'Accidental' pupil topped his UK class

Tang Yuanbo, is now studying for an Oxford PhD. [Photo/China Daily]

For many Chinese students, the idea of attending school in the UK follows lengthy consideration, but for Tang Yuanbo it happened very quickly.

"There were only two months between when I actually decided to study in the UK and when I arrived in this country," said Tang, who took an exam in an exchange program organized by Shenyang Education Ministry that led to a place at Lime House School in Carlisle and a scholarship covering 20 percent of fees. He had a tough time when he arrived aged 16.

"I was verbally abused by some of the international students on the first day. My English was relatively poor, so it w as quit e a shock t o me."

But things changed quickly and he emerged as the school's top student and his classmates turned to him for study advice.

Seen as a 'science genius', he says he always had great support from his chemistry teacher.

"Once, I took some wool to see whether wool could be dissolved in acid or alkali and I did the experiment, which made the lab stink for the whole day. All the chemistry classes were canceled that day."

After Lime House, he went to Imperial College London for a bachelor's degree in engineering and is now pursuing a PhD in material science at Oxford University.

Tang said his achievements inspired others in his home city but he does not think his route to an elite university is the only one, noting that, since his school was founded in 1899, fewer than 10 pupils have gone on to Oxford or Cambridge.

"If you go to Westminster or Eton, it might help but it doesn't apply to all the independent schools in the UK. Many Chinese students or families have little knowledge of British schools' performance as there are so many schools in the UK and there is limited information available in China."

Tang noted that primary Chinese education is intense and solid and beneficial to students, but "I do believe seeing a bigger picture, and being 'shocked' by different cultures is crucial for a person to understand the world better".