Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Gateway to Asia Past Review

By (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/29/2016 to 06/02/2016 with

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: Hong Kong - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
New perspectives on other civilizations. I had never been so exposed to Asian culture in that way. I traveled to many countries in Asia and their way of living is drastically different from how it's like in North America and Europe. People are pretty honest in general, have a sense of pride, aren't as hygienic or social as we expect ourselves to be.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Very interesting business classes. FINA 3404 and GBUS 3050 were my favorite.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Really cheap for Hong Kong.

* Food:

Asian food isn't for everyone in the long run, but there's western options on campus as well.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Locals are not easy to get along with.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Free doctor on campus.

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Hong Kong is the best option to get to know Asia in the most comfortable way. You can get reasonable flights to anywhere in Asia, and the city is very fun for young people. It's also easy to get around on a budget.

Finances

* 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)

Depends how much you went out. It can be expensive, but if you eat on campus it's around $70/week. You can cut on that if you cook.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Maybe $130
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Look for cheap flights when you travel. Don't go to touristy areas to eat. Walk and take public transportation as much as you can.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The city
  • The international community in Hong Kong
  • Access to the rest of Asia
* What could be improved?
  • A better partner school could be Hong Kong University
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Charles Schwab doesn't charge ATM fees or foreign exchange fees. Maybe a little more Mandarin, but it's too difficult. More history about Asia and specifically of the places I was interested in traveling to.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.