Hi everyone!!!

I’m a third year Computer Science student at Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, also called HITSZ.

I’ve lived in China for around four years. I first spent one year studying Chinese at Guilin University of Electronic Technology. After that I moved to Shenzhen for my bachelor’s degree.

Here are some things I really wish someone had told me before I arrived.

1. Get an eSIM before your flight

Don't wait until you land in China to figure out your internet.

Buy a travel eSIM before your flight. You can find one on any provider like trip com or etc. Just make sure it supports mainland China and that your phone supports eSIM.

Download it and activate everything while you still have internet at the airport.

You don't want to arrive in a completely new country without maps, translation, messages or access to your university contacts. Trust me lol.

2. Prepare for internet restrictions and download VPN.

A lot of services you normally use are unavailable on regular mainland Chinese internet.

Google, YouTube, Instagram and many other platforms may not work normally.

Download all important documents, contacts, translation apps and offline maps before arriving.

Also, don't depend on some random free VPN. The free ones were almost useless in my experience. If you decide to use a VPN or another network service, arrange it before arriving. This is one of the things where trying to save a little money can create a lot of unnecessary stress.

3. Give your stomach some time. Avoid spicy chinese food for a short time.

Chinese food is incredibly diverse. Still, some food I encountered in Guilin and southern China was much oilier, spicier or simply more unusual than what I ate at home in Kyrgyzstan.

Local students have grown up with this food. Your body may need some time to adjust.

Don't try to eat every unfamiliar dish during your first few days. Start gradually and learn what works for you.

Several of my international friends ate without any restraint during their first months. Some later returned home and received treatment for gastritis and other digestive problems.

I can't prove that Chinese food was the only cause, but according to their words, it was the main reason. Street food is particularly super stressful for your stomach. However, their experience taught me not to change my entire diet overnight.

4. Apply for accommodation early

Apply for your dormitory as early as possible. Especially if you want a single room.

Living with another student may sound fun when you first arrive. However, based on the international students I have known, I would estimate that almost 90 percent eventually wished they had chosen a single room.

The remaining 10 percent either found a genuinely compatible roommate or needed to save as much money as possible.

After several months, different sleeping schedules, cleanliness standards, phone calls, guests and study habits can become exhausting.

In my experience, living off campus could cost around 50 percent more than a single dorm room. Especially after including the deposit, agency fees, utilities and other expenses.

This isn't a fixed rule across China. Prices and university policies are different in every city.

Foreigners may also have fewer apartments to choose from because not every landlord wants to deal with the registration process.

Before renting privately, ask your university whether international students are allowed to live off campus. You must also properly register your address.

You don't need to report where you sleep every single day. However, if you move into a private residence, you or the person hosting you generally need to register the address with the local authorities within 24 hours.

5. Bring the medicines you normally use

Southern China can be extremely humid.

Where I lived, the humidity was often close to 80 percent. Clothes dried slowly, rooms needed regular ventilation and mould could appear surprisingly quickly.

After moving south, I experienced strong allergy symptoms for the first time in my life. Antihistamines helped me personally.

Of course, everyone reacts differently. Bring the medicines you normally use in their original packaging. Check Chinese customs rules before travelling.

If you develop serious or unfamiliar symptoms, see a doctor. Don't just take random medicine because another student recommended it.

6. Set up your payments before arriving

Don't bring only US dollars and assume you will exchange them immediately.

During my first month in Guilin, exchanging foreign currency was much more difficult than I expected. I didn't have my residence permit yet and some banks couldn't help me.

In Shenzhen, my experience was easier. I could exchange money with my passport.

The exact process may depend on the bank and city.

Set up Alipay before travelling if possible. Foreign users can usually connect eligible international Visa and Mastercard cards.

I would recommend having several options.

• Alipay (Wechat payments are not available by 2026 if you do not have a Chinese bank card…)
• An international bank card (Preferrably to have a Union Pay, but Visa is also fine)
• Some RMB cash.
• A small amount of foreign currency for emergencies.

Cash can sometimes give you a better exchange rate. However, don't make it your only plan during your first month.

7. Don't visit Hong Kong or Macao too early

This is probably the most important warning for new students in Guangdong.

Don't take a casual trip to Hong Kong or Macao before receiving your residence permit.

I’ve seen many new students make this mistake.

Hong Kong and Macao have separate immigration controls. Travelling there counts as leaving mainland China.

Many international students enter mainland China with an X1 visa that allows only one entry. After entering, they must apply for a residence permit within 30 days.

Check the Entries field printed on your actual visa.

If your visa has only one entry and you have already used it, leaving mainland China may mean that you can't return using the same visa.

A weekend trip to Hong Kong isn't the same as travelling to another mainland Chinese city.

Wait until you receive your residence permit. 

Once you have the correct residence permit, you can normally leave and reenter mainland China during its validity period.

Final thoughts

The first month in China can feel overwhelming. For me I had a super memorizable cultural shock. It was a completely different world even if we are neighbours with China.

You need to arrange your internet, payments, accommodation, medical checks, university registration and residence documents almost at the same time.

Still, most problems become manageable when you prepare in advance.

These tips are based on my own four years in Guilin and Shenzhen. Your experience may be different depending on your city, university, nationality and visa.

The photos are just some random moments from my life here. Flights, food, exhibitions, old streets, modern Shenzhen and small weekend trips.

If you’re coming to study in China for the first time, welcome. It may feel confusing at first, but you’ll learn surprisingly quickly.

idk guys, when i was typing, it got deleted and i wanna type again. i know i will regret this when i wake up in the morning. no, i am not drunk while i am typing this, but i just wanna pour all my emotions out on reddit. that's why i created this account. i hope it won't go viral. still, who gives a shit? like, yes, let's begin.

i wasted my 6 months after 12. you know, doing what? doomscrolling on insta, creating fake scenarios, sleeping, watching movies and shit. i don't know what's going on with life. just idk what to say or what to do in life and all.

i am going to a shitty college near my home, 2 minutes away. gonna study bca. why bca? idk, just doing it because others are doing it. i just did cmat bca exam in these 6 months. nothing more than that. i got 77% and i will give sat and ielts.

i have many fake hopes for myself in life, like many fake hopes of things which others can't normally achieve, and i think i can. this is the main thing i hate about myself.

for example, i will give the sat exam. i haven't studied one page of sat and i think i can get 1500+ in one month. and i think about becoming a big person in the future.

for reference, i know i can't. when others say i can't do something, i think i also can't. but there is one voice in my head saying, "you can do anything in life." this is the thing i hate most.

if you're reading this till now, thank you guys for your time. and i also don't do anything. please don't end up like me. save your time and future. regret is the worst feeling in life. fake scenarios and fake hopes.

i also went to ielts classes but left after one month. i wanna give the exam, but no passport. i created citizenship and it's been one month, but still no passport. i also went to a lot of colleges for admissions, but i didn't like them at all.

also, i got 77% in 12th from commerce, from an indian school in nepal, guys.

and idk what to do. i wanna go to the usa. i am from a humble background. idk if i can make it, but i will try.

help me with the sat. how much score do i need? and ielts, how much do i need?

thank you for reading this if you read till now. just give me advice, that's all.

thank you. i hope you guys make it in life. idk if i can.

i am a moroccan student currently studying first year in med, but I really wanna continue my studies in the US or europe so i think i might postulate for the IMAT and try to study in ITALY but idk thought whats the best the decision especially when my financial situation isnt all that good ( I dont wanna stay in morocco thats for sure )
So if i had to choose betwen EU and US what do yall think and what can i do ?
i really need help

GUYS (CHAT) CAN I GO ABROAD WITH 77PERCENTAGE OF YES WHICH COUNTRY AND WHICH UNIVERSITY WOULD I RECOMMEND ME I PASSED CLASS 12 IN NEPAL WITH CBSE BOARD SCHOOL IN COMMERCE

ITS BEEN LIKE 6 MONTHS AND I DID NOTHING PLEASE HELP ME CHAT 😭😭😭 WHICH COUNTRY WHICH UNIVERSITY AND ALSO I WANNA GO USA OR I AM THINKING OF IT PLEASE CHAT HOW MUCH SHOULD I GET IN ILETS AND SAT I WILL UPDATE YOU HERE ALWAYS THANK AND PLEASE SAY ME RESOURCES TOO

THANK YOU!!!

PLEASE DO REPLY IF U HAVE TIME IT WOULD HELP ME A LOOTTTTTT

I will be giving my final exam on February and my result will come in April. And I will also have to give my IELTS exam. I heard that applying for September intake in advance from October to January is good time because acceptance rate is higher but how should I manage everything? Or should I take a gap year? Would it affect my chance of getting accepted in university?

Sorry for this dumb question :( but i genuinely want to know

I recently got into a computer science university in France and I have a problem with the language.
French is not my native language and my level is around B1 B2. I can understand maybe 95% of what people say, especially when I know the topic, but speaking is much harder for me.
For example I can understand what the professor is explaining, but when I need to answer or explain something myself, I sometimes just can't find the right words. This is what worries me the most because of group projects and presentations.
I think I will probably be able to work in a group, even if my French is not perfect. But presenting a project in front of other people in French is something I am really worried about. I can understand the subject and know what I want to say, but sometimes I just can't explain it properly in French.
So I wanted to ask what you guys think about this. Maybe I am worrying for no reason and it will get much easier once I start speaking French every day.
Has anyone had a similar experience? Maybe you studied at university in a language that wasn't your native language. How was it for you? Did it get easier with time? And do you have any advice for group projects and presentations?
Thank you very much to everyone who shares their experience.

Hi guys! I’m applying for the Stipendium Hungaricum this year and I’m a bit worried about my chances. I have solid stats and a few extracurriculars, but no olympiad medals or major researches/projects. I’m a high school senior from Kazakhstan. My major is Applied Economics and I would like to study in Budapest. My first choice is Corvinus University, with ELTE as the second one. I'm mostly worried about the nomination stage.

Cumulative GPA: 4.6 (might increase to 4.7 by december)

IELTS: 7.5

SAT: 1300 in march, but I'm retaking it in november and aiming for around 1450

I was a founder of a Kazakh language Debate Club, ~60 participants, ran it for 2 years. Also minister in Student Government for 2 years. Had a 7 week internship at IDP IELTS. Volunteered as a tutor for children with disabilities (70+ teaching hours). Worked as a full-time summer camp counselor for 3 months. I have some other certificates as well, but these are the main ones.

Bonjour à tous 👋
Petit sondage !
Dans le cadre de mon mémoire, je cherche des personnes pour répondre à un court questionnaire sur l’utilisation d’applications comme Yuka lors des achats alimentaires.
⏱️ Quelques minutes • questionnaire anonyme
👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUvdUg_etKOw6e6vPMqu-2TvBS0btLpNrD7DzMy_zP2Nwl8A/viewform?usp=publish-editor
Merci beaucoup pour votre aide 🙏

Can I apply for Scholarship as a Final Year Undergraduate Student?

Hello, everyone. I have a few queries regarding scholarship procedures as I don't have anyone in my family or around me whom I can ask from. I would be really thankful if any of you can answer the questions.

I am a BS Sociology student in my 7th Semester and my expected graduation date is June 2027. I would be pursuing scholarships for Master's.

1. Can I apply for scholarships as a final year student?

2. My top priority is CSC. I would be applying through Type B route but what I am confused about is whether emailing supervisors is important or not? I have emailed a few of them, but no response so I don't know if it's worth it or not.

3. Is it important to have an acceptance letter from professors to apply for universities in China?

4. I have also thought about applying to

MTCP Scholarship in Malaysia, GKS, some scholarships in Hong Kong and Australia (I have yet to research about these).

1. Does applying to these universities have the same procedure, i.e, emailing professors, getting acceptance letters and then applying to university and then the scholarship?

Hi everyone! I’m from Cambodia and I’m planning to apply for a PhD at Czech Republic.
My background is Civil Engineering (Bachelor’s) and Public Administration (Master’s), and I’m interested in research related to Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences, or Sustainable Infrastructure. I also had an Erasmus+ study experience in Italy.
I’m currently looking for funded PhD opportunities and would really appreciate advice from anyone who has experience studying or applying for a PhD in the Czech Republic.
Is it recommended to contact professors/supervisors before applying, and how difficult is it for an international student to get a funded PhD position? Also, is the PhD stipend generally enough to live on?
Any advice or personal experience would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! 🙏

I've been in South Korea for 18 days now, and I started my courses one week ago. I feel like I made a mistake by coming here, I felt awful, and still feel awful and it's really affecting my mental health badly.

And I'm not saying I don't know being here is a privilege, I know it is, but I don't feel happy here. I didn't feel happy back in France too, but it keeps getting worse and here I don't even have any support, I just call my friend and family all day. And I know people will tell me to just make friends here, and it's way better with friends etc, but I prefer not making any friends here tbh, I don't want to be attached to someone, nor having to hang out with people I don't like, I don't want to pretend or anything.

I'm not sure about liking this program. I'm scared I will be trapped in a program I don't like once again.

I'm planning to stay in South Korea and submit a dropout form at the end of the month to have a big refund. Then coming back to France and try different internships etc to try out the field I may want to work in later, then apply to programs for september 2027 in France.

Is this a mistake ?

Hi everyone!

I’ll be spending one semester at Sapienza University of Rome and I’m currently looking for accommodation from the beginning of October until the end of February.

What I’m looking for:
• A single room in a shared apartment
• Or even better, 2 single rooms in the same apartment, as a friend of mine is also looking
• Maximum budget: €500/month per person, including utilities
• Preferably with a reasonable connection to Sapienza University

A little about me: I’m calm, organized and respectful. I’ve lived in shared apartments before, so I understand the importance of good communication, respecting each other’s privacy, and taking care of common spaces.

If you have a room available, know someone who does, or have any recommendations, please send me a private message or leave a comment below.

Thank you! ☺️

Hello everybody
Studying abroad has been my dream. After I got my bachelor degree I landed a job and I tried to save as much as possible money for my master’s degree, then I applied to German universities I got accepted And got my visa too, but now I got second thoughts and I’m questioning everything. Like is it worth is to leave everything behind and start again, did I choose the right program, am I going to waste my money, will I find a job after graduation and a lots of other questions.

Hi I'm a 12th grade Indian student with Physics, chemistry and maths. I want to do BSC physics in Ecole polytechnique paris. I don't have any extra curricular (and I mean it). I have good grades like very good with strong maths and physics. I'm preparing for JEE (indian entrance exam for engineering and stem fields). BUT there is one thing I have done which is notable and that is I'm a winner of BL4S 2026 and I went to cern to perform my proposed experiment and stayed there for 2 weeks.

Based on this how likely am i to get in Ecole polytechnique, paris for bsc physics program. I would really appreciate any kind of insight you can provide :)

Here some main activities:

1. International e-commerce administrator.
   Managed 1,150+ successful orders over 2 years, starting at 15; coordinated logistics and communication with sellers across Japan, Korea, China & other Asian markets and customers across the CIS; sourced products, tracked payments, shipments & mail, and trained interns. Generated ₸2M+ in net profit by age 16.

2. Research
   Conducted mixed-method research on 21st-century my ethnicity identity through surveys/interviews across diverse professional backgrounds. Analyzed self-identification and external perceptions; published findings in a leading publication in my home country and received feedback from experienced, award-winning scholars in the field.

3. Journalist & Writing
   Wrote 20+ analytical/news articles in 2 months on football and broader sports trends; articles were used by social media creators. Translated interviews/videos for football & figure-skating Telegram channels reaching 100K+ followers.

4. IELTS tutor & educational project organiser
   Tutored students from 5.5→6.5 and to 7.5 within 1 month; helped students from China-bound Master’s programs reach required scores. Conducted 20+ online in 2 months. Built a free IELTS diagnostic/study platform with 100+ users in its first week and a 1,500+ follower study channel; organized level-based speaking clubs for 45+ students.

There is just main points and it’s not final version for Common App/application. In e-commerce I was not the founder, I think it should be considered, but all work I did by myself without any help from parents. My research is matching with my background/narrative. I don’t share a lot details(including my ethnicity, where it was published and who is the professor and any conferences) about it because it’s still in active development!

I'm an international student and have done a undergrad in psychology with a 3.8 GPA, looking for programs in IRELAND. My interest is toward the clinical side. Though I'm working in education sector as a researcher. However I am planning to began my masters and set into a more clinical side of psychology. I have also heard it important that I find programs that have placements, but can't seem to find any in ireland.

I’m currently a sophomore in college and really want to study abroad for a full year next year. If not a year, then a semester.

However, I understand that I can’t take any accounting or major-related classes abroad, and I will miss out on events like Meet the Firms, fall behind on my classes, and just have a harder time networking and stuff.

Is studying abroad still worth the risks that come with missing out on career opportunities, internship chances, etc.? Will it set me back too much? I really want to study abroad and feel like it’s a once in a lifetime chance while I’m still in school, but I get so much anxiety about thinking about how it could mess up my future after graduation.

Right now I’m taking lower level business courses and a few upper division classes, but I haven’t taken any classes directly related to my accounting major yet since I technically am still a pre-business major until I finish those lower classes lol.

Hey everyone, got a question.

I did my bachelor's in English language teaching and graduated with a 68 average – not great, I know. But now I'm doing my master's in Finance (MBA), taught in English, and I still have two years left. My target is to keep my master's average above 91.

I'm thinking about applying for a PhD (aspirantura) in Russia, specifically in economics or finance. I want to go with a full scholarship – either through the Russian government quota or the olympiad route.

So my questions are:

For the quota system, will my low bachelor GPA (68) hurt me a lot? Or can my high master's GPA (91+) compensate for it? Do they look at all diplomas equally, or do they focus more on the most recent degree?

I looked into the olympiad route but it seems like it's mostly for bachelor students. Can a master's student even apply through that? If not, and I just apply directly to universities, will my strong master's GPA make them overlook my weak bachelor results?

Also, how much do things like research papers, work experience, or English certificates (TOEFL/IELTS) matter in this process? In general, what do Russian universities care about most when selecting PhD candidates?

If anyone here has been through this process or studied in Russia, I'd really appreciate your input. Thanks in advance!

"P.S. I’m from Azerbaijan, so if anyone from post-Soviet countries has experience with this, extra grateful for your insights."

hi, so our team handles scholarship application help at work, and I was supposed to update a list of merit based scholarships with deadlines, GPA minimums, essay prompts, all that. i pasted the wrong version into the student portal and for about two hours every listing said the same fake deadline and the same award amount ((not even close), and a bunch of students applied based on it..

my manager had to send an apology email and i had to sit there fixing it while everyone was asking why the scholarship search tool was showing nonsense. i feel sick about this, it made us look so careless and i cant believe this actually happened... any tips for not making a mess like this again?

How to get into standford/ivy masters from tier 3 in cse I am in first year

Yeah probably too high goal but I see ppl from tier 3 and 69 getting top top abroad colleges and i want to aim that no matter what sm1 who is educated in this?

Hey guys,

I am a graduate meng Ece student.

I will arriving in Sep 12 weekends to Toronto, how critical is missing the first week Sep 8-11 classes? I am already registered for 2 courses and 1 is waitlisted (rank 1). I will fly from overseas, and need to get some medical procedures completed before arriving. Any thoughts advice? Thanks would appreciate any international advice. I have my accommodation already confirmed.

Looking back I feel like I spent a lot of my teenage years just grinding and studying that I didn’t spend as much time with my parents as I would’ve liked. Now I'm on a gap year sort of sorting my life out and stepping back from academics a bit and really putting more conscious effort for my family, health etc.

My gap year made me realise, these are things that are way more important to me. My family, my health, happiness and actually enjoying my life matter too.

I'm not sure I'm like ready to step away and leave them while I go overseas. Our house will be very lonely as I am the only child. Also my mum and dad's work sort of restrains them to our country so I guess they can't leave easily either to visit me.

My mum constant expresses how she is sad I am going abroad she brings it up every now and then and its almost like shes dreading it.

The other thing is, I can't help but feel very conscious about how my parents are growing older each year and I guess I just want to be by their side for that...? If that makes sense.

I always see those videos of interviews with old people where they ask things like "what's your biggest regret in life" and every answer it's about how they should've spent more time with their loved ones when they're young. Anyways I'm just ranting at this point 😅

In hindsight I also did get IB 45 so I got a bunch of opportunities overseas. Any insights appreciated ❤️

Hi everyone. I really need guidance from Pakistani students or graduates who have actually gone through the study abroad process themselves.

I recently completed my BS Computer Science with a 3.26 CGPA. Because of some personal circumstances, I missed most Fall 2026 deadlines, so I’m now looking for a very late 2026 intake or ideally January or February 2027.

I’m mainly interested in Business Analytics, Data Analytics, Data Science with a business focus, AI with Business or Analytics, or similar technology plus business programs. I’m not looking for a pure MBA or another hardcore Computer Science degree.

My priorities are simple. I need low tuition, affordable living, the ability to legally work while studying from the beginning, and preferably opportunities for part time work, TA, RA, internships, or university jobs.

I’m also trying to understand the financial proof side. Does the money need to be in my own bank account, or can my sponsor, in my case my husband, show his income, bank statements, and financial resources instead? I also do not currently have IELTS, although my entire BS degree was taught in English, so I’d like to know which universities accept an MOI letter, internal English test, Duolingo, or something similar.

I’m open to any country where these conditions fit, especially affordable options in Europe or nearby regions. I’m not considering the USA.

I’m specifically asking Pakistani people because the visa and financial requirements can be very different for us, and I would rather hear from people who have actually gone through it than rely completely on consultants.

If you went abroad recently for a Masters, please share your university, tuition, proof of funds, visa timeline from Pakistan, English requirement, work situation, and approximate living costs.

I know I’m late, but I still want to give it a serious shot. DMs are also welcome.

Hello, Presently I am studying Tourism in Malta. I belongs to third world country. But i decided I want to settle in Europe. Advice me how Quick I can get PR to Any European Country with the most Least Year as a student??