Short-term Abroad Partnerships

Through our Study Abroad Partnerships (SAP) scheme, students can enrol in short-term programmes at renowned universities in Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania for intensive study and research, or gain practical work skills through internships in vibrant overseas cities.

Many programmes are held in-person, but some offer online options. Refer to the host institution's website for details. Whether you're looking to experience a new environment first-hand or immerse yourself in an engaging learning experience from the comfort of your own home, there are a variety of options for you to choose from!

To participate in the SAP scheme, students must first obtain a nomination offer from the International Affairs Office.

Eligibility Criteria

• Full-time undergraduate student;
• Good academic standing: students with a CGPA of 3.0 or above have a relatively higher chance of getting a placement in the programme; 
• Outgoing and eager to meet new challenges;
• Ready to be an ambassador of HKU;
• Willing to share exchange experience after the programme.
  
  

Before You Apply

• Programme teaching mode and availability are subject to change. Please check the official programme websites for more information on the latest teaching arrangements.
• All students who are successfully admitted to an SAP programme are automatically considered for financial assistance. No separate application is necessary.
• The application timelines for SAP programmes differ widely, and some are only offered during certain application periods (i.e. Early, First, or Second Round). Check the programme details carefully and apply as early as possible. Due to quota limitations, priority will be given to those to apply early.
• After receiving the nomination offer from IAO, you will need to submit an application to the host institution directly.
• Application deadlines vary by programme. Please refer to the host institution’s programme page for their specific deadlines.
  
  

Virtual Information Sessions

Many programmes hold regular information sessions to introduce their offerings to prospective students. Details can be found on each programme's official website.

You are also encouraged to attend HKU-specific information sessions. Visit our Upcoming Events Page for more information!

Programme Details

• SAP Programme List Summer 2023

Click here to Apply Now!

Highlighted Programmes

University of Oxford - Exeter College
The Exeter College Summer Programme (ECSP) offers a wide range of cross-disciplinary lecture courses taught by leading scholars. If you enjoy research, are working towards a senior thesis, or considering applying to graduate school, you can opt for a self-directed research tutorial and work 1-to-1 with an expert. All teaching in ECSP is modelled on Oxford University's world-renowned tutorial system - personalised, small-group, discussion-based learning, which is the basis of all undergraduate teaching at Oxford.

• Recommended for: Students from Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Social Sciences
• Highlighted courses: Literatures of Modernism; Why Be Good? An Introduction to Ethics; Introduction to Fluid Dynamics
• Programme: Exeter College Summer Programme
• Duration: 25 June - 5 August 2023
• Tuition Fee: GBP 4000*
• Accommodation Fee: GBP 3050

* ECSP Scholarships are available. Selected candidates will be notified an invited to interview (if applicable).

University of Cambridge - Pembroke College
The Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme offers you the unique opportunity to enjoy outstanding small-group teaching in a beautiful and inspiring academic setting. The programme combines the intimacy of College life with the excitement of studying with several hundred students from all around the world, allowing you to make the most of your six weeks in Cambridge. 

• Recommended for: Students from Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Social Sciences
• Highlighted courses: Contemporary Issues in Neuroscience; Cambridge and its Writers: 1209 - Present; Advance Microeconomic Theory
• Programme: Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme (3 modules)
• Duration: (1) 10 July - 28 July 2023; (2) 31 July - 18 August 2023; (3) 10 July - 18 August 2023
• Tuition Fee: GBP 5286
• Accommodation Fee: GBP 2340 - 3215

King's College London
King's Undergraduate Summer School delivers globally-renowned, research-led teaching including lectures, small group seminars, and workshops to make summer classes as engaging and informative as possible. You'll get live case studies, educational visits, and talks from expert guest speakers, all while earning credit towards your undergraduate degree, enhancing your career prospects, and building an international network.

• Recommended for: Students from Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science Faculty of Medicine, and Faculty of Social Sciences
• Highlighted courses: 3D Printing; Business & Management; Human Anatomy & Physiology; Secrets & Spies; Modern Espionage
• Programme: KCL Undergraduate Summer School (2 sessions)
• Duration: (1) 3- 14 July 2023; (2) 17 - 28 July 2023
• Tuition Fee: GBP 2400 - 4800 (without housing)

London School of Economics and Political Science
LSE Summer School programmes are based on typical LSE undergraduate courses and are taught to the same high standard. Each course is carefully designed by faculty members to provide you with an authentic experience of LSE teaching, with comprehensive study materials and an intensive curriculum. You will study under lecturers who are actively involved in research, with many having connections that go beyond the university, influencing government policy and the strategies of the world's top companies.

• Recommended for: Students from Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Social Sciences
• Highlighted courses: Management of Organisations; Business Analysis and Valuation; America as a Global Power: FDR to Biden; International Political Economy: States and Markets in the 21st Century
• Programme: LSE Summer School (3 sessions)
• Duration: (1) 19 June - 7 July 2023; (2) 10 - 28 July 2023; 31 July - 18 August 2023
• Tuition Fee: GBP 2750 - 5400 (without housing)

* Nominated HKU students are eligible for a 10% tuition discount.

University of Gothenburg
The Summer School for Sustainability is a chance to take action on sustainability and deepen your understanding of global challenges and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Join an international cohort of like-minded people for five inspirational weeks and get the chance to visit the beautiful city of Gothenburg.

• Recommended for: Students from Faculty of Arts
• Programme: Summer School for Sustainability
• Duration: 3 July - 4 August 2023
• Tuition Fee: None.

* Summer School for Sustainability courses are free of charge for all students from partner universities; however, spots are extremely limited and the programme is highly competitive. Nomination from your home institution is required in order to apply. Selected candidates will be invited to interview (if applicable).

University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley Summer Sessions offers more than 600 courses, including Summer-only certificates, English As a Second Language, and online options. Summer visiting international students get the opportunity to enrol in Berkeley courses for credit alongside UC Berkeley degree-seeking students as well as domestic visitors.

• Recommended for: Students from Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Social Sciences
• Programme: Berkeley Summer Sessions (7 sessions)
• Duration: (1) 22 May - 30 June; (2) 5 June - 11 August 2023; (3) 20 June - 11 August 2023; (4) 3 July - 11 August 2023; (5) 24 July - 11 August 2023; (6) 3 July - 21 July 2023; (7) 22 May - 11 August 2023
• Tuition Fee: USD 595 per unit

Yale University

Each summer, Yale Summer Session (YSS) brings together students from across the country and around the world to take Yale College courses in New Haven, online, or abroad. Students can hone their craft at the Yale Writer's Workshop and Summer Drama Program, or study law, business, or English in one of their certificate courses. Living together in Yale's residential colleges, students in New Haven share a vibrant community outside of the classroom. Students in online courses study with top Yale faculty, accessing their virtual seminar classroom from just about anywhere in the world. YSS extends beyond the boundaries of Yale's New Haven campus, with more than 25 Yale faculty-led programs abroad in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe.

• Recommended for: Students from all Faculties
• Programme: Yale Summer Session (2 sessions)
• Duration (1) 29 May - 30 June 2023; (2) 3 July - 4 August 2023
• Tuition Fee: USD 4850 - 9475

SAP Application Timeline (for programmes ending on or before August 31, 2023*)

There will be three rounds of applications from January to March.  Some programmes are only offered in specific rounds; please take this into consideration when making your application.

Applying for nomination

1. Apply through the online SAP Application System
   • Specify up to 5 Programme Choices

2. Upload required Supporting Documents
   • Personal Statement (maximum 100 words)
   • Academic record: Official transcript/screen capture(s) of academic results from HKU Portal
     • Non-first-year Students: must show your latest CGPA
     • First-year Students: must show the courses you are currently taking
3. Submit the Optional Documents to the online application system
   • TOEFL/IELTS report
     Many SAP programmes have strict English proficiency requirements. Check the programme details carefully and ensure that you will have a valid test report in time to apply for your intended programme(s).
4. Accept the nomination offer by paying the deposit of HKD2,000 (please refer to the Deposit Payment Instructions and submit the payment slip to the online application system by the given deadline.
   Note: the deposit is refundable upon successful completion of your nominated programme and submission of your Post-Programme Report. Under normal circumstances, deposits will not be refunded if you withdraw from the programme after the accepting the offer or if you fail to complete the programme.
5. Submit your post-programme report and evaluation questionnaire after completing your SAP programme.

Applying to the Host Institution

After your nomination is confirmed, you may apply to the host institution.

• Visit the host institution's website or use the application link provided to you to apply for your nominated programme.
• Confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements (such as age, year of study, etc.) as stated by the host institution.
• Most institutions require a scanned copy of your official HKU transcript. Late submissions are generally not allowed, so make all necessary arrangements well in advance.
• Complete your application and submit all required documents as instructed by the host institution.
• Pay the programme fees to the host institution (or to HKU, where applicable).
• Once you have officially been accepted by the host institution, obtain your visa (if needed) and prepare for departure. Visa applications to can take a substantial amount of time, so start this process as soon as possible.
  
  

Financial Assistance for Short-term Programmes

In order to be eligible for financial assistance, students must complete a programme that lasts for at least 2 weeks while physically at the host institution/organisation and in the host country. Financial assistance is NOT available for participation in virtual short-term programmes.

Upon successfully being nominated and admitted to an SAP programme, students will automatically be considered for a financial assistance award. A separate application is not necessary.

For all merit-based funding provided by Registry offices in support of study abroad, each student is only eligible to receive a total award amount equal to the largest single award they receive throughout their undergraduate studies. Should a student receive more than one award, they may be required to return the prior award to the University, or receive only a portion of the subsequent award.

General Requirements

• Currently a full-time undergraduate student;
• Completion of the designated short-term programme;
• Submission of a programme report by the designated deadline;
• Response to an evaluation questionnaire by the designated deadline.

Points to Note for Financial Assistance

• Final award amounts are subject to change and subject to programme format.

*Funded under the HKSAR Government Reaching Out Award funds.