Unexpected Expenses

Upon first arriving at Zhejiang Normal University you are expected to pay for some things before your scholarship is disbursed that most incoming students will be unaware of.

First and foremost when you check into the international student dorm you will immediately be asked for 600 RMB: 500RMB for a deposit on the room, 50RMB deposit for your room key card, and 50RMB for electricity. If you don’t have the money in your wallet there is nothing you can do about it but if you have the money they WILL take it. This gives a very welcoming feeling especially when and if you are on scholarship and you have no idea about these fees.

Next thing you are expected to pay if your physical exam, which everyone has to do in order to apply for the student residence permit visa. The physical exam is around 400RMB.

That brings up the price of the student residence permit visa. That is different for everyone based upon each individuals situation but the usual fee for 1 year is 400RMB. By the time students are required to pay this they should have the scholarship distributed but it is better to have the money just in case.

Those are the main fees that every student has to pay after arriving to the school whether they are scholarship student or not. The office claims that when the scholarship is released you also get a first-month one time only stipend to reimburse these fees and help provide money for all the household items you need to buy when you first arrive. The monthly scholarship should be 1700RMB and the first-month stipend is 1500, so in total you receive 3200RMB for the first scholarship disbursement. The office should finally release the scholarship the last week of September after they have received everyone’s signature.

In the meantime before the scholarship is released you will also need pocket money for any food or personal items you need to buy. If you arrive on time to meet with the student group then you get a free trip to the school and if not then you have to pay your own way. If you indeed meet with the student group then you will probably arrive in China the first or second week in September; you will need enough money to last you until the end of the month and to pay for the required fees before the scholarship is released in the last week of September. The international student office is not very helpful if you don’t have the money, they simply just say, “Borrow the money from a friend.”

One nice thing you find out after arriving that you are also not initially aware of is that the office distributes student SIM cards within the first week of arriving at school. You have to get or bring your own phone and buy your own prepaid minutes but they do provide the SIM card.

Main points:

·         Have enough extra money to pay for expenses and personal necessities for about a month before the scholarship is released

·         Expected fees everyone is required to pay include: 500RMB deposit on dorm, 50RMB deposit for key card, 50RMB (at least) for electricity, 400RMB for physical exam, and 400RMB for the student residence permit visa

·         The university provides each student with a SIM card for their own phone

--- Shailee