The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

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Accommodation

In order to experience HKUST life to the full, overseas-time students are normally offered on-campus accommodation.  There are six undergraduate halls of residence.  Most rooms are shared, and are air-conditioned and furnished.  There are provisions for linking personal computers to the university network.

Daily Living

There are a number of food outlets on campus, offering, Chinese, other Asian, as well as international food, at affordable prices.  There are also banks, postal services, a supermarket, hair salon, bookshop, souvenir shop, and self-service photocopiers.  A health center is available with medical and dental clinics. 

Learning Facilities

Classrooms and lecture theaters are equipped with advanced teaching facilities with teaching and research laboratories offering high-tech facilities.  As a cutting edge university, the advanced IT network at HKUST covers all parts of the University and has bilingual Chinese and English capability. 

Meanwhile, the five-storey library is centrally located on campus and open seven days a week.  Its book, periodical and microfilm collections total around 670,000 volumes, plus 30,000 media materials, 290 electronic databases and 12,000 full-text e-journals. 

Sports and Recreation

The campus offers a great range of free sports facilities including a 50m outdoor and 25m indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a rock-climbing wall, squash courts, tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, an astroturf soccer pitch and eight-lane 400-meter track.  The large sports hall of 1,600 square meters floor space is ideal for indoor sports such as badminton, basketball, and handball.   Multi-purpose rooms can host a wide variety of activities including table-tennis, aerobic dance, fencing, martial arts, and indoor archery.  For those musically inclined, karaoke and equipped music rooms are available.

Clubs and Societies

The Student Union at HKUST oversees over 100 student societies and clubs.  Join one of these clubs and pick up a new hobby, brush up your sports skills, or network with people in your academic major. 

This section identifies the academic levels and subject areas that are offered at this institution. For a detailed list of course titles and levels you should contact the institution directly using the contact details provided.

Name: Yeldos Mukhtaruly

Age: 18

Country of origin: Kazakhstan

Programme: BA in Electronic Engineering (Information and Communication Engineering)

Overview

Like many other students before him, Yeldos was awed by his first impressions of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).  “I was pretty amazed by the campus ocean view when I first got here.  The student halls are located conveniently and I met interesting people from all over the world.” 

Now finishing up his first semester of a three year Bachelor of Engineering program, Yeldos offers further insight, “I am in the Electronic Engineering Department and the classroom and laboratory facilities are very high tech.  My professors and tutors are really helpful too – I can freely talk to them whenever I have questions.  I am now preparing for my fall semester final exams and the library provides a perfect atmosphere to study.”

Looking back at his education path, Yeldos agrees that it has been a unique journey.  As a child growing up in Almaty, he had always been fascinated by the logic of science and math.  He began to pursue those subjects more deeply when he won a contest in seventh grade for entry into the Republican Physics and Math School (O.Zhautykov), one of the best schools in Kazakhstan. 

In his senior high school years, Yeldos decided to join the International Baccalaureate program and moved to Beijing to study in an international school.  The transition to the IB Diploma Program was demanding at first but it gave him the opportunity to study in English, take part in community service projects, and gain hands on knowledge through lab work and research projects.  It was in the midst of this challenging experience that he confirmed his academic interests to enter the engineering field.   During this time, Yeldos also experienced the best of the Chinese culture and hoped to stay in the region for his university education.  He ultimately chose HKUST for his undergraduate studies seeing that it has one of the best engineering programs in Asia.

When asked if he has anything to say to prospective students, Yeldos sums it up nicely,” I think studying in a university ranked 39th in the world for its academic achievements, and located in one of the most developed cities in the world, is already enough for you to pursue your higher education here.  I guarantee you would not regret it!”

Tuition fees

HK$80,000 per academic year (approx. US$10,000)

Living costs

Hall charges HK$12,000 per academic year (approx. US$1,500)

Living Costs (for utilities, food, transportation, textbooks, personal spending, etc.)

Approx. HK$5,000 per month, HK$50,000 per academic year (approx. US $6,000)

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for international students on a merit basis.

HKUST welcomes applications from students with diverse education backgrounds.  You may be considered for admission for an undergraduate degree if you can satisfy our general university entrance requirements, English language requirement and program-specific entry standards.  For details, please refer to: www.ust.hk/international/admissions/requirements

All of our programs are taught in English and lead to Honor’s Degrees.  Most of our programs are designed to be completed within 3 years.  Depending on your education background, you may be required to complete additional foundation courses which might extend your study by 1 year.

Apply online or download paper application at www.ust.hk/international
Application deadline for the September 2009 academic year: 31 March 2009