Details

• China
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

I would definitely recommend booking flights early, as prices can increase a lot closer to the departure date. It is also important to organize vaccinations in advance, especially if you are planning to travel around Asia during or after the exchange semester. Some vaccinations require multiple appointments, so starting early makes everything much less stressful. In general, it helps to deal with topics such as health insurance, visa requirements, and all documents sent by the university as early as possible. Some documents had to be sent by post, and because I organized them quite late, I had to pay extra for express shipping. I would also recommend learning a little bit about Hong Kong’s culture before arriving. However, overall the preparation process was much more relaxed than I expected. I personally did not prepare very extensively, and everything still worked out perfectly fine. The most important thing is really to take care of vaccinations and official documents early enough.

2. Accommodation

CUHK offers on-campus student housing, which is definitely the best option financially. I paid a little over 200 euros per month, which is extremely cheap for Hong Kong, especially considering that apartments in Hong Kong are usually very small and expensive. Students can choose between different accommodation options, including the International House and other colleges/residences. One of the other accommodations offered shared dinners every evening, which many people really enjoyed because it was very social and helped students meet more locals and other exchange students. I personally stayed at I-House and liked the more independent atmosphere without mandatory dinners. The rooms themselves are very basic. Most rooms are around 12 square meters, and you usually share them with one or two other people, so there is almost no privacy. Exchange students from the same university were mostly placed together, which was nice for us as WU students because we all lived together. However, there is always a chance of being placed with local students instead, and living styles can be quite different. The accommodation is simple and sometimes honestly feels a bit like a dormitory or even a “prison style” setup, with shared bathrooms and very basic furniture. I-House is also located slightly farther away from the MTR station than some of the other residences. In addition, you have to buy your own bedsheets and some basic household items after arrival. Still, for the price and the overall experience, I think the accommodation is absolutely worth it, especially if you come prepared for the fact that comfort and privacy are limited.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus of CUHK is very large, green, and modern. There are gyms, libraries, cafeterias, small supermarkets, cafés, sports facilities, and basically everything you need directly on campus. Since the campus is located on a hill, you walk a lot, but there are also shuttle buses around the university. As a WUPOL student, I still found many suitable courses, and all of my courses were recognized by WU without problems. In general, I would say that the courses were similarly difficult to those in Vienna. The workload is manageable, but continuous assessment plays a much bigger role than at WU. There are many group projects, presentations, participation grades, quizzes, and midterms throughout the semester. One difference is that the university is stricter regarding the use of AI tools and plagiarism. Grading is also more competitive because results depend partly on the performance of the other students in the course. However, in practice this usually means that almost everyone passes, and it is relatively difficult to completely fail a course. It is also possible to choose courses without final exams, although these courses usually require more presentations and group work during the semester instead. This can be a good option if you prefer continuous assessment over one large final exam. Courses I personally found especially interesting were China Economy and Global Environmental Challenges. I would also recommend taking Microeconomics or Macroeconomics courses, because they are useful and relatively easy to get recognized for ECTS credits at WU.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Hong Kong is very convenient and safe. The public transport system is excellent, especially the MTR, which is fast, clean, and easy to use. You can reach almost every part of the city quickly by metro, bus, or minibus with the Octopus Card. However, the MTR only runs until around midnight. After going out or partying at night, getting back to the CUHK campus often meant taking an Uber or taxi, which could become quite expensive, usually around €25–30 per ride back to campus. Hong Kong is also one of the safest big cities I have personally experienced. Even late at night, I generally always felt very safe using public transport or walking around the city. Social life during the exchange semester was very active. There were many events organized by exchange student groups, university societies, and student residences. Because many exchange students live on campus together, it is easy to meet people and make friends quickly. In terms of leisure activities, Hong Kong offers much more nature than many people expect. There are beaches and surfing, islands, hiking trails, viewpoints, and many outdoor activities directly accessible from the city. Sports facilities on campus are also good, with gyms, sports halls, running tracks, and different university sports clubs available for students.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester at CUHK was one of the best and most intense experiences of my life. What made it especially unique was the combination of living in one of the most exciting cities in the world while also having easy access to travel all around Asia. I met incredible people from all over the world, experienced a completely different university culture, and grew a lot personally through the challenges and independence of living abroad. Hong Kong itself surprised me most with its mix of huge city life, nature, beaches, and mountains all in one place.