A Blog about Education Abroad

Category: Semester Exchange Postings

Blog Postings by Returning Stellenbosch University Students

  • Jani at Xiamen University, China (Part I)

    Jani at Xiamen University, China (Part I)

    Jani Smith is currently at Xiamen University, where she is partaking in a semester exchange. Here are some tips provided by Jani for planning your trip to China.

    Visa application:

    The visa application for China, the X2 visa, is probably the
    easiest of all the things  you have to do in order to prepare for your stay in China.  The documents that you will need for the visa application are as follows: (1) the application form provided by the
    Chinese Consulate (which you can download from their website)
    , (2) the Admission Notice Document provided by the host university, (3) your passport and (4) two ID photos.

    Please note that one does not need to a Foreigner Physical Examination Form to apply for the visa. The cost of the visa is R400 and the process takes about three to four working days. You can also apply for an emergency visa, which you can get the following day, but there are obviously extra fees involved.

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  • Jacomine at the University of Antwerp

    Jacomine at the University of Antwerp

    The final weeks leading up to my departure to Antwerp were jam-packed, exciting and emotional. At first it seemed like the Visa application was the most difficult part of the process, but I soon discovered that packing was. Packing for 6 months with a limited weight of 33kg can be challenging. Not knowing what necessities your room will be equipped with on your arrival was rather scary. My tip would be to always pack less and remember that almost everything you need can be bought or borrowed.

    And so the day of my departure finally arrived. The fact that I was leaving for six months had not sunk in until I was sitting at the boarding terminal. It was emotional saying bye to my family, but I had forgotten the power of technology (Skype) and how it can shorten distances! After a long flight I finally arrived in Brussels where I took a train to Antwerp. From there I could have walked to my accommodation but my bags were far too heavy and so I took a cab.

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  • Ronalda at Tilburg University

    Ronalda at Tilburg University

    Experience at Tilburg University :

    For those people interested in attending Tilburg University, I highly recommend that you do. The University is fully equipped for international students. It has a wonderful program that will assist you with academic as well as social/person matters. This program will not only help you to get situated in Tilburg in the beginning of your exchange but it will also help you throughout your exchange. Further, it has an amazing social calendar. The University and the I*ESN (the international student association) put a lot of effort into their exchange program and what I have gathered from other exchange students at other universities is that it is not always the case.

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