"The stories and experiences you bring back home will entertain your friends for years." — Klim Nikishin about the opportunities the mysterious Hong Kong offers to students

Klim Nikishin, a 4th year Business Informatics student at the HSE Graduate School of Business, spent the 2022-2023 academic year at the City University of Hong Kong and shared why Asian metropolices should be chosen over European universities

Choosing a university  

Initially, I didn’t consider participating in a mobility program. However, after receiving advice from my friends and reading reviews from other students published on the website of the GSB International Office, I decided to give it a try. I’ve always been captivated by photos and videos showcasing the vibrant Asian metropolises illuminated by lights in the evening time. The different vibes of Europe and Asian cities, Hong Kong especially, astounded me. Moreover, I’ve been to Europe multiple times, so I wanted to try something completely new and applied to two Asian universities - City University of Hong Kong (or simply CityU) and Seoul. Upon receiving approval from CityU's International Exchange Centre, I began preparing my documents for mobility.

Required Documents  

CityU requires students to fill out an online application form on their website, providing some personal details such as home university major, a photo for a student ID, a bank statement, a scan of passport, etc.

Students are also required to send some of the documents by post directly to Hong Kong. The pack of documents includes: a completed visa application form and bank account details to pay the visa application fee. It is not possible to pay the fee upon arrival to Hong Kong, so the university proceeds the payment. To make the process easier, I advise students to get a foreign bank card in advance and top up the balance to HK$500. The visa is sent to students by post and must be printed before arrival to Hong Kong. 

Arrival in Hong Kong  

I arrived in Hong Kong in the summer of 2022. At that time China still had some of the strictest COVID-19 regulations. Prior to arrival, I had to take a PCR test, provide proof of vaccination and book a hotel room for self-isolation. I was supposed to spend seven days being isolated, but shortly before my arrival, the restrictions got __ and I ended up being "imprisoned" for three days only. After that, I moved to another hotel and stayed there for four more days before I could finally check-in to the student dorm.

The great news is that the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in March 2023. Today there’s no need to worry about any COVID-19 procedures prior or upon arrival in Hong Kong. People are not required to wear masks anymore, although we all got used to that already. It takes 13 hours to get to Hong Kong by plane with layovers either in Beijing, Dubai or Istanbul. 

Accommodation and meals  

All exchange students are offered dormitory accommodation at an affordable price of HK$6,000 per semester. The rooms are made for 2 people with a shared bathroom for two of such rooms. Hong Kong is famous for the highest housing prices in the world, so students who would like to live off campus, rent an apartment or a room, would need to pay approximately HK$6,000 per month. 

CityU offers affordable meals as well. There are four canteens on campus, including one in the dormitory. The city itself has a wide range of cafes, restaurants and canteens. The Kowloon district offers anything from Chinese cafes to cosy coffee shops with bookshelves, while the fancy European restaurants with summer terraces are located in Kennedy Town.

Study at CityU 

The CityU campus is very conveniently located in the peaceful area of the city. It is easy to get to the city center and travel outside of Hong Kong from campus. The university area is nice and modern, although navigation might be confusing at first. 

During the application process, students can pre-select up to 10 courses and rank them by priority. It doesn’t mean that students will be enrolled in all of them, assignment to different classes depends on the number of applications for each course and…luck. Two weeks prior to the term, students are invited to join an online course selection system, which can be a bit challenging to navigate. But host university coordinators are really helpful and always ready to answer all of the questions regarding the course selection process. 

I took 5 courses at the host university. Studying at CityU is not that difficult compared to HSE. The majority of courses I took were easy to pass, as the individual assignments and group projects had a reliable contribution to the final grade. It’s important to keep in mind that many classes have blocking elements, so reading the syllabus carefully is a must. Students at CityU cannot retake a course if an unsatisfactory grade is received, so it’s better to take studies seriously from the very first day. 

Extracurricular activities  

Participation in different extracurricular activities was the most enjoyable part of my mobility experience. Hong Kong has a lot to offer: from museums to Lan Kwai Fong (better known as LKF) nightclubs with vibrant streets full of neon signs. 

But Hong Kong isn’t about the city life only, it’s also about the stunning nature that surrounds it! Hiking (walking along mountain paths surrounded by nature) is a very popular activity there. There are numerous routes to explore in Hong Kong, each offering breathtaking scenery and an abundance of tropical fauna. After an exhilarating hike in the mountains, who could resist the temptation to reach a beautiful waterfall, take a refreshing break and dive in a mountain spring? Those who prefer spending time more actively, there are plenty of other options to choose from: kayaking, paragliding, surfing, bike rides, and enjoying a visit to one of the public beaches. By the way, Hong Kong even has its own fully-fledged Disneyland!

Of course, there are many opportunities for those who love traveling. Hong Kong is very conveniently located as it’s possible to fly to almost any corner of East Asia from the local airport. During my exchange year, I visited Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Macau, and Singapore. Those who want to visit the rest of China (e.g. Beijing or Shanghai), a special visa is required, even though it is formally part of China.

Conclusion 

After this year of exchange, I can confidently say that it has been one of the most fascinating and fulfilling periods of my life. It is a wonderful opportunity to broaden my horizons, to experience how vast and culturally diverse the world is. I mean, where else can you make friends from all corners of the globe who make you feel right at home no matter where you are? And let's not forget about the amazing stories and experiences I've gathered during my time abroad – they are sure to keep my friends entertained for years to come!