Is Hong Kong a good place to study?
Should you study in Hong Kong as an Indian student? Find out if Hong Kong is a good place to study with our guide.
Choosing the right university to study is no easy feat, as there are thousands of excellent educational institutions both in India and abroad.
Over the past few years, more and more students have opted to study in Hong Kong universities, partly because the country has top-notch degree programs, one of the fastest-growing economies, and plenty of opportunities after graduating.
If you’re already planning to fill in that Hong Kong visa application form and apply to universities, here are some of the top reasons why Hong Kong makes for a good place to complete your education.
Hong Kong has high-quality universities
No matter which speciality you choose, there are dozens of internationally recognized universities in Hong Kong that cater to every field of study.
Although it was established in 1991, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Business School has already been recognized as one of the most respected business schools in all of Asia. HKUST offers undergraduate degrees as well as full-time MBA, MSc, and PhD programs, as well as a special EMBA partnership with the Kellogg School of Management. In fact, the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA program was ranked the best in the world by the Financial Times ten times.
Other exceptional universities in Hong Kong include Hong Kong Polytechnic University for tourism (rated best in the world in the “Hospitality and Tourism Management” category according to ShanghaiRanking) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong for engineering (winning the Reuters Asia Pacific’s Most Innovative Universities title three years in a row).
There’s so much to do outside of studies
Work hard, play hard, right? After a long semester of diligent studies, it’s time to have some fun.
Although Hong Kong might seem like a small country, there are thousands of things to do for every type of personality. Nature lovers can enjoy the Dragon’s Back Hike, which is the most popular hiking trail in Hong Kong, or venture over to the less-explored northeastern side of the country for beautiful beaches like Hap Mun Wan.
Fashionistas, get those haggling skills (and HKD) ready as you shop the night markets, while amateur photographers should keep their cameras close by — a photo op can appear at any moment, especially in bustling and always-exciting Hong Kong!
Of course, we can’t overlook the food! Thanks to Hong Kong’s melting pot of different cultures, foodies can spend entire weekends exploring trendy dim sum spots, trying new fusion foods in Sham Shui Po, or finding the best boba tea cafe in all of Asia.
Although you’ll quickly get adjusted to life in Hong Kong, don’t forget to be a tourist once in a while and take the Peak Tram up to Victoria’s peak, ride aboard the red-sailed Aqua Luna that’s synonymous with Hong Kong, and take a day trip over to Lantau Island.
It’s close to home
An average academic year in Hong Kong usually consists of the fall semester (September to December) and the spring semester (January to May), with winter and summer breaks in between.
If you’re feeling homesick, don’t fret: there are plenty of non-stop flights from Hong Kong to India. Most are a maximum of five or six hours, which means there’s no need for lengthy stopovers or spending the entire day in transit. Why not surprise your family during the holidays?
Valuable Post-grad opportunities
Hong Kong is often regarded as the gateway to the Asia-Pacific as well as one of the world’s leading financial and business centres. According to a Russell Reynolds Associates’ survey, 10% of companies have their APAC headquarters in Hong Kong, with that number expecting to rise in the coming years.
Hong Kong is a country full of post-graduate opportunities, whether it’s climbing the career ladder, networking with like-minded professionals, or advancing your professional skills.
As a global hub for a multitude of specialities, companies in Hong Kong are constantly on the lookout for new employees, especially in accounting, finance/banking, technology, and communications. Once established, new grads can either advance their career in Hong Kong or transfer to a different region within the company.