International students say 'yes' to China

Even in his first days on campus, he found himself connecting with other international students who were also learning to navigate a new environment.

"We are going through our new lifestyles together, due to being in the same situation," he says.

That kind of everyday interaction is central to the university's approach.

Xiao Bowen, a physician and professor at CUHK-Shenzhen, says international and Chinese students generally study and live within the same system. They take the same English-taught courses, follow the same academic standards, and share campus facilities and residential life.

"International exchange does not only happen in the classroom," Xiao says. "It also happens in the dormitories, residential colleges, student clubs, and everyday life."

The university provides Chinese-language courses and other support for international students, while students can also seek internships and practical opportunities subject to relevant policies and university requirements.

The university's career services departments work with the School of Science and Engineering to provide international students with internship information, career counseling, resume assistance, and employer connections.

The aim, Xiao says, is to connect "the classroom to practice, and the campus to society".

For students like Copeland Costanzo, the value of the experience also lies in the network that forms around it.

During his stay, he has met students from Japan, Kazakhstan and Indonesia and says he was surprised by the number of international students China attracts.

Although he has been in China for only a short time, he sees a shared curiosity among students arriving from different places.

"Because I've been here such a short time, I share the curiosity with freshmen and other students," he says.