For Ibtissame (Sam) Jabir, studying in Shanghai was a no-brainer.
It’s a global financial hub and China’s largest province. Plus, it’s one of the top three provinces in China with the most international students.
But when she first moved over from Morocco, she had little to no idea about what life was like there.
Today, you can say the Shanghai University of Engineering Science student is a reliable expert in the good, the bad, and everything in between about China’s most popular city for international students.
Here’s what Sam has to share:
Shanghai was once a fishing village, and after it opened itself to Western trade in the 19th century, turning it into a prominent trading port, and now a major centre for finance, trade, innovation, and culture. Source: Ibtissame (Sam) Jabir
The best parts about studying in Shanghai as an international student
Sam always knew that studying in Shanghai meant that she’d be living in a futuristic city, but she didn’t realise that it was on a next level.
You don’t need cash
The first thing that really shocked her was the way people pay.
“You don’t need a card at all — you can pay by phone,” she says.
And that includes senior citizens paying for everything via mobile apps.
“In other parts of the world, you’ll see the older generation struggling with technology and younger children having little to no access to phones,” Sam explains. “But even old people and really young kids here in Shanghai use their phones to pay. You’ll rarely see people carry cash.”
As an international student, this may be scary at first. What if your phone dies? Well, you can pay for your groceries, and even your metro ride, just with your face and palm — all thanks to Chinese tech giant Tencent.
Shanghai ranks #1 in China for overall science and tech performance, as well as for output and commercialisation. Source: zhang kaiyv, Pexels
It’s a tech playground
Beyond paying with your face and palm, Sam notes that technology in Shanghai is deeply integrated into daily life.
“You go to hotels or restaurants and robots are cleaning or delivering things,” she says.
Some hotels even use robots to assist guests with check-in or deliver their bags directly to their rooms.
For Sam, this is especially exciting because it connects to what she’s studying at university.
“That’s actually my major, and I didn’t know I was going to find these things here and actually get to live and breathe it,” she shares. “Seeing it all in real life every day is interesting and interactive.”
The most popular halal restaurants in Shanghai are Yershari Halal Restaurant, Hongchangxing Restaurant, and A Thousand & One Night Restaurant. Source: dongfang xiaowu, Pexels
Halal food is everywhere
International students often struggle to find halal food and supplies in countries where Islam is not the main religion.
But when studying in Shanghai, Sam found food a major highlight — especially halal food.
Before arriving, she wasn’t sure how easy it would be to find halal options, but she quickly discovered that there was nothing to worry about.
“There’s actually a lot of halal food in Shanghai,” she says. “We even have a halal restaurant right by the dorms. You can also find a lot of Arabic restaurants or Qingzhen (Chinese Islamic) food almost everywhere.”
Shanghai is famous for its sweet, savoury, and oily flavours, especially Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings), Sheng Jian Bao (pan-fried pork buns), and Hong Shao Rou (braised pork belly). Source: Change C.C, Pexels
4 things you need to be aware of before studying in Shanghai
As dreamy as Shanghai can be, every good has its downsides. Well, not entirely downsides, but things to be cautious of.
The taste of food may not be our cup of tea
Food was one of Sam’s biggest challenges.
Born and raised in Morocco, she grew up surrounded by a fusion of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and North African flavours — sweet, savoury spices, fruity notes, lemons, and earthy elements. But in China, it’s mostly sweet, with notes of umami, soy sauce, spice, and a mellow finish.
“For the first two months, I couldn’t really eat anything,” she says. “The food just wasn’t to my taste at all. Now, there are some foods I’m okay with, but there are still a lot of Chinese dishes I just can’t eat.”
You’ll face language barriers unless you’re fluent in Mandarin
Language barriers make studying in Shanghai a little more complicated, at first at least.
While Sam says the situation wasn’t “really hard,” it did take some getting used to.
“Most people don’t speak English, except some young people,” she says. “Navigating everyday tasks like moving around the city can be challenging.”
But if you’re in a formal setting, it may be easier.
“When I go to offices, hospitals, banks, or the visa office, they all speak English,” Sam shares.
Classroom culture
When it comes to academics, Sam noticed a different classroom culture compared to what she was used to back home.
Her classes are made up entirely of international students, and she feels that professors tend ot be less strict, especially when it comes to participation.
“Back home, you have to answer no matter what,” she says. “But here, I feel like they don’t really care if you don’t answer in class.”
Attendance can also be flexible, depending on the course.
“Sometimes they don’t care about attendance,” Sam explains. “As long as you do your homework and projects, that’s what really matters.”
International students require explicit permission from their university and the local Entry-Exit Administration Bureau to get a work-study permit and an endorsement on their student residence permit. Source: Eric Prouzet, Pexels
International students aren’t allowed to work
Studying abroad can be expensive, and one way for international students to lessen the financial burden is to take up part-time jobs.
But if you’re studying in Shanghai, you cannot work unless with explicit approval.
“It’s illegal for students to work full-time,” Sam shares. “Even internships require special permission. If you want an internship, you have to change your student visa to a specific internship visa, and it’s a difficult process.”
Even part-time jobs need special approval. Plus, you’re only allowed to work for no more than eight hours per week, and no more than 40 hours per month, both on and off-campus. That’s 12 hours less than in the US and UK per week.
During the winter and summer vacations, no more than 16 hours per week and no more than 80 hours per month.
According to Sam, some universities aren’t willing to support this change for those studying in Shanghai.
“It’s hard for all majors, especially if you’re an undergraduate student,” she says.
She adds that master’s students are more likely to receive approval, but opportunities for undergraduates are unfortunately limited.
