Study ChinaProgramme

w w w. s t u d y c h i n a . o r g . u k Department forBusiness, Energy& Industrial Strategy

Handbook 2017

Study China Programme TeamCentre for Chinese StudiesSamuel Alexander BuildingThe University of ManchesterOxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom

General enquiries: study.china@manchester.ac.uk

Operations Manager: Natalie Shannonnatalie.a.shannon@manchester.ac.uk 0161 306 1725

www.studychina.org.ukThe Study China Handbook contains specific information about the programme and general information relating to China.

Please take the time to read through carefully, if you have any further questions please do contact us.

Thanks Natalie

What does the Study China Programme offer?The Study China Programme offers students a unique opportunity to experience Chinese life, culture, language and business.

Each programme includes a Chinese university accredited Chinese language course, cultural classes, visits and excursions.

Language ClassesYou will receive 40 hours of language tuition in a tiered class to match your language level. So whether you are a total beginner, intermediate or advanced speaker there will be a class to suit your ability. The language tuition you receive will place emphasis on developing your oral communication ability, with an oral and written examination at the end of the programme.The language course is designed to meet the requirements of HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi), an internationally recognised Chinese language proficiency test.

The vast majority of Study China participants will be beginners, having little or no previous language experience.If you are intermediate or an advanced level learner, it may be necessary to place you in a class alongside non Study China learners, in order to meet you language needs. Text books for intermediate or advanced level learners can either be purchased at a small cost on campus or can be provided to you in photocopy format.

Please note: You will not receive the HSK qualification on completion of 40 hours of language classes. In order to complete the HSK qualification you would need to register to complete the examination at a Confucius Institute in the UK.

Completion of the full 40 hour programme has a weighting of two units of credit based on the Chinese university system. Two units of credit are equivalent to 20 UK credits at undergraduate level.

If you wanted to complete a credit transfer you would be responsible for arranging this with your institution and confirming that your institution recognises a 20 UK credit weighting for this particular programme. Arrangements regarding credit transfer need to made by you, prior to you starting the programme, you will need permission by your home institution, which is not guaranteed. You will receive a transcript on completion of the programme.

Language Assessment This will vary depending on the level of language class, for beginners assessment is generally a written exam, intermediate and advanced oral and written.

Assessment will usually occur in the final week of the programme.

Doing Business in ChinaYou will participate in a series of lectures and classes regarding employment and scholarship opportunities and doing business in China. Attendance at all are mandatory. No credits can be awarded for this aspect of the programme.

TimetableStudy China Programme is intensive, you can expect to be in lessons from Monday through to Friday, usually 9.00am until 1.00pm, there may be some work that will need to be completed outside of your timetabled hours. You will have some free afternoons during the week, in addition you will attend a group meeting either once or twice a week. This is led by the Programme Supervisor and the purpose is to update you on any communications and information relating to the programme or schedule. This is also an opportunity for the group to discuss how the programme is running.Weekends may include scheduled trips and excursions.

Teaching Styles in Chinese Universities In China there is more distance between lecturers and students. Lecturers are treated with great respect; general lecture format will be more formal and a lecturer will not usually encourage interaction or dialogue with students.You will notice a difference in the teaching styles at your Chinese host university compared to those you will be accustomed to at your home university.

Lectures will often consist of continuous delivery of information lasting 1 hour to 1.5 hours in which time students are given no opportunity to ask questions or clarify points. At the end of the lecture the lecturer will invite questions for any remaining time. Teaching delivery can sometimes be described as dry.

Breaks are not often scheduled into lessons and arriving for lessons late is taken as a direct sign of disrespect to the teacher and fellow classmates.

Contacting other Study China students prior to departingWe appreciate that for many of you it is important that you contact other students prior to arriving at your hostuniversity, you can do this through the Study China conversation hub which is situated on the secure pages of our website. You will see a number of conversation headings on this page where you can post information regarding flight deals, independent travel before and after the programme. Many students choose to share Facebook details through the contact board so that they can get in touch with other students.

Pre-departure briefingsWe hold several non-mandatory briefings which provide an opportunity for students to meet in person before the programme.

Arriving in China – Free airport shuttle bus schedule Prior to booking your flights for China we will inform you of the free airport shuttle bus schedule which will be provided by your Chinese host university, allowing you to book a flight which corresponds with a convenient university transfer.

Airport shuttle buses will only be available at specific times, the official arrival and departure dates of each programme.

When you fly into ChinaIf you have chosen to fly into an airport for which your host university is providing an airport shuttle bus service you will be met by a representative from the host university.

We will send you clear and simple instructions detailing where to meet on arrival, what signage to look out for and the mobile number of the airport representative.

As a precautionary measure we provide you with travel instructions to use in the unlikely event that you miss all available shuttle buses. These include written Chinese instructions which will assist you making your own way to your destination by the most appropriate transport mode, either rail, coach or taxi.

If you choose to take a taxi from the airport to university, only use the official airport taxi rank, this will be clearly signed.

If you are struggling to locate the official taxi rank, ask at the information point.

You may be approached in the airport terminal by unlicensed taxi drivers, do not stop to talk with them, continue walking and respond with a firm and polite ‘no thank you’.

Do not take an unlicensed taxi under any circumstances.

A taxi from Shanghai Pudong Airport to East China normal University will be in the region of £30 - £40, and will take upwards of 45 minutes journey time, dependent upon traffic conditions.

A taxi from Beijing Capital International Airport to Beijing Normal University will be in the region of £25 - £35, and will take upwards of 45 minutes journey time, dependent on traffic conditions.

Road Safety in ChinaAll cities in China have busy roads, crowded with cars, trucks, buses, bikes, mopeds and rickshaws.

The accident rate on Chinese roads is notorious. Many students find the Chinese transport system overwhelming.

Please exercise caution when crossing the road in China - traffic will continue through red lights, in some situations it is even legal to do so.

Moped and bike users frequently use pavements, this is commonplace. Most drivers will use their horns to make you aware of their presence, this is not usually intended as a mark of offence.

Drivers rarely indicate and often change lanes without prior warning.

Traffic drives on the right in China. However, smaller vehicles sometimes travel in the opposite direction to the main traffic flow.

Always look both ways before crossing a road. Remember, jaywalking is illegal in China.

Accommodation ArrangementsUniversity hotel accommodation Separate instructions will be sent to you regarding your university hotel accommodation, these will include facilities at the hotel, what is provided in the room, internet access and deposit amount (if required).

University hotel accommodation is either based on the university campus, or situated a short distance outside of the campus; generally the accommodation is for international students or visiting lecturers. Depending on the university the accommodation may be open to the general public to book.

You will share a twin-bedded room. You will share with another Study China participant who will be of the same gender. We are unable to provide a private room regardless of the reason or circumstances. If you require a private room you will be required to fund this yourself in full and notify the Study China office six weeks in advance of your departure date in order to check availability.

You cannot request to share a room with a specific student, all room allocations are made by the accommodation. All university hotel accommodation has private bathroom facilities which you would share with your Study China room-mate.

We strongly recommend that after you check in you immediately report any broken or damaged items in your accommodation, for example if the fridge or air conditioning does not work, report to reception and housekeeping will address any issues.

As with the majority of bathroom facilities in China, you cannot flush toilet paper or other sanitary items. These are to be disposed of using the bin provided in the bathroom, which will be emptied on a daily basis by housekeeping.

Arriving at your university hotel You will be taken to the university hotel and required to check in as you would do at a hotel. You will be asked to pay a small deposit on arrival which is returnable at the end of your stay; the amount is usually £10 or £20, we will inform you of the exact amount.

Depending on your arrival time you may be met by the programmes’s Programme Supervisor. Alternatively you will be directed to the Study China notice board which will display instructions for the first taught day of programme.

Check out procedure, times and dates:

All universities will check your accommodation prior to returning your deposit. If you have moved any furniture please arrange the room back to how it was on arrival.

Check out is very thorough and any damage caused to the accommodation may incur full or partial loss of your deposit. The amount deducted from your deposit will be determined by the cost of repairing any damage caused.

If any item in your room has been broken or damaged during your stay please inform your Programme Supervisor immediately. Your Programme Supervisor will liaise and negotiate with the hotel management on your behalf if required.

Accommodation will be provided from:Night of Sunday 6 August 2017 through until 10.00am on the morning of Saturday 26 August 2017.

If you want to hold the room for the full day due to a later flight departure time, please speak to your Programme Supervisor, you will be required to cover any cost incurred to hold the room.

As many students will be leaving very early in the morning your Programme Supervisor will instruct you when the hotel will conduct your room check.

Left luggage facility: There may be a left luggage facility available, depending on the university there may be a small cost for using this.

Conduct at the hotelYou may be asked to leave the hotel and make and fund your own accommodation arrangements if you:

Use threatening, aggressive or violent behaviour towards any other guest or staff member

Deliberately or wilfully destroy or damage hotel property

Demonstrate anti-social behaviour

Please note this list is not exhaustive

Whilst staying at the hotel you cannot:

Hold parties in your room

Invite non Study China students to your room

Play music loudly

Make noise beyond 10.30pm

Please note this list is not exhaustive

Entry into the hotelUniversity hotels generally have a staffed reception desk from 8.30am to 10.00pm.

If you are returning to the hotel after 10.00pm there will be a night porter to let you in.

You will need your issued student identification at all times to gain entry to the hotel.

Signing in and outYou are required to sign in and out when leaving the university campus, there will be a Study China register left at reception which you must complete for any activity which is not part of the scheduled Study China programme.

Overnight and weekend consentIf you are taking a trip outside of the city of your host university, or planning an overnight stay away from university accommodation you must:

Discuss and gain consent from your Programme Supervisor in advance, your Programme Supervisor must give written consent in order for you to proceed. Do not ask to be excused from any timetabled activities. Your Programme Supervisor’s decision is final.

Your Programme Supervisor will check that you have prepared yourself thoroughly in advance of your trip and request a copy of your proposed itinerary, including overnight accommodation. You will be asked to check that your vaccinations cover you for a different region in China.

Conduct on the Study China programme.We expect a consistently high standard of conduct from all participants, failure to comply may result in you being asked to leave the programme.

The Programme Supervisor responsible for your programme will issue a formal warning if standards of conduct are breached, depending on the severity and or frequency of the issue you may be asked to leave the programme.

In this instance your next of kin will be notified and you will fund any alternative travel or accommodation costs. The Programme Supervisor and Chinese Student Volunteer would assist you in making alternative arrangements for your safe exit from the programme.

You must:

Attend the programme in full, you must arrive on or before the arrival date specified and you may not leave before the end of the closing ceremony

Attend all lectures and lessons unless you have prior permission from your Programme Supervisor

Be contactable at all times on your Chinese mobile number

Attend all lectures and lessons in good health enabling you to fully participate and engage with the work given

Contribute fully to all aspects of the programme, delivering coursework, assignments and presentations on time and to a high standard

Be punctual and arrive 5-10 minutes before the announced start times for classes, events and bus departures

Respect and abide by local laws and regulations

Respect local cultures and customs, not get involved in any activities which could cause offence to the hosting university, teachers and local people

Treat your course-mates, room-mates and programme organisers considerately and politely

Follow instruction from the Programme Supervisor and university staff

We appreciate that you will want to make the most of your free time outside of the structured timetabled programme.

However, you are still accountable for your actions to the Study China Programme in your free time. How you choose to spend your free time will be of concern to your Programme Supervisor if your conduct is:

Affecting your ability to function and work

Having a negative impact on other participants of the programme

Placing you or others at risk

Your Programme Supervisor will issue a formal warning if standards of conduct are breached, depending on the severity and/or frequency of the issue you may be asked to leave the programme for any of the following examples (please note this list is not exhaustive):

Engage in disruptive behaviour in classes and other organised activities

Engage in drunken, noisy, offensive or illegal behaviour, for example drinking alcohol on the street

Put yourself or your course-mates in any situation of risk, e.g. by becoming incapable of behaving safely due to drunkenness

Behave in any manner which might bring the programme into disrepute

Stay out overnight. The Study China missing student policy requires the Programme Supervisor to inform next of kin by 10.00am the following morning if contact cannot be made with you.

Attendance and participation on the Study China ProgrammeAs you are aware, it is mandatory requirement that you attend all activities scheduled on the programme.Both the Chinese networking/employment/scholarship (Doing Business in China) and Chinese language classes require 100% attendance.

Illness is the only acceptable explanation for missing classes; any other reason will be dealt with on a case by case basis by your Programme Supervisor and may mean you are in breach of the code of conduct.

It is necessary to define the maximum percentage of absence, which will be accepted, after which the module will be classed as failed and no transcript (where applicable) will be issued.

We appreciate that illness is beyond an individual’s control, however, there is no flexibility – these guidelines apply to all students, even if you become unwell and are physically unable to attend classes.In the interests of fairness to all students, completion of work missed will not negate an absence.

Chinese language class/Doing Business in ChinaIf you miss more than two classes of either, you will fail the module and no transcript will be awarded – regardless of the reason for absence.

You will be asked to leave the Study China Programme if you do not attend the remaining classes.

Class registersAll tutors take a register at the start of each class, registers are passed to the Programme Supervisor at the end of each class.

If you do not attend a class you will be marked as absent.

If you arrive more than 10 minutes late for a class you will be marked as absent, no explanations for lateness will be discussed or take into account by your tutor.

If you leave a class before it has officially finished you will be marked as absent.

Please note that in Chinese culture it is considered to be a direct and intentional sign of disrespect to arrive late for an appointment or class.

Informing a member of staff if you are unable to attend a classYou must inform both your Programme Supervisor and the class tutor no less than one hour prior to the class if you are unable to attend due to illness. You will be provided with the relevant mobile numbers and email address in order to do this.If you contact the Programme Supervisor and the class tutor less than one prior to the class, this will class

as an unauthorised absence.

Your Programme Supervisor will contact you to ask if you require medical assistance and you will be required to complete a medical and sickness form.

If you are ill and unable to participate in the programme for two consecutive days, your ProgrammeSupervisor will reserve the right to call a doctor on your behalf.

Expectation and conductGaining a place on the Study China Progamme is a competitive process. We recruit highly motivated students and we expect a student’s conduct to reflect the high standard of their application.

Your time in China will pass quickly, make the most of this valuable opportunity.

Attendance and participation on the programme are taken very seriously. You have signed a code of conduct agreeing that you will attend the programme in full and participate fully in all aspects of the programme.

If standards of conduct are breached the Programme Supervisor responsible for your programme will follow the disciplinary procedure, issuing a formal warning. Depending on the severity and/or frequency of the breach, you will be asked to leave the programme.

Practical tips for your arrival dayBy the time you finally reach your university accommodation you will be extremely tired.

There are no meetings or activities scheduled for this day, so it’s up to you how you spend your time, we would recommend the following in order to feel settled in your new environment:

Phone home as soon as you arrive, relatives may be concerned that you have arrived safely and everything is ok. Please take a couple of minutes to call/text/email as soon as you arrive.

Find the nearest shop, which will either be the campus supermarket or smaller shops located outside of the campus perimeter and stock up on water. You cannot drink tap water, even if it has been boiled. You will be dehydrated after flying so it’s really important to rehydrate.

Stock up on essential food for the morning, even just a few pieces of fruit as you may not have time for breakfast in the morning. You may be taken to the university canteen for breakfast which will only serve Chinese food, this can be quite over whelming at 8.00am on your first day!

Unpack, this will be your home for the next three weeks so try to unpack and get yourself organised when you arrive.

Check everything in your room is in working order, for example hot water, air conditioning etc. If any item is not functioning report it immediately and speak to your Programme Supervisor.

You will usually be sharing a twin bedded room so it’s important to create your own sense of personal space while being considerate to your room mate. If you want to move furniture around, for example pull beds further apart, please do so in consultation with your roommate. Be careful not to damage any fixtures and fittings and make sure you change the room back to its original layout before you checkout.

You may decide to go straight to bed when you arrive or stay up until late evening. If you feel able have a walk around the immediate vicinity, preferably in day light hours, this will help to familiarise yourself with your surroundings and ease jetlag.

Take it easy on your first night, you are in China for nearly three weeks so there will be plenty of time for nights out. Don’t drink excessively as you will already be dehydrated from your flight. Opt for sensible food options and leave the more challenging Chinese food options for when you have become more accustomed to your environment.

What to expect on the first teaching day of the programme You will meet in the hotel reception in the morning, usually around 11.00am (check the Study China notice board which will be situated in the hotel reception for confirmation).

You will be met by your Programme Supervisor and the Chinese Student Volunteers who will accompany you through the day’s activities. Each university will have a slightly different intinary for the first day, however, it is likely to include the following:

Attend the opening ceremony – this usually last around 1 hour

Group photograph

Formal meeting with Programme Supervisor and key university staff - 2 hours

Chinese language test for any one who is not a beginner

Allocation of sim cards and other university related documentation

Campus orientation of canteen/laundry/cash machines/supermarket

You will receive an information pack which will include:

I.D card – to be carried at all times

A sim card

Campus map

About the Opening ceremony This is a formal event at which key university staff and on occasion very senior university staff, host a welcome event for the Study China programme.

It usually lasts around 1-2 hours; you are required to dress in smart clothing for this ceremony.

We will invite all students to make an application to deliver the opening ceremony speech on behalf of their programme.

What to expect on the second teaching day of the programme You will be given a time to meet in reception - usually around 8.45am and will be taken to your first Chinese class by the Chinese Student Volunteers. Lunch is taken earlier in China so expect to break for lunch between 11.30am and 12.00pm, you can go to the university canteen or restaurants off-campus.

There may be a scheduled activity for early evening.

Free time/weekends When you receive your schedule for the programme you will see that it is very demanding, generally you will be in lessons from 9.00am until 12.30/1.00pm, Monday through until Friday, additionally there are organised activities and excursions which you must attend.

We try to provide you with a least one free weekend, however this is not always possible due to the intensive nature of the programme. You will not have time to travel extensively during the programme, if you wish to visit other regions of China you will need to do so before or after the programme.

Time DifferenceIn the winter, China is 8 hours ahead of the UK. If it is 8pm in the UK it’s 4am in China. In the summer (after the clocks change in March) the time difference is 7 hours.

Jet Lag Jet lag is a feeling of tiredness and confusion after a long flight. It’s the result of your body finding it difficult to adjust to a new time zone.

The symptoms of jet lag can vary from person to person. The severity of your symptoms will usually depend on the distance travelled and the number of time zones crossed.

A disturbed sleep pattern is one of the most common symptoms of jet lag. You may find it difficult to sleep at the correct times. For example, you may be awake at night and want to sleep during the day.

Other symptomsAs well as disturbed sleep, other symptoms can include:

indigestion constipation

diarrhoea nausea

loss of appetite difficulty concentrating

feeling disoriented anxiety

irritability memory problems

clumsiness lack of energy

light-headedness confusion

headaches sweating

muscle soreness irregular periods in women who travel frequently

generally feeling unwell

Symptoms will usually last for no more than a day or two, depending on how quickly your body is able to adjust to the new time zone.

It is incredibly important to take it easy and establish a healthy routine in the first three to four days, give your body the chance to adjust to the new time zone.

If you require medical attention during the programme

You will complete a confidential medical questionnaire upon arrival at the university campus, if you do require any medical attention this information may be disclosed to the medical practitioner. If you feel unwell you will be asked to complete a sickness form and depending on the severity of the ailment you will either:

Attend the medical centre on campus, this is for general ailments

If you need to see a doctor for a more serious issue the Programme Supervisor will arrange for you to attend the local hospital or private clinic.

You will have to pay for any medication prescribed and then claim back any costs through your travel insurance.

You would have to pay for any hospital visit and associated tests and medicines. The cost will vary, you would need to pay for any medical care you receive and then claim back through your travel insurance.

A visit to a private clinic to see a consultant will cost upwards of £60.

What you need to do if you feel unwell Let the on-site Programme Supervisor know immediately if you are unwell and do not delay seeing a doctor.

You will be accompanied by a Chinese, English speaking student volunteer to a doctor’s appointment.

In the event of a serious medical emergency we will notify your next of kin immediately. By serious medical emergency we are referring to emergency surgery/an overnight stay in hospital. Study China cannot be held accountable for any treatment provided to you.

Travel Health & vaccinations We cannot give detailed advice on what you require so you must visit your GP or travel clinic as soon as you can.

If you take prescribed medication make sure you have a sufficient quantity for the duration of the programme, when travelling with any medications keep them housed in their original packaging.

Tell your GP the destination of your trip, if you plan to travel outside of this area let your GP know as you may require additional vaccinations.

Travel InsuranceIt is a mandatory requirement of the Study China Programme that you purchase adequate travel insurance.

We recommend that you purchase travel insurance that covers you for the following:

Personal Liability

Legal Expenses

Luggage

Loss of Tickets & Travel Documents

Loss of Passport

Money

Luggage Delay

Travel Delay

Full medical and emergency cover

Repatriation cover

Read the policy and find out what you would have to do if you claim.

Make a note of the policy number and emergency contact phone number of your insurance company.

Please be aware, if you require medical attention in China you will be required to pay upfront for all medical care received. You will then need to claim this back through your insurance company.

We advise you to check the excess you would incur when making a claim. Please read over your insurance schedule for clarification.

Food and Drink in ChinaYou cannot drink the tap water anywhere in China.

Bottled water is freely available and inexpensive.

Don’t even brush your teeth or wash fruit in tap water.

When eating in China you should avoid anything that might have been washed or come into contact with un-boiled tap water. The basic rule is “Boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it!”

Please avoid street food no matter how appetising it appears, at least six students every trip suffer from food poisoning as a result of street food.

Vegetarian foodThere are vegetarian restaurants in most regions, you will need to do your research to locate them.

If you are a vegetarian eating in a non vegetarian restaurant you may struggle, there are plenty of vegetarian options however these may be served or garnished with fish or meat or be cooked using animal fats.

Halal & Kosher restaurants in China There are Halal and Kosher restaurants in some regions of China, you will need to do your research to locate them. It is extremely unlikely that the host university canteen will provide Halal or Kosher food.

Eating in the host university canteen This is an experience in itself. You will be given a canteen swipe card with a small amount of credit, usually enough for breakfast or lunch for the duration of the programme. When you run out of credit you can top up the card yourself.

Canteen food is cheap (50p to 80p for a meal) and is generally a good basic standard.

There will be little distinction between the food served for breakfast and lunch.

Western food options Most western fast-food chains such as McDonalds, Subway and Burger King are available in the major Chinese cities. Western restaurants and coffee shops will generally be far more expensive then a Chinese style restaurant.

Any product that is imported, for example Evian mineral water, Illy Coffee, Haagen Dazs ice cream, import beers and wines, will be considerably more expensive.

Chinese style restaurants Food served in Chinese restaurants bares little or no resemblance to western style Chinese food.

You do need to adopt a brave approach initially when ordering and eating in restaurants, there will be at least one dish ordered at every meal which you have no idea what it is, or what it contains.

Some restaurants will provide picture menus, don’t expect an English translation on the menu.

Previous participants have found it useful to invest in an app which shows pictures of common foods, noodles, rice, chicken etc, if ordering from a menu is not an option at least you can point at a picture.

Depending on where you choose to eat, main dishes are around £2.00 - £4.00.

It’s cheaper to eat in small groups, portions are large and you get to try different types of food.

Items of food that you might want to take:

Breakfast cereal

Tinned foods which can be eaten cold or do not need reheating – tuna / salmon / ham

Tea and coffee

Biscuits / sweets

Cup ’a’ soups

You will usually have a small fridge in your room.

Chinese Supermarkets Larger chains such as Carrefour will usually have western imports, all products will be expensive (£4.00 for a box of muesli).

Smaller local supermarkets will sell all the basic provisions, although you may struggle to find ham and cheese or any type of sandwich filling. You can buy bread in most supermarkets; it tends to be very thick and tastes very sweet.

Final check before leaving homeTickets/Money/Passport

Valid visa

Travel insurance documents

Key information sheet (to be sent to you)

Basic medicines

Photocopy your passport and documents and keep one copy in your hand luggage and one at home

Weather in China August is a hot month, and the weather is changeable. Expect average temperatures of 25C/77F, do plan for hotter weather, and expect rain storms.. Do check the weather prior to departure, as temperatures can rise.

PackingYou will only require a smart outfit for the Opening and Closing Ceremony hosted by the university.

For men: shirt/trousersFor women: dress/skirt/shirt/trousers

Other essential items are:

Sunscreen – We recommend a high factor sunscreen, be aware that you will burn even on a cloudy day, sunscreen is essential for all outdoor activities. We also recommend a hat or umbrella to provide shade from the sun.

Sunglasses

Tampons - virtually impossible to buy in China

Basic medical kit – pain killers / diarrhoea medication / anti-histamines

Hand sanitizer & tissues – public toilets in China do not tend to have toilet roll or washing facilities

Mosquito repellent

Ear plugs – if you are a light sleeper

Adaptor plug

Items of food such as breakfast cereal, tea, coffee

Guide book (with a good city map)

Alarm clock

Plug sockets in China:Both round pin and flat pin plug sockets can be found in China: You can use either of the following adaptors:

Adaptors can be purchased cheaply at supermarkets, department stores, airports and large chemists (for example, Boots or Superdrug). It will be much harder and more expensive to buy one in China – buy one before you go.

Internet access in ChinaInternet access in China is sporadic, during certain times of the day you may have no connection at all or a weak signal.

Internet access is restricted; you may be able to access Google Hong Kong which will restrict access to websites such as Facebook, iPlayer etc.

Depending on your university accommodation you will either have wireless internet access in your room/communal area of the accommodation, or you will have wired internet access and will need to take an Ethernet cable to plug in. We will specify which type of internet access you will have prior to departure.

There will be Wi-Fi cafes around the university campus.

Please note: Internet access throughout China is very poor in comparison to the UK.

Carrying IdentificationYou are required to carry identification at all times in China. A photocopy of the photo-page of your passport is acceptable. You should also carry the Chinese University ID with you at all times (given to you on arrival).

Crime Be discreet when taking out your cash, and take care of your belongings at crowded tourists sites. Several students have had their smart phones stolen in nightclubs and bars during the summer programme, another student had a laptop stolen from the university library. Don’t leave valuables unattended.Use the safe in your accommodation to store valuables/cash/passport.

If any or your possessions are stolen for insurance purposes you will need to report the crime at the district Public Security Bureau office and obtain a police report. Your Programme Supervisor can assist you with this.

Staying safe:

China is a generally safe destination, but apply the same precautions and commonsense that you would do at home.

The contributing factor to most major problems encountered by students is alcohol.

Know your limits and drink responsibly, do not consume more than you would at home just because it’s cheap. If you are trying unfamiliar alcoholic drinks remember that you do not know the strength or what your body’s tolerance for that drink will be.

Fake alcohol is prevalent in China. Fake alcohol is sold under a branded name, and will be made up of chemical substitutes and dyes. If a familiar drink tastes unfamiliar, do not drink it.Bars may target tourists with cheap drink offers, buy one get one free, women drink free, unlimited drinks for a set cover charge. Stay away from these offers, particularly where spirit based drinks are offered. At best you may find drinks have been watered down, at worst you will be drinking an entirely unlicensed, concoction of chemicals.Please do not accept drinks from strangers, you have no idea what you are drinking.

If you want to drink, a sensible option may be bottled larger, although there are no guarantees.

In pubs and clubs act respectfully and do not attract unwanted attention by being unduly rowdy in large groups. Be mindful of whom you speak to and don’t go off with strangers no matter how trustworthy or honourable their intentions seem.

Look out for your course mates, make sure no one is left to walk home alone, or is so drunk that they would be at risk if left to find their own way home.

Avoid walking alone late at night– taxis are cheap, use them.

If you are genuinely worried about the safety of another student in the group, for example they are putting themselves at risk due to alcohol, or involving you or others in potentially dangerous situations tell a member of the staff team.

Our concern is your safety and wellbeing.

Looking after yourself during the Study China ProgrammeThe three weeks you are about to embark upon will require you to quickly make new friends, live with a total stranger, learn a new language, navigate your way around a new city.

You will be required to do all of this in a foreign country with a minimal grasp of the language, culture and few familiar home comforts. Some people find this exhausting others find it exhilarating.

China is amazing, but it can also be incredibly hard work, the language barrier can make the simplest of tasks time consuming and complicated. Being immersed in an environment which is constantly busy and noisy can be draining. Eating food which is unfamiliar and not to your tastes can grate after a while.

You will be expected to complete a packed itinerary of lessons, trips and excursions in an unfamiliar university where teaching styles will be different to those that you are used to. Information communicated to you may not be as clear or prescriptive as you would like it to be.

Adapting to such a radically different environment and day to day routine, rising to the varying and constant challenges that will be thrown at you can be stressful.

To manage stress effectively you need to look after your own health and mental wellbeing, if you are feeling tired, stay in and get an early night, there will be plenty of other opportunities to go out.

Don’t drink excessive amounts of alcohol, alcohol acts as a depressant, if you are already feeling fed up you will feel much worse the day after.

Make sure you can keep in touch easily with family and friends back home, if you are feeling homesick a quick chat with family or friends makes all the difference.

Work on a positive outlook and attitude, embrace the experience, make the most of what’s available and get involved. Avoid the negative people who choose to moan continuously about everything and everybody.

Speak to your Programme Supervisor if you are feeling fed up, stressed or overwhelmed, all your concerns will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

TaxisTaxis are cheap and abundant and can be hailed easily in the street.

Official taxis are yellow, with stripes; do not use the illegal black taxis.

Make sure the driver uses the meter, they will usually only start the meter once the journey is underway, so, give the driver a minute to start the journey and if it looks like they are not going to start the meter politely say “Dabiao” (meter).

Always wait to be given a receipt before departing from the taxi, if you leave anything behind you can contact the driver through details on the receipt (a Chinese student volunteer would do this for you).

Few drivers speak English so get your destination written down in Chinese where possible.

We will provide you with your accommodation details written in Chinese.

Drivers rarely have change so have a stash of small denomination notes handy.

EtiquetteGreeting peopleShaking hands is common place and considered the norm with foreign visitors.

Personal questionsAlthough incredibly polite, Chinese people have no qualms at all when it comes to asking how old you are, are you married and how much do you earn.

Such questions are seen as nothing more then taking a friendly interest in a new acquaintance.

FaceAlthough reserved in manner and expression, the Chinese harbour strong feelings of personal pride and respect.

The maintenance of pride and avoidance of shame is a concept known as ‘Face’.

Loss of face creates great discomfort and major embarrassment for the Chinese, so although you may become frustrated during your stay perhaps with service in a restaurant or an unhelpful taxi driver, it’s never a good idea to embarrass anyone in public.

The same applies regarding Chinese hosts on the Study China Programme, if there is an aspect of the programme you are not happy with please speak to the Programme Supervisor who can deal with the situation on your behalf.

StaringThe intent of staring is rarely hostile, in cities such as Beijing or Shanghai there will be many migrant workers and rural tourists from smaller towns, don’t be surprised or offended if you are asked to pose in photographs with the locals.

TippingYou do not have to. In China the price you agree for the service is the one you pay.

BeggingAs in most cities the world over you will encounter begging, in Chinese cities it tends to be groups of children sent by their parents who beg to extract money. The best strategy is to walk away and ignore them.

Political discussion Try and avoid political discussion outside of your lessons.

Most Chinese are uncomfortable hearing criticism of their leadership or nation, however may articulate strong opinions on leadership and politics of other countries often to the point where you might feel provoked.

Don’t respond, it is far better just to change the subject.

Please be particularly mindful of this if you are participating in a host family visit.

Spitting Spitting remains a way of life in most public places despite the best attempts of public educators, it’s not just restricted to ‘old men’ either, male, female, young and old. Don’t be offended by this or reprimand anyone over this. It is considered the norm in most parts of China.

QueuingThe Chinese don’t do queues. You will witness pushing and shoving, it’s tolerated.

Never get aggressive when queuing or hailing a taxi which someone then dives in front of you for it at the last second.

You will need to develop the skill of being politely assertive in order to get attention.

HagglingBargaining is fine in all parts of China. You can probably bargain the vendor down to 10-20% of their initial asking price. However, you can’t haggle in Supermarkets, when buying food (from stalls or restaurants), or if items are really cheap in the first place - like 10 Yuan.

Gift GivingAn important Chinese custom is to show appreciation to your host at the end of the 3 weeks programme, this would normally apply to your teacher or volunteers and also if you participate in a host family visit.

Suggested gifts

Does not need to be expensive, but shows typical British images such as the red phone box, black taxi.

Shortbread biscuits and tea are always gratefully received.

Ask your University International office – they may be willing to give you some branded items e.g. fridge magnets, coaster, memory sticks etc.

The Tea ScamIn tourist areas you may be approached by friendly young Chinese people. They often start by asking you to take their photo for them. They have very plausible stories and often know about the Study China Programme and may be able to give names of other students on the programme. They may give you a small gift – an ornamental tag which they will tie to your bag or rucksack. This is a sign to other scammers that you have already been scammed. They then invite you to join them for tea in a tea house but you can be presented with a bill for possibly as much as £100.

Basically, if any strangers approach you and invite you to go somewhere with them please politely decline no matter how plausible they seem.

Information and advice for your family visitWhere possible your host university will try to provide the opportunity for you to spend the afternoon or day with a Chinese family. This is a unique, fun and interesting experience that has been the highlight of the programme for many students.

What you will do during the family visit:

You will spend the day or afternoon with your host family in small groups of usually two or three students.

Your host family will meet you at university, usually on a Saturday. From the university you will be driven or take public transport to either the family home or a local restaurant to eat.

If the host family has a child you may go to a local park and playground prior to a restaurant or home.

The focus of the visit is usually the preparation and eating of a meal together, this may involve making dumplings together or helping your host to prepare other dishes.

The purpose of the family visit:

This visit provides an opportunity to practice your language skills, experience life in a Chinese family home, prepare and eat home cooked Chinese food. Your hosts will possibly want to practice their English language skills or provide their child with interaction and language practice with foreign visitors in a relaxed, informal, environment.

How families are selected:

Your host universities will generally select families who are staff at your Host University or friends of staff.

Families receive a small payment from the university to cover their expenses for food. Your family may speak extremely limited English, or none at all. Be prepared to use your language skills (however basic) and to communicate with sign language and gestures.

General etiquette during your family visit

We want you to enjoy the visit; it will be relaxed, fun, informal and certainly interesting.

We have prepared some practical pointers for you to follow. Please do not worry too much, just be polite, friendly and show respect to your host. You will have a great time.

What to wear:

There is no specific dress code you need to adhere to, just look smart.

Please either wear socks or take a spare pair with you to put on if required.

Arriving at the home:

At the entrance to many homes, you may see a rack of shoes. Depending on the home, the host may greet you at the door in slippers, socks or bare feet. If this is the case, take off your shoes. The host may give you a pair of slippers or sandals or you may just walk around in your socks. In some homes, a separate, communal pair of plastic sandals is worn when using the bathroom.

If you are not sure just ask if you should remove your shoes at the entrance, please wear socks.

Gifts:

Bring a gift, this is a token of appreciation for your host’s hospitality, it does not have to be anything expensive, just a small token. You could give shortbread biscuits, tea, chocolates, or, for children a coloring book, crayons, jigsaw – ideally an activity that you can complete with the child.

Your gift may or may not be opened in front of you. You can suggest the gift be opened in your presence but don’t push the issue.

Drinking:

You may be immediately served tea whether you want it or not. It is impolite to request a drink or request an alternative beverage, if you really don’t want to drink it just smile politely and leave it to one side.

Take a small bottle of water, water served at the table may be from the tap, you cannot drink tap water.

During the meal alcohol may be served, this is usually a spirit and will be served in shot measures,

invariably it will be extremely high in alcohol content.

If you don’t want to drink just politely decline, you will not cause offence. If you do decide to drink please pace yourself and stop when you feel you have had enough.

There will be frequent toasts made throughout the meal, your host will raise their glass and say ‘ganbei’, which is the equivalent of ‘cheers’. It is not necessary to always drain your glass after a ‘ganbei’, although a host will encourage it, again, you may politely decline.

Do not drink until you toast others at the table. Chinese consider drinking alone to be rude. Simply raising your glass and making eye contact is sufficient. If you are toasted, sip your drink in reply.

Eating:

Typically it is the female of the house who will prepare the meal. Since Chinese meals are served course-by-course, the cook may not join in the feast until after all dishes have been served. Dishes tend to be served family style. Some restaurants and homes will have separate chopsticks for serving the dishes while others may not.

Follow the lead of the host and serve yourself however he or she serves themselves. Eat when the host eats.

Be sure to eat plenty of food to show that you are enjoying it but don’t eat the last bit of any dish. If you finish off any dish, it will signal that the cook has not prepared enough food. Leaving a small amount of food demonstrates good manners.

Do not show offence if your host slurps their soup and belches, this is perfectly acceptable in Chinese society. Cover your mouth with your hand when using a toothpick. Put bones, seeds, etc. on the table, never in your rice bowl.

Chopsticks:

Chopsticks are used for all meals. Tapping your chopsticks on the table is considered very rude. When you have finished eating, place your chopsticks neatly on the table or on the chopstick rest.

When to leave:

You will be the guest of honour at the meal, therefore no one will leave before the guest of honour and your family may not indicate that the visit has now finished. Unless there is a specific activity planned for after the meal, aim to leave within one hour.

We do ask the host university to arrange in advance with the family for a specific time that the visit will finish, ask the Programme Supervisor on the day what time you should leave.

If the host university have not made this arrangement then aim to leave within one hour of the meal finishing, unless there is a planned activity.

Vegetarian food, allergies and dietary requirements:Please be aware that your family meal will not be tailored to meet your personal dietary requirements.

We request that the host university asks families to prepare vegetarian and meat dishes, however this does not always happen.

If you are a vegetarian or have food allergies you need to inform your Programme Supervisor prior to the

family visit, your family will be informed so that no offence is caused when you decline dishes.

It will be your responsibility to select the dishes on offer that you can eat. If you are in any doubt that a dish contains meat or an ingredient that you are allergic to, do not eat it. Do not worry about causing offence.

Using your phone in China:On arrival you will be given a Chinese prepaid - sim card, and your personal Chinese mobile number.

The credit amount of the prepaid sim card will be ample for your usage during the programme.It is extremely unlikely that you will exceed your credit limit during the programme. You will have to pay around £5 for additional credit.

Action: Please pass your Chinese mobile number onto your next of kin, providing an additional contact number for you.

As per the code of conduct, you are required to have a fully operational Chinese contact number at all times throughout the programme, so that you are can be contacted by your Programme Supervisor and Chinese Volunteers.

Action: Please bring two phones to China.

Your personal UK phone which will be enable you to use free communication apps such as WhatsApp

An additional basic and cheap phone which will be compatible with your Chinese simcard

The Chinese pre-paid – sim card and Chinese mobile number, is for use in conjunction with your basic phone only, allowing you to text and make calls in China.

Do not use your basic phone to text or call internationally, as your pre-paid credit will be used instantly.You can receive international calls on this number, charges will be made to the caller.

Purchasing a basic phone compatible with a Chinese simcard:

It is your responsibility to check with your phone provider that your basic phone will be compatible with a Chinese sim card. Your basic phone must be able to hold a full-sized sim card – not a nano-sim card.

Smartphones, including iPhones, may not be compatible with your Chinese sim card.

You are required to buy a basic phone which will work in China prior to departure – such phones can be purchased for around £15 in most supermarkets.

It will prove significantly more expensive to buy an equivalent phone in China, you will have to spend upwards of £40.

If you have failed to purchase a phone prior to departure, or the phone you have purchased is not compatible, you will be required to purchase a phone in China, at considerable expense to yourself.

Advice for Next of KinWe will send an information sheet to your next of kin (who ever you provided as the named person).It will contain information relating to who to contact in the event of an emergency and support provided to you whilst on the programme. This will be emailed.

Please note, the next of kin nominated by you, will be informed in the event of a serious issue arising. Next of kin will be contacted if you are seriously unwell, or have to visit a hospital, additionally if there is a serious breach of the code of conduct, and you are asked to leave the programme.On occasion participants have requested we do not share information with next of kin. This is not possible, we will if necessary in the interest of health, safety and wellbeing, inform next of kin of a serious issue.

Support while on the programmeFor the Study China Programme there are two contactable staff members:

An English-speaking Chinese person nominated as a contact point throughout the duration of the programme.

You will be provided with the mobile number of an English-speaking Chinese staff member in the event of an emergency.

Your programme will be managed by a University of Manchester Programme Supervisor.

The role of the Programme Supervisor Your Programme Supervisor is responsible for the health, safety, welfare of all students, they are your immediate point of contact in the event of an emergency.

Programme Supervisors manage student conduct, operational running of the programme and works with the host university staff to deliver the programme.

The Programme Supervisor will be staying in the same accommodation as you and is contactable from 9.00am – 5.00pm and outside of these hours in the event of an emergency.

Chinese student volunteers Each Study China programme will be allocated a number of Chinese Student Volunteers. You will be given the contact numbers of volunteers who will support you with local arrangements such as making travel arrangements, locating cash machines, changing currency, providing written Chinese instructions for travel.

Financial MattersCosts of ProgrammeThe following costs are covered by the programme:

Accommodation

Airport pickup (as long as you arrive/depart on the specified dates)

Tuition

Activities and excursions

You will cover the cost of:

Flights

Visas

Travel Insurance

Vaccinations

Food

Any trips/excursions you complete independently of organised Study China events.

Spending Money

Previous students have said that they needed around £300 spending money.

Taxis, Chinese food, general travel is very cheap in China.

Restaurants specialising in western food and beverages will be comparative in price to home.

We strongly recommend that you have a credit card for emergencies.

Obtaining Chinese MoneyContact your bank before you depart to tell them that you may be withdrawing money or using your credit cards in China. They have to authorise the use of cards before you go. If you fail to do this you will not be able to use your cards in China.

If you take cash, please only take Bank of England notes. Many students have reported having problems trying to exchange notes from Scotland or Northern Ireland.

There are numerous cash machines (ATMs) all over China where you can withdraw money directly from your current account or credit card.

Some students have taken travellers cheques in the past, these have always been problematic to have changed, we do not recommend them.

Keeping your money safeSet up internet banking before you go, keep an eye on your accounts on a regular basis for any card transactions you make.

Make sure you have 2 bank cards (for different accounts) – keep these separately so that if you loose one you can still access money. For example you can cancel one and transfer funds to the other.

Go to your bank and request that a member of your family (ideally a parent) can access your account. If anything happens while you are away (E.g. you loose your card) that family member can cancel your card for you.

Take a mixed wallet containing cash and card, do not arrive without any local currency.Please note: The Study China Team will be unable to provide any emergency cash loans.

Exchange RatesExchange rates vary depending on whether you are exchanging money within China or in the UK, whether you’re using cash, traveller’s cheques or Cash Machines. These vary continually. You must do your own research to find out the best exchange rate and the most convenient exchange mechanism. However, most students in previous programmes have changed a small amount of cash into Chinese currency before departure and then withdrawn the bulk of their money from ATMs in China.

w w w. s t u d y c h i n a . o rg. u k

Study China Programme TeamCentre for Chinese StudiesSamuel Alexander Building

The University of ManchesterOxford Road, Manchester

M13 9PL, United Kingdom

General enquiries: study.china@manchester.ac.uk

Operations Manager: Natalie Shannonnatalie.a.shannon@manchester.ac.uk

0161 306 1725

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in

this handbook is accurate at the time of going to press, but

neither The University of Manchester nor any individual employees

thereof can take responsibility for any errors or omissions.

Views, where expressed, are those of the contributors and are not

necessarily those of the University.