Are you a UBC undergrad thinking about going on a student exchange? It can be a daunting decision. You might wonder, what's it like spending a year or a semester in another country? How can you prepare? And how do you handle it when things go sideways? We talked with a group of UBC Global Ambassadors who studied abroad with a Go Global program. They spoke with us candidly, sharing their personal impressions, fears and misgivings, best memories, top tips and advice. (This story is part of a series of Global Exchange Insider interviews.)
Meet Rebecca Zheng, a 4th-year undergraduate student in Economics in the UBC Faculty of Arts from Burnaby, BC.
Rebecca exploring the streets of Tianjin, China (photo: Rebecca Zheng)
Before you go
Why did you pick Peking University (in Beijing, China) for your exchange? How did you hear about it?
I chose Peking University for the opportunity to study at one of Asia’s top universities. I knew I wanted to experience student life in a completely different environment—one that would expand my perspective both academically and culturally. Having not visited China in many years, going on exchange in Beijing also allowed me to reconnect with my roots and bridge the gap between my Canadian upbringing and Chinese heritage. I knew I wanted to go on exchange even before starting university, so I explored my options through the Go Global website.
What was the application process like? Any tips?
Pretty straightforward. It involved writing a statement of interest for my top three host university choices. After you are matched, you submit all the required documents to the host university. It’s important to stay organized, so I recommend keeping a list of all the deadlines and not leaving tasks for the last minute.
The Great Wall of China (Mùtiányù section) (photo: Rebecca Zheng)
Peking University’s Wèi Míng Hú (Unnamed Lake), located on campus (photo: Rebecca Zheng)
How did you prepare? Anything to be aware of? (travel, cultural differences, classes, etc.)
I grew up speaking Mandarin at home with my parents, so I wasn’t too worried about communication. However, my reading and writing skills weren’t very strong. Taking several Chinese language courses at UBC (CHIN 141 and 143) before going on exchange definitely helped me feel less anxious and more prepared. Moving to another country for a year involved a lot of technical logistics—such as visas, housing, banking, phone plans, VPNs, etc.—which can be quite overwhelming. To minimize stress upon arrival, I tried to set most of this up while I was still in Canada. If I had any questions or concerns, I just contacted the organization in China to get the information I needed. Doing this helped me settle in more smoothly.
What worries did you have beforehand? How did you overcome the anxiety?
One of my biggest worries was making friends. I went on exchange not really knowing anyone, which, looking back, was for the best. I was nervous about forming connections and fitting in, but it turned out that everyone was very welcoming and open to meeting new people. It just takes stepping outside of your comfort zone to start conversations and reach out to others. There are plenty of opportunities to meet people at the beginning of the semester, so I highly recommend making it a priority to attend those initial orientations and social events. It didn’t take long for me to find an amazing group of friends, and that’s when I felt like my exchange experience really started.
“One of the best parts about Peking University (and many Chinese universities) is that almost everyone lives on campus.”
During the experience
How was the overall experience? What did you learn?
The overall experience was amazing and truly exceeded my expectations. One of the best parts about Peking University (and many Chinese universities) is that almost everyone lives on campus. It is rather uncommon for students to live off campus. This makes campus and student life very lively, and you really feel like you are part of a community. As a commuter student at UBC, this was something I felt was missing, but deeply desired. The bonds you form on exchange are incredibly strong because you spend so much time together every day. We would eat most of our meals together at one of the canteens or cafeterias on campus (there were over 10!) You learn a lot about yourself and your peers as you navigate life and overcome challenges in a new country together. I believe this experience really helped me grow and develop my interpersonal skills.
Caption (photo: Rebecca Zheng)
Some of my favourite memories were at a beautiful lake on campus called 未名湖 (Wèi Míng Hú). During the spring and fall, we would take long walks around the lake when the flowers were blooming or the leaves were changing colours. In the summer, we would have late-night talks at a small dock on the lake while fighting off the mosquitos. In the winter, the lake would completely freeze over, and we were able to skate on it.
If you could change something or do it differently, what would you change or do?
Looking back, I wish I had made more of an effort to connect with local students. Although I could speak Chinese, personal insecurities about my language abilities and cultural differences held me back from integrating fully. As a result, I mostly stayed within the exchange and international student circle. I think building more friendships with local students would have helped me gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.
How were the academics?
To my surprise, academics were not as intimidating as I thought. I took a mix of classes in the School of Economics, Guanghua School of Management and School of Chinese as a Second Language. Some were mostly composed of international students, where the teaching style felt more familiar. In a few others, I was one of the only international students. I found the academic demands generally manageable and reasonable. Introducing myself to the professors at the start of the semester was also helpful later on when I needed additional support on assignments. Since marks transferred back to UBC as pass-fail, I was able to focus more on the social aspect of exchange rather than worrying about grades, which I very much appreciated.
How was the social aspect?
Travelling within China with my friends was one of the most meaningful experiences I had during my time abroad. Reduced academic pressure and more free time allowed us to travel on weekends and holidays. These factors, along with a shared interest among my peers to explore more of China, were part of what made the exchange experience so special. This was a new experience for me. Back at UBC, I was very focused on school, and everyone had their own responsibilities, so frequent trips and outings just weren’t possible. In a way, exchange was like a year-long vacation.
Rebecca and friends on a trip to Harbin, China (photo: Rebecca Zheng)
Enjoying a Hotpot dinner (photo: Rebecca Zheng)
Throughout the year, we visited many places beyond Beijing, including Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an, Inner Mongolia and Harbin. I got to visit my relatives in Shandong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou as well. Through these trips, I came to appreciate how the country blends its rich history with modernity. Beijing itself also had so much to offer. From delicious food to ancient cultural landmarks to bustling nightlife, there were always things to do and places to see. Public transportation was very affordable and convenient, whether you were taking DiDi (China’s Uber) or the Beijing Subway. I was able to navigate perfectly fine using Apple Maps.
After the experience
Would you recommend this experience to others? What can they look forward to?
I would 100 percent recommend this experience to other students! It is such a great opportunity to continue your studies while experiencing student life in a completely new country. You also get to build lifelong friendships around the world. Even though it’s already been over a year since I returned to Vancouver, I still talk to my exchange friends frequently and have even visited some of them in their home countries! During the most recent reading break, I met up with some friends in London, England.
As long as you stay open-minded, there’s so much you can gain from studying abroad. I would suggest thinking about what you hope to get out of your exchange—whether that’s language, friendships, travel or academics—and taking initiative to work toward those goals. I truly believe that it can be a transformative experience if you put in the effort.
Exploring nightlife in Shanghai, China (photo: Rebecca Zheng)
What was the impact on your academic and personal development?
Academically and professionally, I developed a greater interest in global markets and international exchange. On a personal level, having grown up in Canada, I had gradually become more distant from my Chinese heritage, but spending a year studying in China allowed me to reconnect with the culture. I rediscovered a love for it and gained a sense of pride in my background. The experience helped me become more independent, but also taught me how to build deep, meaningful relationships with others.
Read more Go Global student stories.