City University of Hong Kong

About: 

Located in the heart of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has a well-earned reputation as an innovative hub for research and professional education and for addressing global issues and empowering positive change. Founded in 1984 as City Polytechnic of Hong Kong it became a fully accredited university in 1994. It is one of eight government-funded degree-granting tertiary institutions and is globally recognised as a top centre of higher learning and research. CityU is growing. It comprises the College of Business, College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, College of Science, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, and the School of Creative Media, School of Data Science, School of Energy and Environment, and School of Law.

Quick facts about CityUHK/ HK

Contact at CityU:

Ms. Flora Ip - flora.ip@cityu.edu.hk 

83 Tat Chee Ave, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

Highlights: 

CityU has performed strongly in international rankings. It is ranked #48 in QS Global World Rankings 2021, #4 in QS "Top 50 under 50" 2021, and #19 in Asian University Rankings 2020. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2020, CityU is ranked as the Most International University in the world.   

To find out more, please watch this music video about CityU and Hong Kong.

Location: 

Situated at the heart of Kowloon peninsula, the CityU campus is well connected to major transportation in Hong Kong. It is an easy, quick trip to CityU from almost every part of the city, especially when travelling by MTR, as the University is just a 5-minute walk from Kowloon Tong Station. 

Courses / Modules: 

• Course catalogue (Submit Your Application > Select Courses for Your Study Plan) serves as a general guide to the courses available. However, not all courses may be available in each semester and some may be restricted.  The course catalougye will be updated around Apr/May. 

• Course codes starting with 1, 2, 3 or 4 (e.g., GE 1111, CS2114, AIS3012, MA4152) are undergraduate courses (indicating year of study).

Credit (Full-time Load per semester): 

15 CityU credits = 60 York credits 

Teaching Periods: 

Fall term: August to December

Spring term: January to May

Academic calendar. 

Language:  

• Classes at CityU are taught in English. 

• You may be required to provide evidence of your English language ability if English is not your first language. 

• Students may find Cantonese useful for social purposes.

Accommodation: 

Exchange students may apply for accommodation at Student Residence but this is NOT guaranteed due to limited spaces. Exchange students will live in the Student Residence in Ma On Shan Compound. Allocation of accommodation will be made by random ballot. Students should submit the application together with the exchange application and go to 'Other Applications' after logging into application system. Full year students will have to apply again for second semester accommodation as only allocated for one semester.

The rental for off-campus accommodation varies, depending on size, location, age of building etc. Students are advised to research off-campus housing early

Orientation / Welcome week:  

The University provides a wide range of services and amenities to ensure that students enjoy a rich campus life in a supportive environment. To help you to settle into your new environment and to adapt to the new culture, the Global Engagement Office (GEO) organises an orientation programme specifically designed for exchange students. This programme usually takes place one week before the semester begins, and you are strongly encouraged to participate. You will have an opportunity to meet both Hong Kong natives and international students with experience of Hong Kong. The GEO will announce the exact schedule for the exchange student orientation programme on its website (https://www.cityu.edu.hk/geo) about three weeks before the start of the semester.

Support Services: 

A variety of support services are available to students at CityU through 'Student Development Services'

Visas: 

Students are encouraged to apply for a student visa to Hong Kong  through CityU who can act as local sponsor for exchange students accepted for admission and meet Hong Kong visa application requirements.

Health insurance:

This is mandatory for exchange students and must be purchased before they arrive in Hong Kong.  The insurance should include, but not limited to, medical and travel insurance that will cover the entire period of study in Hong Kong. If exchange students wish to have additional insurance coverage they may enrol in the insurance plan for non-local students at City U.

Travel insurance: 

If you are approved by the University of York to participate in this program, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries.  You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange. 

Jack, Economics, Year Abroad 2017/18

"A year abroad in Hong Kong eventually turned in to all the optimistic expectations I had for it. It did, however, take a while to become that. My two answers to the repeated question of "How was Hong Kong?" varied greatly from December to May. In my first semester, I definitely learned how to enjoy my own company, and how to be a productive worker (as predicted, a good way to be a productive worker is to have fewer friends).

I learnt how to live virtually on top of someone else; sharing a room that was smaller than my first-year room with a stranger seemed like it would never get easier, and while I don't miss it, there were certainly times when you would appreciate having someone in there with you. I really really learnt how to cook rice. While the canteen food was much more popular than in the UK, and eating out was cheap, I often cooked for myself and rice was a very common ingredient. 

I learnt how to properly live away from home. Naively, I thought that because I didn't struggle being away from home in York, or in China with my friends over summer, that this would be easy too. Factor in the 7 (and for a part 8) hour time difference to all your family and friends, and having zero familiar faces, and it becomes a much more difficult challenge. Many people I met had people there from their universities - I luxury I did not have. I really welcomed the opportunity to book a flight home for Christmas, but did not welcome the economics exam on December 21st. 

Being in Hong Kong rather than York gave me the opportunity to experience a major international city, and expose myself to hundreds of people I wouldn't have otherwise met. 

This would have been the case for any year abroad, but Hong Kong in particular was special because it surprised me - due to my inadequate pre-departure research, I went with expectations of an urban jungle, but instead found myself within an hour of white sand beaches, and peaks of nearly 1000 metres. I also believe that being a minority was a notable feature of my experience (being a straight white male this is fairly rare).

I have come home from Hong Kong a different person - applying to study abroad is one of my best decisions so far. "

• City University of Hong Kong

• Incoming Exchange Student Programme

• Foreign Commonwealth Office Advice

• CityU - Cost of living page

• Numbeo - cost of living comparison site

• Expatistan - cost of living comparison site

• CityU Video

• CityU and me (Instagram)

If you find any broken links, please email us at global-opportunities@york.ac.uk

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