Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
XJTLU by 2nd year student Trina Bandyopadhyay
About China
Eagerly assuming its place among the world’s top travel destinations, even more so since Beijing took centre stage at the 2008 Olympics, China is an epic adventure. From the glamorous Shànghai, to the volcanic dishes of Sìchuān to a walk in seaside Qīngdao, a journey through this colossus of a country is a mesmerising encounter with the most populous, perhaps most culturally idiosyncratic nation on earth. China is the biggest country in the world, with a population of approximately 1.3 billion. China plays an increasingly dominant role in the global economy, and has a distinctive culture, providing students with the opportunity to experience the fascinating traditions and energy that characterises Chinese society.
About Suzhou, China
Declared by Marco Polo as one of the most beautiful cities in China, Suzhou is a charming merchant town of whitewashed houses, tree-lined canals and sumptuous gardens. Sūzhōu’s main draw is its gardens. There were originally over a hundred but now only a handful exist, some over a thousand years old. The gardens, a symphonic combination of rocks, water, trees and buildings, reflect the Chinese appreciation of balance and harmony. You could easily spend an enjoyable several days exploring the gardens, paying a visit to the excellent Silk Museum and exploring some of Sūzhōu’s surviving canals, pagodas and humpbacked bridges.
About Dushu Lake Higher Education Town (HET)
XJTLU is situated in Dushu Lake HET, Suzhou Industrial Park in the eastern part of Suzhou. This park is the location for more than 2100 international companies, of which 53 are Fortune 500 companies, including Siemens, L'Oréal and Nokia. The University is one of several prestigious institutions located on Dushu Lake Higher Education Town. Students can enjoy the use of the HET central library and access to sport facilities of outstanding quality.
About XJTLU
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) is an international university jointly founded by Xi’an Jiaotong University of China and the University of Liverpool as a joint venture. It captures the essence of both prestigious parent universities and is the first and only one of its kind approved by the Ministry of Education in China. The University offers undergraduate degree programmes in the fields of science, engineering and management, and awards both its own Chinese degree along with a degree from the University of Liverpool.
Which Semester would I go in?
The XJTLU exchange is specific to Architecture. Students should apply in 1st year and can go for one semester (first or second) with the possibility of two. Also available is a Year in China – travel between 2nd and 3rd year or between 4th and 5th year.
Financial matters
Check www.xe.com for current exchange rates.
Students continue to pay tuition fees to the University of Liverpool. No tuition fees are payable to the host university.
XJTLU suggest the following budget for a Full Academic Year:
Accommodation: RMB16000-RMB25000
Textbooks: RMB 2000
ID Card: RMB 40
Living Expenses: RMB18000-RMB36000
Total: RMB36040-RMB63040