IU Exchange Program in Hong Kong

The Office of International Affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to invite College undergraduate students seeking a Bachelor of Science to apply for the Spring 2017 semester exchange at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s (HKUST) School of Science.

HKUST is a well-regarded university that offers excellent support for visiting exchange students. Courses are taught in English. Since this is an IU exchange, the costs for selected students are reasonable, as they pay their regular IU tuition and fees. In addition, the College will provide travel support of up to $1,000 for accepted students.

Please pass information on this exchange to faculty in your department, post it on your department websites and blogs, and/or forward this email directly to students. We urge faculty to be supportive of this exchange and to prepare letters of recommendation if asked. This information is also being provided to academic advisors.

ELIGIBILITY:

•         Students must be pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Arts & Sciences.

•         Students must have completed a minimum of 1 year at IU prior to enrolling at HKUST.

•         Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.

•         Students must complete an essay and provide two letters of recommendation.

•         Students must have a passport by the time applications are due to HKUST (end of September).

 

DEADLINE:

Student applications must be received by 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, September 7, 2016. (See procedures below.) Applications will be reviewed by The College and then nominated to HKUST by mid-September, and accepted students will be notified to complete an online application through HKUST by the end of September.

PROCEDURES:

Students interested in the program should do the following:

1.      Carefully read this email, the attachments, and the websites referenced throughout before submitting an applications.  Students should NOT contact HKUST directly until after they are nominated by the College.

2.      Arrange for two (2) letters of recommendation from professors or others who can speak to the student’s academic qualifications, as well as any other qualities or information regarding the student’s preparedness and interest in the HKUST program. Recommendation letters should be sent directly from the recommender to the College Office of International Affairs, collOIA@indiana.edu by 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, September 7, 2016.

3.      Write an essay (no more than 2 pages) explaining why the student would like to take part in the exchange at HKUST.  The essay should include information about academic studies thus far at IU and what the student plans to study at HKUST.  The essay should also address why the student would like to study in Hong Kong, such as any interest in the language, culture, or other opportunities there.  The student’s name and ID number should be at the top of the essay.  The student should send the essay (in Word or PDF) by email attachment to the College Office of International Affairs, collOIA@indiana.edu by 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, September 7, 2016.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

§  Students are encouraged to submit application materials before the deadline if at all possible.  The deadline is firm.

§  Students who are nominated will be instructed to consult with the Office of Overseas Study and their Academic Advisor(s) to make further program arrangements.

§  There are several students who have previously participated in the exchange with the HKUST School of Science, and we can put students in contact with them, if requested.

§  Students selected for the exchange will pay their regular IU tuition and fees, and will be given information about estimated costs for housing, meals, and other expenses in Hong Kong.

§  The College will provide a grant of $1,000 for accepted students, to help offset the cost of their airfare.

§  To learn more about HKUST’s courses, students are referred to the Course Catalog at http://prog-crs.ust.hk/  for course details. You may also review the exact courses offered in the previous term at https://w5.ab.ust.hk/wcq/cgi-bin/1530/ as a reference.

§  Because this is a new exchange, we do not have a database of IU equivalent courses.  Students will have to have their HKUST transcripts and syllabi evaluated by IU faculty in order for IU equivalencies to be processed.

§  Students will be expected to arrive in Hong Kong in late January to attend orientation, and begin classes on February 1, 2017.  There is a mid-term break in April, and final exams will be mid-late May.

Thank you for helping to support this international exchange opportunity.  We look forward to receiving student applications!