Program List

There are three types of programs:

• Summer Exchange: Students nominated for programs of the Exchange category will participate as Exchange Students. Participation in this program will be recorded on the HKUST official transcript. Tuition fee is waived by the host institution. Available quotas are relatively smaller.
• Summer Partnership: HKUST partners with these top tier institutions to offer HKUST students summer study abroad opportunities. Students may enjoy application fee waiver or tuition fee reductions and you may refer to the individual program brochures by clicking on the below program links. HKUST students must apply and be nominated by HKUST. Credits are transferrable.
• Summer Sponsored: These are sponsored programs offered by HKUST Office of Global Learning with an aim to encourage study abroad in destinations that are less familiar to HKUST students, with the view to further broadening the global opportunities offered to HKUST students. Tuition, accommodation and cultural program costs will be covered by HKUST. Students will be allowed to participate in Summer Sponsored program (regardless of the mode of delivery) ONCE only during the undergraduate study.

• Students are expected to take courses offered in face-to-face mode only even the program has an option of online mode of delivery. Taking online classes and examinations would affect the credit transfer results.
• Depending on the development of the pandemic or any other concerns HKUST or the host institutions may have, it is possible for HKUST or the host institutions to suspend all in-person programs any time. It will not be possible to arrange alternative placements.
• Any costs related to program participation incurred are not refundable by HKUST or the host university should a program be cancelled or should circumstances render your inability to proceed with the program.
• Programs offered in different rounds may be different depending on when the information from partner institutions are available.

Application Procedures

• Check the program list of what programs are available.
• Click the "Apply Now" button on this page to complete HKUST application forms and submit supplementary documents. Please refer to below section “Required documents/materials” for details.
• Make sure your click on "Submit Application" button on the application page in order to submit your application before the application deadline. No late applications will be accepted unless specified.
• Once your application is submitted, you are not allowed to make any changes to your program choices.
• Students MUST attend a zoom interview arranged on 29 April 2024 (Monday). Interview will be conducted via zoom. Detailed specifications and instructions will be provided in the application. Students who did not attend an interview will not be further considered.
• Where possible, decisions will be made after the CGA of the previous term is available.
• Application decisions will be released on MyStudyAbroad (with email notification sent to your HKUST email account) on a rolling basis. You are advised to check email regularly (including your junk folder).
• In order to meet the nomination deadlines as set by certain host institutions, HKUST may process certain applications in sequence.
• The decision you have received on MyStudyAbroad System will be regarded as a confirmation of HKUST’s nomination only. Students will also be required to complete another set of application forms to the host institution.
• You should familiarize yourself with the host institution’s application deadline, procedures and requirements. There could be cases that you may need to submit your application to the host institution very shortly after you receive OGL’s offer.

Required Documents/ Materials

Please prepare the documents listed below and upload on MyStudyAbroad System by the application deadline. It is not necessary to submit hard copies.

• Resume
• Personal statement
• English proficiency score report^ (e.g. TOEFL / IELTS) for programs which have English language proficiency requirement. Please refer to the individual program page and host institution's website for details. Students applying for programs with specific English Language proficiency requirements will not be considered if you cannot provide the proof by the HKUST application deadline.

^English proficiency score report 

• You will only need to submit the English Language proficiency proof if you are applying for programs which have English Language proficiency requirement. 
• Generally speaking, students are expected to submit the English Language proficiency proof in the summer study abroad program application by the application deadline. 
• If you have taken any of the English Language proficiency tests but you have not received your result by the application deadline, please indicate you will be taking the test in the future. Nevertheless, you are required to send the test report to the HKUST Office of Global Learning (study.abroad@ust.hk) through email by 28 April 2024, 23:59 (Hong Kong time) the latest. English proficiency score report submitted after the above deadline will NOT be considered. 
• Students will be asked to submit a valid English Lanugage proficiency proof upon submitting your application to the host institution (usually around Feburary to April). Generally speaking, TOEFL/IELTS test results are valid within 2 years, and DuoLingo test result is valid within 1 year. 

Note: Since the application deadlines set by the host institutions may be soon after HKUST's offer release, OGL would advise students to check for the supporting document requirements as requested by the host institutions and start preparing for them well in advance. In particular, students applying for programs which require academic reference letters should prepare for these as soon as possible.

Selection Criteria

Selection is made taking into account the following factors:

• Academic standing (CGA); and
• Information provided in your Personal Statement, Resume and in the section "Personal development, communication skills and community involvement"; and
• Interview performance*

*Interview performance is critical for the application. If our selection panel finds the performance unsatisfactory, NO offer will be given to the student regardless of the student's academic performance and other information submitted in the application.

Priority will be given to students who have not participated in exchange or study abroad programs organized by HKUST before.

Application Results

The results will be announced via MyStudyAbroad. The offer is a confirmation of HKUST’s nomination. The final admission decision rests with the host institution. You will not be guaranteed to be enrolled into any specific courses, as course registration is, in most cases, a separate process. If you decide to take this offer and confirm your participation in this program, you must be prepared to be flexible with the follow-up arrangements, including, but not limited to, course selection.

Accepting the offer

Each student is restricted to commit to one offer only within the same term. To commit to the offer, you must:

• Follow the instructions in the MyStudyAbroad system to commit to the offer. This may require the signing off some forms in the system.
• To commit to the offer, you are required to submit a deposit of HK$2,000 by the deadline stated on your offer letter. This deposit will be returned to you (i) upon submission of the official transcript issued by the host institution, and (ii) OGL's review of your study abroad report submitted by the deadline. If you subsequently withdraw or fail to complete the program, the deposit will not be returned.

Declining the offer

• If you do not commit to the offer by the deadline stated on your offer letter, we assume that you decline the offer.
• If you choose to decline the offer given by OGL, you may still apply for subsequent rounds but you will be put in a lower priority during selection. You will not be given the programs offered from the same institution that you have declined even though you have included the program again in your choice.

Withdrawal and Penalty

• Students who decide to withdraw from the HKUST Summer Study Abroad any time after committing to the offer for any reasons MUST inform OGL immediately via email at study.abroad@ust.hk.
• Students who withdraw from the program any time after committing to the offer will lose the eligibility to apply for HKUST Summer Study Abroad again in the future, and the deposit will not be returned.
• Students who fail to inform OGL of the withdrawal will not be allowed to apply for any programs offered by OGL again in the future.

HKUST Study Abroad Funding Support

HKUST provides funding support to students to support the study abroad participation. More details can be found at HKUST Study Abroad website.

Study Plan & Credit Transfer

• Academic Registry Office is the office in HKUST who handles credit transfer application.
• Students are responsible to check with the host institution on the course/program completion requirements to be awarded the credits.
• Students are expected to take courses offered in face-to-face mode only even the program has an option of online mode of delivery. Taking online classes and examinations would affect the credit transfer results.
• There is no guarantee of enrolment into any course at the host institution, and students must be prepared to be flexible with course selection.  

Visa Information

You will be responsible to ensure that you have the appropriate visa and documents for studying in the destination. Please refer to the individual program brochure page for more information.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is mandatory for some institutions. Please refer to the individual program brochure page for details.

HKUST students who take part in study abroad programs organized by the University will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Plan. Please CLICK HERE for details.

Accommodation

Some programs will provide on or off-campus accommodation. Separate application may be required. For details, please refer to the individual program brochure page.