Common bg top
Incoming Exchange & Visiting Students

The Faculty of Arts welcomes a growing number of incoming exchange and visiting students, who study at HKU for a semester or an academic year. Incoming exchange and visiting students are classified as Year 0 students on the Student Information System (SIS).

 

Your Contact Information

  1. Please enter your telephone number(s) and correspondence address in Hong Kong in your HKU Portal Account.
  2. You are advised to check your HKU email account regularly.

 

Online Course Selection

Course Selections:

Course Selection Periods: Please refer to Important Dates of 2026-27 for details.

Study Load: Students are recommended to take 24-30 credits per semester (generally 6 credits per course) unless otherwise permitted or required by their home institution.

Course Distribution Requirement: At least 50% of the course load must be selected from Arts Faculty (i.e. courses offered by the following teaching units: School of Chinese, School of English, School of Humanities, School of Modern Languages and Cultures, and Centre of Buddhist Studies) for Arts incoming exchange students. Students have the option to take the remaining credits from other faculties. Common Core courses will not be included in the 50% course enrolment requirement for incoming students.

Course Descriptions:
Special Course Selection Arrangements:

CHIN95xx Courses Offered to International Students and Non-Chinese Speaking Local Students

  1. First select CHIN95xx course(s) on SIS;
  2. Submit a completed statement of current level of proficiency in the Chinese language in the first lesson; and
  3. If the courses require a pre-requisite/ prior knowledge in the Chinese language, students are required to take a placement test in the first lesson.

 

CC Courses

Subject to availability and approval, Year 0 students may take up to 12 creadits of CC courses from a selective menu, each from a different Area of Inquiry.

Examinations:If any special arrangement for an examination during the assessment period is needed, please write to the Examinations Office for approval in advance.

 

Health and Insurance

  • University Health Service (UHS) provides free primary health care to full‐time registered students for medical consultation.  Certain medications, preventive services and other items are charged at cost.  Once you have completed your registration at the University and received your Student Card, the level of medical benefit for you will be known by then. Learn more about medical benefits for Year 0 students here.
  • No health insurance will be provided by the University. You are strongly advised to arrange, on your own cost, accident and sickness insurance for the duration of your studies in Hong Kong. The coverage should also include provisions for emergency evacuation/rescuer's expenses and repatriation. If you plan to travel around Asia, please purchase medical insurance that cover all the countries that you plan to visit.
  • Registered students are entitled to HKU Group Travel Insurance for travelling overseas on activities which are officially arranged by the University.

 

Orientation Activities

Arts Faculty (HKUArts) Gathering: Connecting Exchange & Visiting Students

Date & Time:

August 27, 2026 (Thurs), 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm (HKT)

Mode of Event:

Face-to-face

Venue:

CPD-3.41, 3/F, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus

Registration:

For registration, please refer to the invitation email sent by HKUArts. Please register by August 14, 2026 (HKT). A further confirmation email will be sent to the provided email addresses after the registration deadline.

 

by the International Affairs Office (IAO)

  • IAO Orientation (registration)
  • Campus Tour (registration accessible only after completion of the Online Master Registration)

 

by the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS)

 

HKID Card

  • You need to apply for a HKID card if your length of stay in HK is more than 180 days. Please refer to the Hong Kong Immigration Department for the procedures.

 

Other Useful Information

Common bg bottom