Category: Xiamen University

Pre-departure:

My semester exchange was at Xiamen University in Fujian, China. In the months before the trip, much of the preparation was done by conducting research on the internet. A crucial piece of advice is that a VPN should be downloaded onto a phone or computer before departure. This is so one has access to Google based websites as well as others. The process of applying for a visa is a relatively straightforward one, but it is important to make sure that you have all the necessary documents; like passports, acceptance letters among others ready when you apply. This will make the process much easier. If you do encounter any problems, such as losing an important document, you can just consult Stellenbosch University International for help.

Another important thing when applying for a visa is to know exactly how many days you will be in the country including the days of departure and arrival. This is so that there is no possibility that you will overstay your visa or face any complications later. The visa took roughly five working days to be processed and payment was done upon collection.

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Pre-departure:

I did my exchange program at Xiamen University, China. Most of my pre-departure preparations included internet research. Before applying for my visa, I had to purchase my return ticket. The process was relatively quick. As soon as I bought my flight ticket I headed to the Chinese consulate in Cape Town. I handed in my completed and correct documents and paid R400 with it. They told me to come collect my visa the following week. I think it is important that you purchase a return ticket in order to have your visa accepted. The next week I went to collect my visa at the embassy. Quick, easy and no hassle. However, when purchasing your flight ticket remember to keep the semester start dates in mind. It is advisable to arrive in your hosting country the day before registration (if you can afford to sleep at a hotel, that’s great!) or on the day of registration so that you can move into the dorms immediately. If you do decide to sleep over at a hotel or guesthouse, make sure you make a booking online and keep an electrical copy on your phone and a hard copy with you.

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Jani at Xiamen University, China (Part I)

Arriving in Xiamen:

I arrived in Xiamen on Saturday the 12th of September 2015. The campus is about a 40 minutes drive from the airport by taxi and costs about 100 Yuan. I did not need to say much to the taxi driver because I showed him the campus map that was given to us by the PGIO office before departure, so he knew exactly where I wanted to go. I arrived at the campus around 11:30 in die morning. The rest of the afternoon was spent standing in a long queue in order to register, which was quite tiring, especially after a 23 hour flight. If you arrive before the given registration date you are responsible for your own accommodation.

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