Details

• China
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

For the application process, I would recommend getting information as early as possible and allowing sufficient time to obtain it. Also, be sure to read the "Erfahrungsberichte" from the universities that appeal to you. I would also recommend talking to other students or friends who have already spent a semester abroad and asking them about their experiences, tips and recommendations. It is also advisable to dedicate sufficient time to the motivation letter, as in my case, the interview questions were strongly based on the content and questions addressed in the motivation letter. For preparing your semester abroad, I would try to find out as much as possible about the university and the courses, for example, not just choosing a course based on its name or brief description, but taking a look at the exact course content. Furthermore, I would allow sufficient time to find accommodation if campus living is not guaranteed or if you want to live off campus. I would also try to take the "IKK" course that is specific to your destination because, in my case, I had the chance to get to know some people who went to the same destination and/or university, which was really helpful as it allowed us to exchange information and prepare together. If that is not possible for you, I would try to contact the students who are going to the same university via their WU mail (available in the OSS under "Outgoing - My exchange program").

2. Accommodation

I found the accommodation through a brochure for off-campus offers provided by the exchange university. The accommodation was private and comparable to a private student residence, as most residents were exchange students. I stayed at Weave Studios, which has several locations across Hong Kong, and lived at the Olympic location.The location was very convenient, as it was situated directly between two subway stations, each about a ten-minute walk away. From there, both the exchange university and the city centre of Hong Kong (Central Station) could be reached in about half an hour. Throughout my stay, I always felt safe, and the building also had a lobby that was staffed 24 hours a day. However, it is important to mention that most off-campus housing options in Hong Kong are very expensive. In retrospect, I wish I had known beforehand that the on-campus housing option for exchange students from my exchange university was located outside the city centre, as it took around 40 minutes to get to the university and about an hour to reach the city centre of Hong Kong. Overall, I would strongly recommend arranging accommodation as early as possible if you plan to live off campus.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus is not too big, and right next to the university there is a large mall with restaurants and shops, where the MTR station is also located. I found the signage on campus rather confusing and, especially at the beginning, it took me longer to find rooms, particularly when they were not in the main building. However, during Welcome Week there is a campus tour as well as an app with a campus map, which definitely helps you find your way around more easily. In terms of academic culture and teaching style, most courses were comparable to lectures at WU and mainly consisted of lecture-based, frontal teaching, with little to no interactive participation during class. I only had one course in which active participation was graded. It is also important to mention that I had at least one group work assignment in every course, and some of these were not easy to coordinate. Based on my personal experience, local students were often less cooperative when it came to group work. In contrast, the other exchange students I worked with were very helpful, supportive and easy to collaborate with. Regarding assessments, the assignments were usually transparent, and it was clear what was expected. However, I did not feel the same way about the exams, as no past exams or similar preparation materials were provided, which made exam preparation more challenging.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Hong Kong was very convenient and enjoyable. Public transport, especially the MTR network, was extremely efficient, reliable and easy to understand, particularly with the help of Google Maps. Getting around the city was therefore very straightforward, even at the beginning of my stay. In terms of safety, I experienced Hong Kong as a very safe city. Even when being out in the city in the evening, I never encountered a situation in which I felt unsafe or at risk. Regarding social and leisure activities, Hong Kong offers countless options. The unique combination of a vibrant city, beaches, and mountains really provides something for everyone. There are many great restaurants and bars, and a popular weekly event is horse racing on Wednesdays, which can be attended for free if you bring your passport. In addition, it is very easy to travel outside of Hong Kong; for example, Shenzhen can be reached directly by train in about fifteen minutes. In terms of sports, the university offered a fitness centre, although, as far as I know, an introductory course had to be completed beforehand. My accommodation also had a small gym with basic equipment such as treadmills and weights. In addition, there are many gyms and sports facilities throughout the city, and platforms such as ClassPass allow you to try out a wide variety of sports classes.

6. Testimonial

My time in Hong Kong was unforgettable! I can truly recommend anyone who has the opportunity to do a semester abroad there to take it. During my time there, I had the chance to meet so many amazing people. In my opinion, Hong Kong is also perfectly located for travelling. I had the opportunity to visit countries such as Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea while I was there, and no destination took longer than a four-hour flight. If you have any further questions or would like to know more, feel free to contact me via my university email.