worriedmum Posted August 1, 2009 at 07:38 AM Report Posted August 1, 2009 at 07:38 AM Can anyone please help with these questions for an independent student going to BNU/Beijing for one year. Is there a cashpoint near BNU that accepts UK bank debit card (visa? cirrus? which type?). Does BNU accept payments in travellers cheque for large sums like the course fee and accommodation fee? Do students carry around large sums of cash at the beginning? Is it safe? Is it best to get stirling, euro or dollar travellers cheque? How easy is it to open a Chinese bank account for international students? Is it worth while doing so? Can you use UK mobile phone in China - is it easy to get a Chinese sim card to fit into a UK mobile phone? Or would it be best to buy a mobile phone and sim card in China? Can you recommend reliable estate agents near BNU? Is it cheaper to live outside of the BNU halls? What is everyone's budget per month including or excluding accommodation? Is it true that lifts stop working often on high rises? Sorry to post so many questions but thank you in advance! Quote
roddy Posted August 1, 2009 at 09:42 AM Report Posted August 1, 2009 at 09:42 AM Shouldn't you just be telling your unworried child to look into all this . . . Is there a cashpoint near BNU that accepts UK bank debit card (visa? cirrus? which type?). Yes, lots. Visa debit, Maestro or whatever it's called - there are ATM location finders online if you want to check, but it's not a problem. Does BNU accept payments in travellers cheque for large sums like the course fee and accommodation fee? No, you'd need to change them at a bank first. Do students carry around large sums of cash at the beginning? Is it safe? Yes, as safe as it ever is. I feel more comfortable carrying large amounts of cash here than I would in any UK city. Is it best to get stirling, euro or dollar travellers cheque? Dollars are probably more easily recognized, but if you have to go GBP>USD>RMB you're going pay currency conversion costs twice. How easy is it to open a Chinese bank account for international students? Is it worth while doing so? Very easy - passport and twenty minutes and you're done. Only necessary if you have a large chunk of money you want to deposit or wire in. Can you use UK mobile phone in China - is it easy to get a Chinese sim card to fit into a UK mobile phone? Or would it be best to buy a mobile phone and sim card in China? As long as it's not locked to a UK network (check by, ie, putting an O2 card into a 3 phone) you can use a Chinese sim card in it. Can you recommend reliable estate agents near BNU? It pretty much depends on the actual agent and landlord you end up dealing with. Try 我爱我家 for a large, well-established chain, but that's not to say others aren't worth trying. Have a read of this - it's a few years old, but may be useful. Is it cheaper to live outside of the BNU halls? Depends what rent you end up paying. It's likely to be better value. What is everyone's budget per month including or excluding accommodation? See here and here and you can start drawing up some budgets. Is it true that lifts stop working often on high rises? Older buildings may have lifts that only run till a certain time. You're unlikely to have that many random stoppages. Quote
worriedmum Posted August 3, 2009 at 11:45 AM Author Report Posted August 3, 2009 at 11:45 AM Thank you very much! Quote
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