University of Hong Kong
University of Hong Kong
- About
- Overview
- Academic Details
- Area(s) of study
- Useful Information
- How to apply
- Student Testimonial
Established in 1911, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is the oldest university in Hong Kong.
Academic Highlights
The University of Hong Kong is ranked as the top university in Asia. It is internationally recognised as a dynamic and comprehensive university of world-class standing.
Location
The campus is located on the North-western slopes of Hong Kong island, within easy reach of the bustling CBD. The grounds are home to historical monuments and heritage buildings – some of the oldest in Hong Kong and relics of British colonialism. At HKU, you are able to enjoy a well-rounded campus life, with sporting facilities, health services, cafeterias, and numerous student societies and interest clubs.
Did you know?
One of the first graduates of HKU, Sun Yat-Sen, led the Chinese Revolution of 1911 and effectively transformed China from an empire to a republic.
Language of Instruction | Chinese (Mandarin), English (limited in some areas) | |||||
Program Duration | 1 semester, 2 semesters | |||||
Academic Level | Undergraduate | |||||
Minimum Result Required | 70% WAM | |||||
Previous Round Cut-off (WAM % or GPA) | 70% WAM | |||||
Anticipated Places in Semester 1, 2027 | 6-7 places | |||||
Exchange Availability | Yellow | |||||
Eligible Monash Campus | Monash Australia, Monash Malaysia | |||||
Agreement Scope | All Faculties | |||||
Handbook/Catalogue
HKU’s course catalogue (scroll down to Available Courses Offered by Faculties, select your preferred department. You will then be able to read the specific descriptions for each course. Please note that with some departments, this information may be part of a 'Course List').
If you intend to take the majority of your units from HKU Business School, you must apply via the Business agreement, not the university-wide agreement. Read the University of Hong Kong business agreement brochure and apply from there.
Study plan considerations
- Please be aware that more than 50% of the credits studied have to be from the same faculty i.e. at least 3 courses must be chosen from the same faculty.
- For admission into the Faculty of Law, students are only allowed to study two non-law courses per semester - all other courses must be from the Faculty of Law.
- In general, each course (unit) is worth 6 HKU credits
Academic Restrictions
- Coursework units in Architecture, Dentistry, Medicine, and Exercise and Health Programmes are not available
- Clinical units offered by the Faculties of Dentistry, Education and Medicine are not available
- Final year project units are not available
- Postgraduate (masters) level units are not open to exchange students.
- HKU is not available for MBA students
- Students intending to join the Faculty of Law are required to have a 3.3/4.3 GPA (approximately 70 WAM).
- Exchange students can only be nominated within one academic year (August to May at HKU). This means that if you intend to go to HKU for Semester 1 and 2 of a calendar year (January to December), you will have to go through HKU's application process twice.
Language requirements
- All courses are taught in English, except for courses offered by the School of Chinese (course codes start with CHIN).
Full-time Credit Load Equivalents
Semester | |
|---|---|
Min. 18 Monash points | Max. 24 Monash points |
22.5 HKU credits | 30 HKU credits |
Year | |
|---|---|
Min. 36 Monash points | Max. 48 Monash points |
45 HKU credits | 60 HKU credits |
Academic Calendar
HKU Spring Semester (Monash Semester 1): mid-January to late May
HKU Fall Semester (Monash Semester 2): late August - late December
HKU’s Academic Year
Ancient cultures | Banking and finance | Biological sciences | Business law and taxation |
Chemistry | Chinese languages & culture studies | Communications and media studies | Criminology |
Earth, atmosphere and environmental sciences | Econometrics and business statistics | Economics | Education - early childhood |
Education - primary schooling | Education - secondary schooling | Engineering | Engineering - chemical |
Engineering - civil | Engineering - electrical and computer systems engineering - materials science | Engineering - mechanical and aerospace | English as an international language |
Film and screen studies | Fine art | French languages & culture studies | German languages & culture studies |
History | Human geography | Information technology | Italian languages & culture studies |
Japanese languages & culture studies | Journalism | Korean languages & culture studies | Law |
Linguistics | Literary studies | Management | Marketing |
Mathematical sciences | Medical imaging and radiation sciences | Philosophy | Physics and astronomy |
Politics and international relations | Psychological sciences | Religious studies | Science |
Spanish and Latin American languages & culture studies | Social work | Sociology | Translation studies |
Note
- The listed disciplines are not necessarily exhaustive and other fields of study might also be available at the institution.
- Approval to study particular subjects at any institution is always at the discretion of the departmental/discipline and faculty advisers in your managing faculty(ies) and subject to available places at the host.
Accommodation
Please refer to the CEDARS Housing website for information about accommodation.
Housing is not guaranteed. Due to limited spaces, the allocation of housing
is subject to availability, which is generally higher in the Spring semester
than in the Fall semester. Ensure that you apply for housing during the designated application period (even if you are still waiting to receive an offer from HKU).
Visas
HKU will provide instructions to apply for your visa, which you can begin only after receiving your Notice of Admission. The visa application process can take more than 10 weeks, and the visa application fee is non-refundable.
Visit the HKU Student Visa website for detailed instructions.
Students without the right of abode or right to land in Hong Kong must complete the visa application online as soon as possible following your acceptance, then mail hard copies of application documents to the Admissions Office as instructed.
International students need to apply for a separate tourist visa to visit
Mainland China. We recommnend applying through the local Chinese Embassy before arriving Hong Kong, but it can also be possible to obtain this after arriving in Hong Kong.
Health and insurance
HKU advises that Health insurance is optional but highly recommended.
The University Health Service at HKU provides services to students at HKU, including exchange students. Consultations are generally free of charge. See here for more information.
- Non-local students who will be spending less than 180 days in Hong Kong must present their valid passport / travel documents and student visa to access subsidised services and hospitalisation in government clinics/hospitals.
- Non-local students who will be spending more than 180 days in Hong Kong must present their HKID card to be eligible for subsidised services and hospitalisation in government clinics/hospitals.
When travelling on a Monash Abroad approved program, you are automatically covered under the Monash University Student Travel Insurance policy. This will provide cover to and from your exchange.
Orientation and extra-curricular
Orientation for Non-local students will be held on the week before the semester starts. All students are expected to arrive in Hong Kong around 1 week before the start of the semester to complete student registration procedures.
CEDARS hosts a week of orientation activities, including visits, tours and other activities.
There are over 140 student organisations, clubs and societies at HKU. You can find these at the LEAF website.
Cost of living
CEDARS publishes a range of guides for students here, including a Glimpse of Student Life @ HKU which details practical tips for students in Hong Kong including cost of living.
Funding
For information about funding available to support study on exchange overseas, see the Financial Information page on the Monash Abroad website.
This exchange agreement is not available to postgraduate students.
If you intend to take the majority of your units from HKU Business School, you must apply via the Business agreement, not the university-wide agreement. Read the University of Hong Kong business agreement brochure and apply from there.
To begin your application and study plan, click the button below.
Have you been to the University of Hong Kong and want to share your experience?
Let us know about your exchange via this survey form and your testimonial could be shown here!
Joshua Sheppard
Bachelor of Commerce/Laws
Semester 1 & 2, 2016
Studied: Arts/law units
Study Experience
The law faculty was excellent, featuring the best academics from around the world in their fields. There was a strong culture of participation. The cohort was internationally-minded and ambitious. It was an exciting environment to be around. I joined the Dance Society and performed with the Freshman Hip Hop Team in November 2016; it was a great way to make local friends!
Culture
There are a series of cultural events throughout the year that were fun to be involved in: celebrations around the Lunar New Year, the Rugby 7s, the Dragon Boat racing season, the Mid-Autumn Festival. A greater proportion of Hong Kong doesn't sleep - my local dim sum haunt opened at 3am. Hong Kong has a seemingly endless number of hikes in spectacular settings, something that I did not expect. The smaller islands are bastions of the past; navigating through small lanes filled with small restaurants gave me a sense of a once-slower Hong Kong.
Benefits of going on exchange
I learnt a lot about different legal systems - not just Hong Kong's - and was expected to transform my own analysis into papers that were 8000 words long. I hadn't previously done something like this at Monash, but it prepared me well for my Honours in 2017. Exposure to great legal minds - not only lecturers, but also the guests the faculty frequently hosted - was a privilege.
Career Benefits
It has taught me about the value of second (and third...) languages in the global marketplace. Going on exchange and navigating a new culture broadened my horizons and built my confidence in myself: a crucial element in persuading employers to hire me.
Money and Budgeting
Eat on campus as much as possible. The meals are subsidised by the University and are incredibly cheap. You'll invariably want to book trips to other Asian countries, do this as soon as possible - particularly around holidays like Lunar New Year.
Top tips
- People speak varying degrees of English in Hong Kong, don't be shocked if you have difficulty communicating sometimes.
- Join a sports team or cultural club on campus - it's a sure fire way of making friends.
- Try to get a university accommodation place if you can - Hong Kong rent can be expensive. It's also another way of making friends.
- Don't underestimate how much there is to see and do in Hong Kong - despite the territory's small size, you will struggle to fit it all in!
- Get your concession Octopus card ASAP - it will halve your railway fares.