Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Amazing and mind-blowing experience! Would recommend this trip to anyone! Past Review

By (Advertising., The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 06/28/2014 to 08/09/2014 with

Chinese University of Hong Kong: Hong Kong - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I have so much love for this program. It completely exceeded my expectations, I met so many people from all around the world and learnt about their culture while also experiencing the culture of Hong Kong. Some of the people that I met on this trip I now consider some of my closest friends. Hong Kong is a beautiful place and I had the time of my life exploring and learning new things day by day. It was worth every second!

Review Photos

Chinese University of Hong Kong: Hong Kong - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes would go Tuesday through Thursday, giving us a nice 4 day weekend to explore around Hong Kong. Overall the classes were not that difficult in my opinion, but it was interesting getting a variety of perspectives on certain subjects from people all around the world.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I especially enjoyed that most people were paired with a local student. I learnt a lot and enjoyed having a roommate coming from a different background.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

They liked to encourage us to try new things, especially in terms of food. They helped out with transportation issues, such as how to use the bus and the metro. By the end of the program, I definitely felt as if I had experienced the true culture of Hong Kong.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

On the first night at CUHK I was feeling very sick from the flight. All I had to do was walk downstairs and there was someone at the front desk that was able to assist me. They gave me some advice, and gave me a number to call if I didn't feel better after that. They were very helpful and accommodating.

* Safety:

I never felt unsafe in Hong Kong, overall it is a pretty safe area. That being said, I would definitely advise traveling with at least one other person because you do draw a lot of attention being a foreigner, be prepared for some stares. Also I knew of at least 4 people that left either a wallet, purse or phone in a taxi or classroom and all of them got their items returned to them.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Be prepared to spend some money on travel and food especially. Being in Hong Kong, you are going to want to explore around, which means also factoring in price of transportation (metro or taxi).

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Meeting international friends
  • Having the time to be able to explore around Hong Kong
  • The teachers I had were very interesting and well traveled. They loved sharing their experiences with their students, which I found fascinating.
* What could be improved?
  • The hours of the library on campus was kind of frustrating. It had very limited hours during the summer.
  • The bus stopped running on campus very early so if you went out late you had to hike up campus.
  • The campus food was alright but could definitely be improved.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I would definitely advise to branch out, and allow yourself to try new things that you never thought you would do. Hong Kong is different than any other place that I have ever been but the times when I really enjoyed myself was when I met people with different backgrounds than me and allowed myself to get sucked into the culture.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.