About
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is Hong Kong's oldest and most pre-eminent research university. The University has grown to embrace almost all the major areas of teaching and can confidently claim to be one of the leading universities in Asia. HKU has an especially strong reputation in arts and humanities, social sciences, life sciences and biomedicine.
Hong Kong University is:
- Ranked 22 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2021)
- Ranked 1st most International University in the World (THE The World's Most International Universities 2019)
- Ranked among the world’s top 20 universities in 10 academic discipline.
HKU prides itself on its international community of students and staff, providing a vibrant, colourful campus life for everyone. Some 144 countries are represented in the student body since 2000, with new ones added every year.
Location
Take a video tour of the University of Hong Kong Campus!
Level of competitiveness
Non-Law bilateral agreement: Competitive **
Law bilateral agreement: Very competitive ***
The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.
Academic Calendar
Semester 1: Late August to December
Semester 2: January to late May
For more information, please check their key dates.
Courses
The following programmes/courses are not opened to incoming students:
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
- BSc (Exercise and Health) Programme
- Most final year project courses provided by all faculties
The approval of courses is on a case-by-case basis and subject to the Faculty's approval. Actual enrollment is subject to class availability, courses offered in the first semester, quota and class schedule.
The Exchange Programme page provides more information, specifically the Academic section of that webpage.
Credits
Students are required to take 24 to 30 credits in each semester subject to approval of Dean / Head of Department. Courses are usually 6 credits. 50% of the course load must be chosen from ONE faculty with the remaining credits from other faculties.
Find out more about credit transfer and grade conversions.
Visit the HKU Incoming Exchange webpage for detailed information about coming as an exchange student, as well as their FAQ.
Queen Mary student feedback
Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:
Instagram takeovers:
YouTube videos/vlogs:
Accommodation
Accommodation in HKU is managed by CEDARS – Accommodation office. There are 4 main types of housing in HKU:
Due to a shortage in housing resources, students are suggested to apply for accommodation as soon as possible. The allocation of housing is subject to availability. The availability of accommodation is usually higher in Spring semester than in the Fall semester.
Cost of Living
The University of Hong Kong provides information on the cost of living as a student here. You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in Hong Kong here.
Living expenses can vary depending on individual lifestyle, especially in Jong Kong where renting private accommodation can be as (if not more) expensive than renting privately in London. Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.
Important: Students considering to live and study in Hong Kong must be realistic about financial matters, this being one of the most expensive cities in the world. In the decision-making process, Queen Mary students must calculate their forecasted budget with confirmed funding to which they will have access against the rising cost of living.
Support Services
Hong Kong University provides a lot of support and advice outside of academic matters. You can consult their list of student support services and learm more tips and receive guidance on their Arrival Advice webpage.
CEDARS-Counselling and Person Enrichment (CEDARS-CoPE) provide 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).
Campus Life
What is it like to be an HKU student? Hear stories from HKU current students to find out the highlight of their experience and be inspired!
Social Media
The University of Hong Kong:
Resource
Hong Kong University Information sheet 2020-2021 [PDF 746KB]
A Glimpse of Student Life @HKU provides practical information that you will need before arriving in Hong Kong!
