Outbound Exchange

You should have completed at least one year of study with major declared before you apply. Please visit here for more information.

Advanced Standing students must have completed at least one year of study at CityUHK before participating in an exchange programme. You may apply in the main round application, which is held in December to January during your Year 3, to study abroad in Year 4, according to the application eligibility criteria outlined here.

Deferment of graduation is not encouraged. You should prepare your course plan in consultation with your exchange coordinator, academic advisor, or programme leader at City University of Hong Kong to ensure that the credits you earn from the target overseas university can be transferred back to CityUHK. This will help you graduate on time.

Normally, graduating students receive the CityUHK official transcript in July. If you go for an exchange in the last semester of your final year, you will receive your CityUHK official transcript in October. Nevertheless, you will still be invited to attend the College Commencement in June.

You are required to take IELTS or TOEFL as part of the application requirements unless you choose to study in Chinese Mainland or Taiwan, China. Priority will be given to applicants who have obtained satisfactory IELTS or TOEFL scores. Applicants should ensure that their IELTS result is valid, effective for two years from the test date.

You should take the IELTS or TOEFL test according to the application schedule. You are encouraged to register for the IELTS or TOEFL test as early as possible, as the quotas for each test are very limited. It takes at least two weeks to receive your score report after you complete the test.

All special admission requirements (e.g. foreign language), if any, are specified on the list of universities.

The cost of living during an exchange depends greatly on the country/region, exchange rate, and individual needs. Estimated expenses can be found on the list of universities or on the homepage of the university.

Information sessions will be organised around the application period and after the announcement of results. Students who have returned from exchange will be invited to share their tips and experiences in studying abroad. The schedule of the sharing sessions will be announced by email from the Global Engagement Office. Please visit here for more information.

Most partner universities welcome exchange students in either Semester A or Semester B. However, some universities are restricted to specific semesters only. Check the exchange period of your target universities on the list of universities at the College-level.

Institutional-level

• Available to students from different Colleges and Schools
• Wide range of course offerings within institutional-level host institutions

College-level

• Available only to students from a specific College/School
• Course offerings are specific to the College/School’s discipline

Departmental-level

• Available only to students from a specific Department
• Course offerings are specific to the Department’s discipline

Depending on your interests, the fit of the courses, and the level of your programme, you may choose courses offered by the institution, college, or department.

You should consider the following when you choose your target university:

1. Can I meet the admission requirements of the overseas university, e.g. TOEFL or IELTS score, GPA requirement?
   You should check such information on the homepage of the target university.
2. Are my required courses for credit transfer offered by the overseas university?
   You should consult your exchange coordinator, academic advisor, or programme leader for your academic planning.
3. Can I afford the expenses of the exchange?
   Even if you are eligible for the Student Exchange Fund, it can only cover 30% to 40% of the total cost of living overseas.