Details

• China
• MAWiRe-21
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

From my perspective the most important tip in preparing for your exchange is to start on time. My partner university was in Hong Kong, and I took an airplane to get there. From Hong Kong International Airport I took the subway to my accommodation. To use the subway, I purchased an Octopus card at the airport. I had no problems finding the stop where I had to exit to reach my accommodation. I would recommend purchasing an eSim before landing in Hong Kong. At least for the first few days.

2. Accommodation

The university has a list of different possibilities for accommodation. I looked into many different possibilities and settled on a long-stay hotel. I was very happy with the accommodation. I had my own room with my own bathroom (shower and toilet) and a cleaning service once every week was included as well. I did not have a kitchen, however, the room came with a fridge, a microwave and a kettle. The location of the accommodation was great. I had a circa 10-minute walk to the nearest subway station, and it took me approximately 10 minutes to get to the university on foot. There was a supermarket approximately 5 minutes of walking distance away from the accommodation. The accommodation was safe. The desk in the lobby was occupied 24/7.

3. Academic life at host university

The university has a variety of different facilities on campus. These included, to just name a few, a coffee shop, a pool, a fitness studio, a library, a school supplies shop and free WIFI on campus. Furthermore, the campus had a few canteens, which had good food at affordable prices. In the first week, I had the possibility of visiting as many courses as I wanted to, to then choose the courses that I wanted to take that semester. In some of my courses I had to write a paper and in some of them I had presentations and at the end of all of my courses I had a written exam.

5. Every day life in the host country

During my stay, I almost exclusively used public transportation. Apple Maps was reliable in showing which form of public transportation to use and which exit to use when taking the subway. The host university offered the possibility of joining different clubs. The host country was very safe, and I felt safe during my entire stay.

6. Testimonial

I had never been in Hong Kong before and it was fascinating to see how quickly it was possible to settle into a new country. I loved looking at a new city, getting to know many different people from different countries, trying new food and getting to experience new things. If anyone is thinking of doing a semester abroad, I would recommend it, seeing as how you learn so much about yourself and create many unforgettable memories.