Outgoing
International Exchange Program
Outgoing
Preparing for Exchange
Study Plan & Credit Transfer
Study Plan
It is important to have a feasible and flexible study plan for your exchange study. Here are some tips for you when deciding what courses you are going to take during exchange:
- Check out the course information from the websites of partner institutions before deciding your exchange venue choices, so as to make sure that there are suitable courses for you to take
- Have a flexible study plan, since it is quite often that some courses offered by partner institutions may not be open every term, or certain courses may not be open to exchange students
- Consult your UG/Exchange Coordinator of your Program for drawing up your study plan for your exchange
- If you go on exchange in your final year/term, you should pay extra attention to the mapping of courses, as this can minimize the risk of deferring graduation due to the exchange study; you are highly recommended to take most of the credits in HKUST for fulfilling the graduation requirements before you go on exchange
Credit Transfer
Details of credit transfer during study for 4-year undergraduate students can be found at the website of the Credit Transfer for Undergraduates. ARO has created a database that covers the approved mappings for transfer credits granted on exchange based on previous student exchange records. You may go to this databased to check if certain courses from your host institutions can be transferred back to HKUST.
If you wish to apply for assessment for new course mappings (i.e. courses not found in the database), you may submit it online at the Credit Transfer Application System.
Be aware of the credit system used by your host institution and the credit conversion adopted by HKUST. So partner institutions’ system may be different from the HKUST’s one. The most common case is the ECTS credit system used by some European institutions that 0.5 HKUST credits will be given for each ECTS credit earned.
Visa Application
Students are fully responsible to apply for the required visa documents for entry to countries where their host institutions locate. You should do this once you receive the official admission package from your host institution. Make sure that you allow sufficient time to apply for a Student Visa as it often takes 1 to 2 months to process. For details of the visa application procedures and documents required, please contact the Consulates concerned. Please note that in some occasions, visa documents have to be provided by host institutions to facilitate students’ visa application to the Consulates.
Major Consulates in Hong Kong
| Country / Website | Office Address | Tel / Email |
| Australia | Australian Consulate-General Hong Kong 23/F, Habour Centre 25 Habour Road Wanchai Hong Kong |
(+852) 2827 8881 / enquiries.hongkong@dfat.gov.au |
| Austria | Austrian Consulate General Hong Kong 2201 Chinachem Tower 34-37 Connaught Road Central Hong Kong |
(+852) 2522 8086 / hongkong-gk@bmeia.gv.at |
| Canada | Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong 5 Floor, Tower 3 Exchange Square 8 Connaught Road Hong Kong |
(+852) 3719 4700 / hkong@international.gc.ca |
| Denmark | Visa Application Centre in Guangzhou Room No. 217, 2/F Chengjian Mansion 189, Tiyu Xi Road Tianhe District Guangzhou |
+86 (020) 3868 1304 / infocan.dkcn@vfshelpline.com |
| France | Consulate General of France in Hong Kong 26/F, Tower II, Admiralty Centre 18 Harcourt Road Hong Kong |
(+852) 3752 9900 / informations@consulfrance-hongkong.org |
| Germany | German Consulate General Hong Kong 21/F, United Centre 95 Queensway, Admiralty Hong Kong |
(+852) 2105 8788 / info@hongkong.diplo.de |
| Ireland | Consulate of Ireland 20/F, 33 Des Voeux Road Central Hong Kong |
(+852) 2535 0700 / hongkong@dfa.ie |
| Japan | Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong 46-47/F, One Exchange Square 8 Connaught Place Central Hong Kong |
(+852) 2522 1184 / infojp@hn.mofa.go.jp |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourg Honorary Consulate in Hong Kong Room B, 13th Floor Queen’s Centre 58-64 Queen’s Road East Wanchai Hong Kong |
(+852) 3621 0979 / conluxhk@gmail.com |
| Malaysia | Suite 1902, 19/F, Malaysia Building 50 Gloucester Road Wanchai Hong Kong |
(+852) 2527 9991 |
| Mexico | Consulate General of Mexico in Hong Kong Rooms 2507-2509 Hopewell Centre 183 Queen’s Road East Wanchai Hong Kong |
(+852) 2511 3305 / infohko@sre.gob.mx |
| Netherlands | Netherlands Consulate General in Hong Kong Suite 3001, 30/F Central Plaza 18 Harbour Road Wanchai Hong Kong |
(+852) 2599 9200 |
| Norway | Norwegian Honorary Consulate in Hong Kong 26/F, Shanghai Industrial Investment Building 48-62 Hennessy Road Wanchai Hong Kong |
(+852) 2546 9881 / hong-kong@norwayconsulate.com |
| Philippines | Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong 14/F, United Centre 95 Queensway Admiralty Hong Kong |
(+852) 2823 8520 / 2823 8529 / visa.hkpcg@gmail.com |
| Singapore | Consulate General of the Republic of Singapore in Hong Kong Unit 901, 9th floor Admiralty Centre Tower I 18 Harcourt Road Hong Kong |
(+852) 2527 2212 / singcg_hkg@mfa.sg |
| South Korea | Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong 5/F, Far East Finance Centre 16 Harcourt Road Hong Kong |
(+852) 2529 4141 / hkg-visa@mofa.go.kr |
| Sweden | Consulate General of Sweden in Hong Kong Room 2501, 25/F, BEA Harbour View Centre 56 Gloucester Road Wanchai Hong Kong |
(+852) 2521 1212 / generalkonsulat.hongkong@gov.se |
| Switzerland | Consulate General of Switzerland 62/F, Suite 6206-07 Central Plaza 18 Harbour Road Wanchai Hong Kong |
(+852) 3509 5000 / hongkong.visa@eda.admin.ch |
| Taiwan (Agent) | Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Hong Kong) 40th Floor, Tower One, Lippo Centre No.89 Queensway Hong Kong |
(+852) 2525 8642 / service@teco.org.hk |
| Turkey | Turkish Consulate General in Hong Kong Room 301, 3/F, Sino Plaza 255-257 Gloucester Road Causeway Bay Hong Kong |
(+852) 2572 1331 / 2572 0275 / consulate.hongkong@mfa.gov.tr |
| UK | British Consulate-General Hong Kong 1 Supreme Court Road Admiralty Hong Kong |
(+852) 2901 3000 / information@bcg.org.hk |
| USA | U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong 26 Garden Road Central Hong Kong |
(+852) 2523 9011 |
For other Consulates, please refer to the website of Protocol Division Government Secretariat.
Insurance
The University requires all exchange-out students to subscribe to the University’s Travel Insurance for Exchange-out Students, which provides insurance cover for student’s travelling in the destination country of their exchange study. Please refer to the website of the Scholarships & Financial Aid Office. The School will help all the exchange-out students arrange the subscription to the insurance plan. However, if both your place of departure and return are outside Hong Kong, you are required to arrange your own travel insurance for the entire exchange period before departure.
Some host institutions may have additional insurance requirements for exchange students. Such information is often included in the admission package, and please make sure that you have fulfilled the requirements before your departure.
Language Requirements
IELTS/TOEFL Requirements
Some institutions, especially in Canada, Ireland, UK and USA, require students to have either TOEFL or IELTS. Please refer to Exchange Choices on the English requirements set by each institution (if any). Please check the individual websites for the most updated English requirements for your host institution.
It is not a must for you to submit the English test scores at the time you submit your exchange application to the School if the host institutions chosen have the English requirements. However, you are highly recommended to start preparing for the examination. Once the exchange offer from the School is given to you, you have to apply for the examination at once.
Other Language Requirements
Instead of having English requirements, the following 2 institutions require their exchange students to have their own language requirements. Please check the individual websites for the detailed language requirements.
| Tokyo Institute of Technology | JLPT result for non-final year students |
| University of Stuttgart | Level A2 of German or above (except PHYS students) |
Accommodation
The accommodation arrangements vary among different institutions. On-campus accommodation is NOT guaranteed. So, be prepared that you have to live off-campus or arrange for your own housing for your exchange study. In most cases, the host institutions may provide services to help students seek housing nearby. Please approach your exchange coordinators of your host institution to seek appropriate assistance after receiving the admission package.
For institutions that housing is provided, please make sure that you have submitted your housing application by the application deadline.
Finance & Support
Living Expenses
Apart from costs on air-tickets, insurance and accommodation, please expect that extra costs will arise in the first month of your stay, such as rental charges and various set up fees. It is important to have a rough idea of the amount to be spent and plan ahead accordingly. Try to get a rough estimate of living costs from the website of your host institution.
To know how much your fellow Schoolmates have spent for their exchange study, please refer to the part Tips from Returned Students.
Financial Support
There are a number of financial support options available to exchange-out students. To know more about the details, please refer to the website of HKUST Study Abroad.
Other Scholarships administered by the University – there are a number of scholarships for exchange-out students administered by the University. In most cases, the School would nominate students to apply for them.
Scholarships from host institutions/countries – some host institutions/countries may also offer scholarships to our students to apply for. Details of the scholarships will be given to the eligible students upon information made available. To give you a rough idea, here are the scholarships that our students have been awarded before:
| University/Country | Scholarship |
| ETH Zurich, Switzerland | Heyning-Roelli Foundation Scholarship |
| Japan | JASSO Scholarship |
| Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology | KAIST Student Mobility Fellowship |
| Republic of Korea | Global Korea Scholarship |
| Technische Universität München, Germany | TUM Exchange Scholarship |
Air-tickets & Others
Air-tickets
You are advised to purchase air tickets when you are formally accepted by the host institution and the student visa is ready. You are strongly recommended to purchase air-tickets with changeable dates which offer you more flexibility. Please make sure that the air-ticket arrangements are done before your departure.
Travel Documents
Apart from having a valid student visa, please ensure that your travel document will be valid at least 6 months by the time your exchange study completes. Renew your travel document as soon as possible (before you apply for the student visa) if necessary.
Bank Account
You are advised to arrange a savings account that allows international ATM services in Hong Kong and cash drawing abroad. Please sure that there is enough cash flow for your exchange, particularly for the first month of your exchange study.
Tips From Returned Students
Learning more from the returned exchange-out students is a useful way to prepare for your exchange study. Read the past Study Abroad Reports to get some tips from them!
Testimonials
'Staying at DTU for exchange is definitely one of the best choices I have made in my university study. Apart from living in a completely different environment and tackling with new challenges every day, I have been inspired by the people around. All these have a huge impact on my personal development and helped me develop a positive attitude towards life. 'Life is an adventure with problems to solve, lessons to learn, but most of all, experiences to enjoy.' I am really thankful that I have met great companions during exchange!'
LAI Ka Wing, Chemistry, Spring 2017
from Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
'The exchange experience was fruitful and inspiring. First of all, I got to learn more about the American way of college education and improved my academic speaking skills. Second, by putting myself into the new culture, I made interesting friends and had fun together. Third, it prepared me for future graduate study in the USA: independence, time management, transportation, tipping etiquette, etc. It is definitely a precious opportunity to join the exchange program and explore the world!'
BAI Xue, Mathematics and Economics, Spring 2017
from Columbia University, USA
'This five-month exchange has become one of the integral parts of my university life! I have developed a strong sense of belonging in this spacious campus as well as in this fabulous country with a beautiful natural environment surrounding by. The friendliness, kindness and the affectionateness of the people there have made my heart melt, that they were definitely wonderful and have filled my life with colours. I could get help easily from the amiable professors when I faced obstacles in my study. This valuable and irreplaceable exchange experience have shaped me to a brand new person and to be more mature. I can tell you that Taiwan is the origin of love that I have no doubts to love this place and the great people I met there!'
CHEUNG Kam Tim, Biological Science, Spring 2017
from National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan