk about our country.
It also made me understand the customs of this country in Germany. German industry, automobiles, beer, etc., these make my study life very interesting.
I am very grateful to the university for giving me this opportunity to study in Germany and learn about different countries.
Enriched my professional knowledge, let me understand the situation of my major in different countries and regions, and benefited a lot.
Difficulties during the preparation for the internship
To travel to Germany, you need to prepare a visa in advance, contact the apartment, and check the German transportation system and how to get to the host university. Very special is the insurance, which must be a German insurance company and needs to be purchased in advance.
Describe the visa process
I have prepared a lot of materials, and they all need to be printed out. According to the instructions of the embassy and visa center, carefully prepare the materials, and there will be no mistakes.
Difficulties at a host foreign organization
Due to the epidemic and special time, everything is troublesome. For COVID testing, you need to make an appointment for local testing in advance and prepare all the procedures after arrival.
Many things can be done by mail, such as file submission and asking for help. Be sure to actively contact the staff, they will be very enthusiastic to help.
Expenses
VISA needs to be based on the price given by the embassy and visa center.
You need to prepare a blocked account in advance, and you can live according to your choice every month. My choice is 850 euros a month.
Insurance for 110 euros a month
Apartment 215 euros a month
The remaining 500 euros is enough for one month.
Prices are relatively high in Europe, and cooking by yourself will save a lot of money. Try to cook for yourself.
Public transportation needs to find out which state your university is located in. Your student card may allow you to take some transportation for free. Don't forget this.
First of all, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to take part in the academic mobility programme. This internship in Tianjin allowed me to get to know the city as well as to see the cultural and educational differences in the region and abroad. At Tianjin University of Technology I have many strong teachers who demonstrate excellence in professional research. The local students helped us both with our studies and with everyday issues. If you ask me what I have gained during this internship year, I will answer: "A unique experience, new knowledge, and the ability to cope with life's difficulties on my own".
Advice and suggestions before preparations
Preparations for the exchange were almost effortless. I had to prepare a CV and motivation letters in Russian and English, certified by the dean of the university.
Visa process.
I do not need a visa to study in China
My suggestions for future academic mobility program participants
If there are some difficulties, the host country solves them. And perhaps because China is my home country, I feel safe here.
Tips to reduce costs
I spent about 1,200 yuan a year on accommodation, and the train ride to the university cost 300 yuan.
In this severe year of the epidemic, I am grateful to my school, Irkutsk State Polytechnic University, for giving me the opportunity to exchange studies. I am a junior in Irkutsk State Scientific and Technical University.
The overall impression of the internship
On September 6, 2020, I came to Shenyang University of Chemical Technology for a one-year exchange life. Thanks to the university for giving me this opportunity to learn and grow in a different environment, and feel the domestic teaching style and the learning atmosphere of the classmates, which makes me deeply honored. In class, I felt the learning atmosphere of a domestic university. Compared with Russia, the communication was more fluent and made me feel the inadequacy of my foreign language. Therefore, in my spare time, I actively study Russian and English. A better promotion. During the six months at Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, I have met many people, which allowed me to have a broader interpersonal relationship, so that I can better integrate into the larger environment without being out of touch with the rhythm of domestic life. Due to the epidemic, we were unable to complete the university's teaching tasks in the school as planned, but we went home early and completed the remaining learning tasks online. Thanks to the school for allowing us to learn more knowledge while ensuring safety.
Useful tips
Summarize yourself constantly here, make yourself more rational in doing things, thinking and behavior more reasonable and normal, and don't go extreme. In different environments, different conditions, and different periods, I constantly adjust my mentality and find a place that suits my needs in the vast society.
But I have been following the epidemic situation in China and Russia. I miss the teachers and classmates in Russia, our school and dormitory, and our city Irkutsk. I hope that the teachers and classmates in Russia will be safe and healthy. The world defeats the new crown as soon as possible, come on!
I thank you for the opportunity to study at Shanghai University. Interning at Shanghai University allowed me to compare life at different universities, meet new people, enjoy the beauty of China's largest city and more. During my time in Shanghai I not only studied, but also actively participated in extracurricular activities, multiplied my knowledge and gained invaluable experience of communication and teamwork.
What difficulties did I face during preparation stage
The process of preparing for the internship went smoothly and was very gradual. Irkutsk National Research Polytechnic University and Shanghai University helped us to prepare a number of study materials, the students only had to write CVs and motivation letters in Russian and English.
What difficulties did I face after coming to overseas institutions
If there was a problem, the teachers and students at Shanghai University tried to help solve it as quickly as possible. I would like to thank everyone who helped me in resolving academic and other issues.
Cost of my overseas internship, tips to reduce costs
A one-way high-speed train ticket to Shanghai was about RMB 400. Living expenses at Shanghai University are 100 RMB per day, about 30,000 RMB per month. If you want to save money, I can recommend eating in the university cafeteria. It's convenient and cheap.
