6 Reasons to Study Abroad in Hong Kong

Hong Kong study abroad is the right call—read why! ☆ Making a decision about where to study abroad isn’t easy. There are so many places to choose from: Australia, the United Kingdom, or somewhere in ever-popular Europe. If you want to get out of my comfort zone, change your environment and do something completely new, consider Hong Kong as your destination, the unique place where east meets west. 

Photo credit: Kalam

This article is brought to you by three friends studying in Hong Kong: Michael (the main author), Kalam, and April. They’re doing their best to convince YOU the reasons to study abroad in Hong Kong. “We all agree that the decision to study abroad is exciting but difficult at the same time, but having spent the past semester studying in Asia, the risk we took has greatly paid off. You won’t believe the sheer number of opportunities we were provided while studying abroad in Hong Kong!”

Read on to learn more about Hong Kong study abroad.

Our Hong Kong study abroad experience

I’ve been studying in Hong Kong for the last two semesters. It’s been seven months since we started our journey and, in this short period of time, we managed to significantly improve our career prospects through various opportunities organized by our program. Company visits and networking events at many eastern and international corporations have given us the leg up in future job ops. We met people from different backgrounds who became our good friends and as a result, the social life has never been so good (and Instagram #popular). 

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Our program is very intense, with five classes each semester and a field trip to Korea which we visited in February! Classes are very different to what we experienced at our home universities. There is so much emphasis on presentations and group work to equip us with the right soft skills. We have shortlisted the most important reasons why we recommend you to study in Hong Kong below.

Why study abroad in Hong Kong

1. People & network & opportunities

One of the biggest perks to studying abroad in Hong Kong is the sheer number of connections that you can make—and powerful ones at that.

Michael: Hong Kong has a unique place on planet earth. Here, you can meet people from the east and west. This special position has created a natural hub for many international companies operating in finance, supply chain, banking, and many other industries. The environment will enable you to meet people who can help to start your career at one of the top companies, so by studying in Hong Kong, you are giving yourself a chance to develop a network that can really help accelerate your career.

If this view isn’t reason enough, then we’re not sure *what’s* gonna convince you to study in Hong Kong!

With those companies here, you’ll have a better chance to secure work experience while completing your undergrad degree, which is becoming increasingly essential to kick start your career in a chosen industry. 

Michael shares: “And, even if you aren’t interested in staying to work your Hong Kong study abroad experience, having that network and potential work experience on your resume will accelerate your chances of securing a workplace in your home country. In my case, my ultimate objective of studying here is to secure a good career after graduation and with the abundance of opportunities here, I cannot think of a better place to #achieve it.”

2. Food & culture

GET READY TO STUFF YOUR FACE WHILE STUDYING IN HONG KONG! 

But seriously.

Michael: I must admit I am not your typical foodie. In fact my friends describe me as quite basic when it comes to food. But since I started my university journey in Hong Kong I have discovered so many new dishes (good and bad ones) and now I try something new almost every day! Asian food is so incredibly versatile and living in this city enables me to literally try something new every day. What helps a lot is that locals here speak decent English so they will be able to help you choose and explain what's on offer.

Even though I do love trying new food almost every day, there are times when I just want to stuff myself with that good old beef burger. What is great about this place is that you can enjoy different kinds of new food, but if you miss the taste of home, you can just head over to Hong Kong Island for your old time favorite meal from your mom’s kitchen.

3. Plenty of places to escape from the ordinary life

Hong Kong’s mix of old and new will entertain you all semester long

You’re not just going to hit the books the *entire* time you’re abroad, right? RIGHT! There is plenty to see and do and explore all around these “tiny” islands—and the proximity of amazing other Asian countries is pretty great, too.

April: Hong Kong is not only a place for me to study and work, but also have fun. Disneyland, Ocean Park, and plenty of hiking locations are all different highlights for me to escape from the ordinary life. The second month in Hong Kong, I went to Disneyland with friends. It is not much different from the one in the U.S.A, but it is quite fun and cheerful as always. We went there and took many fun pictures, and the entire experience brought me back to my childhood memories. There are other fun places such as Mongkok street food, for people who like to seek delicious Asian foods. This district is only two stations away from my university station, and the food is cheap and delicious. All of these highlights are merely a small part of our short journey in Hong Kong, but some of the most memorable ones, as well.

Jet off to southeast Asia or cross the border in China’s bustling Shenzhen. Need a beach holiday? Hainan Island is just a skip away! Or dig your heels into even more Asian goodness by tacking on a weekend trip to Japan or Korea.

4. Quality of education

Slackers beware: Studying abroad in Hong Kong is not an excuse to laze around and miss your assignments. In fact, you can expect your academic commitments to look pretty familiar—and challenging in all the right ways.

Kalam: The universities in Hong Kong do not compromise when it comes to the quality of their education. So don’t worry about getting behind in your studies while in Asia! Hong Kong universities follow a system similar to that of the United States and Europe. The ratio of teachers and students, university infrastructure, the profile of the faculties, the support of the qualified staff, and the role of administration of the universities ensure the quality of education. The regular improvement of ranking for various programs and schools of the universities prove that they provide world standard quality education for students. #brightfuture

Have you heard of the traditional junk boats of Victoria Harbor? They’re awesome!

5. Balance

When you study abroad in Hong Kong, you can work hard, play hard. It’s action packed for its size—the intensity you put towards your studies can easily translate to your nights out, exploring all of Hong Kong’s uber-cosmopolitan perks.

Michael: One of my favorite study abroad in Hong Kong tips is to hang out in Lan Kwai Fong (LKF). It’s the most well known area for the weekend hangs in Hong Kong. It’s a famous street with different clubs and pubs packed with young people every weekend. Even though I am not a regular #partyboy, I always enjoy a casual night in LKF. It's great to have a western style party place to hang out with your friends to celebrate anything from end of semester, halloween, or just a regular Friday. Be warned: some clubs charge entrance fees depending on how busy the night is and a common misconception is that Asia is cheap.

6. A variety of opportunities to meet any budget

You might think that Asia is 100% budget friendly, but Hong Kong bucks the norm—it’s not exactly a destination most people consider “cheap.” That being said, there are a variety of study abroad programs in Hong Kong that are affordable, from choosing a program through your home university (if it’s a semester program, your financial aid will carry over) or by directly-enrolling in a local Hong Kong university, like the Polytechnic or City University.

You might even consider internships in Hong Kong rather than a traditional study abroad program, which might lead to compensation or other benefits, like free housing!

Next steps to study abroad in Hong Kong

Watch your step!!!

Don't pack your chopsticks juuuust yet. There are a few items on your study abroad to do list you should check off first.

• Decide where to go. Figuring out where to study abroad in Hong Kong isn’t easy. At a university? Through YOUR university? Through a third party provider, like IES Abroad?
• Your major courses or something more fun and experiential? You don't only have to take classes that pertain to your major back home (though it never hurts to knock out some credits towards graduation). Look at your course options and decide what combination of required classes and just-for-fun-or-because-you-want-to-learn-it classes are out there. Choose from literature, the sciences, education, psychology, and more!
• Choose from the best study abroad programs. Pay attention to study abroad Hong Kong reviews, program/university reputation, location, and your ease of getting credits. Some schools or providers may even provide contact info for student ambassadors or past international students if you want the REAL dirt. Here’s our guide to choosing between study abroad programs. 
• Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge in travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Do your research to have an idea of how much your study abroad program will cost. Check out scholarships for study abroad in Hong Kong too!
• Talk to your home university. Getting all your ducks in a row is largely dependent on what your home university requires. Talk to a study abroad advisor or the equivalent at your university to see what choices are available to you.

You’re ready for studying abroad in Hong Kong!

It’s more than an urban jungle. Let Hong Kong study abroad surprise you!

So far, our Hong Kong study abroad has felt like it is out of a movie, full of emotions but mostly good ones. It’s been a mixture of great personal, career, and cultural development, not to mention ample opportunities to hang out and kick back.

What are you waiting for? Join me in Asia’s World City. You won’t regret it!

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