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HKU ALO

Stories

University of Oxford

My time at Oxford was a truly inspiring adventure. In addition to finding myself in a litany of intensive tutorial discussions with world-class legal academics, it was the personal growth and self-discovery I experienced that made my 9 months there count.
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1. Work – Essays crises or mirrors of creativity?
Let’s be in no doubt about it. Oxford is demanding. Period. Every week, at least 2 essays (it could be 4-5 in busier weeks) had to be completed and submitted to world-class legal academics of lawyers who have been in the business for decades. For the first few weeks, it could be overwhelming, as the system of work as a student there is so completely different from HKU. Burning the midnight lamps just to get the essays done can be a common occurrence not just for exchange students, but also undergraduates there as well.
Over time, though, it got significantly better, partly because I became used to the pace of work – it is what it is, nothing can be changed about it, and partly because I realized that essays are mirror of creativity and hard work that reward a student’s inquisitiveness. I started crunching not just the main paragraphs but the footnotes of the journal articles, as well as conducting a lot of extra research, scouring cases which are not within the already-long reading lists. For what it’s worth, my experience as a research assistant to Dr. Kai Quek at HKU was invaluable in adding to my toolkit of research skills. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to make it through the Oxford academic journey.
All of those hard work put me into a thoughtful conversation with professors such as Jonathan Herring (one of the most well-known legal academics who studies areas of law that matter to people, like family law, medical law and elder law) and Edwin Peel (author of contract law textbook Treitel!). The interesting hypotheticals they raised, and the quick and straight answers they gave to my questions all added to my substantive knowledge and sharpened my thinking skills.
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2. Remarkable individuals
Speaking of remarkable individuals, I had the privilege of meeting many people who are making a difference in their respective fields. From political leaders (mind you, political science is my other major aside from law) to respected academics, I was constantly inspired by the people I encountered. In particular, legal philosopher Jeremy Waldron was an absolute star. He flied all the way from New York University to Oxford to consult opinions for his upcoming paper on the topic of “self-application.” I am really proud that I plucked up the courage and asked him a question on his paper.
Moreover, I also had a chance to discuss briefly with John Mearsheimer on current world affairs. Former Secretary of Defense Joseph Nye was also a pleasure to speak with. I was impressed by his down-to-earth demeanor and his willingness to consider new ideas. Participating in a family law moot also gave me the opportunity to meet the retired Supreme Court judge Lord Wilson. It was an honour to be in his presence. Last but not least, I distinctly remember Jennifer Nagel, an epistemology professor at the University of Toronto came to me and handed me her seminar notes. It was a kind gesture that I did not expect from people of her stature. But I want to be very clear, her course materials, which comprised a mix of philosophical and cognitive scientific publications, were not easy, far from it. Her passion, though, more than compensated for the difficulty of the readings. (In case it raises questions with the exchange team, this is a series of John Locke seminars open to everyone at Oxford. I did not formally enroll myself into it).
The valuable lesson I have derived from these opportunities is: no matter how successful or accomplished someone may be, they can still be kind and approachable. These experiences serve as a reminder that we should treat everyone with kindness and respect, acknowledging our shared humanity. This lesson will remain ingrained in my mind as I enter the legal profession, where egos can run high and people can be too caught up in their own bubbles of achievement. In instances where I may encounter grumpy law partners or senior associates within a law firm, I will draw strength from these experiences.
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3. Extracurricular activities
Onto the extracurriculars. Oxford operates by a collegiate system. It has approximately 40 colleges. The beauty of this system is that each college holds its own formal dinner. Students can come together and invite each other to their own colleges for a three- or four-course meal, followed by a drink at the college bar afterwards. While I did not go to the dinners of all 40, I reckon I might probably have been to half of them, each and every one of them was a pleasure.
Perhaps another good thing about the collegiate system is that every student belongs to one. They can hang out inside their college – it can be the common room, music room, their own dormitories, or sometimes, even the chapels. And it is not only about the physical facilities. Much more of the sense of community we felt can be attributed to the inclusive and diverse environment Oxford tries so hard to maintain and improve upon. No one is left out, not even the international or exchange students. We enjoyed as much teaching and administrative support from the officers as the local students do. We had as much access to the learning resources as others do.
Punting adds another delightful dimension to my student life. When it comes to Oxford, moving a boat forward on a river by a long iron stick whilst chatting casually with your friends is probably not an experience to be missed.
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Conclusion
All in all, I am glad I chose Oxford. For one moment, I thought of turning it down because of the high cost of it. But I am grateful for the scholarship HSBC endowed me with, which enabled me to tread on this inspiring adventure that changed my perspective on life permanently.
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Leung, Ho Cheung

University of Oslo

I attended the University of Oslo (UiO) in Oslo, Norway. Much like HKU, the University of Oslo is the oldest university in Norway, and is located in its capital. The campus is sprawling, vibrant, and green, and has a separate faculty for its law students. As a Government and Laws student, I had the pleasure of attending both campuses, and found their facilities to be clean, high-tech, and extremely sufficient for my needs.
At UiO, there is a decreased emphasis on contact hours and a focus on individual reading and coursework. There are fewer tutorials at UiO than at HKU, and students are expected to exercise self-discipline in applying themselves to their readings.
The course that I found the most fulfilling was KULH1003 – Witchcraft and Magic. As an amateur classicist with an interest in Greco-Roman magic, I was immediately attracted to and taken by this course offering, and in part applied for exchange to UiO due to the appeal of this course. The course covered various aspects of European magic and the witch trials, with a specific focus at times on Scandinavian magical practices and witch hunts. The professor was a highly knowledgeable man who answered questions raised by students with satisfactory and enlightening replies, and I was often left hanging onto his every word. I was so intrigued by this course that when I visited other parts of Norway, such as Bergen and Vardø, I was incentivised to visit the monuments of the witches who had been executed there, and investigated the history of what had happened in those places.
UiO also produced a highly satisfactory Orientation Week for international exchange students by assigning us two Norwegian buddies and arranging for us a week of wonderful activities, such as making Norwegian waffles, visiting the Munch Museum, and having a bonfire near a lake. By grouping different exchange students together during the first week of school, we had the opportunity to make many different friends from all over the world. Some of the closest friends I made during this exchange were met during UiO’s Orientation Week, and I am very thankful to the university for organising and facilitating such events. Aside from Orientation Week, UiO also organised multifarious activities for students to participate in, including bingo nights, student pub quizzes, and parties, which I attended throughout the semester.
The international students and professors I met in Oslo were very welcoming and eager to share their own culture with others. At UiO, I mostly interacted with students from the rest of Europe, including those from the Nordic countries, France, Germany, Romania, the Netherlands, and many others. I was also able to meet many exchange students from Japan. These other exchange students were suitably polite, proud of their own culture while willing to learn about others, and good ambassadors of their home universities and countries. This exchange experience allowed me to interact with cultures I had never experienced before by meeting a diverse group of people, and I am very grateful for this opportunity. It has broadened my horizons and my ability to communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds.
The most meaningful and personally insightful part of my exchange experience was being able to meet and form an LGBTQIA+ community among the exchange students of UiO. As a queer student in Hong Kong, I did not have any friends in the LGBT community, and rarely knew of other people who were openly queer. However, at UiO, I was able to meet and bond with a group of other queer students around my age, which helped me understand myself better. During then, I also attended a gender clinic in Oslo to start my transition, and was met with various highs and lows. While the clinic was able to give me the mental support and advice for transitioning that I needed, it was also sued while I was halfway through my paperwork, allegedly due to a professional dispute. Furthermore, there was a mass shooting in Oslo at a gay club on June 25, 2022, shortly before Oslo’s Pride Parade was to begin. As a result of the shooting, the terrorist threat level in Norway was raised to the highest alert. In that regard, I believe that there could have been more follow-up on behalf of the exchange team on situations such as this, even if it was simply an email to update students in the area regarding the situation and to confirm that we are safe. I understand it may be difficult for the exchange team to monitor the world’s major events and how it may affect its students, but other exchange students from Hong Kong received emails concerning the shooting from their home university. I was also personally affected by the matter, and am now receiving counselling in Hong Kong as a result of the mass shooting.
My advice to students attending future exchange programmes is that one should reach out to people from different cultures, and not only interact with other exchange students from Hong Kong. It is tempting to seek out what one is familiar with, but I found that by both befriending exchange students from home, as well as international students from overseas, I was able to have a richer cultural experience as well as share the pride and joys of being a student from Hong Kong with other people. I found that by sharing Hong Kong’s cuisine such as dim sum and celebrating festivals such as Chinese New Year with international students, I was able to delve deeper into my connection with my own culture, while also informing others about what Hong Kong is like and our way of life.

Lee, Lok Yin

Yale University

Yale University is a prestigious institution of higher education located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States, known for its academic excellence, rich history, and commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering global leaders. Founded in 1701, Yale is one of the oldest universities in the United States and is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world. The campus is known for its architectural beauty, constructed in a monolithic, pseudo-Gothic style, with iconic buildings like the Harkness Tower and the Sterling Memorial Library. Yale University offers a wide range of academic programs across various disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, arts, business, law, and medicine. Undergraduate students at Yale live in 14 residential colleges, namely Benjamin Franklin College, Berkeley College, Branford College, Davenport College, Ezra Stiles College, Grace Hopper College, Jonathan Edwards College, Morse College, Pauli Murray College, Pierson College, Saybrook College, Silliman College, Timothy Dwight College, and Trumbull College. Each college has its unique culture and contributes to creating a vibrant campus life with a wide range of interesting extracurricular activities.
As a well-designed program, Y-VISP aimed to deepen and broaden students’ academic interests, which greatly benefited my educational goals. With its world-leading research in arts and social sciences, the visiting study at Yale offered me abundant opportunities to pursue my concentrated fields—art history and psychology—both in depth and breadth. One art history course I took at Yale, called Renaissance Architecture: A Global History, refreshed my perspective on the interpretation of architectural structures and artistic styles. In addition, the opportunity to visit many of the world-class museums and galleries located at Yale, such as the Yale University Art Gallery and Yale Center for British Art, not only met my personal interests but also advanced my art history studies. In terms of psychology, I took a rich array of intriguing interdisciplinary courses, such as criminology, cognitive science, and psychopharmacology. I also participated in psychological research, which advanced my knowledge of clinical psychology and helped me gain important research skills. Furthermore, Yale advocates for “Liberal Arts Education,” encouraging students to explore other fields for enrichment, with the goal of “expanding the mind’s power” rather than “storing it with knowledge,” according to the 1828 Yale Report. With an enthusiastic willingness to step out of my comfort zone, I tried out many courses beyond my two majors, such as environmental studies and earth sciences. Although I was an art major, these science classes provided me with a solid foundation of general knowledge and shaped me into a more affluent person. Getting a chance to study so extensively during my undergraduate studies was truly an invaluable asset in my life.
Apart from the academic aspect, the diverse extracurricular activities at Yale helped me cultivate personal growth and gain new cultural experiences. Situating myself in a new culture and a challenging academic environment was difficult for me at first, but it was the obstacle I encountered that enabled me to enhance my independence, adaptability, and multicultural communication skills. Living in Benjamin Franklin College, one of Yale’s fourteen residential colleges, I got to know many intelligent, driven and motivated Yale students whose curiosity and enthusiasm always allowed us to spark lively discussions. One crucial skill that benefited me a lot was learning to communicate with people who came from diverse backgrounds that were often so different from my own. Growing up in a family with a strong emphasis on traditional Chinese culture, it was my pleasure to share Chinese culture with Yale students, such as Taoism, tea ceremonies, and calligraphy. Likewise, I gained many new cultural insights from students around the world, such as the New York Yankees, the American custom of small talk, and various ethnic cuisines. Moreover, together with other Y-VISP students, I participated in many exciting events and activities, such as trips to New York City and Boston, kayaking at the Yale Outdoor Education Center Bulldog Bash, Durham Fair one of the largest and oldest agricultural fairs in New England, Y-VISP monthly birthday celebrations, Fire Pit &amp; S’mores in the Benjamin Franklin College courtyard, Postcard Writing, and Cherry Blossom Festival. Understanding the great importance that Yale places on campus life, I fully immersed myself in the Yale community and harvested a lot of unforgettable moments with people I met here, many of whom have become lifelong friends of mine.
I genuinely appreciate all the kind support I received throughout my visiting study, including the University of Hong Kong and Yale University, the donor, my academic advisers at HKU and Yale, all the fantastic and supportive professors at Yale, Lauren Perrino the director of the Yale Visiting International Students Program, and Y-VISP peer liaisons. Without their support, it would not have been easy for me to adjust to life at Yale and enjoy every day here.
Based on my personal experiences, I would highly recommend other students who are interested in studying abroad to participate in the Yale Visiting International Students Program or other exchange and visiting programmes. Getting a chance to study in a different country would be a wonderful adventure to experience new perspectives, navigate diverse cultures, and build strong language skills.
Taken together, I greatly appreciate HKU offering me such a fantastic opportunity to study at Yale University and experience their residential life. I truly gained a ton from this very experience, both academically and personally. I hope more students will grasp this opportunity and join this programme in the following years – wish them the best of luck!

Ma, Qingyang

Universidad de Montevideo

Travelling alone to the most faraway country in the world from my hometown, I gained a lot from this exchange experience.
My exchange institution was the University of Montevideo in Uruguay, which took place during my second year of studying sociology. This remarkable experience was my first time travelling to Latin America. All the welcoming culture and amazing attitude could be really life-changing for me. What’s more, I even had the chance to conduct an independent research project on Migration between Argentina and China, funded by the Common Core Office.
The University of Montevideo, located in the capital of Uruguay, is a private institution known for its exceptional academic quality and humanistic vision. Montevideo, as the capital city of Uruguay, is a bustling high-tech city that populates a majority of the citizens of the small Latin American country of Uruguay. Known for its laid-back atmosphere, beach-filled shorelines, and easy access to Argentina and Brazil, we’ve been anxiously awaiting to hear how students are liking our newest study abroad location. Makena Forster is a University of Nevada, Reno student who filled us in on her experience in Montevideo thus far. Nestled in the heart of Montevideo, the university has a vibrant and diverse student body and offers numerous research opportunities. What struck me most was the university's commitment to individual growth and societal contribution. On our first day of visiting the university, it gave us the most warm welcome.
Academically, the Uruguayan culture prioritizes a very participative and discussion-based approach to learning. Classes were more of a dialogue than a lecture, with everyone given a platform to express their thoughts and ideas. This was a refreshing change from the lecture-based style I was accustomed to. And for daily stuff dealing, we could easily reach out to the office people and get an immediate reply, which could be really helpful, especially for foreign students.
However, due to the poor Spanish, I had at the very beginning, the courses I could take were limited. I took several courses related to the Uruguayan legal system and culture, which could be really helpful for me to understand the country and Latin culture. These courses helped me gain a profound understanding of the complexities of culture. Interacting with international students and professors was an enriching experience. I was able to learn from diverse perspectives, fostering an increased understanding of global societal issues. Sharing insights about our different backgrounds also helped me understand the nuances of my own culture. And due to the fact that Latin American culture could be really different from Chinese culture, I felt myself being impacted a lot by this new way of experiencing life and my future.
In terms of non-academic activities, the university organized lots of interesting activities for us and provided us with lots of chances to visit the country. We took the bus together and went to Punta Del Este and Colonia, which are all fabulous places to visit in Uruguay. It is more like a really immersive journey instead of only studying at the institution. I also joined the university's discussion club, where we discussed various topical issues. This provided a wonderful platform for developing my public speaking and critical thinking skills.
The main challenge I encountered was language. Despite having a basic grasp of Spanish, I sometimes struggled with the local dialect and colloquial terms. However, the locals were always willing to help, and this encouraged me to improve my language skills further. While a tiny problem I encountered could be that the Spanish course at the host institution costs money and could be expensive, Due to this, I could only learn Spanish by myself and lost the chance to study in a more authentic way.
Worth mentioning is that one of the most special moments for me was when my research project was recognized by the Common Core Office at HKU. Seeing the impact of my work on a real-world issue was incredibly rewarding. I went to Argentina and Buenos Aires twice, communicated and conducted interviews with people there, built really great connections with them, and am still working on the report although I have left Latin America. I do find that Latin America has been inserted into my life forever. In the future, I am sure I will go back there to live for a period of time, and this experience also inspired me to learn Spanish well, which I am continuing to do by myself. In addition, this experience has also let me discover my new abilities in photography and human geography. I will take more courses at HKU related to human geography, and I plan to make a small zine of my photography works. Latin America has lots of fantastic artworks, and in the experience of exploring these art museums, I learned a lot.
The most influential experience for me in Uruguay is that I live with a local female named Ana in her house. She shared lots of cultural stories with me, and she also took me to participate in lots of manifestations like the Women's Day march and the Donde Estan March on every 5.21 of Uruguay. I also had the chance to listen to local music and watch World Cup football contests with people all over the country.
For future exchange students, I highly recommend immersing yourself in the local culture as much as possible. This is an invaluable opportunity to gain a fresh perspective and really take a sincere heart to understand and learn about different cultures with a respectful mind. Without empathy and curiosity, there is no real learning.
This exchange experience has significantly impacted my personal development. It enhanced my life span, my research skills, allowed me to experience a different educational system, and made me a more culturally sensitive individual. And I am now a real Latin American lover! I have already decided to take more courses at HKU to learn Latin American culture.
In terms of improving the exchange program, I would suggest including a basic language preparation course before the exchange. This would greatly assist students in acclimating to the new environment, and if you could provide some basic course information in advance, that would be helpful. And it could also be helpful if the exchange office could provide more institutions from Latin America for exchange, like the ORT and the UBA. Actually, my very first idea is to exchange in Argentina at its host university, UBA, while there is no choice at HKU. Since the exchange information about Latin America in previous study reports could be really limited, I also highly suggest that there be more information about students’ experiences of exchanging in Latin America. If there is anything I could further help with, I will be very willing.
Overall, my exchange at the University of Montevideo was an invaluable life experience. It could be life-changing for me in various aspects. It taught me bravery and let me understand how to live with uncertainty, so empowering and intriguing. This experience broadened my horizons and enriched my understanding of the world, inspiring me to dig deeper into Latin America. I wholeheartedly encourage other students to participate in this life-changing opportunity.

Ren, Lifeiyang

Studying abroad is an experience that is both challenging and rewarding. As an exchange student from Hong Kong, I spent one year studying at the University of Oxford, one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford, located in the city centre, next to the shopping centre and is very accessible. Pembroke College has a diverse and vibrant community of students and scholars from all over the world, and it is known for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
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The college is home to a range of academic departments, including humanities, sciences, and social sciences, and it offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. It has a strong academic reputation and has produced many notable alumni, including authors, politicians, and academics.
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Studying law, or any subject in general, at Oxford is more academic than that at HKU. In law, the downside is that the learnings are rather impractical as the focus of the study is too philosophical. On the other hand, I had a better exposure to the principles and philosophy of laws over the coursework and the academic discussion allowed me to understand better the fundamental nature of the particular area of law. In law, the case law and statute may change radically but the foundation of law will not. As such, I am grateful for the experience.
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I have taken European Union Law (with a dissertation on EU competition law and patent law on standard-essential patent), Administrative Law, Jurisprudence and Trusts in Oxford. The academic director has asked if I want to take the courses on one-on-one basis with personal tutors so my coursework can be distributed evenly or take it with the rest of the Pembroke law students. I have chosen the latter as I wanted to hear the insights from my fellow tutorial partners and be treated as an actual Oxford student and graded without prejudice.
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I am honoured to be taught by Professor Julie Dickson in European Law and Jurisprudence. Professor Dickson was an exceptional tutor who was passionate about her subject and dedicated to helping her students learn. She was always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that we understood the course material and had the support we needed to succeed. I appreciated her approachable nature and enthusiasm for teaching, which made the class engaging and enjoyable.
Interacting with international students was also a highlight of my time at Oxford. I had the opportunity to meet students from different parts of the world, including China, Germany, and the United States. It was fascinating to learn about their cultures and perspectives, and I felt that it broadened my global understanding.
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Overall, my experience with international students and professors at Oxford was a positive one. It allowed me to learn from different perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of the world around me. It also taught me the importance of being open-minded and respectful of cultural differences.
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One of the highlights of my exchange experience was joining the College Choir. I have always been interested in music, and being able to sing with the choir was a dream come true. The choir was made up of students from different academic backgrounds, and we had the opportunity to perform in various events, including winter college concert and Turkish fundraising concert. We also recorded two wedding songs for Pembroke alumni’s wedding. The acoustics of the college chapel were incredible, and the atmosphere was magical. Being part of the choir also allowed me to form close relationships with my fellow choir members. We would meet every week for rehearsals, and we would often socialize outside of choir practice. Through the choir, I was able to meet people from different parts of the world, and we would share stories about our cultures and backgrounds. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn about different perspectives, and I felt that it enriched my exchange experience.
Formals are a unique tradition that is part of the Oxford University experience. Each college has its own distinct formal dinner. However, one of the great things about formals is that they are not limited to one's own college. Students have the opportunity to attend formals at other colleges, providing a chance to experience different dining halls and socialize with students from other academic backgrounds. This tradition fosters a sense of community and camaraderie among students, and it is a great way to meet new people and learn more about the diverse student body at Oxford. Attending formals at different colleges also adds to the cultural experience of being an Oxford student, as each college has its own unique traditions and atmosphere.
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Although my exchange experience was mostly positive, there were some challenges that I encountered along the way. One of the difficulties I faced was adapting to the academic culture at Oxford. The academic standards were much higher than what I was used to in Hong Kong, and the workload was intense. The discussion is very academic rather than practical. Yet, while everyone seems to be having fun travelling on exchange, the burden of writing essays every week is indeed heavy at Oxford. I had to learn how to manage my time effectively and develop new study habits while balancing the social experience of meeting elites at Oxford. I found that seeking help from my tutors and peers was essential in overcoming this difficulty.
In addition to the many positive experiences that come with studying at Oxford, some students may also face challenges related to mental health. One such challenge is seasonal depression, which can affect students during the winter months when the days are shorter and the weather is colder. The lack of sunlight can cause feelings of sadness, fatigue, and irritability, which can make it difficult for students to focus on their studies and enjoy their time at Oxford.
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Studying abroad at Oxford was a life-changing experience that enriched my personal growth in countless ways. For one, it expanded my worldview exponentially. Being immersed in an international environment exposed me to a kaleidoscope of cultures, languages, and ideas that made me appreciate the beauty of diversity and broadened my horizons in ways I never imagined. Secondly, my communication skills reached new heights. I made lifelong friends from all corners of the world who would send me hilarious memes and heartfelt holiday greetings long after our unforgettable time together had ended. The bonds I forged were as strong as the memories we created, and I emerged from my exchange experience with a newfound sense of confidence and a more nuanced understanding of the world around me.
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Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to the donor who made my exchange experience possible. Without their generosity, the opportunity to study at one of the most prestigious universities in the world would be more costly. This opportunity has had a significant impact on my personal development, and I will cherish the memories and lessons I learned for a lifetime. Thank you for your support and investment in the education of students like myself. Your contribution has made a difference in my life and the lives of other students who have had the opportunity to study abroad. 
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Fung, Yuen Kei

Utrecht University

During my academic exchange, I attended Utrecht University: University College Utrecht (UCU), located in The Netherlands. Founded in 1998, UCU is a Liberal Arts and Sciences college that creates a unique atmosphere of community and participation through small-class learning, a wide range of on and off-campus activities, and a diverse student and staff population. Similar to an American-style college campus, the classroom, student accommodation, staff offices, and social facilities are located on the same campus, allowing students to maximise their academic and extra-curricular potential.
UCU provides a three-year Liberal Arts and Sciences bachelor programme for their full-degree students. Liberal education offers students the flexibility to experiment with a wide range of subjects and classes to obtain a well-rounded education while challenging their beliefs. Their classes are in a small-scale, interactive, discussion-based format to promote diverse thinking and self-learning. Moreover, group work and alternative assessments like writing papers and presentations are utilised to test the student in a multifaceted manner.
I enjoyed the chance to engage in academic debate and the small group assignments since they allowed me to listen and learn from other students and meet new friends. The need for time-management is needed at UCU due to the high amounts of reading and self-studying required in preparation for each lesson. Personally, I highly appreciated the quick feedback from the teachers after each assignment and all the support from my tutor when planning my studies at UCU.
During my time at UCU, I took three courses: Medicinal Chemistry, Mechanisms of Disease, and Molecular Biology of the Cell II. All of these courses pushed me out of my academic comfort zone due to the content's difficulty, but I enjoyed trying out alternative assessment methods. For instance, I got to conduct my own drug design project for my Medicinal Chemistry course, which gave me insight into the real-life application of drug synthesis.
Throughout my academic exchange, I was fortunate to meet many people from different backgrounds and cultures. These included students from the host university, other exchange students, and people on my travels. With UCU being such a diverse environment, many of the full-time students were not from the Netherlands; even if so, they had many international experiences. Being in an environment with such a diverse group of people equipped me with the opportunity to become exposed to different types of people and ideologies, allowing me to gain a worldlier way of thinking. Since the teaching method at UCU was significantly different to that of HKU, the professors were accommodating and helpful in my situation.
There was a wide range of student-run non-academic activities. One of my fondest memories was partaking in the introweek, organised by the student association to introduce all the exchange students and new students to each other and the existing students. This opportunity gave me a platform to meet new people and get to know Utrecht and the school on a deeper level. Moreover, I travelled around Europe during the semester, allowing me to observe different places and cultures first-hand.
At the beginning of my exchange, settling down was pretty tricky since the Netherlands' weather and culture were really different from that of Hong Kong. Also, with COVID regulations, we could not go to restaurants and visit many sites due to closure. However, with the relaxation of COVID regulations, this would no longer be a major difficulty. Still, keeping a positive and open mind is vital when trying to assimilate into a new place.
The opportunity to spend the semester abroad in the Netherlands was tremendously enriching socially and academically. Travelling around Europe gave me the chance to gain cultural awareness and create once-in-a-lifetime memories. Through this, I have met a diverse group of people of different cultural and academic backgrounds, where we got to exchange experiences and ideas, in which I got to learn how other people approach different situations; It was definitely an eye-opening experience.
Not only have I learned many academic and study skills from the alternative teaching method I experienced at UCU, but I also learned how to be more open-minded and confident. Before my exchange, I found it difficult to initiate conversations with strangers since I am introverted. Still, during my exchange, I was exposed to many situations where I had to talk to strangers and make new friends, hence, having to be more assertive.
I thoroughly enjoyed my exchange! The application and credit transfer processes were smooth and encountered no significant difficulties. However, at times, it was difficult to contact the host university, most likely due to the time difference and the lack of staff on their end.

Yip, Yui Yan Hillary

Peking University

I am delighted that I was able to have the opportunity to do an exchange study at Peking University. As we all know, Peking University is one of the top universities in China, both in terms of teachers and student population.
Time flies, just a few months of study soon came to an end, however, I can not calm my emotions for a long time. I can still see the Lake of the Unknown and the Boya Tower in my mind. The teachings of the famous teachers and the laughter of my classmates are still ringing in my ears. During my exchange at Peking University, I was also actively involved in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Club and met a group of outstanding seniors. Under their leadership, I started to think deeply about my future and had a clearer goal to strive for.
Apart from that, I took two main professional courses and four elective courses at Peking University. The classes that impressed me most were the “WEIQI” class and “The Art of Fiction”. The WEIQI class was taught by Professor Fang Tianfeng, the famous WEIQI coach of the national team. Under his careful guidance, I was introduced to WEIQI, how to play it and some of the most basic techniques. Secondly, “The Art of Fiction” was taught by the famous novelist, Professor Cao Wenxuan. For me, who loves reading fiction books, I found this opportunity very valuable.
During my time at Peking University, I have really felt what group life is. I have learned to be tolerant in dormitory life, and I have also met a group of lively and lovely classmates. They were also my tutors in my studies, and in life we were like friends, eating together and attending classes every day. Every time after dinner, we would take a walk in the playground of Peking University or go to Weiming Lake to watch the sunset. Whenever I was unhappy, they were always there to comfort me; and when I encountered difficulties, they would work with me to find a solution.
What I will remember most about the whole exchange is the beautiful campus, the lovely students and the teachers. I would like to thank Peking University and the University of Hong Kong for being willing to give me this opportunity to do this exchange and the donors for providing us with exchange scholarships. Finally, I just want to express that this exchange has been really valuable to me and it will be an unforgettable experience in my life. I am grateful to everyone I met during the exchange. I will remember all of you and it is really a good memory for me.

Hong, Ka Ki