Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Anastasia Voevodina, a fourth-year student at the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade, spent a semester as an exchange student at Tsinghua University. This university is a strategic partner of SPbPU and is ranked among the top 15 universities in the world. She shared her experience of living and studying in China.
— Anastasia, how did you manage to secure this unique opportunity to go on an exchange to the best university in Asia?
I started preparing long before it became a specific goal. I've always been drawn to foreign languages and international culture. From my first year, I was involved in the English club; we organized an international TED Talks conference and held case competitions. I also did research on international economics, which motivated me to travel to China. At the same time, I was actively involved in the university trade union: I was an adapter, a mentor, and a member of the media department in the "Adapters" association. These activities helped me develop my communication skills, teamwork, and creative thinking.
— What surprised you most when you arrived in China?
I encountered an almost complete lack of English in everyday life, even at university. I had to quickly learn Chinese. I literally had to master a new ecosystem of everyday life: local culture, the internet, social norms, and rules of conduct. For example, WeChat became a key communication tool—it's not just a messenger, but an entire platform that integrates banking services, navigation, marketplaces, and payment for everything from food to tickets.
— What was the most unusual thing about university?
The university campus is a veritable city within a city—five square kilometers with hundreds of cafeterias, an ice rink, swimming pools, libraries, and even a ski simulation area. It also houses five huge libraries, updated monthly with international scientific journals, modern laboratories, cafes, shops, pharmacies, hairdressers, and other services. It has everything you need to live there; you could spend weeks without leaving the campus.
— How is the educational process organized at Tsinghua?
"It's very different from ours. The semester begins with choosing courses, followed by lectures, but the main workload is homework and self-study. The university actively collaborates with leading companies, and we had the opportunity to visit the offices of Intel, Meituan, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and listen to lectures by renowned speakers—this motivated us to think globally."
— How did your communication with other students go?
"Tsinghua has a huge international community—around 2,500 international students. I made friends with people from all over the world. It was more challenging with the Chinese students because of the language, but I managed to make a few connections—it was a very valuable experience."
— Tell me about your daily life outside of school.
I lived in a dorm with a German girl. I ate in the campus cafeterias—there was a huge selection and the prices were affordable. I got around by bike—the campus had a great bike rental system. I often went to the library after classes for additional independent work. It felt like there were more than 24 hours in a day, because everything I needed was within a five-minute bike ride, and thanks to that, I could get an incredible amount done.
— What did you do in your free time?
Tsinghua University is a true haven for new hobbies and self-improvement: there are over 150 clubs to suit everyone's interests. I joined the Russian Students Association, the Foreign Languages Club, and became a member of the organizing committee of the Initiative Association, where we organized international conferences. I also tried my hand at fencing, figure skating, and rock climbing, but ultimately settled on tennis, which I started playing at a semi-professional level.
— What skills did you acquire during your studies in China?
In terms of professional development, studying in China allowed me to significantly deepen my data analytics skills in English and significantly improve my spoken English. I also saw fundamental differences in the teaching approaches: the Chinese system impressed me with its pace and discipline—students there literally learn at double the speed and devote a significant portion of their time to independent learning. This experience taught me how to work under high pressure, quickly absorb large amounts of information, and be more disciplined. I also developed my intercultural communication skills and became more independent and adaptable.
— What advice would you give to Polytechnic students who want to go on an exchange program?
Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, prepare in advance, keep track of deadlines, and be sure to brush up on your English. And remember, the university's International Department is always there to help and support you.
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