University of Hong Kong

The University of Hong Kong (often abbreviated as HKU, informally known as Hong Kong University) is a public research university located in Pokfulam, Hong Kong, founded in 1911 during the British Colonial era. It is the oldest tertiary institution in Hong Kong. 

Today, HKU offers more than 35 undergraduate programmes across 10 faculties, covering 70 major areas of study with English as the main language of instruction. It exhibits strength in scholarly research and education of accounting & finance, biomedicine, humanities, law, architecture, and political sciences, and is the first team in the world which successfully isolated the corona virus, the Causative agent of SARS. 

• The Faculty of Business and Economics

  The Faculty of Business and Economics was created through the amalgamation of two schools -- the School of Business and the School of Economics and Finance. Forming an alliance of excellence, the Faculty of Business and Economics takes an entrepreneurial approach to meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing economic and business environment by drawing together the strengths of the two schools.

  The School of Business equips students with the vision and practical tools necessary to become successful business leaders in Hong Kong, Greater China and in the region. The School of Economics and Finance provides strong grounding in both theoretical and applied aspects of economics, allowing students to analyse how business and policy decisions are made in a dynamic world.

  The combined innovative curriculum offerings include the first officially recognised MBA (International) programme delivered in Shanghai from Hong Kong. Other specialised degrees in economics and finance, accounting and finance, and double-degree programmes for business and law, and business and software engineering provide requisite skills as well as a broad disciplinary reach to students pursuing regional and international careers. Our English-language curriculum familiarises students with the inner workings and corporate culture of global companies, while our teaching faculty's regional expertise provides specialised know-how on doing business in Hong Kong, China and East Asia.

The University of Hong Kong is the oldest tertiary education institution in Hong Kong. On March 16, 1910, Sir Frederick Lugard, the then Governor of Hong Kong, laid the foundation stone for the University. The University was first incorporated in Hong Kong as a self-governing body of scholars by the University Ordinance on March 30, 1911.

On March 11, 1912, the University was officially opened, and Arts, Engineeringand Medicine would become its first Faculties. The Faculty of Medicine evolved from the Hong Kong College of Medicine, founded in 1887. Of the College's early alumni, the most renowned was Dr Sun Yat-sen, often regarded as the founder of modern China.

In December 1916, the University held its first congregation, with just 23 graduates. It was ten years after the founding of HKU that women students were admitted for the first time.

In 1937, Queen Mary Hospital opened and has served as the University's teaching hospital since then. Before the outbreak of the Second World War, which would bring academic activities to a halt, there were four Faculties - Arts, Engineering,Medicine, and Science. After 1945, the University underwent structural developments as post-war reconstruction efforts began in earnest.

The study of architecture was first introduced to the University in 1951. The Faculty of Social Sciences was established in 1967, and the Law Department in 1969. In 1982, the Faculty of Dentistry, based at the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, was established. In 1984, both Architecture and Education became fully-fledged faculties, and in the same year a separate Law Faculty was created. The University’s tenth faculty, the Faculty of Business and Economics, was established in 2001.

From 2010 to 2012, the university held celebrations to mark its 100th anniversary. It marked the opening of the Centennial Campus at the western end of the university site inPokfulam. The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (also known as Binhai Hospital), which is operated by the university, also opened in 2011.

HKU is placed among the territory's top 3 institutions by various league tables and is the most reputable in the territory according to the HKU Public Opinion Programme survey (2015). It is among 51st–60th in THE's World Reputation Rankings(2015), and its strength in individual disciplines can be seen via the list of subject rankings of Hong Kong tertiary institutions. The university is also ranked 64th in the world by US News & World Report. China's Alumni Association placed it among the "6-Star Greater China's Universities" (the highest level) and it also topped the Association's 2014 Ranking of Institutions with the Most Best Disciplines in HK, Macau and Taiwan.

HKU's MBA program was considered the best in Asia by the Economist's 2015 ranking where it was ranked 26th worldwide (1st in Asia) while the Global MBA Rankings (2016) ranked it 44th (10th in Asia). HKU's HKU-Fudan IMBA programme came 58th (16th in Asia) in theFinancial Times EMBA Rankings (2015).

Cost of living

If you live in University-provided residence halls or hostels, you’ll pay a modest HK$5,000 (about US$650) to HK$15,000 (around US$2,000) per semester; expect to pay that much per month if living off-campus. You should allow for HK$30,000 to HK$50,000 (US$3,900 to US$6,500) per year for other living costs, including food, leisure, transportation, and personal items, depending on how extravagantly you plan to live. 

Estimated cost of living per month (2015-16)

• Food: 3,000 HK$
• Local Transportation: 300 HK$
• Personal Expenditure (e.g. medical expenses, telephone bills and laundry): 900 HK$
• Academic Expenses (e.g. books and supplies): 300 HK$

The above estimate is for reference only. The actual cost may vary from person to person.

Transportation

Hong Kong is geographically compact and boasts one of the world's most efficient, safe, affordable and frequent public transport systems.

The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is one of the most convenient means of public transport in Hong Kong. It can take you almost anywhere you want to go. Be aware that the MTR is often extremely crowded during rush hours.

Other convenient modes of transport:

• Buses
• Minibuses (Red roof and Green roof)
• Taxis

It is very convenient to travel around Hong Kong by taking MTR at the HKU station.

Octopus Card

Before starting travelling around the city, it is handy to pick up an Octopus card. It works like a debit card, subtracting money every time you use it to pay for most public transportation. Octopus is accepted all over Hong Kong. Except for public transportation, it works at retail outlets, self-service machines, leisure facilities, schools, hospital as well as through online, etc.

Student organisations

There are two officially recognised student bodies, The Hong Kong University Students' Union (HKUSU) and Postgraduate Students Association, giving opportunities for students to participate in extracurricular activities.

HKUSU principally serves the undergraduate students. It offers more than 100 clubs and associations catering to the student population. This organisation is renowned amongst student activists, having been the main driving force behind evicting a chancellor in recent years.

Halls and colleges

There are 20 residential halls and colleges for undergraduates, postgraduates and visitors.

The residential halls include:

• Main Campus – Swire Hall and Simon K. Y. Lee Hall, mainly for undergraduates. Graduate House and Robert Black College, primarily for postgraduates and visitors respectively.
• Sasson Road Campus – Lee Hysan Hall, R.C. Lee Hall, Wei Lun Hall and Madam S. H. Ho Hall Residence for Medical Students.
• Jockey Club Student Village I (founded in 2001) – Lady Ho Tung Hall, Starr Hall and Ricci Hall.
• Jockey Club Student Village II (founded in 2005) – Morrison Hall, Lee Shau Kee Hall and Suen Chi Sun Hall.
• Jockey Club Student Village III (founded in 2012) – made up of four residential colleges, Shun Hing College, Chi Sun College, Lap-Chee College and New College. They provide a total of 1,800 beds for students of whom 67% are non-local students.
• Other historical student residences include St. John's College, Ricci Hall and University Hall.

Moreover, there are three non-residential halls:

• Hornell Hall (male only)
• Duchess of Kent Hall (female only)
• Lee Chi Hung Hall (co-educational)

Catering services

On campus, there are fast food restaurants and cafes at convenient locations that offer a wide range of local delicacies, exotic cuisines, western food, Halal Food, coffee, pastries and healthy vegetarian food, where you can enjoy with your friends at a reasonable price. There are outposts and grab-and-go counters scattered around the main campus offering light meals, beverages and snacks for those with tight schedule or in a rush. Fast food restaurants situated at Jockey Club Student Villages I & II, Sassoon Road Campus, as well as snacks kiosks in sports centre all offer ranges of delicacies to meet the demands for food.

Amenities Centres & The Global Lounge

There are three amenities centres in the University and they provide facilities to cater to the recreational and non-academic needs of students. 

In the main campus there are Chong Yuet Ming Amenities Centre, Fong Shu Chuen Amenities Centre and the Global Lounge. In these facilities students can find:

• Auditorium
• Information counters/booths
• Meeting rooms
• Music rooms
• Restaurants
• Shower rooms
• Student society rooms
• Supermarket
• Theatre
• Darkroom / Studio
• Prayer room
• Other

Further boosting its reputation as a leading university in Asia, The University of Hong Kong received well-deserved recognition from prestigious global institutions.

HKU also ranked among the world's top 20 universities in 10 academic disciplines. Students also get the opportunity to go on full-year or short-term academic exchanges, with credit transfers, to more than 320 partnering institutions around the world. 

We aim to provide students with a broad-based education across different disciplines with a global perspective, in order to develop students' intellectual and personal strengths. We expect the best out of our students, who are among the top achievers in their schools and often their countries.

HKU prides itself on its international community of students and staff, providing a vibrant, colourful campus life for everyone. Some102 countries are represented in the student body, with new ones added every year. Students can enjoy an international experience not just within the university but also through HKU's myriad of worldwide exchange programmes, summer schools and international internship opportunities.