The University of Hong Kong is a public research university located in Pokfulam, Hong Kong. Founded in 1911, its origins can be traced back to the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese which was founded in 1887, it is the oldest tertiary institution in Hong Kong. It is considered as one of the most prestigious universities in whole Asia.

Programme Aims and Features

The Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies BA(US) programme is offered by the Department of Urban Planning and Design (DUPAD), which has more than 35 years of experience in postgraduate training in urban studies and planning; it was established as the Centre of Urban Studies and Urban Planning (CUSUP) in 1981 and restructured to the present department in 2008. Its MSc (Urban Planning) programme is the only professional-education programme recognised by the Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

BA(US) is multidisciplinary and studio-based with emphasis on design, multimedia communication skills and problem-based learning projects, equipping students to become professionals in the built environment who can approach any problem from multiple perspectives. It enables students to understand and face the challenges associated with cities and urban development in Hong Kong, China and the rest of the world. Graduates can become Planning and Development Surveyors of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) (http://www.hkis.org.hk/pdd/en) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (http://www.rics.org).

The programme also enables students to acquire a broad knowledge of issues and methods in urban studies, including urban planning and design, urban policy and management, land development, real-estate economics, sustainability, community development, public participation, urban renewal, conservation and placemaking. In the final year, students undertake an independent research project on contemporary urban issues. As the field has an international scope, study abroad is encouraged, and there is professional training through internships.

Professional Recognition

Graduates from this programme can become professional chartered planning and development surveyors of the HKIS and RICS respectively. They can also become professional urban planners if they continue with the Master of Science in Urban Planning of HKU, the only programme in Hong Kong recognised by the Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) and Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). They are also eligible for professional postgraduate programmes in architecture, urban design, conservation, landscape architecture, real estate, transport policy and planning, and housing management at the University of Hong Kong, which lead to the relevant professional qualifications while also providing an interdisciplinary educational foundation for success in any field.

Career Prospects

Students who have successfully completed the BA(US) degree are eligible to become professional chartered planning and development surveyors of the HKIS and RICS after completing the approved practical training placement and passing the relevant Assessment of Professional Competence. They can also become professional urban planners if they continue with the Master of Science in Urban Planning programme of HKU and acquiring the practical experience. The Master of Science in Urban Planning programme is the only programme in Hong Kong recognized by the Hong Kong Institute of Planners. In addition to obtaining a multidisciplinary educational foundation for success in any field, graduates are also eligible and well prepared for postgraduate professional programmes in urban planning, urban design, housing management, landscape architecture, conservation, real estate, and transport policy and planning offered by the University of Hong Kong and other universities abroad. Like similar urban-studies programmes at highly-ranked universities in the United States and the United Kingdom, graduates can further pursue MPhil and PhD studies and also work in the private and public sectors in urban planning and design, land development, urban management, housing management, transport, urban renewal, conservation and public policy. Undergraduate education in urban studies does not limit graduates to work in the discipline of the built environment: the analytical and design skills developed in the programme prepare students for a successful career in almost any field. The multidisciplinary characteristics of the programme and the multi-dimensional nature of urban issues produce graduates who can approach problems from multiple perspectives. 

Further career information can be obtained from the websites of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (http://www.hkis.org.hk), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (http://www.rics.org), Hong Kong Institute of Planners (http://www.hkip.org.hk), Hong Kong Institute of Architects (http://www.hkia.net), Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects (http://www.hkila.com), Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong (http://www.cilt.org.hk), Hong Kong Institute of Housing (http://www.housing.org.hk) and Chartered Institute of Housing Asian Pacific Branch (http://www.cih.org.hk).

University Requirements:
54 credits of compulsory University requirements which must be completed successfully:
(i) One 6-credit course in Core University English1; one 6-credit course in English in the Discipline; and one 6-credit course in Chinese language enhancement (18 credits)
(ii) 36 credits of courses in the Common Core Curriculum, comprising at least one and not more than two courses from each Area of Inquiry with not more than 24 credits of courses being selected within one academic year except where candidates are required to make up for failed credits.

Faculty Requirements:
18 credits of compulsory Faculty Foundation courses which must be completed successfully:
(i) Three 6-credit Faculty Foundation courses including - Introduction to Building Technology; - Introduction to Landscape City Architecture; and either one of the following: - Housing and Cities; - Sustainability and the Built Environment.

The University of Hong Kong was granted a shield and a motto by the College of Arms in 1913, and throughout its history, the University’s visual identity has been firmly based on their display, often coupled the University’s name. This is a distinction that resonates outside Hong Kong, particularly in the United Kingdom, other Commonwealth jurisdictions, and the United States. It is also a reminder of the University’s antiquity and a most dignified and effective corporate identity.

HKU continues to attract the best local students, along with many Mainland China and international students. The University’s academics have outstanding achievements in teaching and research, and about half of HKU’s faculty are from overseas.

HKU has been actively establishing strategic international alliances with universities and research institutions worldwide. The University is also committed to cultivating internationalism on campus and to supporting staff and student mobility projects and international programmes at all levels.

All ten faculties and their departments provide teaching and supervision for postgraduate-level research (MPhil and Ph.D.) students, with administration undertaken by the Graduate School.

Scholarships

• HKU Foundation Entrance Scholarships
• HeForShe IMPACT Champion Scholarships for female students from economically deprived nations with outstanding academic results (male students who have significantly contributed to achieving the goals of the HeForShe movement will also be considered)
• Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program for students from China, Japan, Korea, Macau, Taiwan
• Entrance Scholarships for Medallists of International/Asian Olympiads
• Entrance Scholarships for Students admitted to Undergraduate Dual Degree Programmes
• Vietnam Van Thinh Phat Scholarships for outstanding Vietnamese students
• Hong Kong Scholarship for “Belt & Road” Students for students from Indonesia and Malaysia
• Targeted Scholarship Scheme under the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund for students from the following countries: ASEAN (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam), India, Korea

About Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. It is a place with multiple personalities as a result of being both Cantonese Chinese and having been under British colonization. Today, the former British colony is a major tourism destination for China’s increasingly affluent mainland population. It is an important hub in East Asia with global connections to many of the world’s cities. It is a unique destination that has absorbed people and cultural influences from places as diverse as Vietnam and Vancouver and proudly proclaims itself to be Asia’s World City.

Campus

The university’s main campus covers 160,000 square meters of land on Bonham Road and Pokfulam Road in the Mid-Levels of Hong Kong Island. HKU buildings are some of the few remaining examples of British Colonial architecture in Hong Kong. The university lends its name to HKU Station, the main public transport access to the campus opened in 2014.

Life on Campus

Student welfare is served by several units, including the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS), which provides guidance for most areas of student life including career counseling, and the University Health Service, which provides health care, referrals, and preventive services.

On campus, there are fast food restaurants and cafes at convenient locations that offer a wide range of local delicacies, exotic cuisines, western food, Halal Food, coffee, pastries and healthy vegetarian food, where you can enjoy with your friends at a reasonable price. There are outposts and grab-and-go counters scattered around the main campus offering light meals, beverages, and snacks for those with a tight schedule or in a rush. Fast food restaurants situated at Jockey Club Student Villages I & II, Sassoon Road Campus, as well as snacks kiosks in sports center all, offer ranges of delicacies to meet the demands for food.

Two officially recognized student bodies, the Hong Kong University Students’ Union (HKUSU) and the Postgraduate Students Association (PGSA), give opportunities for students to participate in extracurricular activities.

HKUSU principally serves the undergraduate students. It offers more than a hundred clubs and associations for students. These organizations renowned amongst student activists, has been the main driving force behind evicting a chancellor in recent years. There was controversy when the head of the union, Ayo Chan, said that some of the protesters involved in the Tiananmen Square massacre had acted irrationally.[80] Many students thought his remarks were offensive and he was ousted by a vote in under one week. The Postgraduate Students Association represents the university’s postgraduate students.