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Questions about undergraduate BBA in HKUST / HKU

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2012-02-13 16:46

 

Lots of questions :

  1. I've heard that HKU and HKUST are about the same in terms of business rankings. In your opinion, which is better? HKU or HKUST?
  2. Is HKUST's location a problem?
  3. I already know a bit of Mandarin, would i be able to keep that in HK?

 

Thanks,

N

‹ International masters students at HKU / HKUST and expected salaries Visiting PG Student - I need a bit help about Accommodation guys. ›
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HKU and HKUST answers.

Submitted by Fili on Mon, 2012-02-13 16:54.

(copy pasted from a former online chat about the topic)

HKU and HKUST are not the same ranking when it comes to business school. HKUST enjoys a slightly better reputation and rankings in business. But HKU has its own merits... it's a comprehensive university, probably the best in Asia. so it has a lot of everything, including social sciences, humanities, and the likes... and it's pretty good at what it does.
HKUST is more specialized. it's extremely good at the things it specializes in...
includes exact sciences and engineering. HK Technion MIT.

so, if you're only looking at how good the business school is, it's HKUST. but, i understand your considerations. i personally believe college life isn't all about rankings and how good the program is, it should provide you with a full social life and since you're doing this out of your own culture it should be fun, exciting, and access to interaction with the local life and culture.
in that... HKU seems better than HKUST. it's central, it's got a good boy-girls ratio, people are more outgoing, it's nicer overall. in HKUST, it's mainly very hard working students and the campus is far away and secluded from everything.

with that said, Hong Kong has got some downsides. there's pollution, it's crowded and very very expensive. living away from Central HKUST enjoys probably among the best campus views in the world. islands... beaches... cleaner air. no skyscrapers, inviting locals, and not crowded. all very peaceful.
HKU is Central HK and therefore very hectic and crowded and finding a nice apartment and shopping will probably be far more expensive.
It takes about 40 minutes from HKUST to central, and some people complain about those 40 minutes, and would rather be closer to the action.
So you need to make your own decision.

In terms of social life in HKUST -
international students go to Central all the time, exchange students especially.
i'd say they visit Lan Kwai Fong and HK island more than oncea week.
the HK locals, and mainalanders, i think you'll notice... are a bit more quiet and hardworking or are more family oriented.
there is a social life in HKUST, there's one unibar on campus and 10 minutes away is Sai Kung Town with some great bars and restaurants.
so, you have options even if you're in HKUST it's not all dead.

If you feel like hanging out in Central from HKUST - MTR runs until 1am.
there are night buses. but most internationals either take a group taxi back (~200HK$ for 5 people) or stay till the MTR opens at 5am.
some of our students have a motorbike, if they're not drinking, some people have friends living on the island.

Socially, HKU is probably nicer, more diverse, more outgoing students, more girls, closer and more embedded to the center of HK.

good luck.

Fili