Nottingham funds physics switch with Shanghai

Jacket potatoes from the canteen are the worst thing about He Jiabao's exchange visit to Nottingham University. Jiabao, 20, is one of four physics students from Fudan University, Shanghai, spending a semester at Nottingham, while students from Nottingham take their place at Fudan. The students are living in halls of residence and working in the physics departments of their host countries.

The fourth-year British students are working on computer projects, in which Fudan is particularly strong. The Chinese students are taking exams alongside English students.

One Chinese student has already applied to take a PhD at Nottingham next year.

Nottingham paid travel and maintenance costs for all the students and both universities waived fees. Talks are ongoing about how to continue the exchange.

The scheme was set up through Universitas 21, a consortium of research universities from all over the world.