Why I chose China for my Master's degree

If you are thinking of going abroad for your Master’s, do consider exploring China. I decided to pursue my Master's in Electrical Engineering at Yanshan University after I completed my Bachelor's from Multan NFC IET Institute because the higher education here comes at a fraction of the cost.

My annual tuition fee is approximately ¥25,000-30,000 RMB or about Rs11 lakhs. My family in Bahawalpur helped with the initial payments through a bank transfer, and I also secured a Presidential Scholarship which covers my tuition and provides a living stipend.

Yanshan University is located in the coastal city of Qinhuangdao. It is a national institution with a reputation in engineering and technology. Its strength in mechanical engineering, materials science, and heavy machinery is recognized across China and beyond. My classmates are a mix of international students from more than 30 countries.

A direct flight from Islamabad to Beijing will take you about six hours, after which you can take a flight or train to the city. I came here in August 2024 just in time for the Fall semester.

Most of the Chinese students in my faculty are studying AI, machine learning, and power electronics, which they see as the key to the future. My professors are deeply engaged with AI, not as a distant concept, but as a tool. They are actively researching its application in smart grid management and robotics, encouraging us to learn Python and understand its potential in our own projects.

My typical day involves lectures in advanced power systems and signal processing, followed by hours in the lab. Just last week, my team and I were working on a simulation for a smart grid model. The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, and our professor patiently guided us through the complex algorithms, ensuring we understood not just the "how" but the "why." I hope what I learn here will make me competent in renewable energy integration and power management.

Living in China

I live in the international student dormitory on campus. The accommodation is basic but sufficient. I have a twin room with a private bathroom and shared kitchen facilities, costing about ¥10,600 RMB per year.

My day often starts with the aroma of baozi (steamed buns) and youtiao (fried dough sticks) from the campus canteen. Managing a halal diet is challenging but possible. There is a Muslim canteen on campus where I eat most of my meals. A filling lunch of rice, vegetables, and chicken costs about ¥10-20 RMB, but most of time I cooked by myself because we have kitchen in the dorm. I do miss the constant availability of strong, milky 'doodh patti' chai from back home. While Chinese tea is wonderful, it's not the same. I make my own chai in my dorm room using spices I brought from Pakistan and my Chinese friends like too much.

Language was a hurdle at first. While my program is taught in English, daily life requires Chinese which I speak with the others. The Chinese students are intensely focused and hardworking, often studying late into the night in the library. We often cook together.

On weekends, I love taking a walk along the beach, listening to the waves of the Bohai Sea which are in stark and beautiful contrast to the desert landscapes of Southern Punjab. Even more incredible is that a short bus ride away, I can stand on the same Great Wall of China that I had only ever seen in history books. Visiting the Great Wall at Shanhaiguan was surreal. It’s not just a wall; it's a massive, uneven fortress of stone and brick snaking over the mountains. Climbing its steep steps was exhausting, but the view from the top of the wall disappearing into the horizon was a powerful reminder of history and human ambition. It’s everything you see in pictures, but the sheer scale is something you can only understand in person.

My first Eid away from home felt a little lonely, but my Chinese roommates and classmates organized a small gathering for me. We drank Chinese tea and had the mithai my family had sent. I explained the significance of Eid to them, and they shared stories about their own festivals.

My time at Yanshan University has been more than just earning a degree. It has been a journey of personal growth, cultural immersion, and academic discovery. From the high-tech labs of the Electrical Engineering department to the serene shores of the Bohai Sea, YSU has provided a backdrop for my transformation.