Experience Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong Past Review
By Vivian Y (Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University) for
Chinese University of Hong Kong: Hong Kong - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
This program is definitely worthwhile (if you're taking the Fundamentals in Chinese Medicine course). The visits to chinese medicine clinics and tours around Hong Kong allowed me to see several diverse aspects of Hong Kong (both its mountainous regions, cities, beaches, and natural landmarks).
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Your class grade is entirely dependent on the final exam. Homework, quizzes, and midterm exams do not exist (in the Fundamentals in Chinese Medicine course), and the majority of the course focuses on memorization (of herbal names, functions, formulae, theories, etc.) instead of understanding and applying concepts. However, the final exam tests basic concepts learned in class and the professors prepare you well for the final exam. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Roughly 700 students were enrolled in this program. The administration is very organized and addresses issues rather quickly. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Canteen food isn't too bad, but it isn't the best either. I would recommend dining out occasionally, especially on the weekends since the canteens close at 6 PM. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program hosts weekly trips that include tours of Hong Kong, some of its Islands, theme parks and Buddhist temples. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is situated on a large mountain and is a considerable distance away from major cities. The campus was very safe and consisted mostly of local students enrolled in summer courses and international students involved in this program. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Food is very inexpensive in Hong Kong: each meal is roughly $2-3 dollars (US). Plan to spend roughly $60 per week on food. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | You may end up using the MTR system more often than you planned, so it would be advised to allocate sufficient funds for transportation alone. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Fundamentals in Chinese Medicine |
| Course Department: | Humanities and Social Sciences; UGEB2831 |
| Instructor: | Albert WN Leung, Zhi Xiu Lin, and Ching Liong |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This is definitely an interesting course that teaches both the philosophical foundations and modern applications of Chinese medicine. The course includes several tutorials, during which students learn to distinguish different pulses with the help of pulse simulators, view different needles used in acupuncture, and learn other methods used in Chinese medicine. Additionally, the course also includes a class trip to a chinese medicine hospital and a one-day shadowing session with a chinese medicine practitioner at the university's chinese medicine clinic. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Nope. |
