STUDENT REPORT
The University of Hong Kong
Marte Kirkerød
Spring 2007
1. ACADEMIC INFORMATION
General Information about the School
 Hong Kong University (HKU) is located in the Puk Ful Lam areas in Mid Level of Hong
Kong. The campus is divided into 6 different buildings, and is surrounded by beautiful
atmosphere with small “ponds” and palm trees.
 HKU has ten different faculties and departments. The faculty of business is located in Meng
Wah complex, however, most of the lectures for the business students are held in either
Knowles or KK Bulilding.
 HKU had in October 2006, just over 22 200 students, 12 300 undergraduates and 9 900
postgraduates. The university links to more than 400 overseas universities and host over
3 200 international students (Approximately 1 700 of these from mainland China).
 Most of the courses at HKU have a structure of 10-20% of the grade “participation in class”,
1- 2 midterms during the semester and/ or class presentations and/ or tasks solving. Almost
every class finishes of with a final exam in the end of each semester.
The Teaching situation
 All courses, except medical courses, are thought in English at HKU. 45 % of the academic
staff is from overseas, but from my own personal experience was it from time to time
language barriers between the professors and the students.
 During the semester, I felt like my professors and I got a closer relationship compared to my
earlier semesters at BI.
 If the course is practical or not, varies with type of course. I felt like marketing courses where
more practical compared to a finance and economic courses.
 In all my courses, there where a great mix of professors teaching in class and group work.
 Compared to BI, I felt that the workload in HKU where approximately the same, but
different. While we at BI have 100% of the course grade on finals, may the exams in HKU
only be worth 30 – 50 % of your grade. Therefore, the student can relax more during finals,
but on the other hand, have to work harder true the semester
 The relationship between the students in the classroom grew strong during the year because
of the demanding of “participation in class”, group work and group presentations.
Required Literature
 All class literature is taught in English. From my point of view, all literature well written,
inspiring and easy to understand
 If the literature where used for detailed knowledge or a broad overview in the class, varied.
In some classes, like finance and advanced statistics, where the books used for detailed
knowledge. However, in classes like Promotion and Advertising, where the books hardly
used for more that addition information and inspiration.
 In both mid terms and final exams where the material based on a mixture of lectures ands
literature.
Exams
 In the case of type of exams, did I have four individual written-exams and one individual
written home-exam.
 The knowledge level that was required to pass the exams and mid terms where 50% correct
answers. However, it was possible to fail the exam and still pass the class. This because the
exam normally didn’t weight more than ca 40% of your grade.
Other
 HKU has three different libraries. The main-library is located centre of campus.
 Students of HKU have access to all libraries and computer-rooms with a studentidentitycard.
 HKU has three computer-rooms around campus, in addition to a computer-village located in
the main-library. However, during final exams and mid-terms, could it from time to time be
hard to find available seats.
 During class, my professors where mostly using Power Point as IT.
- Courses taken during the semester:
Name:
Prerequisites:
Exam form:
Major at BI:
Comments:
Name:
Prerequisites:
Exam form:
Major at BI:
Comments:
Name:
Prerequisites:
Exam form:
Major at BI:
Comments:
Name:
Prerequisites:
Exam form:
BUSI0004 Advertising Management
Introduction to Marketing and Customer Behavior
Participation in Class:
10%
Group assignment #1:
20%
Group assignment #2:
30%
Final Exam:
40%
Common: Marketing Channels
Inspiring and practical.
BUSI0023 Operation and quality management
None
Participation in Class:
20%
Group presentation:
30%
Individual written home-exam: 40%
Common: Logistics
Relevance and easy
BUSI0071 Strategic Marketing Management
Introduction to Marketing and Customer Behavior
Participation in Class: 10%
Group assignment #1: 20%
Group assignment #2: 20%
Group presentation:
10%
Final Exam:
40%
Elective: (Optional Subject)
Difficult, practical, heavy and very learning.
Major at BI:
Comments:
ECON 1003 Analysis of Economic Data
None
Weekly assignments:
15%
Mid term #1:
15%
Mid term #2:
30%
Final Exam:
40%
Common: (Kvanatitave metoder)
Difficult and theoretical.
Name:
Prerequisites:
Exam form:
FINA1002 Introduction to Finance
None
Weekly assignments:
10%
Major at BI:
Comments:
Mid term #1:
10%
Mid term #2:
10%
Final Exam:
70%
Common: (Introduction to Finance)
Difficult, theoretical and learning.
2. PRACTICAL INFORMATION ON THE SCHOOL AND THE EXCHANGE
EXPERIENCE
Information before you left
 Before arriving HKU, I did not receive any information packages. However, I did not feel
that the lack of information was problematic. If I had questions, the office of exchange
always helped my out through e mails.
Visa Procedure and travel experiences
 If you fallow the guidelines that the University gives you about the visa, they will take care of
your visa and send it to you. If the Visa is not ready before arriving Hong Kong, is neither a
problem because you can stay in Hong Kong for 90 days without visa.
 You have to pay the visa through money transfer, ask the office of exchange at HKU to send
you a paper you can give to your bank.
 I ordered my plain tickets on the Internet.
(Tips: Oasis Hong Kong, has cheap tickets from London to Hong Kong)
Academic Calendar
 The first day we could move in to the halls where 15th of January, and we had to move out
before 11th of June, if not applied of an extension of the hall period.
 Information- and gathering- day for the exchange students, was this semester held 27th of
January.
 First day of class this semester where Monday 29th of January.
 Last day of class this semester where Friday 18th of May.
 Examination period lasted from 21st of May to 10th of June
 Chinese New Year break in February (one week). Reading-week in March (one week). Easter
break in April (three days).
Reception
 The reception at HKU was very difficult and complicated. As an exchange student I had to
go to five different offices to get every thing cleared and fixed. However, as long as you are
patient and don’t show up between lunch hour (1pm – 2pm), it is not the end of the world.
 When I arrived the 15th of January, the administration in my office where not ready for my
arrival. But on the other hand, when I came back the 27th of January (information day)
everything was prepared with courses, housing, deposit ect.
Housing
 Hong Kong University has student residents’ hall where exchange students can live with
locals or other exchange students. In the hall, I shared a little room with a local girl,
bathroom with 15 girls and kitchen/ common-room with 30 students.
 Staying in halls costs approximately 5000 NOK for five moths.
 I strongly recommend staying in a hall. Staying in hall made it easier for me to meet locals as
well as other exchange students; I even join the hall dance team.
 I stayed at Lee Hysan Hall, but for future students I recommend applying on Starr Hall. Starr
Hall is closer to campus, newer and is housing most of the exchange students.
 Only problem staying in residence halls, where the rule about not having visitors after 11 pm.
Costs



Hall costs for five months: approximately 5000 NOK
Food is cheap in campus and surrounding halls: dinner about 20 NOK
A Starbucks coffee at campus: about 12 NOK
Books are 20% off in the student-book-store at campus, and are about 30% cheaper than at
BI.
The International Office
 The International Office is located in 9th floor of the Knowles Building.
 The International Office together with your faculty is responsible for the exchange student.
 I received all important information either on the information day the 27th of January, or in
the welcome packaged.
Social Activities
 I had a local “buddy” that welcomed me when I arrived, and later became one of my closest
local friends. It is also easy to get to know people through school projects, hall
accommodation or joining sports teams.
 My relationship with other exchange students where strong. It was no other Norwegians at
the university, something that forced med to get to know people.
 HKU has a student organization, but you have to join in yourself.
 To gather the exchange students, I felt like HKU did a great job, at several occasion did the
international office gather for different entertaining, sights and so on.
 I LOVED the exchange students, the locals, Hong Kong University and Hong Kong!
Culture and Language
 At my hall reception was it only a couple of English speaking working, something that was
problematic from time to time. However, most of the students speak well enough English to
help you out in situations with difficulties. Sometimes I also felt neglected by some of the
students if there where gathering at the common room in the hall, a discussion in the
dancing team or during gathering with a lot of locals. However, I know that not everybody
like to speak English in big groups, and understand that the same situations could happened
in Norway.
 It is possibilities to experience the country and the local culture if you are dedicated to it. By
having local friends, I was invited into different family homes and locals thought us thing we
never could have learned by reading a book.
 I also feel like living in a hall with a mixture of local and exchange students gave me more
cultural experiences, compared to those who lived in rented flats.
Cultural and Social Effects from the Exchange Experience
 I am positive that my exchange experience has affected my cultural and social viewpoint.
 I am not sure how my exchange experience will influences my future career possibilities.
However, what I do know, is that my semester abroad has given me a lot of inspirations to
continue to study.
Any other experiences:
The gym at HKU is using “gym cards”, so if you are planning to join the gym, remember to bring
a piece of paper that says that our student identity card at BI is also our gym card.
If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me!
By the way, the social party life in Hong Kong; amazing!
Names and e-mails:
Marte Kirkerød
Marte_kirkerod@hotmail.com