‘Living and Studying in China Is a Unique and Unforgettable Experience’

Photo courtesy of Arina Kurbetyeva

Arina Kurbetyeva is a third-year student of the Bachelor’s in Digital Technologies and Telecommunications run by the HSE Tikhonov Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics (MIEM). During her second year, she spent one semester in China at CUHK-Shenzhen University as part of an academic mobility programme. The student shared her experience of studying in China with the HSE News Service.

The Learning Process

At the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK)—a university located in the city of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China—the organisation of the learning process is based on academic freedom. At the beginning of each semester, students create their own timetables by choosing courses from a general catalogue. In other words, students are not bound to a rigid curriculum and are not assigned to a fixed group. I enrolled in courses that matched my MIEM second-year programme as closely as possible, which allowed me to keep up with my academic schedule. The main difference was the absence of the familiar concept of ‘groupmates,’ since in every class you find yourself in a new group of people. Thanks to this system, over the course of a semester I met a huge number of students from different programmes and year groups. On the other hand, it does not foster the formation of a stable team that studies together most of the time. As at HSE, we had two examination periods per semester and a separate grading formula for each course. All my courses consisted of lectures and seminars. I noticed a strong emphasis on theoretical learning. The course syllabuses did not include laboratory work with physical equipment or test rigs, as we have in MIEM practical classes. Instead, the practical component mainly took the form of programming projects, case studies, and calculation-based assignments.

Arina Kurbetyeva

Photo courtesy of Arina Kurbetyeva

I completed the Probability and Statistics course, where we studied probability theory, mathematical statistics, and their application to data analysis. The Principles and Practices of Communication Networks course focused on the architecture of modern networks, data transmission protocols, and methods of ensuring their security. I would also like to mention the Optoelectronics course. It was based on semiconductor physics—from the structure of the p–n junction to the operating principles of lasers, LEDs, and photodetectors, which form the component base of modern communication systems. At the end of the second year of my degree programme at HSE, students must choose one of four tracks. I had to make this choice remotely while I was in China. This particular course became crucial for me: it introduced me to the fundamentals of electronics and helped me realise how promising and close this field is to me. As a result, I decided to choose the Electronics of Infocommunication Technologies and Communication Systems track, which I am currently studying. One could say that academic mobility not only provided me with knowledge, but also directly influenced my educational trajectory.

Another course I would like to highlight is Computational Physics and AI Tools. It combined numerical methods for solving physical problems with the basics of machine learning. We were taught not just how to program, but how to create simulations of physical processes and apply neural networks to data analysis. The final team project, in which we developed our own model, was an excellent demonstration of how theoretical calculations can be turned into a working digital prototype. Together with a fellow student, we programmed a model to calculate orbital dynamics. Our programme used the Velocity Verlet numerical method for accurate integration of the equations of motion and was able to simulate three different scenarios: the classical two-body problem (for example, the Earth–Sun system), a chaotic three-body problem (in which we analysed the Lyapunov exponent), and a simplified model of the entire Solar System using real planetary parameters. We not only obtained visualisations of three-dimensional orbits, but also verified that our simulation follows Kepler’s laws and correctly conserves energy and angular momentum. This project became an example for me of how computational physics and programming methods make it possible to solve and clearly explore complex real-world problems.

Extracurricular Life

I was also deeply impressed by the university campus, where everything is designed for students’ comfort. Inside the campus there is everything one might need: almost a dozen canteens and cafés, grocery shops, numerous sports facilities, co-working spaces, a 24-hour library, cash machines, and so on. It felt as though you really did not need to go anywhere else—everything for everyday life was concentrated in one place. My walk from my dormitory room to the academic buildings took only ten minutes. The atmosphere on campus was highly international. In addition to students from HSE, CUHK-Shenzhen hosted more than 50 exchange students from different countries. Almost all courses are taught in English, so communicating with Chinese students did not cause any difficulties either. This experience significantly broadened my social circle and improved my understanding of cultural differences. My closest friendships naturally formed within the Russian-speaking student community. This circle became my main community, creating a sense of home away from home, although interaction with international students always remained open and friendly.

I lived in a corridor-style dormitory room together with three other exchange students from HSE. The dormitory cost me 8,000 roubles for the entire semester. I found the living conditions very comfortable. Everyday expenses turned out to be noticeably lower than in Moscow. This applied to meals in university canteens, restaurants, public transport, taxis, as well as everyday goods and services. During the semester, I also visited several cities: Shanghai, Chongqing, and Hong Kong. Each trip revealed a new facet of China to me and allowed me to truly experience the scale and diversity of the country.

Taking part in an exchange programme is far more than just studying at another university. It was an entire semester of new impressions and an intensive course in adapting to a completely new environment. From a professional point of view, I saw how technologies are developed and applied in one of the world’s centres of innovation. Academic mobility sparked my interest in working for companies that connect the markets of Asia and Europe. My experience of living and studying in China, and of getting to know its culture, has been truly unique and unforgettable.