Maud (Xiyin Liu) is instantly recognisable on campus. This isn't solely because she has been a student here at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) for almost four years now, but perhaps more to do with the streaks of electric blue dye which flash up and down her long, black hair. Even in a modern, fashionable university such as XJTLU she still stands out. When I met her last week to talk about her life and studies here in Suzhou, Maud had even coordinated her striking hair with a bright blue watch and matching blue striped top, too!

But we weren't here to discuss fashion; I wanted to get the lo-down on life here at XJTLU from one of our most active students. What has she been up to over the last four years? The highs the lows, the challenges and successes. What are her impressions of learning in an exclusive bilingual joint-venture university? What does she plan to do once she graduates?

 Why XJTLU?

"Well, that's the classic clich��d questions, isn't it" she said in response to my predictable opening enquiry. "Let me give you a practical answer", she suggested.

It turns out that Maud's decision to study here at XJTLU wasn't in fact, her own decision. As with many of her class mates and peers, she was helped along with the difficult task of choosing a location to continue her education by her family, and more specifically by her father.

Her dad had done his homework!

"Even before I had finished high school my dad had recommended where he wanted me to go to university" she admitted. Apparently his choice was the result of countless hours spent on the internet researching what institute would best suit his daughter. It is strong praise indeed that his final selection contained only one name: XJTLU!

This process is at odds with the experience for most university applicants in the UK whose sole reason to choose a university in many instances is driven by the fact that it is as far away from the controlling clutches of their parents, rather than conforming to their precise will.

In Maud's case, her parent's best interests conveniently underpinned her own clear aspirations about what she wanted from her future in Higher Education. Even before going to University Maud knew that she was drawn to international education, so the opportunity to study at a joint-venture, English Language University made XJTLU an ideal location for her to continue her studies.

Her decision to major in English & Finance stemmed from her passion and proficiency at English during high school.

"I love English and I love western movies" she admitted, so the choice to study English seemed like a logical one. But finance was more of a gamble. Maud openly admits that when she first started her studies here at XJTLU at the end of summer 2009, she wasn't too sure what 'finance' actually was. Despite this confusion, however, she has developed a fascination for the subject in the years since she first started her degree. This change of heart has been facilitated in no small part by some of her professors here at XJTLU. She described one of her economics lecturers like a big brother who always thinks about things from the students' perspective. "He is so patient" she explains. "Sometimes he has to explain things more than five times but he never stops smiling".

Interestingly, it has been her English which has posed more of a challenge during her time here. The style of teaching was a world away from what she experienced in high school. She even suggested that the teachers here at XJTLU are "strict" compared to her school days back in Fujian Province. "The teachers focus much more on grammar and syntax here" she exclaimed, but it has meant that she has had "no choice but to improve" she added, happily.

The method of testing was also a big challenger for her. English tests in Chinese high schools tend to be done via multiple choice questions, Maud explained, but here at XJTLU she had to get used to a whole new way of assessment. Now she regularly has to submit lengthy essays or articles based on literature that the class has been studying. The result of which, Maud believes, is that the students at XJTLU are taught to be much more creative than students from regular Chinese institutions.

This new style of learning has also given her the chance to improve her time management skills. How, for example, was she to balance the challenge of writing a 2000 word essay in a week while maintaining a healthy social life?

 XJTLU Social Life

Maud seemed to think that she leads "a pretty normal under-grad life". She was the Vice-chair of the XJTLU 'Film Fanatic Club' for a few years. This is a small club, made up of students and staff, which would meet up every Friday to put on independent movies in interesting locations around campus.  Her role was to select the movies for the group to watch and put into practice her combined love of English and cinema.

In addition to the film club she was also a member of the University's frisbee team. This large club meets up regularly for training and has even enjoyed some success in competitions in and around Shanghai - although she was quick to add that she didn't participate in any matches herself. This, in addition to regular sessions on the treadmill, highlights Maud's more active side, and she was never short of sporting opportunities here on campus. The only challenge however, was the perpetual university paradox; how to strike a happy balance between having fun and academic achievement.

As the years progressed and her schedule became more and more full with coursework, these activities were naturally put on the back burner. Despite this however, she still enjoys shopping with her friends and regular visits to the cinema by Dushu Lake Gym or over at the Suzhou Science and Cultural Center.

In fact, one of her favourite pastimes is a Suzhou classic. If she's lucky enough to have a free afternoon and the weather is cooperating, she likes to go to Ping Jiang Road with her friends and soak up some of the local atmosphere. "This is a great place for people watching" she admits. "It's nice to sit in the caf��s and bars and just talk to people". It is certainly one of the only places in Suzhou where you can be chatting to an old woman who has lived there for her whole life, and then the next minute be drinking a beer with a foreigner who's just come to Suzhou for the day from Shanghai. This fascinating blend of peoples and cultures is all just a short bus journey from the campus at XJTLU and Maud has really made the most of the cosmopolitan environment that both XJTLU and Suzhou has to offer.

 Life outside XJTLU

It turns out that Maud has been quite lucky during her time at XJTLU. In the summer of her third year she joined an exchange program between XJTLU and the University of Liverpool in England. This was, in essence, a study trip but Maud was able to gain addition insight and experience of a culture and society different from her own.

During her two months in the UK she went to famous cities such as Edinburgh, York and, of course Liverpool and as she travelled around she was stuck by the different languages, accents and dialects of the British Isles. This also helped her to make her own interpretations of the classical stereotypes from England. London, for example, contrary to popular belief, is not a foggy city and sadly English men are not all the iconic gentlemen that we are led to believe!

Despite these differences Maud was not put off. "If I didn't understand their accent" she explained, "I would just ask them to explain it again and again until I got it". This perseverance certainly paid off as she seemed to have learned a lot from her time in the UK - including the beginnings of a fine English accent of her own! This experience demonstrates her dedication for learning. She was willing to use her own vacation time to continue her education while many of her classmates would have been relaxing at home!

It's not all study thought... during the long winter holiday over Spring Festival Maud used her free time to volunteer in an orphanage in Nepal!

"Nepal is cool", Maud exclaimed when I asked her to tell me all about her time in this mysterious Himalayan country. I could feel her excitement grow as she began to bring back some of the memories. "They've got more God's than actual people" she explained, "and the family I lived with chanted prayers twice a day!"

She was billeted with this local family for just under a month in a small town north of Kathmandu called Budhanilkantha. During her time there she helped out at a local orphanage which housed around 26 kids all around 11 to 12 years old. She played games, taught a little and generally kept them entertained. When I asked how she found the experience she immediately replied that actually it was quite "energy draining", but that doesn't seem to have changed her impression of this colourful country.

In spite of the questionable hygiene, limited electricity and obvious poverty, Maud claimed that the people she met were some of the friendliest she's ever seen! "They were always smiling and happy" she assured me, "and if they saw you walking down the street they would always shout 'hello' and wave for you to go and join them".

It is clear that this trip touched her deeply and she seems determined to go back to Nepal as soon as the opportunity arises.

What does the future hold?

"Certainly more international travel", she replied quickly, adding that her dad once told her "if you go to more countries, you can learn more"!

It appears that she has taken this advice to heart because when I pressed her on the future of her studies once she graduates from XJTLU this summer she was confident that she would be applying for masters programs overseas. "I want to study International Relations" she said, but the question of where seems to be posing more of a difficult choice. "My friends recommend Berlin in Germany, but I've also been considering New Zealand", the agony of choice clearly heavy on her mind.

"So you don't feel limited to one particular country then, Maud?" I asked.

Here answer was as predictable as it was concise:

"No, not at all"!

The world is truly your oyster after graduating from XJTLU.