Low Tuition Universities in Hong Kong, Admission Requirements and Essential Information for International Students

Hong Kong is located on the Pearl River Delta south of the Chinese province of Guangdong and the Chinese city of Shenzhen, surrounded by the South China Sea. It is a special administrative region, meaning that whilst it is part of mainland China, its governmental system is separate.
Hong Kong’s major areas are the Kowloon Peninsula, which is connected with the mainland, the outlying mountainous Lantau Island, the smaller Lamma island, densely populated Hong Kong Island, plus more than 200 smaller islands. The territory is a major port city with an outstanding deepwater harbor.

Hong Kong has a population of more than 7.5 million people . Its official languages are English and a southern Chinese variety known as Cantonese. Official currency is the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD),

Today’s article will be on the higher education system in Hong Kong, living costs, tuition fees, admission requirements and the lists of low tuition universities in Hong Kong

Higher Education System in Hong Kong

Currently Hong Kong offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs

Undergraduate:

The structure of a Bachelor degree in Hong Kong follows that of the UK. Students are able to complete studies in general fields of study within which they will nominate a ‘major,’ a specialisation within their study area students must complete a quota of subjects in to be awarded the title. Bachelors degrees are typically four years in length for full time students.

Some institutions also offer students to complete double degree programmes, in which they are required to meet credit requirements of two separate Bachelor’s degrees undertaken at the same time. As a result, these study programmes are longer in duration.

Postgraduate:

Postgraduate programmes in Hong Kong are taught via research and coursework at both Master’s and Doctoral levels. Postgraduate study tackles general study areas with a more specialist focus, and so may require students to be more decisive in their subject choices.

As with undergraduate, course requirements and particulars are specific to each institution, department and unique study programme, and should be pursued directly with the institution itself. Masters degrees are typically one year in duration, and may include taught, research or practical modules, as well as a thesis or dissertation component.

Living Cost

Food Costs:

You can save a lot of money by buying food from a supermarket and cooking most of your meals at home. Whilst eating out can also be cheap, the basic cost of food staples is even lower. On average a 1kg of white rice costs HK$17, 12 eggs HK$22, and a 500g loaf of fresh white bread HK$13.90. A kilo of apples is around HK$21, a kilo of oranges HK$22, and a kilo of tomatoes HK$22.59. A kilo of boneless, skinless chicken breasts will only set you back around HK$46 and 150 grams of Australian sirloin steak is just HK$25.90. For 500ml of olive oil you’re looking at HK$50, and 500 grams of dry spaghetti is just HK$12.50. You can buy 400g of pasta sauce for only HK$26.90 more.

Costs of eating out vary depending on how fancy you want to go, with a dinner for two at a top-range restaurant being roughly HK$1,100, minus the wine. At the other end of the spectrum, a takeaway lunch box from a local eatery is about HK$35, and a takeaway lunch from a western eatery HK$66.

Accommodation Costs:

Housing prices vary depending on your host institution and whether you want to live on campus or not. On-campus housing is generally considered the cheapest student accommodation option, with prices ranging on average from HK$5,000-HK$20,200 per semester. Pricing for off-campus student housing and rental costs via external agencies varies depending on property size and location, with things getting cheaper the further north you go.

Transportation:

Public transport in Hong Kong is notoriously cheap. Hong Kong Island’s double-decker tram system costs HK$2 per trip, no matter how long the journey. A tram anywhere is HK$2.30 per ride, whilst a Star Ferry from Central/Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui ranges from HK$2.50-HK$3.40. To go from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui on the MTR, Hong Kong’s metro network and commuter rail, is HK$9, and costs just HK$13 to get from Central to Kwun Tong. The minimum taxi fare for a trip less than 2km starts at HK$20, and increases by HK$7.90 per km.

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees you pay will depend on where you choose to study in Hong Kong. On average, you should expect to pay between HKD 90,000 and HKD 265,000 per year as an international student. Due to the fact that Hong Kong wishes to attract more international students, there are plenty of scholarships available that will help fund your studies. These tend to be awarded to students who show academic excellence and potential, and can be competitive. They are awarded by individual institutions, as well as some that are offered by the government. Contact your institution to find out if you are eligible for any scholarships, and to receive guidance for applications.

Admission Requirements

You need to fill the application form and submit it along with the supporting documents. Some of the common documents asked by each university in Hong Kong are:

Transcripts of all the previous education
English language proficiency scores. You can appear for IELTS, TOEFL, PTE etc.
Letter of recommendation from professors or employers.
A Statement of purpose.
A detailed resume.
GMAT scores are required for some of the MBA programs.

For bachelor’s studies:

Copy of the passport;
Certificate of completed secondary education and transcript with grades;
Language certificate (TOEFL/IELTS);
Standardized tests (SAT/ACT);
Recommendation and motivation letters;
Contest diplomas and extracurricular achievements

Master’s studies:

Bachelor’s degree and transcript (the GPA of at least 3.0 or B);
Letters of recommendation;
Language certificate (TOEFL/IELTS);
GRE/GMAT;
Motivation letter.

Doctoral studies:

For four-year programs a bachelor’s degree with honours and/or master’s degree;
For three-year programs, a MRes/MPhil degree in a related field;
Entrance exams (GRE/GMAT);
Research statement or research proposal;
Language certificate (TOEFL/IELTS);
Letters of recommendation;
CV;
Other documentation (publications, academic awards, and professional qualifications).