Exchange Report The University of , U.K. Alliance Manchester Business School

ZERLINDA LI IS & OM Year 3, 2018-19 Fall Table of Contents

Part I Monthly Activity Log 3-7 Part II General Exchange Information 8-22 Part III Items to Bring 23 Part IV Useful Links and Contacts 24 Part I – Monthly Activity Log September

I arrived the UK much earlier to visit Greece before the semester started. The welcome week started on the 17th where many induction activities were held. The business school organized a ramble at Peak District where we hiked for 2 hours to discover the awesome views of the National Park with other exchange students. The Student Fair is an opportunity for us to get to know and even join a variety of clubs and teams of the university. October

I visited the Switzerland during the add- drop period for 5 days. Exchange students had to finalize their course choices and exam options within this period. I opted for the alternative assessment option, where exams were replaced with additional coursework. It was a coincidence that Manchester was the 4th stop of the 2018 World Taekwondo Grand Prix. So I got to see many Olympic- qualified athletes from all over the world competing in the event. November

This month has started to become busier as there were several proposals and essays to hand in. The business school organized a networking event to pair us up with UoM students who would be exchanging at our institution. I visited London twice this month, once to participate in the Student National Taekwondo Autumn Championships and the other to travel around. I also went to many UK cities including Edinburgh, Liverpool and Cambridge. December

December is the busiest month as the semester ended on the 14th, which is the deadline of many coursework. AMBS organized a Christmas Ball at the Midland Hotel where students enjoyed dancing following a three-course meal including table wine. After handing in my assignments, I went to Italy for a week, visiting many notable places like Cinque Terre, which composes of five fishing villages on the coastline. January

There was a one-month gap between the end of semester and exams. But as I have requested for alternative assessments (due mid-jan), I did not have to return Manchester to attend exams. I travelled around Iceland for 8 days before heading back to Hong Kong on the 11th. Iceland is a place full of nature wonders and it’s definitely on the must-visit list. Despite the poor weather in winter, we were so lucky that we got to see strong northern lights! Part II General Exchange Information Visa Procedures

• For HKSAR passports, UK visa is not required for short term study that is less than six months. • Remember to bring along the official acceptance letter when entering the UK border (softcopy is fine) as you have to show it to the custom to acquire a student visa stamp. • You will need to present the official letter every single time when you enter the UK again after travelling outside the UK. Orientation Activities

• AMBS hosts a welcome week for all exchange students before the semester starts. • It contains a series of events including induction meeting, student fair and buddy program etc. • As it is compulsory, you have to arrive Manchester one week before the semester starts. • It is also a good opportunity to meet other exchange students. International Services & Activities

• The AMBS International team provides support for exchange students. • They have a room at the business building so you can always pop in if you have any query. • The International Programmes Society organizes regular trips around the UK. Accommodations

• UoM has three campus: City campus, Victoria Park Campus and Campus. I lived in Manchester Gardens, which is in the Victoria Park Campus. They have a room at the business building so you can always pop in if you have any query. • Manchester Gardens is more spacious than some of the other halls that my friends lived in. The facilities are also more modern. It takes around 10 minutes to the university campus by bus. One thing to note is that this hall doesn’t provide Wi-Fi in the rooms. Course Registration

• Exchange students are required to take 60 or 50 credits with the permission of their home university. I took 50 credits and applied for the alternative assessment option. • Here are the courses I took and their equivalent HKUST courses:

Course Code Course Title Assessment HKUST Course Method Equivalency BMAN24261 Ethical Business 100% Essay MGMT2130 BMAN31451 Foundations of Supply Chain 100% Exam ISOM4770 Management BMAN31911 Innovation and Markets 100% Essay ENTR3020 UCIL33201 Climate Change & Society 45% Essay, 10% LIFS1030 Debate, 45% Exam Teaching & Assessment Methods

The courses are conducted in lectures and seminars, which is similar to that of HKUST. Seminars are conducted in smaller group sizes so that the teaching assistant would be able to provide more detailed feedback for students regarding the coursework.

It is important to read through the reading materials assigned by the professors before the next lesson as they would expect students to have a basic understanding on the topics. Therefore, more self-learning should be expected outside regular class hours.

Coursework and exam are common assessment methods of the courses. Sports & Recreation Facilities

• UoM has several sports centres and gyms in all campus. There is a 3-month membership plan if you wish to use the gyms. • There are different sports teams and clubs that you can join. If you are interest in joining any of them, check them out at the Student Fair during the first week. • UoM also provides a free sports program called Sporticipate during the beginning of the semester. (Similar to HKUST’s sports skill classes) Finance and Banking

• I opened a Monzo account, which is a virtual bank with no physical store. The application process is done through the app and the debit card would arrive within a week. • I highly recommend Monzo because you can also use the card outside the UK. They don't add any fees to the exchange rate so it would be cheaper than the currency exchange stores. • Here is the ledger of my exchange:

Items Amount (HKD) Return flight tickets 7700 Accommodation 27000 Living expenses 20000 Travelling (Greece) 12000 Travelling (Switzerland) 5500 Travelling (Italy) 6000 Travelling (Iceland) 12000 Total 90200 Social Clubs and Networking Opportunities

• As mentioned before, UoM has a lot of student clubs and societies that you can join. • The university also organizes various events throughout the semester, for example the Halloween Party and the Christmas Ball. • You have to register for a GP during the orientation week. If you get sick during the exchange, you can Health and Safety make an appointment with the GP on phone. • You have to attend a fire safety talk organized by your student hall during the beginning of the semester. Food

• I lived in a self-catered hall, so I cooked pretty often during my stay at Manchester. I often buy groceries at Lidl and Tesco. • There is a Chinatown near Manchester Piccadilly station where you can find some Chinese and Japanese food. • There are a lot of dining out choices, but it would be quite expensive (around 15 pounds per meal). Transportation

• Transportation in Manchester is quite convenient where you can go around by buses and trams. The bus 147 is free for students within the campus. But you can actually walk to your destinations as many spots are of walkable distance. • It is recommended to buy the Stagecoach bus pass if you intend to take the bus to school as it would be much cheaper than buying tickets for each ride. • You can also purchase the 16-25 Railcard for transportation within the UK. It would save you 30% of the train ticket fee. Climate

• Manchester is a rainy city, but the locals don’t usually use an umbrella when raining as it is so windy that the umbrellas always flip. • It is recommended to bring a waterproof jacket and a pair of waterproof shoes with you. (My shoes got all wet every time it rains…) • During winter, the day light only lasts for a few hours as the sun usually sets at around 4 pm. Communication

• I use Giffgaff for my monthly data plan. You can renew or change your plan every month. It is good that its plans can also be used in the EU so you do not have to buy extra sim cards during travelling. • There are also physical stores of 3 and Vodafone at Arndale. Cautionary Measures

• The UK is a relatively safe country in the EU. But it is always recommended to stay with your friends especially after the sun has set. Always watch out for your own belongings. • Be vigilant if you go to bars and clubs as smoking weed is legal in the UK. Part III – Items to Bring

Important documents: • Passport/ ID card • AMBS offer letter • Accommodation confirmation letter • Bank cards

Things that you can buy in the UK: • Blanket/ bedsheets/ pillow • Water boiler (There should be one in the kitchen of your flat) • Cooking utensils

You can basically get everything at Wilko. Part IV – Useful links and Contacts

• Alliance Manchester Business School website https://www.mbs.ac.uk/ • University Accommodations http://www.accommodation.manchester.ac .uk/ouraccommodation/ • Course Catalog http://courseunits.humanities.manchester.a c.uk/Undergraduate/Manchester-Business- School • Login Page https://login.manchester.ac.uk/cas/login