On the campus of the University of Malaya, a day in the life of our exchange students begins with multicultural classroom discussions and ends with the fragrant aroma of spices at the night market. As they wander through Kuala Lumpur’s landmarks—both ancient and modern—on foot, they unlock the unique growth code of Malaya through the collision of academic pursuits and daily life. Let’s listen to these extraordinary exchange stories.

Mai Xiaoning – Major in Theatre, Film and Television Literature, School of Media and Design

Like most international students, I often miss the days in the ivory tower. It is not only because the financial support from my parents made life easy, but also because of the well-protected sense of comfort. This time, I chose to step out of my comfort zone and start my exchange student journey. It is not only a fresh start, but also a challenge for self-growth. Most courses at the University of Malaya are taught entirely in English. The professors here are very patient. Even when my oral English was not fluent enough, they would encourage me patiently, saying, “It’s OK!”Besides classroom learning, I also actively participated in various school activities and gained unexpected surprises—winning the Best Art Award for my outstanding performance. This experience made me discover my talent in floral arrangement and also sparked a greater interest and passion for art.

Chen Leiyi – Major in Chinese Language and Literature, School of Liberal Arts

Thanks to the university’s international exchange program, I was fortunate to come to Malaysia for an exchange study. Looking back on this period of experience, from unfamiliarity to familiarity, from adaptation to integration, I have not only broadened my horizons but also achieved personal growth.In the classrooms of Malaysia, I deeply felt the impact of multicultural backgrounds on academic discussions. Professors focus on guiding students to think independently and inspire our minds through interactive discussions. In class, students put forward their own views from different cultural backgrounds. Such collisions have given me a brand-new understanding of “diversity”. Through classroom discussions, I have learned to respect the views from different cultural backgrounds and improved my language expression skills. These activities have made me realize that only from a broader international perspective can we identify our own strengths and weaknesses.This exchange experience has brought me a lot of growth beyond the classroom. First and foremost is the improvement of my independence. In this completely new environment, I have learned to think independently and solve problems on my own, and also enhanced my cross-cultural communication skills.

Tian Jiahua – Major in Environmental Design, School of Media and Design

In 2025, I was lucky enough to go to the University of Malaya in Malaysia through the university’s exchange program and started a one-semester exchange study. This experience has not only broadened my academic horizons but also brought me rich gains in cultural experience and personal growth. Looking back on the whole process, I deeply felt the unique significance of the exchange life.Although I encountered some difficulties in language communication at first, it was exactly this atmosphere that prompted me to continuously improve my English expression and academic writing skills. On campus and in the city, I met friends from all over the world. We shared our stories and eating habits with each other, which made me learn to view differences with a more open and inclusive attitude. I deeply know that the smooth completion of this exchange experience is inseparable from the support and help of the university and teachers. I would like to thank my alma mater for providing this platform, and also thank the University of Malaya for its tolerance and care. It is this precious experience that has made me truly understand the profound meaning of “Reading ten thousand books is like traveling ten thousand miles”. This one-semester exchange has not only brought me academic gains but also courage and growth on the road of life.

Wang Wenjuan – Major in Chinese Language and Literature, School of Liberal Arts

Through the university’s exchange program, I came to the University of Malaya. The campus is equipped with tennis courts, basketball courts, outdoor sports fields, and gyms. Besides, the campus is very large and there are free shuttle buses inside. The geographical environment here is lush and green, with buildings of various styles cleverly integrated into it. It has both a sense of historical precipitation and a modern fashion vibe. Sometimes monkeys crawl around the campus, giving people a sense of freedom.The University of Malaya has gathered many international students from different countries, and there are a lot of international activities, including lectures, Indian dances and other types of dance performances, as well as some club activities. Although my English is not very good, I still dare to speak up. I think this is a great opportunity to meet different people and exercise myself. So far, I feel that this exchange trip is quite worthwhile. It has given me different insights and let me experience the living conditions of people from different countries.

Peng Ziwen – Major in Theatre, Film and Television Literature, School of Media and Design

Thanks to the university’s international exchange program, I was fortunate to come to Malaysia for an exchange study. Looking back on this period of experience, from unfamiliarity to familiarity, from adaptation to integration, I have not only broadened my horizons but also achieved personal growth.In the classrooms of Malaysia, I deeply felt the impact of multicultural backgrounds on academic discussions. Professors focus on guiding students to think independently and inspire our minds through interactive discussions. In class, students put forward their own views from different cultural backgrounds. Such collisions have given me a brand-new understanding of “diversity”. Through classroom discussions, I have learned to respect the views from different cultural backgrounds and improved my language expression skills. These activities have made me realize that only from a broader international perspective can we identify our own strengths and weaknesses.This exchange experience has brought me a lot of growth beyond the classroom. First and foremost is the improvement of my independence. In this completely new environment, I have learned to think independently and solve problems on my own, and also enhanced my cross-cultural communication skills.