Preparing for Exchange
To prepare for your semester at HKUST, students should familiarize themselves with the below information.
Calendar Dates
Students from our partner Schools can choose to exchange to HKUST Business School for either one semester (Fall or Spring) or for one full academic year (Sept to May)
Exchange Term | Period |
---|---|
Fall Semester | September - Decemeber |
Spring Semester | End-January/Beg-February - May |
Year-Long | September - May |
More details on calendar dates can be found at the below links
2023-24 Official HKUST Calendar Dates
2023-24 Important Dates for Exchange
Fall 2023 | Date |
---|---|
Earliest check-in date | 29 Aug |
Orientation Program | 31 Aug |
Fall Semester Commences | 01 Sep |
Buddy Program Activity | 02 Sep |
Add/Drop period | 01-14 Sep |
The day following the Mid-Autumn Festival (No class) | 30 Sep |
National Day (No class) | 01 Oct ^The day following National Day 2 Oct (No class) |
Chung Yeung Festival (No class) | 23 Oct |
Last Day of Fall Semester | 30 Nov |
Study Break | 01-06 Dec |
Examination Period | 07-19 Dec |
Last day of Fall Semester | 19 Dec |
Latest check-out date | 03 Jan 2024 |
Spring 2024 | Date |
---|---|
Earliest check-in date | TBC |
Orientation Program | TBC |
Spring Semester Commences | 31 Jan |
Add/Drop Period | 31 Jan-16 Feb |
Buddy Program Activity | TBC |
Ching Ming Festival (No class) | 04 Apr |
Good Friday (No class) | 29 Apr |
Day following Good Friday (No class) | 30 Apr |
Easter Monday (No class) | 1 Apr |
Mid Term Break | 28 Mar-05 Apr |
Labor Day (No class) | 01 May |
Study Break | 11-16 May |
Examination Period | 17-29 May |
The Birthday of the Buddha | 15 May |
Last Day of Spring Semester Classes | 29 May |
Latest check-out date | 02 Jun |
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Academics
We offer a well-rounded and valuable academic experience for incoming undergraduate Exchange students here at the HKUST Business School.
Our course offerings vary each term, but all are designed to providing you with an enriching learning experience in a stimulating international environment. You will find that all our courses are structured according to international best practices and standards.
Our programs cover essential business disciplines in an environment that is both international and interactive. The majority of our Faculty has international backgrounds and has obtained PhD's from top universities around the world. The medium of instruction at our Business School is English.
We have a wide variety of course offerings in various departments for you to choose from:
- Accounting
- Economics
- Finance
- Global Business
- Information Systems
- Operations Management
- Management of Organizations
- Marketing
Our School of Engineering, School of Science, School of Humanities and Social Science also offers a wide variety of courses that may interest you. You can also join any other courses offered during your Exchange Term providing you meet the course requirements and if there are seats available.
Wish to gain some understanding of Chinese while you are studying with us? Our Language Center offers a Beginner’s Putonghua Course for exchange students in both the Fall and Spring Terms, so you can learn the local language. The courses are credit-bearing, but please note that seats are limited.
Accommodations
Exchange students live in university arranged housing and can choose to stay on-campus in undergraduate student halls located near the seafront within close walking distance to many recreational amenities or off-campus at the Jockey Club Hall located near the Tseung Kwan O MTR station.
To apply, exchange students need only indicate their preference in their exchange application form. Hall allocations will be emailed to students in the month before arrival. The charges for semester and year-long exchange are roughly HK$13,000, and HK$26,800, respectively.
Since the Student Housing and Residential Life Office (SHRLO) operates as a separate office, you can find more information at the below links:
Student Visa
The Hong Kong Immigration Department requires all non-local students to obtain a student visa in order to study in Hong Kong. In general, if you do not possess the right of abode or the right to land in Hong Kong, or hold a dependent’s visa, then you will require a student visa.
All exchange students who require a student visa, are to route their applications through HKUST for handling. After receiving confirming of your exchange, you will have access to the visa application instructions. Students should mail their visa applications to HKUST who will submit the package to Hong Kong Immigrations on your behalf. The processing time is around 6-8 weeks. When the visa is issued, HKUST will collect it and mail it to you before your departure for Hong Kong.
Insurance
You are required to purchase travel insurance through HKUST that covers the duration of your study. The policy provides for the coverage listed below. For details about the policy, please click here.
- Medical and hospitalization for illnesses and accidents
- Personal liability
- Medical evacuation and repatriation
Students who fail to comply with the insurance requirements will not be able to officially register at HKUST.
Exchange Student Fee
Exchange students have a fee payment of about HK$14,400 for semester exchange, and HK$27,400 for year-long exchange. This fee includes semester accommodations, insurance, and the student visa processing fee. Tuition fees at HKUST are waived, but exchange students still need to pay tuition at their home university.
Living Expenses
Wondering about your living expenses for the exchange program? We have provided the following breakdown of the estimated costs of attending HKUST per term:
Food (no meal plan, roughly HK$35/meal on campus) | HKD$14,000 |
---|---|
Exchange Student Fee (Insurance, Visa, Housing) | HKD$15,000 |
Books and Supplies | HKD$1,500 |
Local Transportation, Personal and Incidental Expenses* | HKD$12,000 |
Total | HKD$42,500 |
Approximately | US$5,463 |
* This category of expense includes entertainment and shopping at a reasonable level on weekends. It does not include travel outside Hong Kong for holidays.
Orientation Activities
A mandatory Orientation will be held in the last working day before the first day of the semester. Details on this orientation will be provided prior to arrival. In addition, the Office of Global Learning (OGL) organizes other exchange activities which can be found at this link.
Buddy Program
Business Exchange students are automatically registered in a one-on-one Business Buddy Program. Students will get details of their matched buddy in the month before arrival.
Social Media Challenge
SBM UG Exchange-in Social Media Challenge showcases student's unique and mesmerizing exchange experience in Hong Kong during their exchange study at HKUST.
Course Outlines
For Business Course Outlines, Credits, and Pre-Requisite Requirements, you may check under the homepage of respective departments listed on our Business School website. Some departments will have detailed course outlines posted.
For information on non-business courses, visit the university-wide academic course catalog.
Course Credits is indicated in a vector on the right-hand side of the title. For example, a course with a vector of [3-1-0:4] denotes a course that has 3 lecture hours plus 1 tutorial hour a week over a 13 week semester and is worth a total of 4 credits.
Learning Expectations
Many of our courses have pre-requisite requirements; particularly with 2000- and 3000- level courses. Students are responsible for checking and making sure they met the pre-requisite requirements of their selected courses.
Learning Expectations
Our courses generally comprise of lectures, case analyses, class presentations, and written papers or projects. Attendance, which is mandatory, class participation, and final examinations (format varies) are considered in assigning the final course grade. Here are more details on Learning Expectations:
Language of Instruction | English |
---|---|
Class Format | Lectures, case analyses / presentations, papers and projects |
Attendance | Class attendance is mandatory |
Participation | Class participation is part of a student's final grade in most courses |
Grading | Letter graded, with grade D the marginal pass; final course grade often based on class participation, projects, case analyses, mid-term and final exams |
Class Size | normally 30-40 students per class in 200- and 300- level courses |
Course Load | 4-5 courses with a maximum total number of 17 credits |
Course Choices | Exchange students have the same freedom in course selection as regular students. They can select courses as long as they meet the prerequisite requirements and if there are vacancies available in their selected courses |
Examinations | Exam formats vary in each course. Final examinations are written in the last 2 weeks of the semester. Leaving before your exams are finished is generally not permitted |
Course Selection and Registration
Exchange Students will receive comprehensive details on how to select courses by email about 2 months before the start of their exchange semester. The information will include links to the Semester Course Offerings List (for pre-approval), Course Timetable, and online Course Selection system. To give you a better idea, here is a general idea of the timeline for the process:
Action | Fall | Spring |
---|---|---|
Semester Course Offerings List | Beg July | End Nov |
Confirmed Timetable Released | End July | Mid Dec |
Submit Only Course Selections Form and upload Transcripts | End July | End Dec |
Advising and feedback on selections by HKUST | Beg Aug | Beg Jan |
Course Registration (Prior to Arrival based on Selection Form) | Eng Aug | Eng Jan |
Add/Drop Period to make course changes | Beg Sep | Beg Feb |
Notes for Course Selection & Registration
- Students are to check and make sure they meet the pre-requisite requirements of their selected courses.
- In order to assess whether pre-requisite requirements have been fulfilled, students must submit an updated English transcript with their Course Selections Form
- The maximum credit load is 17 credits or 5 courses
- Students are pre-registered in their selected courses prior to their arrival based on their selections.
- Students must fill in their Selection form with alternatives. If a class is full, you will be put on the waiting list; at the same time, you will be registered into your alternative where a seat is available. Please do not leave your alternatives open on the course selection form or you will risk not getting enrollment into a full course load
- It is very important for students to submit their Course Selections from in a timely manner or there is a risk of not getting enrollment.