University of Hong Kong

About: 

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is Hong Kong’s oldest tertiary institution and one of the most respected comprehensive research universities in the world. Highly sought after by local and international students, HKU is a highly renowned and influential institution in Hong Kong – for example, it was the first university to identify the virus causing the SARS epidemic, and many of its academics are recognised authorities on China.

HKU offers exceptional learning and support facilities in a friendly campus. The University has recently rebuilt its curriculum to embrace experiential learning and introduce a more international focus. HKU attracts and nurtures global scholars through excellence in research, teaching and learning, and knowledge exchange. Professors are selected from around the world and come from more than 40 countries, while HKU has the largest international student population of all Hong Kong universities. All courses, except those offered by the School of Chinese, are taught in English however there are opportunities to learn Mandarin and Cantonese. The 13 halls of residence offer a full student life, and HKU has fitness centres, swimming pools, and numerous student societies and interest clubs.

HKU offers an extensive range of programs across 10 Faculties. Each Faculty strives to provide a comprehensive education, developing fully the intellectual and personal strengths of students through a variety of learning experiences. Each Faculty takes a unique multidisciplinary approach and students benefit from a wealth of research expertise among their teachers. As "Asia's Global University", The University of Hong Kong strives to deliver impact through internationalism and innovation. 

Contacts at HKU:

exchange@hku.hk (University-wide exchanges)

laffairs@hku.hk (Law exchanges)

fbe.ugexchange@hku.hk (Business and Management exchanges)

International Affairs Office, 9/F Knowles Building, Pokfulam Road, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

Highlights: 

As of 2021, HKU ranks third in Asia and 22nd internationally by QS World University Rankings, and third in Asia and 39th internationally by Times Higher Education World University Rankings. It has been commonly regarded as one of the most internationalized universities in the world as well as one of the most prestigious universities in Asia. 

Location: 

The university's main campus covers 160,000 square metres of land on Pokfulam Road and Bonham Road in Lung Fu Shan of Hong Kong Island. 

Courses / Modules:  

HKU offers undergraduate and postgraduate level courses under the faculties of Architecture, Arts, Business & Economics, Education, Engineering, Law, Science, and Social Science.  Many of these courses are open to exchange students.  Course can be found on the Academic Information pages

Some courses are not available to exchange students, or have strict requirements for entry.  Refer to the restricted course list for more information.

Credit (Full-time Load per semester): 

30 HKU credits = 60 York credits 

Teaching Periods: 

Fall semester: Early September to December (accommodation move in dates: mid August to late December)

Spring semester: Mid January to May (accommodation move in dates: early January to late May)

Key academic dates

Language:  

• Classes at HKU 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:  

Accommodation at HKU is managed  by CEDARS - Accommodation Office There are 4 main types of housing in HKU:

• Residential Halls

• Residential Colleges

• Non-hall housing

• Off-Campus Housing (University-rented and Privately rented)

Due to shortage in housing resources, students are suggested to apply for accommodation as soon as possible. The allocation of housing is subject to availability.  Accommodation is not guaranteed for exchange students.

Orientation / Welcome week:  

CEDARS and the International Affairs Office organises  Orientation for Non-Local Students every year. Students are encouraged to learn more about HKU and the campus. 

Further information on Orientation

Support Services: 

• Academic Advising Office - for resources to plan your study

• CEDARS - Counselling and Person Enrichment (CEDARS-CoPE) -for free-of-charge counselling services and/or support services for students with special needs, such as physical, senor, mental, learning, developmental disabilities or Special Educational Needs (SEN) 

• Main Library  

• University Health Services (UHS) -for medical consultation (please note the medical benefits for incoming students from overseas) 

Visas: 

Students who are going to spend more than 180 days in Hong Kong are eligible to apply for a Hong Kong Identity Card

• The visa application form must be submitted along with photocopies of your passport, a recent photograph, a financial declaration and any other applicable documents detailed on the Immigration Department for the Government of Hong Kong (SAR) web pages.

• In order to receive a visa you must show that you have sufficient funds available in your bank account (minimum balance of HK$66,000 for a full academic year  [2019]), by providing a photocopy of either your bank statement, a parents/guardians bank statement or a letter issued by your home institution. 

• The University of Hong Kong will sponsor students for their visa application (not financially)

• It takes approximately 5-7 weeks to process an application; therefore it is advised that students should submit their visa application 2 months before the start of their exchange programme. 

• International students going on exchange are advised to apply for a visa in their home country and not in the UK. 

Health insurance:

University Health Service (UHS)

• UHS provides free primary health care to full-time registered students. Certain medications, preventive services and other items are charged at cost. Dental service is also available at a notional charge.

• You may refer to the medical benefits for incoming students from overseas for details.

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. 

Konstantinos, Coputer Science, year abroad, 2025/26

"Hong Kong is very nice. HKU is very organised and I prefer the course selection process here as you can choose exactly what courses you want to do. It was hard to adjust to the temperature and humidity initially but now it is not too bad, and all indoor spaces are air-conditioned. Hong Kong has both western and eastern cuisine so there is a large variety if you grow tired of any of the two. And also it is very common for people to eat out here, a lot more than the UK. There are a lot of friendly exchange/international students, but it is also easy to make friends with local and mainland students."

Harry, Physics, year abroad, 2024/25

"I studied 10 modules over 2 semesters which included 8 physics courses and 2 language courses. The language course were both beginner courses in Cantonese and Mandarin which were both incredibly useful and interesting. Cantonese is widely spoken in Hong Kong so learning it helped me to better understand the culture as well as have better communication with native speakers. Mandarin was also very useful as I travelled to China after the placement, where English is far less widely spoken, so I could use the Mandarin skills I learned to communicate with Chinese people a lot easier which led to a smoother experience. 

I also made friends with people from all over the world from every continent which I wouldn't have had the chance to do if I hadn't been abroad. Additionally, already being in Asia allowed me to take trips to mulitple different countries throughout and after my placement which I really enjoyed and were very insightful, which would have been more difficult had I not gone abroad. Personally the experience made me realise that if I want to have something I have to go out and get it for myself, whether that be to make friends or to seize opportunities like this one."

Hei Yin, Law,  year abroad, 2024/25

"I studied 10 legal modules during my year abroad at HKU and it was eye opening as HKU offered a greater variety of modules in niche and Asia specific legal sectors and topics which York does not offer. It has consequently made me want to pursue a legal career in Asia. Besides academia, studying in Hong Kong is a journey of self discovery for me as I was born there but did not grow up there, it has made me feel connected to my own roots and culture and I really appreciate this opportunity to find myself. 

This study abroad has also allowed me to work at two local law firms as an intern and they were very rewarding experiences for me as I was able to experience work culture outside of the UK. I wish I knew how quickly time would fly by during my year abroad, I feel as though there were many activities on campus I should have engaged in and many places and experiences in Hong Kong I should have visited during my limited time there."

Sameer, Business, year abroad, 2024/25

"For my study abroad, I immersed myself into life in Hong Kong, engaging with the culture, food, history and the people that represent it. The first week was a big shock to the system, having to navigate so many different dimensions of living all while beginning a semester of education. However, day by day, it became easier to deal with challenges and the anxiety of living abroad lessened. I became more resilient to unforeseen circumstances and was able to build a routine that supported me. 

The loneliness and isolation became the biggest challenge to overcome, but I managed to get by and persist in my attempts to reach out to people, gradually building a network of friends that I could spend time with. I cultivated lifelong skills, such as empathy, communication and discipline, values that helped me push the the difficult moments and remain positive in the face of fear. This program was not what I wanted it to be, but definitely what I needed it to be - a challenge that tested my character and gave me strength and a new-found confidence."

Bidisha, Law, 2019/20

"In one word; revolutionary. To be in Hong Kong during (what was arguably) the height of the anti-extradition bill protests that had started back in June of 2019, the atmosphere was like no other. Yes, I can talk about the hikes I went on, the amazing people I met, the one trip I managed to go on while in the country - but nothing compares to the conversations that were sparked day-in/day-out by our professors, our peers and most importantly; the city.

Academically, I was part of a global legal clinic where we took part in actually teaching foreign domestic workers and hopefully, changing their career trajectories. These women (and one amazing man) are the most inspiring and resilient people I have ever come into contact with.

Achievements wise, the life experiences I’ve gained have definitely been the most rewarding of all. I would not replace any of it, these 3 months have made me so ridiculously adaptable and resourceful - and I really appreciate it." 

Amy, Law, 2018/19

"I gained a lot of experiences that would not have been available to me within the United Kingdom, such as being involved in clinical modules assisting refugees and migration workers in Hong Kong and becoming really involved in Human Rights within Asia in general. 

I competed and was a runner-up of the 2019 Refugee & Migration Moot Competition in Vrijie University, Amsterdam. Further to this, I just finished facilitating and helping organise the annual Digital Verification Corps (Amnesty International), a 3 day conference in which 6 teams from all over the world come to discuss the project and future goals. I participated in the DVC as a team leader of the HKU team under one of my clinical modules."

Edward, Politics, 2017/18 

"My first impressions have been almost entirely positive, people are very helpful and many events have been laid on to help with orientation. Despite not having university accommodation, I have found it easy to find a large group of friends.

So far I have experienced very little culture shock. To ensure that it didn't become an issue, I got involved with as many different activities as possible. By doing this, I made a good group of friends, all of whom are in the same boat as myself, meaning we could give each other support with any adjustment issues. Hong Kong itself is very different to anywhere in the UK, but I have noticed fundamental similarities between Hong Kong and London. For example, most people speak a good level of English and public transport is very easy to use. This has meant that the whole transitioning process has been very smooth. The important thing has been to keep an open mind and to embrace the differences between Hong Kong and home. If you can do this, it is easy to settle into a routine and get used to life in the city."

• University of Hong Kong

• University of Hong Kong Law Fact Sheet

• Incoming Exchange Students

• HKU Business School Incoming Exchange Students

• Foreign Commonwealth Office Advice

• Numbeo - cost of living comparison site

• Expatistan - cost of living comparison site

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