Reviews of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) | China

Useful | 10

Olaf M

European Business School, Oestrich-Winkel, Germany
Agricultural Sciences, Graduate, Independent

Housing

Type of housing: On campus

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why?

I miss my privacy. I am lucky to have a single room but sharing a bathroom with another person that has other cleanliness standards is not my case.

Personal assessment

Cost

Facilities

Location

Cleanliness

Space

Personal comments

The University of Hong Kong offers a wide range of different accomodation possiblities for students. The supply is really amazing. Our student halls are also provided with gyms, 7eleven, great traffic access and some have cantines. However, the house regulations are quite strict according to exchange students.

Useful | 6

Olaf M

European Business School, Oestrich-Winkel, Germany
Agricultural Sciences, Graduate, Independent

Student life

Describe host city:

Students interact with the local community without much university involvement

Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment

Travel, Nightlife: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment

Personal social experience

Activities

Nightlife

Travel

Overall

Personal comments

Definitely you will have to go to Lan Kwai Fong. Fridays and Saturdays...that's the place to go. All the international and Westerner go there to drink, dance and socialize. It is also a great opportunity to get to now some big business men. However, the prices for alcohol are unbelievably high for a student. Definitely go and check out the bar Stormy Weather. Another place to go is Wanchai, Carnegies. Go there on a Wednesday night - it's ladies night. A very crazy place. If you like it more quiet but still want to party a bit, you should go either to happy valley, which is more localized or go to Soho.

Useful | 10

Olaf M

European Business School, Oestrich-Winkel, Germany
Agricultural Sciences, Graduate, Independent

Overall

I wish I had known...

I should have known more about typical Chinese people. However, I used to live in Singapore for five years, but the Hong Kong chinese can obviously more rude and unfriendly at times. Just be more cautious and aware of that. Chinese can be backstabbers.

In my opinion:

Everybody loved it, you will too!

Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important

Academic reasons

4

Culture

4

Costs

1

Activities

4

Campus life

2

Party / people

4

Weather / location

4

Personal recommendation

The University is great. It offers everything to students to make themselves feel comfortable. Cafe, shops, bank etc. on campus. Furthermore, the university has a great and huge library.

During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot

Became familiar with another culture

3

Traveled

4

Improved language skills

1

Met people from other countries

3

Became more independent

4

Partied a lot

4

Experienced a change in life

4

Advanced my studies & career

4

Final comments

Hong Kong is a great place. All in all, it is exciting and you have access to all other travel places like China ie. Xian Terra Cotta, The Great Wall, Shanghai, Guanzhou and other countries like Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. All travel packages booked from Hong Kong are very affordable and cheap.

Useful | 0

Olaf M

European Business School, Oestrich-Winkel, Germany
Agricultural Sciences, Graduate, Independent

Academic

Course recommendations

This all depends on what faculty you are part of. I have heard the business faculty should be quiet good.

My academic experiences

Quality of courses

Variety of courses

Access to resources

Interaction with teachers

Interaction with international students

Interaction with local students

Personal comments

none

My opinion of the university assessment

Exams at end of course

Exams throughout the course

Essays and/or projects at the end of course

Essays and/or projects throughout the course

Overall

Useful | 1

Olaf M

European Business School, Oestrich-Winkel, Germany
Agricultural Sciences, Graduate, Independent

Languages

Language of instruction: English

Local language was: Different than language of instruction

Was learning English a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my English

Was learning the local language a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my the local language

How much did you improve your English?

My level before: No problems in any areas (including slang)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)

How much did you improve your the local language?

My level before: Did not speak it
My level after: Basic phrases

Language difficulties

Social

Educational

Administrative / Institutional

Overall

Personal comments

To be honest...I could speak the language of instruction better than most of my professors. I was quite disappointed to hear that most of the teachers have great problems with English although Hong Kong used to be a British Colony. I can say this on behalf of most of the international students.

Useful | 1

Olaf M

European Business School, Oestrich-Winkel, Germany
Agricultural Sciences, Graduate, Independent

Expenses

Main source of funding:

Family

Other sources of funding:

Personal savings<br> A private grant

Work opportunities:

I worked, but it was illegal/cash in hand work

Personal spending habits

Cooking possiblities in the halls are not great. Therefore, you always go out and eat. Even small restaurants become expensive on a regular basis. The cantines of the university might be cheap, but you do get fed up with them quite quickly. Prices whether it is alcohol or food....everything is just more exepensive except for electronics.

Overall, Nightlife, Housing, Food:

was more expensive than at home.

Telephone, Travel:

was less expensive than at home.

Accessibility of student needs

Second-hand text books

Second-hand household items

Computers / Internet

Administrative

Money from home

Personal comments