Stories from Abroad
What difficulties did you have at the stages of preparation for the internship? What tips and recommendations can you give to future participants of the academic mobility program?
The difficulties were mainly related to filling out documents and passing a medical examination. It is necessary to carefully fill out all the documents and keep track of the deadlines. Moreover, it is best to take a medical examination at a private clinic.
Describe the process of obtaining a visa. Your advice for future participants of the academic mobility program.
In general, there were no problems in obtaining a visa. It is necessary to bring all the documents to the Chinese Consulate in Irkutsk, hand them over and pay the receipt at the bank. You can collect your passport during the week.
What difficulties did you encounter upon arrival at the host foreign organization? Your advice to future participants of the academic mobility program.
I spent the first few days without access to the usual services. It is very important to set up a VPN before departure from Russia. At the beginning of the semester, I asked the guys to transfer money to me on AliPay via a bank card. It's better to go make a bank card yourself, because it's a very long time to wait for a bank card from the university. I would recommend the Bank of Beijing, everything could be done quickly there, the main thing is to have passport-type documents with you and a letter stating that you are a student of a Chinese university. We definitely need to take a first-aid kit with our usual medicines. Try to keep an eye on your health, because medical insurance does not cover everything, and even a regular visit to the doctor is paid.
Specify your expenses related to participation in an internship abroad (visa costs, cost of flight / travel to the place of internship, registration fees / taxes / deposits in the host organization, policy / medical services, if used, public transport, meals, accommodation. Your tips for cutting costs.
Visa – 2,500 rubles
Air tickets - 21,000 rubles and 25,000 rubles
Mobile connection – 800 yuan, VPN- 150 rubles per month.
Registration fee – 500 yuan
Medical check–up – about 3,500 rubles, Medical insurance - 400 yuan for six months
Electricity – 25 yuan was paid at the beginning of the semester
Public transportation – 6 yuan between campuses. I mostly rode the subway, which costs from 2 to 10 yuan. A taxi costs from 10 yuan to 100 yuan. Unlimited bike subscription – 18 yuan per month.
Deposit (refunded upon eviction) is 100 yuan
Accommodation is provided by the host party.
Food – 1 meal was worth 25 yuan
Other expenses: 2.5 yuan laundry, visits to important attractions in Beijing (the Great Wall of China, the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, Beihai Park, etc.)
I would recommend eating in the canteens on campus, because they are proven, cheap and delicious. In the city, it is best to use the subway, it is cheap and convenient. If you buy any shoes or clothes, it is best to do it on Poizon, Taobao, Pingduoduo, JD.
This trip brought a lot of impressions and emotions, both good and bad, but everything I had to face there in Shanghai strengthened my personality and allowed me to grow up. Undoubtedly, when you are away from home in a foreign country, you begin to take things more seriously, give an account of all your actions and their consequences, allocate time and money, and rely only on your own strength. Thanks to this study trip, I learned to do this through trial and error, because the most important thing is to move forward and not give up. The experience I have gained has a positive effect on my studies at my home university, the level of my discipline has become higher and I allocate my time correctly and comfortably for me, thus, I manage to do all the scheduled tasks and not miss work deadlines. Personal life has also improved, because with a competent allocation of time, you can have much more time, allocate time for walks and time with family, as well as for entertainment and friends, supporting social contacts.
What difficulties did you have at the stages of preparing for the internship? What advice and recommendations can you give to future participants of the academic mobility program?
There were a lot of difficulties at all stages of the internship, but I was able to cope with them. Before the trip, I was under a lot of stress due to the uncertainty that awaited me in the future. Later, after landing at Pudong airport in Shanghai, I did not purchase a Chinese SIM card on time and was left without communication for a while, so I would advise all those who are going to travel to purchase a Chinese SIM card as early as possible and check it on the spot to make sure that it is working. Another problem I faced was the language barrier, most Chinese do not speak English and are afraid of communicating with foreigners, so I lacked communication and the necessary information at the initial stages, so it is very important to have an average level of everyday Chinese in order to mix and communicate with the local population.
Describe the process of obtaining a visa. Your advice for future participants of the academic mobility program.
At the time of my trip to Shanghai, the process of obtaining a visa was not so difficult for me and went quite smoothly, but I need to be patient, because this procedure is not fast and requires some time to collect all the necessary documentation and the necessary time for this procedure. Therefore, I would advise all those who want to go on an academic mobility program to do everything necessary in advance and be patient, because the process is not fast.
What difficulties did you encounter upon arrival at the host foreign organization? Your advice to future participants of the academic mobility program.
Upon arrival at my campus to check into a room, I encountered a language barrier between me and the Chinese guards, I had two printed versions with me, which confirmed my check-in at this campus, however, all the dormitory buildings on this campus had English letters for a simpler designation, however, the guards did not know They couldn't take me to the right dormitory, so it took me longer to find my building and register in it. My advice is if you want to learn something, but don't speak Chinese., It is best to ask the expert and the younger generation, because even if he or she does not have a sufficient level of English, they will use a translator and direct you in the right direction.
Specify your expenses related to participation in an internship abroad (visa costs, cost of flight / travel to the place of internship, registration fees / taxes / deposits in the host organization, policy / medical services, if used, public transport, meals, accommodation. Your tips for cutting costs.
As for my expenses, it took me about 45 thousand rubles for the flight, 5 thousand rubles for insurance for six months, and 2-3 yuan for transportation (2- public transport, 3- school bus), taxi prices are low enough for such a large metropolis and are relatively similar to our Irkutsk taxi prices, food (groceries in stores) are quite inexpensive, so if you cook yourself it will take much less money than going to a canteen or restaurant, as for entertainment, it's a personal matter for everyone, there are different types of entertainment, for example, you can go to an exhibition, a museum, a park from 20 yuan (cheaper for students), there are also more expensive but memorable entertainment such as Disneyland, Legoland, aquarium, zoos and others (from 200 yuan per person) or you can go to neighboring cities (from 500 yuan or more), In general, this trip turned out to be expensive, but very impressive and filled with various events, new acquaintances and experiences, which will undoubtedly be a valuable part and will be useful in the future.
What difficulties did you have at the stages of preparation for the internship? What tips and recommendations can you give to future participants of the academic mobility program?
The main difficulties arose only at the stage of processing all the documents and filling out all the forms on Chinese resources. There are, of course, quite a lot of them and it is not always clear fr om the first time how to fill them out correctly. For all questions, you can contact the Academic Mobility Department of INRTU, the staff will quickly try to resolve the issue and help. The following difficulties awaited at the stage of transferring funds to the Alipay and WeChat Pay platforms. Here students will be helped by a Rosselkhozbank card (hereinafter – RSHB) issued in the UnionPay system and the UnionPay application, for transfers at one of the best exchange rates. Alternatively, a transfer from any other bank of the Russian Federation, wh ere the transfer is carried out through intermediaries at an inflated rate and with a commission. The RSHB card will also allow you to withdraw cash at any ATM in China, in this case a commission of 3% of the amount will be applied, the debit amount – no more than 50,000 rubles at the exchange rate per one transaction. I strongly recommend обязательно studying the methods of transferring funds, getting yourself an RSHB card. Be sure, if possible, to get yourself a card of a Chinese bank – it will be useful to you! Carefully study all insurance documents, if possible, arrange additional health insurance in Russia and in case of emergency, contact service companies. I highly recommend learning basic words in Chinese, including – bill (numbers and numerals), names of meat, names of dishes, spicy / not spicy. I also advise immediately studying the locations and opportunities within the university, you may have opportunities to participate in countless events and gain pleasant experience. And the most important advice – do not be afraid to ask Chinese people for help, especially the younger generation. They will certainly try to help you. Install important applications on your phone, keep in mind that many applications familiar to you may not work in China, which is why I advise finding good ways to bypass restrictions in order to stay in touch. Also, for travel I advise you to install the applications “Railway12306” and “China Southern”, as well as “Trip.com”. If your smartphone has a Wi-Fi calling function, be sure to use it. It will help upon arrival to stay in touch with loved ones, and to call someone in case of unforeseen situations.
Describe the process of obtaining a visa. Your advice for future participants of the academic mobility program.
The visa obtaining process is quite simple. Simple filling out of documents on the website, everything is intuitively clear. It is important to know, to obtain a visa you will need a barcode that will be displayed on the website, next to it there is a “download” button, but the embassy has slightly its own rules and you do not need to download it, simply with the barcode you will not be allowed into the embassy. In order for you to successfully get inside, take a screenshot of the website (the barcode must be present on it). The visa is issued in about a week. Payment of the visa fee is carried out only in one bank – Solidarity. At the time of my payment, the visa cost – 2600 rubles.
What difficulties did you encounter upon arrival at the host foreign organization? Your advice to future participants of the academic mobility program.
When we arrived it was a little unclear wh ere to go and what to do in general. The transfer we registered for arrives approximately 2–3 hours after your arrival (the time is indicated when arranging the BIT transfer). The main problem is that there is no additional information about wh ere you will be met and how to get to it. There is no need to panic here, engage in good old networking and find in the airport other students heading to the same university. Usually everyone arrives at around 6 a.m., and stay together as a group. This way you definitely will not get lost. Student volunteers carrying out the gathering can be identified by the university merchandise (in my case BIT). After that everything will be explained to you, so there is no need to worry.
Specify your expenses related to participation in an internship abroad (visa costs, cost of flight / travel to the place of internship, registration fees / taxes / deposits in the host organization, policy / medical services, if used, public transport, meals, accommodation. Your tips for cutting costs.
S7 business-class round-trip tickets cost approximately 54 thousand rubles (which is only about 5 thousand more expensive than economy-class tickets). It is worth noting that if you want to get a refund for the ticket by participating in the subsidy program fr om INRTU, only an economy-class ticket is available to you, business class will not be reimbursed. Accommodation and tuition in my case were free, there were only electricity expenses of approximately 30–40 yuan per person. Medical insurance in China cost 400 yuan. BIT student fee – 500 yuan. SIM card – 500 yuan. Food in the canteen costs approximately 20 yuan per meal, outside the campus territory approximately fr om 40 yuan (depending on the establishment). Unfortunately, I had to incur expenses for medical services. An appointment with a general physician varies within 20–40 yuan, an appointment with doctors of medical sciences – 60–100 yuan. Total expenses for medical services were approximately 5100 yuan, of which the Chinese insurance company refunded 3700. Public transport is represented in four types – metro, bus, taxi, bicycle. The metro costs fr om 2 to 12 yuan, the price depends on the distance between the entry station and the exit station. The bus has a fixed price of 2 yuan. The taxi price depends on the time of day and the day of the week, on average 50–60 yuan per ride. In the case of a bicycle, the price depends on which route you choose. You can pay per minute, or you can purchase a subscription, which is much more profitable! The subscription costs 18 yuan per month. Usually services provide discounts and coupons to new users, I advise using them wisely. An integral part of my trip was, of course, traveling around China. I advise traveling in a group, not alone. Train tickets – sleeper class cost from 200 yuan, depending on the distance, seated and standing tickets cost from 40 yuan. A plane ticket from 300 yuan. The maximum I paid for hotel accommodation was 92 yuan per day. Approximately 5000–6000 yuan were spent on travel. Online shopping was mainly carried out through the services 得物 (Dewu or POIZON) and 淘宝 (TaoBao), prices are on average 3–4 times lower than Russian ones, delivery is fast and there is an opportunity to return any product for any reason within 7 days (in the case of clothing – without signs of wear). My approximate expenses on online shopping amounted to 4000–5000 yuan. Visiting museums, theaters and other cultural and entertainment places. Many institutions are free, but mandatory registration through WeChat is required. If you still need to pay for entry, you can use student status, in 90% of cases a discounted price is provided. The maximum ticket cost for cultural places and attractions is approximately 50 yuan. I also visited Universal Park in Beijing. The entrance ticket cost approximately 550 yuan, souvenirs approximately 1300 yuan. A gym membership on campus cost 600 yuan for 3 months. To reduce your expenses, be sure to bargain at markets wh ere the sellers are not part of a chain. Usually the first stated price can be reduced threefold. If you are buying souvenirs, but it is not essential for you to buy them exactly in the place wh ere they are sold, take a photo of the souvenir and find it on 淘宝 (TaoBao), as a rule in a store, for example, a toy may cost 70 yuan, and on 淘宝 (TaoBao) 20–30. Be sure to study the area around you, in China different stores have different prices for everything. On the territory of the PRC there is the WuMart chain, an analogue of the American brand WalMart. Usually this store has the lowest prices for groceries and other goods. When using the above-mentioned marketplaces for online shopping, be sure to study all sellers, as well as the number of their orders and reviews (all applications are in Chinese, translation works via screenshot and translation). When traveling, expenses can be reduced by traveling in groups. A hotel for several people per day will always be cheaper than for one person. To find a good cheap café with local cuisine in China, look at the prices, as well as at the number of local residents inside (or outside, if the food is takeaway only). Usually wh ere there are many Chinese people – it is tasty and inexpensive there. Otherwise, remember, you should not constantly economize, sometimes it is better to spend more and receive a service or product of good quality, rather than constantly paying little and receiving corresponding quality, always study all possible options for acquiring something, as well as reviews and ratings on various resources, this will help you get good impressions from any goods and services in China.
Results: I completed several research and practical projects on architectural technologies, project management, and construction cost estimation. I mastered new professional programs: Rhino, Grasshopper, Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Project, and similar Microsoft programs. I improved my English language skills: I learned construction and physics vocabulary, and moved fr om “academic” knowledge to “practical, living” proficiency, which eliminated my fear of communication. I also studied Chinese and had frequent opportunities to use it in practice with local students and random people in various cities in China. The internship gave me practical application of theoretical knowledge; I saw “how it works” on a global level, what programs and techniques are used in construction in China. This helped me to define the topic and methods more precisely, as well as to participate in the design and construction of the final model of the architectural pavilion for my final qualification work, and also marked the beginning of my study of BIM programs and project management. It dramatically increased my level of independence, responsibility, adaptability, and skills in solving non-standard problems (from daily life to intercultural). I gained confidence in my abilities, global thinking, and many useful international contacts. I saw how people live and work in another country, which broadened my horizons for planning my own career.
What difficulties did you have at the stages of preparation for the internship? What tips and recommendations can you give to future participants of the academic mobility program?
Difficulties:
- Understanding all items of expenditure.
- Psychological preparation, fear of the unknown and fear of what will happen after the exchange program.
Advice for future participants:
Start early: make a clear checklist of documents and fill them out, submit all documents on time.
Communicate actively, ask questions to both the host university and the coordinator at your university.
The university provides accommodation options: rooms for two and for one. It will be cheaper to find a roommate in advance and rent an apartment together.
Finances: XJTLU provides approximate information about the average cost of living, but it is outdated, and since the price of housing changes every year, calculate your budget with a margin of 20-30%. I advise you to take 12,000+ yuan with you, depending on your needs.
Describe the process of obtaining a visa. Your advice for future participants of the academic mobility program.
The visa application process consists of several stages. First, you need to prepare documents from the host university, including an admission letter and a JW201 or JW202 form. Next, a complete set of documents is collected, including a foreign passport, a completed application form, photographs, and a medical examination for an X1 visa. Documents are submitted in person at the visa center or consulate, often by appointment. Check to determine the type of visa required for the program and carefully double-check the deadlines. Payment is made upon submission, and the standard processing time is one week. To pick up your visa, you will need a PRINTED barcode from the website.
It is recommended to start the process 3-4 months before the trip by collecting documents, carefully checking the letters in the records, and establishing contact with the coordinator at the university. After arriving on an X1 visa, you must obtain a Residence Permit within 30 days. In July, an online meeting is held, at which university staff provide all the information about the necessary documents and exact dates of study, as well as the days when volunteers will help with housing, medical examinations, etc. XJTLU sends detailed instructions with step-by-step information about each type of visa.
What difficulties did you encounter upon arrival at the host foreign organization? Your advice to future participants of the academic mobility program.
Difficulties:
Check-in at the apartment, registration at the place of residence, opening a SIM card, obtaining a student ID card, undergoing a medical examination, and other administrative procedures are assisted by
volunteers, especially if you arrive during the meeting days. However, outside of these days, you will have to deal with the paperwork yourself, so I advise you to arrive during this period or be well prepared, as often there are few people who speak English at the registration offices.
Culture and lifestyle shock: a different system of shops, restaurants, public transport, and opening hours of institutions. In China, almost everything closes between 7 and 9 p.m., which may seem early to us, so I advise you to do everything in advance.
Socialization: the first few weeks can be lonely if you don't find your social circle, so don't be shy and get to know everyone. For everyone, it will be the beginning of a new academic year, and most students will be getting to know each other, which is a great opportunity to make good friends, practice conversational English, and improve your social skills.
Academic differences: Each university has its own style of communicating with professors and different requirements for assignments, so you need to be adaptable and not be afraid to ask your classmates and professors for advice.
Advice:
- The first week is administrative: focus on completing paperwork. Plan visits to the administration of university and the bank.
- Be active in socializing: attend all welcome events, introductory meetings, and language cafes. Join student clubs based on your interests (sports, hobbies). XJTLU has clubs for various interests, and every week there are events for both general and specific interests.
-Ask questions to your classmates in the lab, your advisor (who is assigned to each student), students in higher years, and volunteers. It is better to ask several times than to do something wrong. Don't be shy.
- Learn the local rules (garbage sorting, politeness on public transport) — this will help you fit in faster.
Specify your expenses related to participation in an internship abroad (visa costs, cost of flight / travel to the place of internship, registration fees / taxes / deposits in the host organization, policy / medical services, if used, public transport, meals, accommodation. Your tips for cutting costs.
Visa fees: 2,500 rubles.
Flight to Shanghai: 21,875 rubles. Transfer from Shanghai to the university dormitory provided by the university. You must submit a request in advance, indicating your luggage and arrival time.
Registration fees/taxes: 0 rubles (not charged for exchange programs).
Accommodation: 5,200 (Wenhua Talented apartment student dormitory, double room) + 3,200 (deposit + 600 yuan utilities) per person 4,200 yuan ~ 49,980 rubles.
Weekly expenses: 900–1,500 yuan ~ 10,710 rubles – 17,850 rubles.
Total (without scholarship): 15,900–23,700 yuan.
Tips for reducing expenses:
Housing: it is cheaper to rent a room for two, and rooms facing west and north are usually cheaper.
Food: since there are no kitchens in the dormitory, find a small shopping center nearby with many restaurants offering delicious food at low prices. Also, when ordering through maituan and ele.me, you can get many great coupons and promotions.
Transportation: When paying with a student ID card, public transportation is half price (the regular fare is 3 yuan, but with an ID card it is 1.5 yuan).
Leisure: Take advantage of student discounts. In China, many places offer discounts of up to 50% when you show your student ID.
General advice: Keep track of your budget in the app from day one to see wh ere your money is going and adjust your spending.
In any case, this internship was undoubtedly very useful for me, both academically and personally. In terms of academics, this internship showed me that it is always useful to try something new and inspired me to make new discoveries. On a personal level, this internship proved that each of us are capable of more and that we should never doubt our abilities and strength. Overall, this internship was a new, challenging, and super interesting chapter in my life that gave me the boost I needed to set and achieve new goals and expand my educational horizons.
What difficulties did you have at the stages of preparation for the internship? What tips and recommendations can you give to future participants of the academic mobility program?
The most difficult part of preparation for the internship was collecting documents, which required extra attention and responsibility, as well as finding a clinic that would fill out a medical examination certificate in English. Nevertheless, all the preparatory stages were completed, and the internship was a successful one. For future participants, I would advise not to put things off until later, because you never know who will be on vacation when you really need a stamp or signature.
Describe the process of obtaining a visa. Your advice for future participants of the academic mobility program.
There are no difficulties in obtaining a visa. Moreover, in 2025, the rules were changed, and you no longer need to print out a pile of documents for the consulate. It was enough to fill out an online application form (I advise you to do this very attentively!); submit your passport and printed QR code; and pay a fee of 2,500 rubles. I would also advise you to start the visa application process as early as possible to avoid unnecessary stress.
What difficulties did you encounter upon arrival at the host foreign organization? Your advice to future participants of the academic mobility program.
Firstly, during the first week in Beijing, the main difficulty was psychological adaptation to the new environment: an unfamiliar city, people, and living conditions, being far away from family, living in a dormitory, and the familiar yet complex Chinese language.
Secondly, despite the campus tour provided by the host organization, it was difficult to find our way around the campus, and we were late for classes during the first academic week because the buildings and classrooms were not clearly labeled in the schedule.
Thirdly, the distance between the dormitory and the nearest metro station from the city center meant that I had to spend a lot of time traveling by subway (on average, a one-way trip took 1.5 hours) to reach cultural landmarks.What difficulties did you encounter upon arrival at the host foreign organization? Your advice to future participants of the academic mobility program.
Specify your expenses related to participation in an internship abroad (visa costs, cost of flight / travel to the place of internship, registration fees / taxes / deposits in the host organization, policy / medical services, if used, public transport, meals, accommodation. Your tips for cutting costs.
- Registration fee – 500 yuan
- Medical examination – approximately 3,500 rubles, Medical insurance – 400 yuan
- Airplane tickets – 15,900 rubles and 2,600 yuan
- Mobile phone service – 500 yuan (at the end of the internship, I was able to return the SIM card and got 400 yuan back), VPN – 100 rubles per month
- Dormitory deposit (refundable upon checkout) – 100 yuan
- Public transport – a one-way subway ride usually cost 7 yuan, and the transfer between the dormitory and the campus was free, while a taxi cost between 10 and 20 yuan Bicycle subscription – one bicycle ride cost 1.5 yuan, but an unlimited monthly subscription cost an average of 15-17 yuan
- The main expenses were food and drinks, which cost about 40-50 yuan per day, plus purchases on Taobao and Poizon online marketplaces.
- Other expenses: laundry in the dormitory cost 14 to 20 yuan; tickets to various cultural attractions (usually with a student discount) cost 15-20 yuan; tickets to the Great Wall of China at Simatai cost 220 yuan + ~20 yuan (cable car + entrance to the wall itself)
For future participants, to cut costs, I'd suggest thinking carefully before buying stuff (it also helps avoid getting overweight luggage), not overpaying for taxis and catching the free shuttle bus, and eating at low-cost cafes and canteens.
