Advice

MONEY

You need around 250 dollars for the first month while the university makes a deposit in your account. At the beginning, you need to buy some things such as sheets, pillows and things to clean your room and wash your clothes. You also need to pay a deposit of 100 dollars (600 RMB) for your room. This money will be refunded when you leave.

You can exchange money in the banks of the city. There are some banks near the South Gate (Nanmen) of the University or ATMS near the North Gate (Beimen).

THINGS TO BRING WITH YOU

Extra personal vital prescription and basic medications for headaches, colds, a fever, fungi, etc.

Summer clothes: By the time you arrive, the city will still be hot as it’s just the end of summer.

If you want, you can bring pillows and sheets. However, you can buy them in the university.

FOOD

At the beginning it’s better to eat at the school canteen as the food there has better quality and hygiene standards and you can choose easily the food you eat.

To eat at the canteen you need to buy a card that costs 20RMB and is served from 11:30-12:30 and from 16:30 to 17:30. The third floor is the best and stays open longer.

If you want other kinds of food there are plenty of restaurants around the university, especially at the North Gate (beimen).

The student’s dormitory also has kitchens on each floor if you want to cook. But be cautious of thieves stealing your food.

If you’re vegetarian, it’s possible to find vegetable protein such as tofu, soy grains, and nuts in the supermarkets and you can also buy canned pulses in Walmart. There aren’t specialized restaurants for vegetarians in the city. Unfortunately, Chinese dishes almost always include meat. Nevertheless, it’s also common to find dishes made of tofu or eggs in those restaurants.

If you’re Muslim, there are some restaurants that offer food according to your standards. There’s one on the third floor of the school canteen, there are two at the North Gate (beimen) and there’s at least one near the South Gate (nanmen).

 

MONTHLY EXPENSES

For students who have a full scholarship, you will spend on average 153 dollars (1,000 RMB) a month to satisfy your basic needs. This amount includes food, electricity and water but not traveling expenses.

For students who don’t have a scholarship, keep in mind the extra expenses for housing not included in the 153 dollars mentioned above

a)      A shared room in the dormitory of the university costs around 100 dollars (600RMB).

b)      A single room costs 200 dollars (1,200RMB).

c)       It’s possible to rent a room outside the university. The cheapest places cost around 50 dollars and the most expensive ones 90 dollars on average. To live outside you just need to follow a special procedure managed by the Office of International Students. 

--- Diego