Outgoing Students
Stories from Abroad
2024, Ekaterina Li-Zi-Iu (Summer Program) 
My summer program in the city of Ningbo helped me develop in many aspects, including the curriculum and personal perception of China itself. We studied business Chinese, which turned out to be very useful for me since my field is finance. We were given very good books with light and interesting content, which allows us to learn language terminology remotely.
During the 5 weeks of language school, I improved my level of language proficiency. I really want to express my gratitude to the very training at the Chinese university. We were often introduced to the cultural aspects of the country. Every weekend we visited different places where we could feel the whole Chinese atmosphere. As for the personal plan, I liked the old town and the residents themselves, very good-natured and ready to help.
2. What difficulties did you have during the preparation stages for the internship? What tips and recommendations can you give to future participants of the academic mobility program?
There were enough difficulties, as is usually found in a foreign country.
I would like to warn future participants of summer programs that all students of Chinese universities go on vacation and with them the opportunity to work out in the gym and the choice of canteens is very limited.
Personally, this caused me great discomfort, I had to look for an alternative outside the university and the prices were much higher than in the canteens themselves. Another problem was the Internet outside the hostel, our supervisor said that we would not really need it.
However, if you are going to visit the sights of the city, and in general just take a walk with music, it is very necessary. My Chinese friends advised me to buy a portable Wi-Fi instead of a SIM card, it was one of the best tips. It is cheap, takes up little space and is easy to use. From the advice, I can say about the importance of communicating with the Chinese themselves, they are very open guys and can help. You can also take Alenka chocolate or Russian sweets with you, I often gave them as a sign of gratitude
3. Describe the visa application process. Your advice for future participants of the academic mobility program.
I got a visa quickly without any problems.
You need to register on the site and enter personal information. During the visit, it is necessary to prepare documents related to the university's invitation
- a partner . It is better to visit the consulate not in the morning, but at 10:00, there were fewer people. When the documents are submitted, you will be given a check, according to which you go to the bank and pay the fees. Exactly one week and the visa will be read
4. What difficulties did you have upon arrival at the host foreign organization? Your advice to future participants of the academic mobility program.
There were no problems. We were flying from Beijing, there are two airports inside the city, we exchanged tickets due to the cancellation of our flight and did not look at the departure airport. We had to take the subway from one airport to another, which is very expensive and time-consuming.The host organization sent us female
students to help us get there
5. 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 -250 ; one-way tickets 33,000, back 33,000; tuition 8000*(104,000) ; insurance 3000 ; meals 3000 (you can buy food once a week in large supermarkets, it will be more profitable than on campus) ; travel in Beijing and Ningbo envy of the choice of transport (in my case, the bus, Aeroexpress, bus, taxi ) and the distance was about 800*; use the metro it will be much cheaper
During the 5 weeks of language school, I improved my level of language proficiency. I really want to express my gratitude to the very training at the Chinese university. We were often introduced to the cultural aspects of the country. Every weekend we visited different places where we could feel the whole Chinese atmosphere. As for the personal plan, I liked the old town and the residents themselves, very good-natured and ready to help.
2. What difficulties did you have during the preparation stages for the internship? What tips and recommendations can you give to future participants of the academic mobility program?
There were enough difficulties, as is usually found in a foreign country.
I would like to warn future participants of summer programs that all students of Chinese universities go on vacation and with them the opportunity to work out in the gym and the choice of canteens is very limited.
Personally, this caused me great discomfort, I had to look for an alternative outside the university and the prices were much higher than in the canteens themselves. Another problem was the Internet outside the hostel, our supervisor said that we would not really need it.
However, if you are going to visit the sights of the city, and in general just take a walk with music, it is very necessary. My Chinese friends advised me to buy a portable Wi-Fi instead of a SIM card, it was one of the best tips. It is cheap, takes up little space and is easy to use. From the advice, I can say about the importance of communicating with the Chinese themselves, they are very open guys and can help. You can also take Alenka chocolate or Russian sweets with you, I often gave them as a sign of gratitude
3. Describe the visa application process. Your advice for future participants of the academic mobility program.
I got a visa quickly without any problems.
You need to register on the site and enter personal information. During the visit, it is necessary to prepare documents related to the university's invitation
- a partner . It is better to visit the consulate not in the morning, but at 10:00, there were fewer people. When the documents are submitted, you will be given a check, according to which you go to the bank and pay the fees. Exactly one week and the visa will be read
4. What difficulties did you have upon arrival at the host foreign organization? Your advice to future participants of the academic mobility program.
There were no problems. We were flying from Beijing, there are two airports inside the city, we exchanged tickets due to the cancellation of our flight and did not look at the departure airport. We had to take the subway from one airport to another, which is very expensive and time-consuming.The host organization sent us female
students to help us get there
5. 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 -250 ; one-way tickets 33,000, back 33,000; tuition 8000*(104,000) ; insurance 3000 ; meals 3000 (you can buy food once a week in large supermarkets, it will be more profitable than on campus) ; travel in Beijing and Ningbo envy of the choice of transport (in my case, the bus, Aeroexpress, bus, taxi ) and the distance was about 800*; use the metro it will be much cheaper
2024, Liubov Tambaleeva (Summer Program)
The internship was top notch! The program was rich and diverse: I studied Chinese and took part in numerous events aimed at familiarizing myself with Chinese culture. Such trips provide an opportunity to practice languages and make new acquaintances, which will be very 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?
Overall, there were no problems. The hardest part was submitting documents, but even here everything turned out to be not so difficult, since academic mobility is always ready to help, and if questions arise, the staff will suggest a solution.
Do not miss the opportunity to participate in various trips and internships. And do not be afraid, even if you go alone or think that you do not know the language well enough. It is not as difficult as it may seem, because the people around are kind and always ready to help. Dream, learn new things and travel!
Describr the process of obtaining a visa. Your advice for future participants of the academic mobility program.
First, you need to wait for an invitation from the university, after which you can start preparing documents for a visa. It is important to carefully check all the papers to avoid possible problems at the consulate. The consulate is often crowded, but the process is fairly quick. You need to submit documents, wait for a second call, give fingerprints if necessary, after which you will be given a receipt for payment. Pay attention to the announcements at the consulate, which indicate which pages of the application form you need to sign and in what order the documents should be laid out. The visa will cost 2,500 rubles plus a 50-ruble commission. When you go to pay for the visa at the bank, do not forget to take this amount in cash. After paying for the visa, you can pick it up exactly one week later.
Obtaining a visa may seem like a difficult step, but in fact it is quite a simple process, although it does require some effort. Do not put off applying for a visa for a long time, it is better to do it right after receiving the invitation, so that you can calmly buy plane tickets.
What difficulties did you encounter upon arrival at the host foreign organization? Your advice to future participants of the academic mobility program.
We had no problems when we arrived. We were warmly welcomed by student volunteers who walked us to campus and helped us throughout the entire time. So don't worry, universities usually take care of your settlement so that it goes smoothly.
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: 2550 rubles
Flight to Beijing roundtrip: 21,320 rubles
Train from Beijing to Dalian roundtrip: 13,000 rubles
Bus: 1 yuan
2024, Mozolova Mariia (Summer Program)
Overall impressions of studying at the summer school program of Harbin Institute of Technology are very positive. During the organized trips, I was able to visit the Harbin University Museum, visit the Space Museum and walk around the city with other students. In addition, I was able to visit the Zhongyang Street, climb the Harbin TV tower, and visit the historical museum on the outskirts of city.
During the two-week training, I was able to gain practical skills in Autodesk Revit program, study neural networks and their application, and gain extensive knowledge in the field of construction and architecture. The training was 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, and included lectures from teachers on English and Chinese language and time for independent study. Listening to lectures in Chinese was difficult, but some teachers and students in the group were understanding and briefly retold the lectures in English, helping me to assimilate the material.
On a personal level, the training helped to broaden my horizons, learn the language and culture of another country, and making useful contacts.
2. Difficulties at the preparation stages:
There were no difficulties at the preparation stage for the trip. I recommend getting a UnionPay card for cash withdrawals and checking the exchange rate at banks. Also, you need to install several VPN services on all devices, Alipay, WeChat applications, and a translator. You should check the roaming rates of your mobile operator before receiving a Chinese SIM-card, since this process can take several days. I advise you to purchase an adapter for a European socket and the necessary medications in advance. Learning a few basic words and phrases in Chinese will also be useful.
3. The process of obtaining a visa:
The process of getting a visa was not complicated, but I had to go to the consulate again because I had not printed the entire application form from the embassy website. My advice is to print any documents, application forms, specific forms of documents, invitation from the Chinese side, passport scans, etc. before going to the consulate.
4. Difficulties upon arrival at a foreign organization:
Certain difficulties are the language barrier and limited access to familiar services. Restrictions on the use of blocked services can be bypassed by installing a VPN, but not all of them work in China. Also, without knowledge of Chinese, it is difficult to use maps, order a taxi and use local applications, since in most cases they are not translated. In such cases, I advise you to contact students, university curators, native Chinese speakers or local residents who know English or can use a translator. In most cases, they will help you figure it out, explain something or show you the way.
5. Expenses, money saving tips:
The cost of the visa was 2,500 rubles. A flight to Harbin and back, including a transfer to the university, cost 55 thousand rubles. The airport is quite far from the city, so when leaving China, you need to put aside about 70 yuan (~900 rubles) for a taxi.
During my stay in China, I mostly traveled by taxi, but if you need to save money, the metro is the most accessible and cheapest transport. The cost depends on the number of stations you need to pass. You can get from one end of the city to the other for only 10 yuan. Also, between the first and second buildings of the Harbin Institute of Technology, there is a free bus every 30-60 minutes.
The SIM card cost about 100 yuan per month, was issued on campus and included an additional 40 GB of mobile traffic. The cost of Wi-Fi was 10 yuan per month, but it was very slow, so I used mobile Internet in most cases.
Accommodation in the dormitory was free. All you had to pay for was hot water for washing and water in the shower (1 yuan – 5 minutes of time).
Total expenses for the entire trip, including transportation and food, amounted to approximately 34 thousand rubles. To reduce expenses, I recommend eating on the territory of the university in local cafeterias, not spending too much on souvenirs and impulsive purchases, and planning your budget wisely. If possible, buy the necessary things for a comfortable stay in China before the trip (bed linen, personal hygiene products, etc.).
During the two-week training, I was able to gain practical skills in Autodesk Revit program, study neural networks and their application, and gain extensive knowledge in the field of construction and architecture. The training was 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, and included lectures from teachers on English and Chinese language and time for independent study. Listening to lectures in Chinese was difficult, but some teachers and students in the group were understanding and briefly retold the lectures in English, helping me to assimilate the material.
On a personal level, the training helped to broaden my horizons, learn the language and culture of another country, and making useful contacts.
2. Difficulties at the preparation stages:
There were no difficulties at the preparation stage for the trip. I recommend getting a UnionPay card for cash withdrawals and checking the exchange rate at banks. Also, you need to install several VPN services on all devices, Alipay, WeChat applications, and a translator. You should check the roaming rates of your mobile operator before receiving a Chinese SIM-card, since this process can take several days. I advise you to purchase an adapter for a European socket and the necessary medications in advance. Learning a few basic words and phrases in Chinese will also be useful.
3. The process of obtaining a visa:
The process of getting a visa was not complicated, but I had to go to the consulate again because I had not printed the entire application form from the embassy website. My advice is to print any documents, application forms, specific forms of documents, invitation from the Chinese side, passport scans, etc. before going to the consulate.
4. Difficulties upon arrival at a foreign organization:
Certain difficulties are the language barrier and limited access to familiar services. Restrictions on the use of blocked services can be bypassed by installing a VPN, but not all of them work in China. Also, without knowledge of Chinese, it is difficult to use maps, order a taxi and use local applications, since in most cases they are not translated. In such cases, I advise you to contact students, university curators, native Chinese speakers or local residents who know English or can use a translator. In most cases, they will help you figure it out, explain something or show you the way.
5. Expenses, money saving tips:
The cost of the visa was 2,500 rubles. A flight to Harbin and back, including a transfer to the university, cost 55 thousand rubles. The airport is quite far from the city, so when leaving China, you need to put aside about 70 yuan (~900 rubles) for a taxi.
During my stay in China, I mostly traveled by taxi, but if you need to save money, the metro is the most accessible and cheapest transport. The cost depends on the number of stations you need to pass. You can get from one end of the city to the other for only 10 yuan. Also, between the first and second buildings of the Harbin Institute of Technology, there is a free bus every 30-60 minutes.
The SIM card cost about 100 yuan per month, was issued on campus and included an additional 40 GB of mobile traffic. The cost of Wi-Fi was 10 yuan per month, but it was very slow, so I used mobile Internet in most cases.
Accommodation in the dormitory was free. All you had to pay for was hot water for washing and water in the shower (1 yuan – 5 minutes of time).
Total expenses for the entire trip, including transportation and food, amounted to approximately 34 thousand rubles. To reduce expenses, I recommend eating on the territory of the university in local cafeterias, not spending too much on souvenirs and impulsive purchases, and planning your budget wisely. If possible, buy the necessary things for a comfortable stay in China before the trip (bed linen, personal hygiene products, etc.).
2023-2024, Kachkova Donara (YEAR Exchange Program) 
During the internship, I worked with Premiere Pro, DaVinci, and Pro Tools programs, applying my knowledge in the areas of colorgrading, directing, producing, and screenwriting. I made significant progress in English. Academically, I expanded my knowledge of different education systems and effective teaching methods, stopped focusing on grades, and began to focus more on practical knowledge and a deep understanding of the subject. I also learned how to work effectively in a team and visited 17 states, which made me more flexible and adaptable to different environments. I have become more resilient and open-minded through these experiences. Moreover, through charity work, I tried my hand as a teaching assistant as a volunteer at Whitson Elementary School, teaching math to fourth graders. This experience opened my mind to many new things. One of the projects I accomplished during these two semesters was a short film for an advanced film production course, which also helped me advance significantly professionally.
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?
In the process of preparing for the internship there were difficulties with waiting for exam results, passing the stages of selection for the program and obtaining a visa. Sometimes it can be difficult to fill out the necessary paperwork to formalize your studies at various stages. It is important to remain patient and stay motivated during these processes.
My advice to future participants of an academic mobility program:
- Start preparations early to avoid stress and rush.
- Carefully study the document requirements and follow the instructions for completion.
- Seek help fr om experienced people.
- Be prepared for the unexpected and be flexible in solving problems.
- Don't lose faith in yourself and your abilities, even if difficulties arise.
Describe the process of obtaining a visa. Your advice for future participants of the academic mobility program.
The visa application process begins with filling out the DS-160 form, attaching a visa photo, and paying the consular fee. Visa decision criteria include ties to the country, employment history, purpose of travel, marital status, and other factors. I received a student visa through an exchange program, I went to the embassy in Armenia for the visa interview, from wh ere the visa was mailed. My advice is to carefully study all the application rules and follow the deadlines. Also prepare for the interview and be ready to answer questions about your plans, goals. It is possible to plan your actions in advance, taking into account possible delays in the process of obtaining a visa.
What difficulties did you encounter upon arrival at the host foreign organization? Your advice to future participants of the academic mobility program.
Coming to Washburn University was easy thanks to advisors and mentors. “International House at the university provided support for international students, including exchange students. However, it was a bit difficult due to the large amount of paperwork and time spent completing it. including setting up bank accounts, additional medical exams, and the adjustment process in general.
My advice to students:
- Contact your adviser at your host university with any important questions that concern you;
- Have all copies of documents with you in case you need to submit them;
- Prepare for the paperwork process in advance to minimize stress and make it easier to adjust to your new environment;
- Do not hesitate to seek help and support from the international student support services at the university.
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.
My expenses related to participation in a foreign internship included payment of the consular fee of about 3 thousand rubles. Flight tickets (Irkutsk-Moscow-Turkey-Turkey-Washington-Dallas-Kansas City) cost $1600. Medical services were provided on campus, but additional consultations and medications required additional expenses. Public transportation usually cost between 2 and 78, but in Topeka, transportation was free for students. Accommodations, meals, and tickets were sponsored by the exchange program according to the terms.
My tips for cutting costs:
- Track expenses and budget ahead of time.
- Have teeth and other health problems treated before traveling.
- Bring your own first aid kit and doctors' contacts from home (talk to them about leaving if possible).
- Ask for discounts when buying medicines or counseling from nurses.
- Take advantage of free or low-cost services provided by the university (e.g. ordering food).
- Take personal expenses into account and plan ahead.
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?
In the process of preparing for the internship there were difficulties with waiting for exam results, passing the stages of selection for the program and obtaining a visa. Sometimes it can be difficult to fill out the necessary paperwork to formalize your studies at various stages. It is important to remain patient and stay motivated during these processes.
My advice to future participants of an academic mobility program:
- Start preparations early to avoid stress and rush.
- Carefully study the document requirements and follow the instructions for completion.
- Seek help fr om experienced people.
- Be prepared for the unexpected and be flexible in solving problems.
- Don't lose faith in yourself and your abilities, even if difficulties arise.
Describe the process of obtaining a visa. Your advice for future participants of the academic mobility program.
The visa application process begins with filling out the DS-160 form, attaching a visa photo, and paying the consular fee. Visa decision criteria include ties to the country, employment history, purpose of travel, marital status, and other factors. I received a student visa through an exchange program, I went to the embassy in Armenia for the visa interview, from wh ere the visa was mailed. My advice is to carefully study all the application rules and follow the deadlines. Also prepare for the interview and be ready to answer questions about your plans, goals. It is possible to plan your actions in advance, taking into account possible delays in the process of obtaining a visa.
What difficulties did you encounter upon arrival at the host foreign organization? Your advice to future participants of the academic mobility program.
Coming to Washburn University was easy thanks to advisors and mentors. “International House at the university provided support for international students, including exchange students. However, it was a bit difficult due to the large amount of paperwork and time spent completing it. including setting up bank accounts, additional medical exams, and the adjustment process in general.
My advice to students:
- Contact your adviser at your host university with any important questions that concern you;
- Have all copies of documents with you in case you need to submit them;
- Prepare for the paperwork process in advance to minimize stress and make it easier to adjust to your new environment;
- Do not hesitate to seek help and support from the international student support services at the university.
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.
My expenses related to participation in a foreign internship included payment of the consular fee of about 3 thousand rubles. Flight tickets (Irkutsk-Moscow-Turkey-Turkey-Washington-Dallas-Kansas City) cost $1600. Medical services were provided on campus, but additional consultations and medications required additional expenses. Public transportation usually cost between 2 and 78, but in Topeka, transportation was free for students. Accommodations, meals, and tickets were sponsored by the exchange program according to the terms.
My tips for cutting costs:
- Track expenses and budget ahead of time.
- Have teeth and other health problems treated before traveling.
- Bring your own first aid kit and doctors' contacts from home (talk to them about leaving if possible).
- Ask for discounts when buying medicines or counseling from nurses.
- Take advantage of free or low-cost services provided by the university (e.g. ordering food).
- Take personal expenses into account and plan ahead.
2023-2024, Kondrashova Polina (YEAR Exchange program)
This internship helped me to understand what direction is most interesting to me in the field I study at university. During this year, I managed not only to get new theoretical knowledge, but also to apply it in practice, working in the student newspaper. I gained invaluable experience that can be useful to me in the future. Now I feel more confident and open, which is essential for a successful journalist.
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 thing was to prepare documents both for the host party and for the INRTU International Exchange Office. The main advice is to prepare everything in advance.
Describe the process of obtaining a visa. Your advice for future participants of the academic mobility program.
We obtained visas as a group, and no one had any problems. The main thing is to clearly state the purpose of the trip and your intention to return to Russia, as well as to demonstrate fluency in English.
What difficulties did you encounter upon arrival at the host foreign organization? Your advice to future participants of the academic mobility program.
Difficulties arose when it was time to register for courses. The education system in American universities is quite different from that in Russia, and I had to adapt quickly. The main advice I can give is not to rely on the help of an academic adviser, as these are often people with very busy schedules who are unlikely to be able to give you enough time, and to register for courses as early as possible.
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.
This internship was fully sponsored by the host country from the time we received our visa until we returned home. We received a monthly stipend of $1405, which we could spend at our discretion. The main advice I can give on how to cut costs in America is to buy necessary goods in large packages, as it is much more cost-effective to buy for several weeks in advance or to share with acquaintances.
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