Studying In Hong Kong

Our International Uni: Studying in Hong Kong

Morenike Tomori interviews Marianna, a second year English and Philosophy student who was lucky enough to spend a semester abroad in Hong Kong last year.

Morenike: Marianna, welcome. So, which university did you attend during your semester abroad and how would you rate your experience?

Marianna: Hi Morenike, thank you for having me. So, I attended City University which is one of two universities in Hong Kong. It was 10/10 honestly!

What is one thing you wish you had known prior to starting your semester abroad?

How quickly time flies! In the beginning, I was in a new country and there was so much to do, but I didn’t know many people initially to go to these things with. I made a list of places to go to and did many activities with my friends, most of whom were also exchange students, but we almost ran out of time to complete everything.

What advice would you give to people applying for semesters abroad?

I originally applied to Canada, Sweden and Australia. When I saw “congratulations your exchange application has been successful” and that I was going to be placed in Hong Kong, I tried to keep an open mind. Before going to Hong Kong, I thought it would be very urban, like Dubai and Singapore, but this was not the case. Hong Kong is a lot like Nottingham, it has plenty of nature and beautiful scenery. Plus, there are some aspects of life in Hong Kong which are so unlike the UK and I would never have experienced these cultural differences if I’d closed my mind off early on! I’d advise anyone who is applying for a semester (or year) abroad not to focus so intensely on their choices. Choose random locations and just be open to anything and everything. Life is too short to worry about whether you’ll like where you’re going. Plus, if Covid has shown anything, it’s that you never know when you will have the opportunity to go abroad again, so make sure to grab every opportunity that comes your way.

Did this experience broaden your perspective more generally?

Absolutely. In the beginning I was so scared, but I really found my place in Hong Kong. After I graduate, I want to take a gap year and work abroad in Chile for a bit!

If you’d like to read more about her experiences, Marianna has written an article titled ‘Quarantine in hotel room 2315, Hong Kong’, which can be found on the Impact website.

By Morenike Tomori Page Design by Chiara Crompton