1. Pre-departure Briefing 2016
13 Apr, 2016 (Wed)
14:30-15:30, Room E4-G078
Student Resources and Services Section
Student affairs office

2. Agenda Pre-departure Checklist Arrival Checklist
General Safety Guidelines
What to Bring with you?
Other things to bare in mind
How to Handle Culture Shock?
Documents required to get Subsidy (After Trip)
Be efficient as a group
Q & A Session

3. Pre-departure Checklist
Conduct some research on your host university, destination city and country
Location, environment, weather, currency
Pick up service, buddy
Consulate, Transportation network and facilities
Religion, laws, rules and regulations
Plan your Budget
- accommodation, telecommunication, transportation, food, entertainment, books and academic expenses
Ensure your current passport will remain valid throughout your exchange period (6 months after your return date)
- Make a photocopy of your passport’s identification page
For mainland students, need to extend Type D – Stay (逗留D) & Stay Permit Application (逗留的特別許可) before departure.
Apply for a valid student visa

4. Pre-departure Checklist
Book your flight
Do not confirm your booking until you have received the acceptance offer from host university
Make sure you have enough time for your transit
Purchase relevant travel insurance (Must chose those including travel, hospitalization and out-patient)
Comprehensive insurance plan that fits your needs
Leave a copy of insurance policy and number to your family
Emergency Contact
Obtain emergency contacts of host university in case you need assistance during your stay abroad.
Leave a name of contact person of your SAO programme coordinator and contact of host university coordinator to your family so that they can reach you through these person.

5. Pre-departure Checklist
Submit the below documents 2 weeks before departure to your programme coordinator at SAO
Air tickets
Insurance receipts (must chose those including travel, hospitalization and out-patient)
Remittance receipt
Accommodation confirmation (during programme period only)
Letter of acceptance (issued by the host university)
Out-bound trip declaration

6. Arrival Checklist
Meet your buddy or representative from your host university, if any
Report to your family right after arrival
Familiarize yourself with the campus and the neighborhood of your hall/residence
Apply for identification documents, like university identity card, library card, etc.
Make sure you have a valid credit / debit card to be used in the host country / region. (Unionpay, VISA, Master, etc.)

7. General safety guidelines
Before you travel abroad:
Check the outbound travel alert in Tourism Crisis Management Office ( or in the Macao Government Tourist Office’s website (
After arriving at host university:
Never allow strangers to enter your apartment or room
Keep your door locked all the time
Report any suspicious behavior to the hall manager/host family
immediately.
Learn the location of emergency exits in the building
Do not wander around alone at night and avoid going to high-
crime areas
Keep emergency numbers for reference

8. In the event of natural disaster
Thumb of rule: Stay calm & Escape!
Move away from disaster areas/ incident site immediately
After an earthquake/ fire /natural disaster /accident, report to your family or your host university coordinator.
Stay alert and keep close contact with your family and exchange coordinators.
Do not hesitate to contact your exchange coordinators in SAO for assistance if needed.
MGTO / GGCT 24-hour Emergency Hotline:
(853)
Contacts of the Representations of Macao SAR as well as Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) Representatives (Session 8-10 in your Pre-departure Notebook)
Read through Session 7-11 in your Pre-departure Notebook

9. What to bring with you?
Travel documents, acceptance letter and other necessary documents
Enough money (some cash for the transportation on your arrival)
Formal attire (if necessary)
Spare pair of glasses or contact lens and current optical prescription (if necessary)
Medicine (reasonable amount)
Laptop, personal audio, mobile phone, digital camera
Map or guidebook
Small gifts, some local snacks
Pre-departure notebook

10. Other things to bare in mind
You are representing UMacau (Well behave, don’t skip class, don’t get drunk)
Should go according to study period, UMacau won’t be responsible for your safety other than the study period.
Separate money location
Check passport every once in a while

11. culture shock
Culture shock is the reaction one faces when confronted with a new cultural environment.
Feelings of helplessness
Desire for home and old friends
Physiological stress reactions
Homesickness
Boredom
Rejection of the new culture

12. How to handle culture shock?
Mentally and physically preparation
Research on your host university and country
Remind friends and family of the importance of writing and keep in touch
Try to familiar with as many customs and cultural trends as possible
Being open to the experience
Recognize culture shock as part of the travelling adventure; it is very common
Keep mentally and physically fit
A healthy lifestyle is very important
Try to take time out for yourself
Relax yourself

13. Documents required to get Sponsorship (After Trip)
For sponsored students, your sponsorship will only be paid back if you submit all the below documents to us on time.
Boarding pass and air ticket receipts
Programme and accommodation fee receipt (If any)
Programme report
- Submit within 30 days after programme ends
- Single line spacing
- 12 font point
- 1-2 pages
- 2 photos on the report
- English
Need to pass courses
Sponsorship not >70% of Tuition + Air ticket + Accommodation

14. Be efficient as a group Create a chat group (whatsapp / wechat/ etc)
Divide the tasks (book air ticket, how to apply VISA, buy insurance, plan trip etc.)