CUHK-SZ welcomes new international students

Language barriers and cultural differences didn’t deter Konstantinos Karamichali, a biomedical engineering freshman, from traveling all the way from Greece to The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen). Instead, her desire for new experiences is triumphing over fear of the unknown.

Teachers and students gather for a group photo following the 2025 fall semester registration at the CUHK-Shenzhen yesterday. Photos courtesy of  CUHK-Shenzhen

During registration on the university’s campus in Longgang District yesterday, she befriended a student from South Korea — the two were even seen exchanging Instagram handles.

This semester, CUHK-Shenzhen admitted 254 international undergraduates from 26 countries and welcomed 196 exchange students from 55 partner universities. International students completed their registration Monday and yesterday.

Konstantinos Karamichali (C) from Greece and South Korean student Cho Su-hyun (R) chat with CUHK-Shenzhen President Xu Yangsheng during the registration at CUHK-Shenzhen yesterday.

Karamichali first learned about Shenzhen and CUHK-Shenzhen in high school when professors from the university gave a presentation. Upon arriving, she said she was impressed by the city’s people.

“Everyone is very friendly, and we have good conversations. The city is beautiful everywhere and very big — completely different from my country,” said Karamichali. “If there are opportunities, I’d consider staying here for my career.”

Wiebe De Ruyck, an exchange student from Belgium, was determined to come to China and CUHK-Shenzhen despite the unknowns.

“After learning about the exchange program, I wanted to go somewhere completely different — China. When I told my family, they asked, ‘Are you sure? It’s very different, and we don’t know much about it.’ And often, it’s portrayed with certain values in the media, so I wanted to see the real China,” said De Ruyck.

A business major, De Ruyck researched Shenzhen firms from a financial perspective to better understand the city before arriving. “Shenzhen is one of the best places for business students — not only is the university excellent, but you’re also close to the source of innovation,” he said.

International students complete their registration at CUHK-Shenzhen yesterday.

Although it is the first time many new international students have visited Shenzhen, some had either heard of the city or been to other parts of China before.

Cho Suh-yun, from South Korea, had visited Beijing and Shanghai twice before coming to Shenzhen to begin university.

“The three cities are different, but Shenzhen feels more technologically advanced. I stayed in Futian for two days with my parents, and the experience was great. I don’t speak Chinese, but people tried to help using translators. Shenzhen also feels more culturally diverse, with more food options,” said Cho, who majors in international organizations and global governance.

Munkhjargal Tumenjargal, from Mongolia, learned about Shenzhen’s tech advancements from his cousins. “One cousin who studied in China told me, ‘If you want to study computer science and data science, Shenzhen should be your first choice.’ I chose CUHK-Shenzhen for its high rankings and want to grow with this young university,” said Tumenjargal. 

International students engage in friendly conversations during registration at CUHK-Shenzhen yesterday.

Aiyana Bachmann, from Switzerland, was no stranger to Shenzhen. She had passed through the city’s airport in 2024 en route to Shantou, where she studied Chinese, and was happy to return.

“I’ve always wanted to study in Asia. After coming to China, I loved it, but my Chinese isn’t strong enough for a full Chinese-taught program. CUHK-Shenzhen’s English-taught programs fit perfectly with my goals,” said Bachmann.

“The campus is well-organized, and I hope to improve my Chinese and make efforts to become the best version of myself that I can be. I believe CUHK-Shenzhen will help me broaden my perspectives and challenge myself in new ways,” added Bachmann.