Housing - Reviews of Beijing Cultural and Language University (BLCU) | China

Useful | 2

Tiiina

University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Language, Undergraduate, Independent

Housing

Type of housing: On campus

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why?

I didn't particularly get along with my korean roommate since she couldn't speak chinese and the rooms were dirty.

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I lived there only for a while. I thought it wasn't too bad, I expected worse. We had washing machines, even though nothing really washed clean.. But other foreigners had trouble adjusting. And life without airconditioning can be rough.

Useful | 0

m l

University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Language, Undergraduate, Independent

Housing

Type of housing: On campus

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why?

For an extended period of time, I prefer to have a kitchen to cook in. Also, an apartment gives me more privacy

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I stayed at the Conference Centre (Huiyi Zhongxin). Daily cleaning, television, downstairs restaurant and friendly reception.

Useful | 4

Mark v

Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Language, Undergraduate, Independent

Housing

Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why?

On Campus housing is very expensive and restrictive. If you live off campus it is not only cheaper (convenient bike/bus/taxi Y10), but you can rent out any extra rooms and have your own lounge/bathroom/kitchen etc rather than just a room with shared facilities on campus. Halfway through the first term of a Mandarin course you learn the appropriate vocabulary to enable you to arrange an apartment yourself!

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Personal comments

Overpriced. Many people move in at the start and then look for their own housing before the first term is over; plenty available. The only people who tend to stay on campus throughout the year are those who are on a scholarship and therefore get it free, or, those who like the 2 mins walk to lecture in the morning.

Useful | 0

yogi888

University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
Language, Undergraduate, Independent

Housing

Type of housing: Hotel

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: With a family

Why?

To provide language and cultural immersion, and to develop new, potentially lasting friendships.

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Personal comments

I had applied for on-campus accomodations (in a dormitory). Upon my arrival, however, I was told that there were no more rooms in the dorm to which I had been assigned. My stay at an adjacent hotel (Xi Jiao) was arranged. This was a lucky scenario for me. Accomodations at Xi Jiao would have been much more costly, had I incurred this expense. I only paid the cost of living in a dorm, in accordance with my application.

Useful | 0