“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” - Terry Pratchett
Before Arrival
Accommodation
- If you choose to attend HKU for your exchange, you may get wait-listed for accommodation.
- Don't panic! Email CEDARS and request your wait-list number. If you're under 50 you will likely get an email about a spot opening up before you leave for Hong Kong. I've heard of people near 100 getting off the wait-list before arriving.
- If you opt to look for off-campus housing, see if your school has a bursary scheme like HKU.
- HKU's scheme is open to all HKU students who turn in their forms before the deadline and brings the cost of your off-campus housing down to on-campus levels.
- Check out the area that your accommodation is in on Google Maps beforehand.
- If you want to be near HKU and near central Hong Kong, check out Sheung Wan.
- If you want to be near HKU and don't want to be in the city, check out Kennedy Town or Sai Ying Pun.
- Keep in mind that you have to wait for the elevators inside of HKU station to get up to campus, which can add up to 20 minutes to your commute time.
Banking
- Get a Visa or Mastercard with no international fees!
- Discover cards are not accepted at most places in Hong Kong.
- You can also connect your card to Apple Pay or Google Pay to make checking out easier.
- Bring as much cash as you feel comfortable with bringing.
- American dollars can be useful for exchanging in other countries if you plan on traveling throughout Asia.
- You may be charged multiple fees for taking money out of ATMs (an ATM fee from your own bank, an international fee, an ATM fee from the bank that owns the ATM, etc.)
- Let your debit and credit card companies know that you will be traveling to avoid getting your card blocked.
Scheduling Classes
- Search up classes ahead of time on your faculty's webpage. This is the course page for the Faculty of Business and Economics. It includes the semesters during which the course if offered (1 is Fall, 2 is Spring) as well as the course syllabus, which you'll need to petition for credits.
- While you can get pre-approved and pre-registered for courses that you fill in ahead of time, you can change these courses or course sections during the registration period (2 weeks before school starts) and during the revision period (first 2 weeks of school).
- If you don't like your schedule you can check on other times that the course is offered and change the section that you're in.
- If possible, try not to schedule courses on Mondays or Fridays. This would give you 4-day weekends, perfect for taking lots of short trips!
During Exchange
Useful Apps
- OpenRice - This is essentially Hong Kong's Yelp. It's the easiest way to see reviews, menus, and photos for restaurants. It's also a great app to use if you want to look for something to eat based on the type of food or location you are in.
- MTR mobile - If you use DaBus app in Hawaii, this is Hong Kong's equivalent for the MTR. It can help you plan routes, see service hours for different stations, and get traffic notifications for lines you use. There's even a Tourist Info function where you can view different attractions and find out how to reach them!
- WhatsApp - A lot of local students use Whatsapp to communicate, since many SIM cards require you to pay for texting. Facebook Messenger is also a popular way of communicating.
- WeChat - This is another communication app. It isn't often used in Hong Kong, but it's necessary if you plan on traveling to China during your exchange.
School Facilities (HKU Specific)
- Gym: HKU has two gyms, neither of which are on campus. The more popular of the two is the Flora Ho gym, which is near a few of the student housing complexes. It's fairly small and can get very crowded, so don't be surprised if you have to wait to use the equipment.
- Printing: Students can print at both the main library and the Chi Wah Learning Commons in Centennial Campus. Printing is really easy, you just log onto a computer and send your file to the printer, then scan your student ID at the printer. Exchange students get 100 units for free. You can use the HKU uPrint app to buy more printing units if needed - 100 units is 30 HKD.
- Food: There are multiple cafeterias and eateries on campus. You can view all of the options along with their hours and menus on the food@hku app. My recommendations are Bijas for afternoon tea (dim sum) or vegetarian meals and Maxim's FOOD2 for a plethora of options. Most food places on campus are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Students also get a discount at Starbucks!
- Student Health Center: If you need to book an appointment at the University Health Service there are instructions on how to do so here. The appointments last only 5 minutes, but they're completely free! If you are prescribed medicine, that is free as well. As such, I recommend going to the health center as soon as you start to feel sick. It's quick, easy, and won't cost you anything!