Striving in Shanghai

It has been a month since starting at Shanghai Tongji University and it’s crazy how different the culture is. And this is coming from an ABC who thought he knew everything about Chinese culture. Other than regretting not listening in high school Chinese class, here are some things I’ve experienced from my time in Shanghai.

Chinese students study hard. But how hard?

If you’re Australian born Chinese (ABC), you probably understand the pressure placed on academics. For a 7-year-old who just wanted to play games and watch TV, being forced to spend hours at tutoring seemed like a lot of pressure. That now 20-year-old has now realised that was nothing. At least once university rolls around, it becomes easier. Right…?

Not so much in China.

Back at UTS, full-time students are expected to study 3-4 subjects per semester. So, you would think China would be expected to have a few more. But how many more? On average, Chinese students study 8-10 subjects per semester, some even more. Not so rare to find students with regular 8am-8pm days of classes. Almost makes me feel bad about complaining about an 8am lecture.

How did I find this out? Because I am only doing 3 subjects, a classmate asked how come she never sees me in class. I thought it was normal to not see each other when we only do 3-4 subjects. She induced me to a state of shock when she said she did 8 subjects.

Studying this many subjects might seem intimidating. However, don’t let this sway you from applying to exchange in China because this problem is only a problem for the local students. Luckily, you’ll only be required to do 3-4 subjects for a semester.

Differences between Tongji University and UTS

The first month at Tongji University has been quite a wild ride. Good thing I’m used to roller coaster rides from watching the Parramatta Eels every week. Here are some differences between the two universities.  

My first shock came with the class scheduling. There were still bell times and classes were still arranged using periods. When the bell rang signaling transition time, the empty hallways were instantly packed with students heading towards their next class. Not me. I was getting ready to head home. Coming to university made it feel like I stepped into the fountain of youth and entered high school again.

Furthermore, there is only one type of lesson. Just one lesson once per week over a semester. No such thing as splitting a subject into tutorials, lectures, workshops, seminars etc. Thus, all the content is taught within that one lesson usually being around 90min.

During the lessons, teaching style is similar to UTS. Most tutors use PowerPoint presentations to go over learning material. However, my experiences are that UTS tutors are more equipped with technology such as using I-pads and projective boards to go over the course work. In contrast to all the new technology, blackboards still exist in most classrooms.

Tongji is a top university in Shanghai which is also reflected by its abundant facilities. Facilities range from a gym to a swimming pool and many cafeterias where you get an amazing meal for under $10AUD. There are many sport fields on campus, but no surprise, the main sports around here are badminton and ping pong.

The Amazing Lifestyle

Where do I begin? There is an abundance of places to visit around Shanghai, the most popular ones being Nanjing Road, The Bund, Yu Garden, Jing’an Temple, Huaihai Road, Xintiandi, Zhujiajiao and Disney Resort. The best thing is the Metro system which is one of the most efficient and reliable in the world. Throughout my stay, there have never been delays. There are many fun activities in the biggest city of China. Could not emphasise doing an exchange in Shanghai enough with all the activities, culture, and most importantly, only needing to study 3-4 subjects while everyone else around is doing double what you’re doing.

Kevin Luo
Bachelor of Business
Tongji University, China
New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant Recipient / Think Global Ambassador

For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.uts.edu.au/thinkglobal