GLOBAL GLOBAL ADMISSIONS2016-17 ADMISSIONS PROFILE 2016-17 PROFILE PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG ISBN 978-988-8314-86-7 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the Publisher. PRINTED IN HONG KONG THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG 2 WELCOME TO HKU CONTENTS 4 HONG KONG HAS IT ALL 6 THE TOP CHOICE FOR TOP STUDENTS 14 IMPACT UNIVERSITY: INTERNATIONALISATION 22 HKU: ASIA'S GLOBAL UNIVERSITY 24 IMPACT UNIVERSITY: INNOVATION 28 IMPACT UNIVERSITY: INTERDISCIPLINARITY 30 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND 34 EMBRACING DIVERSITY 38 HKU ADMISSIONS AROUND THE WORLD 40 SUPPORTIVE SCHOLARSHIPS 44 HKU: MAKING AN IMPACT WELCOME to HKU Professor Peter Mathieson is the President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU. He will be leaving HKU in 2018 to take up a similar post elsewhere. In this last Global Admissions Profile for him, he talks about some of the achievements of HKU under his leadership, and HKU's plans for developing these strengths further. The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is already considered one and student or staff-led events promoting understanding of diverse more than league tables: we believe we can improve further. All this is made possible and enhanced by Hong Kong’s unique of the most international universities in the world, but we are not cultures, foods, music and dance etc; and secondly via our place in the world. We are at the gateway to China and Greater satisfi ed. Our ten-year strategic plan has the strapline “Asia’s ambitious plans to provide 100% of our undergraduates with two Regarding Innovation, our gifted and highly creative staff and Asia but with origins in the British style and longstanding links to the Global University” and we aim to justify that with activities under the opportunities for experience outside Hong Kong, one in Mainland students use and develop modern teaching techniques; our research Western world. The innovation culture is strong in Hong Kong and in headlines of 4 words beginning with the letter I (we refer to this as China and one somewhere else in the world. We believe this is one aims to harness the innovative potential of recent improvements in neighbouring Shenzhen (where HKU manages a 2,000 bed hospital) 3+1Is because the fi rst threeI s converge on the 4th). These are of the most ambitious internationalisation targets of any university technology and design; our knowledge exchange activities include and in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province (where we have a research and Internationalisation, Innovation, Interdisciplinarity and Impact and in the world. Currently about 50% of our undergraduates have an novel methodologies as well as traditional ones. We are well- innovation institute on a new science park). The population scale, they apply to all the activities of the University in teaching, research experience overseas and about 20% in Mainland China. Although placed to promote Interdisciplinarity because we have ten Faculties cultural diversity and growing economic power of China combine to and knowledge exchange. not all the experiences will be study-orientated or credit bearing representing the broad range of academic areas including humanities, make this a very exciting part of the world, full of opportunities. HKU’s (experiential learning, charitable work, industrial placements and sciences and professional disciplines. We actively encourage joint role is to equip our graduates with the skills to fl ourish in the exciting We aim to make studying or working at HKU a truly global internships all count), one manifestation of our plan is that we aim teaching and research programmes between our Faculties and new world in which they will live the rest of their lives. experience in two broad ways: fi rst by encouraging what we call to offer dual degrees with prestigious international partners. Recent of course also encourage inter-disciplinary working with outside “internationalisation at home” with globally-orientated curricula; such agreements have included those with UCL, Sciences Po and partners whether they be other universities, schools, industries, frequent overseas speakers giving open lectures or seminars, University of Southern California; we will soon be able to announce governments, charities, NGOs or others. We want all of our activities including our active programme of inviting distinguished international more. In the 2017 Times Higher Education’s ranking of the 150 most to have Impact, which we defi ne as making a difference. Impact can PROFESSOR PETER MATHIESON scholars to spend weeks or months at HKU; numerous international international universities in the world, HKU is ranked 3rd. The two be local, regional or global, it can affect individuals, groups, sections conferences; opportunities for improvement of language skills (our universities above us are focused universities, so we can rightfully of society or whole nations. If our work has impact, our students and PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR teaching medium is English but we welcome multi-lingualism on claim to already be the number 1 comprehensive university in the staff will contribute to making the world a better place whilst also campus and provide teaching programmes in many languages); world for international outlook. However, university strategy is about developing themselves personally. 2 Global Admissions Profi le 2016-17 Welcome to HKU 3 most competitive leading financial HK Fact st economy in the world th centre in the world IMD World Competitiveness Global Financial Centres SUPER EFFICIENT EASY COME, EASY GO 1 Ranking 2016 4 Index 2016 of Hong Kong’s safest city in the world % daily journeys are + th for personal safety 90 made using public 100 transport The Economist Intelligence airlines connect Hong Kong 6 Unit’s Safe Cities Index 2015 ABUNDANT NATURE with the world each day ¾ of Hong Kong’s 1,104km2 of land is countryside Hong Kong is a safe and sophisticated global city with a DYNAMIC, DIVERSE SAFE, SIMPLE thriving business community, world-class food and culture, Hong Kong is a place of captivating contrasts, where Hong Kong’s reputation as one of the safest places in and spectacular natural beauty. Ideally positioned in the tradition and modernity share space in a cosmopolitan the world invites students to explore the city’s corners heart of Asia on Mainland China’s doorstep, Hong Kong city rich with Chinese infl uences. Its sought-after with peace of mind. An inexpensive and effi cient public HONG is home to some of the world’s most admired companies, lifestyle attracts a multinational workforce and large transportation network and largely bilingual community expat community from all walks of life. make Hong Kong easy to navigate and enjoy. international thought-leaders, and gifted students from across the globe. CHINESE LANGUAGE, CHINESE CULTURE FOOD, FUN KONG CITY, COUNTRYSIDE Located a stone’s throw from Mainland China, Hong Lively street markets, glamorous shopping malls, Kong is the prime gateway to Mainland China’s adventurous attractions, and world-famous cuisine – Beyond Hong Kong’s iconic harbour and glittering high burgeoning markets. The University’s close connections Hong Kong offers endless experiences for students rises, the city is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream with with leading educational institutions across the border of all interests. Asia’s culinary capital also serves up its abundance of peaceful parks, winding hiking trails, give students unique opportunities to master the a thriving cultural scene of exhibitions and festivals Has It All towering hills, sleepy villages, and beautiful beaches. Chinese language, culture and business practices. drawing visitors from near and far. 4 Global Admissions Profi le 2016-17 Hong Kong Has It All 5 Admitted students' academic standards in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Southeast THE TOP CHOICE Asia are considered among the highest in the world. A near-perfect employment rate for both international and local graduates makes HKU a first choice for ambitious students. This is a combination of economic circumstances in Hong Kong, the general economic power shift to South-East Asia and an education for Top Students that employers value. HKU’s exceptional academic standards, pioneering research, collaborations with prestigious partner universities worldwide and near 100% employment record make it the first choice HKU students have proven to excel academically in exchange programmes at some of for many of the city’s top performing HKDSE scholars, as well as a popular destination for the world’s leading universities. outstanding international students. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that HKU students excel academically in foreign universities where they study as a part of their degree. This is true even at the very best universities in the world. The employment situation in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Government allows international students graduating from HKU to take up the academic standards of students from the region, the education provided by HKU, and the reputation of HKU in Asia and now beyond are the reasons why the admission standards of employment in Hong Kong. The employment rate for international students mirrors that the University are so high, and why CNN described HKU as one of the “Harvards of Asia”, or of local students. why the Times Higher Education referred to HKU as the “Oxbridge of East Asia”. 6 Global Admissions Profile 2016-17 The Top Choice for Top Students 7 OVER 23,000 STUDENTS from Hong Kong Around 40,000 students applied to HKU in 2016–17 OVER 16,000 STUDENTS from Mainland China and 92 overseas countries 8 Global Admissions Profile 2016-17 The Top Choice for Top Students 9 ACCUMULATED PERCENTAGES OF TOP JUPAS STUDENTS SNAPSHOT Nearly % HKU LOCAL ADMISSION 80 FOR 2016–17 of the highest-performing HKDSE scholars enrolled at HKU MEDICINE BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BEYOND ACADEMICS HKU’s diverse community of students embraces talented individuals across all fi elds.