Incoming Student Exchange Programme

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HKU Information Sheet 2023-24

• Home institution has student exchange partnership with HKU
• Student has undertaken a minimum of one-year university level study by the time they begin their exchange studies at HKU
• Both native and non-native English Speakers must provide valid and acceptable English Proficiency Proof
• Students should meet higher entry requirements if they are applying for the below faculties:

• Home institutions may submit nomination online through HKU Incoming Exchange Application system.
• Please refer to the HKU Exchange Partner User Manual for the step-by-step guide on online nomination.
• The following Supporting Documents must be uploaded by home institution during nomination, any direct submission from students will not be accepted.

To apply for the exchange programme at HKU, students must meet the following entry requirements.

• Student is successfully nominated by their home institution
• Student has undertaken a minimum of one-year university level study by the time they begin their exchange studies at HKU
• Both Native and Non-native English Speakers must provide valid and acceptable English Proficiency Proof
• Students should meet higher entry requirements if they are applying for the below faculties:

Invitation to Online Application

Students will be invited for Online Exchange Application through email from application start date onwards.

They are advised to complete online application no later than the application deadline. Late submission will not be processed. 

Start Online Application

Students may refer to the step-by-step online application instructions: Exchange Student Online Application User Manual

Information on Proposed Study Plan at HKU

• It is only a preliminary course plan for host faculties to review student’s application, students are not enrolled to those courses.
• Students must enrol courses online during the course selection period or Add/drop period in the beginning of semesters
• Courses options can be found on Academic Information > Available Courses offered by Faculties
• If certain course codes are invalid in our system, this means that they are currently unavailable/subject to change. 

Requirements on Personal Statement

• Students may wish to explain why they are interested in the exchange programme, and why they have chosen HKU as host institution. 
• There is no word limit for the Personal Statement.

Upload Supporting Documents

Please note that some documents must be uploaded by home institution and students respectively.

Application Processing Time

• After the application deadline, students’ application will undergo review by proposed faculty.
• The processing of application is on rolling basis and will take up to 1.5 months. Students may refer to Exchange Application Schedule (top of the page) for details.
• Results announcement/Notice of Admission will be released by email.
• Students are reminded to check their emails regularly during the period.

For exchange application enquiries, students may refer to our FAQ page for information.

Visa Application Paths

Please visit HKU Student Visa page  https://www.studentvisa.hku.hk/ for instructions and application procedures. 

Depending on student’s nationality, student’s visa application will go through two different application paths.

1. Applications from Mainland students (using Exit-entry Permit as travel document and enter Hong Kong from Mainland China)

     Online Application system: https://studentvisa-mainland.hku.hk

2. Applications from international/Macao/Taiwan students (nationalities other than Chinese or, Chinese nationals with permanent residency in overseas entering Hong Kong from any other places other than Mainland China)

     Online Application system: https://studentvisa-overseas.hku.hk/

For enquiries on visa arrangement, please click here.

Points to Note for Visa Application

• Students must complete online application after receiving the admission offer letter and mail hard copies of application documents as  advised by the visa office.
• Please note that it will take at least 10 weeks to process student’s visa application and the visa application fee is non-refundable.
• During visa application, students are required to upload the Notice of Admission to the visa application system as the Immigration Department requires all necessary documnets to be submitted for approval assessment.

Please refer to Accommodation Information from Cedars Accommodation Office. Students should make application online through CEDARS (with 10-digit exchange application reference number) on or before the accommodation application deadline. 

 Important Points to Note

• Due to shortage in housing resources, students are suggested to apply for accommodation as soon as possible. The allocation of housing is subject to availability. 
• Students are allowed to apply for accommodation before receiving the Notice of Admission.
• Upon receiving Notice of Admission, students should send a copy of the signed letter to CEDARS by email for their further processing of the application. 
• Accommodation results will be announced through email. Student who has received offer should send a confirmation email to respective hall manager to accept the offer and indicate the check-in date.  The offer will be withdrawn if no response has been received.

For accommodation application enquiries, please refer to our FAQ or contact CEDARS Accommodation at accommodation@cedars.hku.hk

After receiving Notice of Admission, students are required to complete the following steps to accept the offer.

1. Sign and submit Notice of Admission

• Students should check whether the information in the Notice of Admission is correct (e.g. name and period of registration)
• Login to online application account to accept / decline the offer and upload the signed Notice of Admission
• Send a copy of the signed Notice of Admission to host faculty by email

2. Secure Visa Application

• Upload a copy of the signed Notice of Admission to student's online visa application

3. Secure Accommodation Application

• Send a copy of the signed Notice of Admission to CEDARS Accommodation at accommodation@cedars.hku.hk to further process the accommodation application.
• Student who has received offer should send a confirmation email to respective hall manager to accept the offer and indicate the check-in date.  The offer will be withdrawn if no response has been received.

Please click the following links to learn what to prepare before arriving HKU.

• Arrival Advice

HKU uses the semester system, Semester 1 (September to December) and Semester 2 (Mid-Jan to May).

Students should visit Academic Advising Office for Important Academic Dates and plan for their studies in HKU.

Key dates for Academic Year 2022-23

• Students are required to take 24-30 credits (6 credits per course in general) for each semester.

• 50% of the course load must be chosen from one Faculty (your intended host faculty). It is optional for students to take the remaining credits from other faculties. Common Core courses will not count as part of the fulfillment of the 50% requirement of course enrollment for exchange students.

• Common Core courses will not count as part of the fulfillment of the 50% requirement of course enrollment for exchange students.

• Students admitted to Faculty of Law can choose no more than 6 credits of non-law course (i.e. 1 course) in each semester.  

• Exchange/Visiting students may take up to two Common Core courses from a selective menu, each from a different Area of Inquiry (AoI) - Scientific and Technological Literacy, Humanities, Global Issues and China: Culture, State and Society. The approval of course is on a case-by-case basis.

• Approval on taking Common Core courses is on a first-come-first-served basis during the course selection period, and by auto-ballot during the add/drop period. More details are available here.

• All courses are taught in English, except courses offered by the School of Chinese.

• The HKU credit system is based on the ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) model. A semester of study in HKU and in an ECTS-compliant institution will be considered as equal in credit value under normal circumstances. The actual credit transfer of courses will be subject to the policies and procedures of your home institution. 

• Students are recommended to check the course pre-requisites before selecting courses. 

• Taught master-level programmes are generally not offered to exchange students. If you wish to conduct research under a supervisor, please contact Faculties to make appropriate arrangements. 

• The approval of courses is on a case-by-case basis and subject to the Faculty's approval. Actual enrollment is subject to class availability, courses offered in the first semester, quota and class schedule. [The information is subject to change without prior notice]

The following programmes / courses are NOT opened to exchange students:

• Faculty of Dentistry
• Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
• BSc (Exercise and Health) Programme
• Most final year project courses provided by all faculties

The confirmed course list for each academic year will only be ready in early August. Please take reference from courses offered in the past academic year for your course study plan.

For further information about the syllabuses of courses, please contact respective faculties/departments accordingly.