Overview

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU or HKPU) started as the Hong Kong Technical College in 1937 and is the first publicly funded tertiary institution in Hong Kong. In November 1994, PolyU was granted full university status and public funding by the University Grants Committee (UGC) and changed its name to the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

School's Main website | Student Exchange information | Useful Information

Exchange student handbooks can be found here and here.

Non-local research students’ handbook can be found here.

If you are a student from Mainland China, do visit this page!

GPA requirement:

No set requirements but students are expected to possess good academic results and their application will be reviewed by the respective academic departments.

Language of instruction:

English is the medium of instruction, except for Chinese-related subjects and specially approved programmes, such as China study modules, which are conducted in Mandarin and Cantonese.

Courses:

You can find a list of Academic Programmes here.

Elective and Language Courses are also available to make up the credits required for the semester. Elective subjects can be offered by academic departments other than your host department, and China-specific subjects are offered by the General Education centre (GEC). Language courses such as Putonghua for Non-Chinese Speaking Students are offered by the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies.

For exchange students, you will be attached to a host department during your exchange. Being attached with your host department gives you priority in registering for courses from your host department. However, do note that at least 50% or more of the courses taken during your exchange semester must come from your host department.

Note that it is mandatory for students of full-time undergraduate studies in HKPU to take part in non-credit bearing co-curricular activities prior to graduation.

Course registration process:

• Exchange Programmes:

To be eligible for PolyU’s student exchange programme, you have to be a student from one of the partner universities. Interested students should contact their home University exchange offices, and request a nomination from your University to PolyU. Upon receiving the nomination, an e-invitation will be sent by email to the student for online application. Steps to apply can be found here.

• Study abroad programme:

If your University does not have a formal arrangement with PolyU, you can still apply through the fee-paying Study Abroad programme. Information for the Study Abroad programme can be found here:

https://www.polyu.edu.hk/international/study-study-abroad-programme.php 

Applicants with physical disabilities are also welcome to apply.

• Full-time undergraduate programme:

The full list of programmes available for International Students can be found here.

Guidelines for International, national and regional application can be found here. In addition to the guideline, applicants are also required to meet the English Language Requirements. Do note that some programmes will require you to go through an interview.

Pre-arrival guides for full-time students can be found here!

Important dates to note:

Application Dates

For Fall Semester (Semester 1): 15 April               Fall Semester period: Sept -January
For Spring Semester (Semester 2): 15 October     Spring Semester period: January - May

Do check this page to see if the application deadlines were amended since the time of posting.

Do note that incomplete or late applications will not be processed. An admission letter from the International Affairs Office (IAO) will be sent to successful applicants by email 4 -6 weeks after the application deadline.

My campus

Campus map:

http://www.polyu.edu.hk/fmo/eMap/map.php

Selected facilities:

• The Jockey Club Auditorium is an elegant venue where students can enjoy a variety of cultural, academic and social activities. PolyU students have discount privileges for selected concerts, orchestra performances, academic conferences and other events held at the 1,025 seating capacity auditorium.

• Pao Yue-kong Library is PolyU’s main library with more than 2.14 million texts in its collection. Multimedia centers, study rooms and a designated Cafe are available for students to learn in comfort.

• House of Innovation is a showroom that features PolyU’s research and achievements in technology. Projects from various disciplines are exhibited there. They include projects related to Biotech and Healthcare, Construction and Environmental Technology, Design, Engineering and Physics, Hotel and Tourism Management, Humanities and Social Science and Information and Communications Technology. These projects serve to inspire innovative ideas in students.

• The Jockey Club Innovation Tower, designed by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, is an iconic building in PolyU housing the School of Design. The tower has frequent art workshops, exhibitions, as well as comfortable lecture theatres and facilities for students to enjoy.

• PolyU’s own teaching hotel, Hotel ICON, is a 5-star hotel and intended for students from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) to learn and experiment in an authentic setting. It is a fully operational hotel with 278 guest rooms and varied facilities, managed by a mix of students and professionals. Students from other disciplines are able to dine there with exclusive discounts as well.

• There is an abundance of Sports facilities in the university, to serve those interested in keeping fit. The facilities include an Olympic standard swimming pool, soccer pitch, squash and tennis courts, gymnasium. In each academic year, around 280 sports-related courses are offered for students to learn the essentials in different sporting activities.

• Lockers are also available for students on first-come-first-serve basis. More information can be found here.

• For our Muslim friends, Prayer Rooms are located on 5/F of Core P (Room PQ502a) and on 3/F of Block Z (Room Z302). More information can be found here!

Food on campus:

Campus transportation:

There is no transportation within campus grounds, but there are 4 bus stops surrounding the campus and you can alight at whichever stop that is closest to your intended building. You can also get around effortlessly on foot, as it only takes 10 minutes to walk from one end of the campus to another.

Student life

PolyU offers a convenient and exciting student life in the heart of Kowloon. A stone’s throw away from the bustling shopping hub Tsim Sha Tsui, you will find it easy to manage work and play. International students have the opportunity to experience traditional Hong Kong culture through the locals’ eyes yet enjoy city life like never before due to the mixture of old and new, traditional and modern.

Orientation program:

Orientation for Exchange students is conducted by the Mainland and International Students Services Center (MISS). Students will receive their Student ID smartcard during orientation. The smartcard can be used for access to library, facilities and Student-Hall facilities. Further details will be announced via the admission letter.

Buddy program:

Students need not apply for this program as the Student Affairs Office (SAO) will match incoming exchange students with a local buddy. The local buddy will provide peer support for exchange students and promote cultural exchange among participants. More info can be found here.

Student clubs:

The Student Affairs Office (SAO), Students’ Union, and International Student Ambassador Scheme (ISAS) arrange a variety of extracurricular activities and events for students’ to participate. A wide range of cultural activities are also on offer year round, such as film and art exhibitions, or orchestra at the PolyU Jockey Club auditorium. The full list of clubs and societies can be found here! Follow this link to find out more about connecting with student organizations.

Additionally, peer support groups like International Student Association (ISA), Korean Student Association (KSA), Chinese Mainland Student Association (CMSA) and Taiwan Student Association (TSA) help international students adapt to life in Hong Kong. More information can be found here

University events:

Throughout the semester, PolyU offers a myriad of cultural, technological, art and entrepreneurship events. Cultural carnivals, heritage trails to old Hong Kong communities, and the House of Innovation Open Day which is held monthly are some examples.

Upcoming events happening in PolyU can be found here!

Surrounding environment

Hung Hom, where PolyU’s main campus is located, is arguably the best location that students can ask for in Hong Kong. The area is surrounded by plenty of food, shopping and recreational choices. Victoria Harbour or the famous Avenue of the Stars is just a 20 minutes’ walk or an MTR stop away. The beautiful Symphony of Lights show at Victoria Harbour starts daily at 8pm, and the affordable Star Ferry from Victoria Harbour is a must-try for anyone visiting Hong Kong. Students also find it exciting as the surrounding Tsim Sha Tsui district opens till late.

For food:

The vicinity of Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom are filled with a variety of eateries serving hot pot, fast food, Hong Kong style Western food, and dim sum, to name a few.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation:

Hui Lau Shan (許留山) is a famous Hong Kong style chain of dessert shops located across the city. There are 6 branches in Tsim Sha Tsui alone, and the nearest one to PolyU is at Carnavon Road, East Tsim Sha Tsui. It is a must-have for dessert-lovers, especially for those who love mango!

For nightlife and entertainment:

Most of the nightlife in Hong Kong is situated across the harbour, in Hong Kong Island. Although Kowloon has its fair share of pubs, the real action is in the famed clubbing/pubbing street, Lan Kwai Fong (LKF), where more foreigners than locals gather for partying. Doing a pub-crawl in LKF is highly recommended by Tripadvisor, as it costs only $100 (less than 20SGD) for 4-venues for a thrilling night out. More information can be found here!

For daily necessities and groceries:

For daily necessities and groceries, the nearest supermarkets to the student halls (Hung Hom) would be PARKnSHOP and Wellcome supermarkets just across the road from the halls. Plenty of home appliance stores, electronic goods stores and personal care stores such as Japan Home and Mannings can also be found in Hung Hom.

Flying Chalks’ tip: PARKnSHOP supermarket offers a larger variety of imports, should you prefer to have more choices for your groceries.

For shopping:

Popular with both locals and tourists, Tsim Sha Tsui is a major shopping district in Hong Kong. The famed Nathan Road, which stretches from TST to Mongkok to Jordan is a long shopping street which is sure to satisfy any shopaholic. Another interesting venue for shopping nearby would be Granville Road, which is only a 5 minutes’ walk away from campus. Granville is home to street wear, beauty products, and affordable brands (e.g. Monki, LUSH, Cotton On) for youths. The end of this alley will bring you to the main street, Nathan Road, where the shopping never ends.

Accessibility

PolyU is located in Hung Hom and is most commonly accessed via the MTR by alighting at Hung Hom station (East Rail Line); it is connected to Exit A by a footbridge.

It can also be accessed by buses 5, 5C, 8, 8A, 26, 28, 41A, 98D, 98P, 215X, 81C, 87D and 973 and the Tunnel Buses (from Kowloon and New Territories) 101, 101R, 102, 102P, 102R, 103, 104, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 118, 170, 171, 171P, 182, 307 alighting at the last stop before the Cross Harbour Tunnel.

Similarly, all Tunnel Buses from Hong Kong Island (the side across the harbour) into Kowloon will also pass by the stop nearest to PolyU, which is the first stop after the bus exits the Cross Harbour Tunnel.

Getting from Hong Kong International Airport to PolyU:

By Airport Express and Taxi:

The Airport Express Train from the airport is a convenient and quick way to travel to Kowloon Station. The ride costs $90 (by Octopus or one-way ticket) and takes about 20 minutes. At Kowloon Station, take a taxi to the Student Halls of Residence at Hung Hom which will cost another $40 - $50 and will take about 20 minutes. Each piece of luggage will incur a $5 surcharge.

By Airport Express and free shuttle:

Another route you can take is the Airport Express train to Kowloon Station as detailed above, and then take the free shuttle bus K1 at Kowloon Station to Hung Hom Station. From Hung Hom Station, you can either take a taxi to the Halls or take a walk from Hung Hom Station via Exit B1, and walk towards Royal Peninsula footbridge, which will lead you to the Student Halls.

By Bus:

This alternative is recommended as it is the most economical and direct. Take bus A21 from the airport to Hung Hom Station. Then, either take a taxi or walk to the Student Halls as per the directions above. The walk will take around 10 minutes. Taking a taxi is recommended for those with a lot of luggage. The A21 bus costs $33 (by Octopus or exact amount in cash) and the ride will take around 40 - 50 minutes.

By Taxi:

Take a taxi from the airport directly to the Student Halls. Make sure to take an “urban” taxi (the red one). This will cost $380 with an additional $5 per piece of luggage. The journey will take about 35 - 45 minutes.

If you are coming to Hong Kong from Mainland China, another way to get to the Student Halls would be to do so via the Intercity Train. More information can be found here.

Student Halls Address:

PolyU Student Halls of Residence, 1 Hung Lai Road, Hung Hom, Hong Kong

香港 紅磡 紅荔道一號 香港理工大學學生宿舍

The campus is just a 10 minutes’ walk away from the Student Halls via the footbridge at Royal Peninsula and through Hung Hom Station.

Download PolyU’s handy pre-arrival guide (2016) for International students which contains checklist of things to bring, as well as advice on travel adaptors, bank opening, student association etc.!