How to Study in Hong Kong: Curriculum Systems and Their Characteristics
Hong Kong’s universities offer undergraduate programs that, like those in mainland China, typically last four years. Master’s degrees are divided into two types: taught postgraduate and research postgraduate. Research postgraduate programs are somewhat similar to PhDs in that applicants must submit a research proposal and ideally have an academic or creative background with publications; otherwise, admission is difficult. Most research postgraduates receive generous scholarships, and the universities have well-established research systems, allowing students to work alongside their supervisors on cutting-edge research. Mainland graduates who come to Hong Kong for further study are mostly admitted to taught master’s programs rather than research ones. Admissions decisions are based primarily on the applicant’s undergraduate institution (whether it is a first-tier or second-tier university, a "Double First-Class" university, etc.), grade point average, English proficiency scores (IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, CET-4/6, etc.), along with other academic and non-academic certificates and qualifications. The process is comprehensive and tailored to each individual, much like applying for a job—you submit a complete portfolio of your credentials. Previous work and academic experience, awards, and publications are also important factors considered in the admissions decision.
The University of Hong Kong
Regarding course structure, using undergraduate and taught master’s programs as examples, many courses extend beyond the traditional lecture format, where students passively listen to the instructor. They incorporate workshops, tutorials, placements, and other task-based learning activities such as seminars and practical sessions, enabling students to actively engage in knowledge construction, critical discussion, and the completion of independent or group projects. Each student has access to a learning management system account (Moodle), which contains all the courses in which they are enrolled. At the beginning of the semester, instructors upload the curriculum outline to Moodle. This document provides a comprehensive overview of the course, including its objectives, content and significance, all assessment topics, formats and deadlines, weekly teaching topics, and recommended readings. Before each weekly class, instructors upload teaching resources to the course system, including lecture slides, recommended readings, articles, and videos—all available to students free of charge. Students can download these materials for preview and review. Instructors typically provide extensive materials, systematically organizing a wide range of recommended resources aligned with the weekly topics. Additionally, Moodle offers many other features—for instance, most universities’ Moodle platforms are linked to global electronic libraries, allowing students to download e-books and articles directly without needing to create additional accounts or pay fees.
Similarly, assessment at Hong Kong universities—like at many international institutions—extends beyond final examinations. It includes various components such as essays, presentations, literature reviews, projects, placements, class participation, and exams, each contributing a specific percentage to the final grade. A typical assessment structure might consist of a short essay worth 30%, a long essay worth 50%, and a group presentation worth 20%, with no final exam at all. Attendance is also crucial; students are generally required to maintain an attendance rate above 80%, or they may automatically fail. In this system, diligent students who actively engage with the course material tend to perform well, while those who try to coast through often struggle—effort and grades are closely correlated. Students who consistently follow the course throughout the semester and complete the recommended readings find that they gain a great deal, deepening their understanding of the subject and the field. Far from feeling that university is dull or pointless, they find it genuinely enriching and rewarding.
For taught master’s programs, although they typically last one year and do not require a traditional thesis, the workload is substantial. Students take ten to twelve courses, each requiring a short essay of 2,000–3,000 words, a long essay of 4,000–5,000 words, and a presentation—totaling roughly 8,000–9,000 words of written work per course. Many courses also have strict requirements regarding the number of references cited. To succeed, students must read extensively, covering a large volume of books and articles. Over the course of the year, the total volume of written work can reach approximately 100,000 words. Honestly, this may well exceed the amount of writing required for a three-year master’s program that only demands a final thesis. Hong Kong universities place great emphasis on academic integrity: all written assignments are checked for plagiarism, and it is absolutely impossible to pass by copying or fabrication.
CUHK Library
In conclusion, I recommend that students who have the means apply to study in Hong Kong at the undergraduate level immediately after the college entrance exams. At the very least, they should consider pursuing their master’s degree in Hong Kong. Universities in Hong Kong generally adopt a non-interventionist approach to students’ time outside of academic work—that is, their personal lives. With around five courses per semester, each offering at least three time slots per week, including weekend and evening sessions, students should make their course selections early in the semester. Ideally, they should schedule their five courses across just two or three days per week, leaving the remaining days free. This arrangement provides large, uninterrupted blocks of time to spend in the library reading quality books, cultivating long-term, meaningful hobbies, taking on part-time work to earn money, and participating in valuable academic or social activities and projects. (Donnie Wang)
