Details

• China
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Before coming to Hong Kong, I would recommend checking early which vaccinations or health precautions are advised, especially if you plan to travel around Asia during the exchange. It is also useful to learn some basics about Hong Kong beforehand, such as how public transport works, how to use an Octopus card, and what the general cost of living is like. Another important point is to organize your accommodation and dormitory arrangements as early as possible, since this can make the arrival much easier. I would also recommend bringing a small amount of cash for the first few days, even though card and mobile payments are widely used. For my trip to Hong Kong, I flew with Hainan Airlines, which was a very good experience. After arriving at the airport, I took an Uber directly to the CUHK campus, which cost around €30 and was a convenient option with luggage.

2. Accommodation

I lived in a double room with another student from WU. The allocation was random, but in my experience they usually try to place you with someone from your home university. My dorm was directly on campus, which was very convenient because most places could be reached easily by the university shuttle bus. In terms of safety and location, living on campus was definitely a good choice, especially at the beginning when everything is still new. One tip I would definitely give is to order a mattress topper or mattress from Taobao, as the beds can be quite hard. I would also only buy the most basic things from the nearby IKEA at first, because almost everything else is much cheaper on Taobao. Once you understand how Taobao works, it is probably the easiest and cheapest way to get things for your dorm.

3. Academic life at host university

Academic life at CUHK was very manageable overall. The campus is really big and there is a lot to do outside of classes. They have many sports facilities directly on campus, including tennis courts, football fields, gyms and other options, so it is easy to stay active. The university also has shuttle buses, which makes getting around campus much easier. Compared to WU Vienna, I found the classes to be fairly easy and not too stressful. My courses were quite basic, and it was possible to get good grades without an extreme amount of effort, as long as you attended classes and kept up with the assignments. The teaching style was generally practical and structured, with several smaller assignments, presentations or exams during the semester instead of only one big final exam. I took DOTE 4240 Supply Chain & Logistics Analysis, ECON 3310 Economy of China, FINA 3210 Risk Management and Insurance, and MGNT 4130 Management Consulting and Change Management. I liked all of them and would recommend them to future exchange students. Supply Chain & Logistics Analysis was especially useful because it can be accredited for BLP at WU. My grades were A- in Supply Chain & Logistics Analysis, B in Economy of China, B+ in Risk Management and Insurance, and B+ in Management Consulting and Change Management. Overall, I would say CUHK is a very good choice academically, especially if you want a semester that is interesting but still leaves enough time to travel and enjoy Hong

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Hong Kong was very easy to get used to. Public transport is excellent, especially with the MTR, buses and the Octopus card, which you can use almost everywhere. From CUHK, it is quite easy to reach most parts of the city by train, although it can take some time because the campus is a bit outside the city center. Hong Kong also felt very safe, even late at night, and I never really had any problems moving around the city. There are also many things to do in your free time. Hong Kong has a great mix of city life, nature, beaches, hikes, restaurants, bars and nightlife. A very popular weekly event among exchange students is the horse racing in Happy Valley on Wednesdays. Many students go there to meet friends, have drinks and enjoy the atmosphere, even if they are not really interested in horse racing itself. It is more of a social event and definitely something I would recommend trying at least once. Another highlight was the Hong Kong Sevens, which is a major rugby event and a very big social event in the city. Even if you are not a rugby fan, the atmosphere is really fun, with many international people, costumes, music and parties around the event. In general, Hong Kong offers a lot for students, and it is very easy to combine university life with exploring the city and meeting new people.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester at CUHK was a great mix of studying, meeting new people and exploring Hong Kong. What made it special was the combination of a beautiful campus, an exciting city, and the chance to travel around Asia during the semester. I really enjoyed the social life, the events, the food and the general energy of Hong Kong. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience and I would definitely recommend it to future exchange students.