Accommodation
It is not very difficult to find an accommodation in Bandung. Students usually live in home stays, the quality of which varies according to the rent level. Several students also find local housing in around the campus.
Favorite homestays are usually those close to the campus. The rate of standard room ranges from IDR 700,000 to 2,000,000 per month for simply-furnished one. Students in homestays generally provide their own meals as they are not provided by the landlords.
Cost of Living
Bandung is a relatively inexpensive city. A typical Indonesian student spends IDR 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 per month depending on his/him lifestyle. This figure includes meals, lodging, transport, and some entertainment.
Clothing
People in campus usually dress casually. Short, tank-tops, sandals and sleeveless shirts are not allowed in the campus. For more formal occasions ties and suits may be needed for males while females are expected to wear formal dressed like skirts and blazers. As in other parts of Indonesia, it is almost always sunny in Bandung, except during the wet season (September-April). Umbrellas and light jackets are recommended during that season. Sweaters may also be needed in early morning or evening.
Public Transports
Bandung is rather prone to traffic jam, and this due to the public transportation system which relies heavily on the-so-called “angkot” – minibuses which travel to all corners of the city. The fare is about IDR 2.000 to 5.000. You can hop in and out anywhere, not necessarily at a bus stop. You will not take the bus so often, as the bus routes are not as many as those of angkot.
Places of Worship
At most Indonesian people profess the Islamic faith, you can find hundreds of mosque around the city. The famous Al Furqan Mosque is actually on the UPI campus. People of the Christian faith can also find a range of churches nearby. There are Catholic, Pentecost, Methodist, and Seven-Day Adventist churches in the city.
Health Matters
Should you ever get ill, you can visit a nearby public health center for general practitioners available on almost every street. For more serious cases, there are a lot of specialists practicing around the city. The campus is close to one of public major hospitals, Hasan Sadikin General Hospital. The cost of consultation in a hospital or a doctor’s surgery is roughly IDR 50,000 or more for specialists. Public health center costs less.
UPI students enjoy a much lower rate at the nearby UPI polyclinic located in the campus. The clinic is staffed by two general practitioners and a dentist. Specialists also visit the clinic regularly.
Banks
Banks are usually open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, and are closed on Saturdays. Cash withdrawal may also be done at Automated Teller Machines located in all corners of the city.
Office Hours
Most government offices are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.