Ever wondered what it would be like studying at the University of Hong Kong as an exchange student from SFU? Hong Kong is an incredibly dense metropolitan city, but that’s not all. There are beautiful hiking trails, fantastic beaches and gorgeous skylines. Not to mention, the food is amazing here. This semester will be one of the most memorable parts of my degree.
The campus is really nice. There are many separate buildings, but the campus itself is still quite compact, thankfully. One thing that amazed me is the amount of tables and study spaces in all of the buildings. The Chi Wah Learning Commons has multiple floors with printers, computers, and desks for students to use. There are also many restaurants and canteens on campus, and the food is cheap and delicious.
The classes here are smaller than at SFU. They range from 30 to over 100. Professors here all teach in English, and they are very knowledgeable and approachable. We are all encouraged to participate in class. The teaching style is similar to that of SFU, and there are exams and projects.
Education is only one part of my exchange experience; exploring Hong Kong is the other. Hong Kong has many distinct areas with their own personalities. There is Mongkok with its street markets and street food. There is Causeway Bay with its shopping malls. Central is known as the business district, Lan Kwai Fong for partying, and SoHo for classy cocktails and lounges. If Hong Kong gets to be too much, I always have the option of getting out of the city for a hike or taking the ferry to Cheung Chau Island for the day.
There’s so much left to explore in Hong Kong. There’s so many more friends to be made here. My experience here in Hong Kong has been unforgettable. This is something I will recommend to everyone. It is worth it.
Elaine Lei is a 3rd year Business student concentrating in Finance. She chose Hong Kong to experience the blend of Western and Eastern culture that Hong Kong is known for. Throughout her semester abroad, she has travelled and explored all over Hong Kong, Thailand, China and Cambodia, and she has connected with many people from all around the world.