Tsinghua SIGS welcomes record number of new intl. students

Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS) welcomed more than 220 international students from around 60 countries and regions this fall, a record high, according to the school.

The new cohort began their studies at Tsinghua SIGS after registering on campus yesterday.

A new international student poses for a photo during registration yesterday. Photos courtesy of Tsinghua SIGS  

For Bruna Campos, who traveled for more than 30 hours from her home country of Brazil to Shenzhen, all her exhaustion disappeared when she arrived. 

“The campus is so green, and everyone I met here was so friendly. I can’t stop myself from taking pictures all the time in Shenzhen to hold onto the feelings and memories they’ll bring. I am completely in love with the city,” said Campos.

Bruna Campos (R) completes registration on campus yesterday. 

Explaining why she chose Tsinghua SIGS, Campos cited Tsinghua University’s standing among Asian universities, as well as Shenzhen’s innovation and creativity.

“Shenzhen is a city of new experiences and opportunities. There are a lot of opportunities just by being here. So if we work hard, I think we can help build this place even better. I look forward to lots of adventures and good moments,” Campos added. 

Like Campos, this is also the first time Honoka Enuma has studied abroad.

Enuma, an environmental engineering major from Japan,chose Tsinghua SIGS for its international environment. “It is an international school, so I wanted to know what students with different backgrounds discuss and what they think about the world. I also found my supervisor, who combines a lot of fields such as computer science, organisms, and the environment, so I think I will find many kinds of innovative ideas here,” she said.

She also said that the open-minded and friendly people in Shenzhen helped her feel comfortable.

For Ilyas Lahlou from Morocco, who majors in AI engineering, and Russian student Matvei Prikhozhdenko, who majors in data science and information, studying in China is not a completely new experience, as they both completed their bachelor’s degree programs in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. 

Ilyas Lahlou (R) and another Moroccan student pose for a photo during registration yesterday. 

Asked why he decided to pursue further studies in Shenzhen, Lahlou said he wanted to pursue as many internships as possible with major Shenzhen-based companies, such as Huawei and DJI.

“Besides the presence of major companies in Shenzhen, I believe the city’s real advantage is its energy. Everyone here is young, and the atmosphere feels really open, making it easy to meet people,” Lahlou added.

Prikhozhdenko said he has a deep appreciation for China and its culture, adding that studying in Shenzhen will further enrich his learning experience.