My Exchange at The University of Hong Kong
It’s a great honor to exchange at the University of Hong Kong. In here, I have broadened my horizons and become more independent, confident, and outgoing.
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, I studied at the Chinese learning center for a year and always had online teaching and assessment. For this exchange experience, it’s my first time to have offline class in an all-English environment. At the University of Hong Kong, the professors use interactive method when they by asking simple questions, which allows me to integrate well into the classroom. While imparting rich knowledge, Professors also share their study or work experiences with us, which brings teachers and students closer together, helps us understand the real work environment, and connects theory with reality. The students at the University of Hong Kong are also outstanding. They are very friendly and excellent, and they always complete their own parts with high quality when teamworking. This is the best team cooperation I have ever experienced.
When it comes to life at the University of Hong Kong, it’s also a quite good experience. Firstly, HKU provides a very suitable learning environment. The library in HKU has six floors and each has its own characteristics. Whether you want an independent learning space, comfortable stools, or the use of computers, HKU’s library can meet your needs. At the same time, HKU has a two-story self-study room open 24 hours a day, making it perfect for preparing for exams. The overall learning atmosphere is very good. The HKU campus is not very large. It takes up to 20 minutes to walk from the northernmost part of the campus to the southernmost part, which is very convenient for us and saves time. Besides, in a relatively small campus, there are approximately 6 restaurants and canteens offering a diverse and relatively cheap range of foods such as Vietnamese cuisine, vegetarian cuisine, and brunch. Even more noteworthy is the student dormitories at HKU, where we can make many friends who may be international students, local students, or exchange students who have a similar background to us.
However, not everything will go smoothly. Enrolling courses here is the biggest challenge. Enrolling courses here has strong competitiveness, and each course only has a limited quota, which is different from the University of Auckland. Therefore, preparing a plan B for enrolling courses are quite important.
Overall, I am quite enjoying my exchange life at HKU. It is not only a happy and focused study life, but it can also receive support and encouragement from friends. Choosing to exchange at the University of Hong Kong is the most correct thing I have ever done.
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
At the University of Hong Kong, you will be taught by excellent professors whose undergraduate programs are all from Tsinghua University or Peking University. In their class, we can not only gain logical knowledge, but also learn from their work experiences and interesting stories. At the same time, the students at the University of Hong Kong also perform well, especially in teamwork, there are almost no freeriders and everyone completing tasks at a high level.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
High table dinner is one of the traditions of the University of Hong Kong, and every person living in the student dormitory of the University of Hong Kong is obligated to participate. They must wear formal attire and green robes when participating.
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
- Having a plan B of your transferring courses, because it is competitive to enroll class.
- Particating in more activities and making more friends, do not let yourself alone
- Do not be panic, everything will be okay.
How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?
My budget for my exchange is 5W, which is enough. To save cost, the best way is to apply student dormitory. Accommodation in Hong Kong is really expensive.
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
Choosing to exchange in University of Hong Kong is the most correct decision I’ve made so far. I can truly enjoy my academic life without worrying about grades, and at the same time, I can make many excellent friends. Unlike traveling in Hong Kong, my 4-month life has given me a deeper understanding of Hong Kong. I really enjoy my exchange life in here.
