Students Life - arts.hku.hk

Student Life and Experience

The Faculty of Arts has always been a home to countless bright and passionate students from all over the world.

Here, students not only have the chance to be exposed to diverse thoughts and engage in discussions with other sharp minds, but they can also broaden their horizons through various experiential learning opportunities such as overseas exchange, field trips to various countries and abundant internship programmes.

We are delighted to introduce you to some of our current students who will share their unique perspectives from their time at HKUArts.

Experiencing Arts Internships

“The internship gave me more than just professional skills, I felt myself becoming a more confident person. I’m a Comp Lit major and I realised how relevant the ideas we engage with in Comp Lit are in the world outside HKU. My internship was with [...] The Faculty was so supportive throughout: from matching me with the opportunity to supervision and the whole learning process."

Experiences of Exchange

“As Arts students we can choose our exchange destinations through both the Faculty of Arts Exchange Programme (FAEP) and the HKU Worldwide Student Exchange (HKUWW) network. I’ve just returned from my year abroad at the University of Edinburgh. The programme gave me a precious chance to study in a completely different academic culture — I got to engage with texts and ideas from new perspectives and living abroad for the first time was an eye-opening experience.I had to step outside my comfort zone and I think I’ve become more self-reliant as a person."

Becoming a Student Academic Advisor

“Being an advisor hasn’t just helped others — it’s helped me grow as a person too. At first I thought more that stepping into the role and experiencing the various training would make me more employable. But I realise that being an SAA has made me more confident, and it’s taught me a lot about how important peer support can be.”

Experiences of Being a Young Global Arts Leader

“I’m originally from Kazakhstan, and studying at HKU has given me the chance to connect my passion for literature with real-world challenges. I’m proud to represent the Arts Faculty and share its impact across communities.”

Student Testimonies

“What really helped was the support system — from the academic advisors and Student Academic Advisors to the approachable professors – Arts is a friendly faculty. The Common Core courses also gave me a chance to explore ideas outside my major and meet students from other faculties. Overall, the transition hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been completely worth it. I feel like I’m learning how to think in a whole new way — not just for essays, but for life.”

Srivastava Shreyaa

BA Year 2, majoring in Global Creative Industries and Comparative Literature

I am currently studying Arts at HKU, with a major in Global Creative Industries and Comparative Literature, and a minor in Journalism and Media Studies. My learning experience here has provided me with insights into the intersection of creativity, culture, and business on a global scale. This programme has equipped me with a deep understanding of the diverse cultural, economic, and technological factors that shape creative industries across different countries and societies.

Chen Fei Peng Kevin

BA Year 2, majoring in General Linguistics

As a Year 2 student currently studying in the Bachelor of Arts programme at HKU, I chose to study Arts because, as a third-culture kid, I have been exposed to people from all walks of life. This exposure has led me to develop interests in arts and humanities, which are accompanied by passion, creativity, and versatility. Additionally, I am a Linguistics major and work as a Student Research Assistant in the Language Development Lab under the School of Humanities (Linguistics) for Sign Language projects.

Chang Reese Kwan

BA Year 2, majoring in Global Creative Industries and Art History

As an international student pursuing a double major in Global Creative Industries and Art History at HKU, my academic journey has been both enriching and diverse. Engaging in the BA programme, I've had the opportunity to explore the dynamic intersection of global creative trends and the rich historical context of art. Experiential learning has not only broadened my understanding but has also allowed me to appreciate the global nuances within the creative industries, fostering a holistic approach to my studies.

Bushara Yusef Bushara

BA Year 4, majoring in English Studies, Sciences Po-HKU dual degree programme

Hello! My name is Yusef, and I’m a fourth year student at HKU, although it is my only second year in Hong Kong. I’m enrolled in the Sciences Po-HKU dual degree programme so my first two years were spent in the south of France, in a small town called Menton. I’ve deeply enjoyed being an English Studies major because it’s given me the opportunity to explore the “personal” in my creative writing. I appreciate the freedom given to us to write freely and creatively for many of the courses. I’ve always known writing makes me happy, but finding out that I could access that joy through the Arts Faculty at HKU has really allowed that interest to flourish.

Pamela Nunes Henríquez

BA Year 2, majoring in Art History

I have always been fascinated by Art History, and HKU has made it possible for me to study it full-time! Being a part of the Faculty of Arts has given me the opportunity to visit various artistic institutions, such as HKMOA and M+, for classes. Additionally, I have had the chance to meet people from diverse backgrounds who share similar interests. This exchange has contributed significantly to my growth as both a student and an individual!

Puel-Cheng Teha

BA Year 4, majoring in Comparative Literature

My name is Téha Puel-Cheng, and I am pursuing dual bachelor's degrees in Social Science and Comparative Literature/Global Creative Industries from Sciences Po Paris and The University of Hong Kong. This programme allows me to study in two countries, providing an intellectual foundation and cultural insight essential for my future in the cultural industry. The vibrant campus of HKU offers an excellent learning environment where I balance academics with rugby, fostering friendships and victories. Beyond campus, I explore the city's hikes and cultural events, which constantly fascinate me. This dual degree programme has shaped my education and fueled my passions.

Mansoor Syed Ali

Hello, and as-salaam alaykum! I’m Ali, a first-year Muslim student from Pakistan, in the BA(HDT) programme at HKU!I have always been one for interdisciplinary learning. Back in high school, you would see me building contraptions for science olympiads in the morning, preparing presentations for economics competitions in the evening, and working on personal coding projects by night. The HDT programme has enabled me to combine my love for computer science with my passion for exploring different fields of study. In my current group project for HUDT1001 Introduction to Humanities and Digital Technologies, we will be pursuing a topic that merges cultural analytics, East Asian studies, web-scraping, and data analysis to gain a deeper understanding of the East Asian film industry. Experiences like these teach you not just technical skills, but rather tactics, methodologies, and toolsets to solve problems in much larger contexts. I look forward to the many more such experiences that BA(HDT) has in store!

Reganit Julianna Martina Mercado

Discovering the Humanities and Digital Technologies course resolved my struggle between arts and sciences. The personalized trajectory, workshops, and diverse student interactions have expanded my knowledge and allowed me to apply it across various subjects. This unique educational journey blends innovation and creativity, opening doors to endless possibilities in a field few dare to explore. I am grateful to be a part of this extraordinary path of intellectual exploration and growth.

Choi Yin Wing

As an HDT student, I have the opportunity to delve into a wide range of fields that pique my interest. Through a combination of theoretical study and hands-on experience, I have acquired a wealth of knowledge. Specifically, I have learned how digital methods can be applied to various humanities research. Moreover, HDT has afforded me invaluable experiences, allowing me to participate in real-world digital archaeology projects and serve as a student docent for the captivating Virtually Versailles exhibition.

Ho Kit Shing

The BA(HDT) programme has offered me with numerous opportunities to achieve my ambitions. Over the past year, I have participated in several internships both within and outside the university. The programme's interdisciplinary nature enabled me to gain hands-on experience in Virtual Reality (VR) and immersive technologies at the Engineering Faculty, as well as at the French May Arts Festival, a local arts promotion organization. Moreover, we had the privilege of presenting our student projects to peers and digital humanities experts and learning from them at CUHK, which has been an invaluable learning experience.

Iwama Momoko

The BA(HDT) programme has been an incredible journey for me. It offers me practical experiences and provides opportunities for me to interact with digital humanities professionals, such as the visit to CUHK, which expanded my horizons. One standout project was analyzing beauty standards through Vogue magazine using computational methods. HDT is the perfect fusion of technology and the humanities, equipping me with diverse career paths.

Lam Hau Tung Janice

My transformative learning experience at HDT exposed me to invaluable knowledge and new experiences. From assisting in the Virtually Versailles exhibition to being a teaching assistant for the Metaverse + AI summer course, I explored cutting-edge technologies which intersect with the humanities. The HDT programme deepened my understanding of digital humanities and its potential to enhance learning. The close bonds and support among teachers and students fueled my passion for exploring technology's intersection with the humanities.

Park Junwoo

I'm so grateful for the delightful experiences the BA(HDT) programme offers! The workshops, projects, programmes, and research opportunities always spark my curiosity and guide me toward unravelling the mysteries of the digital world. This programme allows me to explore the humanities while staying open to the latest digital technologies. I'm nearly halfway through university and excited to see what the next two years bring!

Ruan Tianyi

Studying in HDT programme is really exciting and also inspiring for me. During the first year of my exploration of digital humanities, in the intro courses, the blueprint of this uncharted but inspiring field was unfolded, which inspired me with a new horizon of humanities. I was involved as a student helper in the New Horizons in Digital Humanities workshop. In this workshop, I learned about leading research topics in the field of digital humanities, such as multilingual text analysis. I think this is a great opportunity for students and researchers from all over the world to explore this emerging field.

Huang Yanyan

The only word I would use to define BA (HDT) is “undefined”. Being the perfect fit for individuals seeking to embrace new ideas and innovations, this program epitomizes interdisciplinarity by offering a profusion of course options and a wealth of extracurricular activities such as trajectory workshops and field trips for students to freely explore and investigate. As a BA (HDT) student, I foresee my future commencing here, which is both excitingly unforeseeable and promising.

Lau Wan Hei

As an impatient but curious student, HDT provides me with a great opportunity to study the humanities in a more untraditional and creative way than other art majors. By incorporating digital tools and technologies, I can analyze and interpret large amounts of historical data, uncover patterns and trends, and create new forms of digital storytelling such as geographical and textual analysis. In other words, HDT not only enhances my understanding of history and culture, but also provides a platform for collaboration and engagement.