THE CAMPUS
HKUST occupies a stunning 150-acre site overlooking the pristine Clearwater Bay, located on the Sai Kung Peninsula. The area is often considered as one of Hong Kong’s havens for outdoor lovers.
People do not normally associate Hong Kong with nature. But the truth is that only around 25% of Hong Kong is the dense urban space that is so well known to the world. The other 75% is undeveloped, and comprises country parks and nature reserves. Of course, with the efficient public transport system, you are never far from urban areas. A 15-minute bus ride will take you from HKUST to the nearest subway station.
REPUTATION AND RANKINGS
HKUST is a publicly funded university that opened in 1991. It is a leading international research university dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge in science, engineering, business, humanities and social science.
As a young university – just stepping into its third decade – HKUST’s achievements are remarkable. It has consistently gained top international rankings, a demonstration of the university’s high academic quality and the global recognition it has achieved.
- World’s Top 50 Young Universities Under 50, 2021 QS World University Rankings
- Global University Employability Ranking 2021 (No.2 in Greater China, No.1 in Hong Kong) in Emerging/Trendence, published by Times Higher Education
- World’s Top 1500 Universities (No. 3 in Hong Kong), 2023 QS World University Rankings
You can also find the rankings achieved by our individual subject areas here.
STUDENT BODY
HKUST is coeducational, with a total enrollment of approximately 15,000 students. The university comprises five Schools: Science, Engineering, Business and Management, Humanities and Social Science, and the HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School. The undergraduate student body comprises 61% local students and 39% non-local students. In addition, with over 1000 exchange students passing through HKUST every year, you really can make friends with people from around the world.
CAMPUS FACILITIES AND SUPPORT
Orientation
Exchange students normally arrive around 3 days before the start of term. This provides enough time to participate in orientation activities and to adapt to the new environment. Orientation sessions organized by the University and the Schools help you settle in Hong Kong and familiarize you with HKUST’s learning environment.
Library
The HKUST library is a centrally located five-storey building that provides nearly 3,300 reader seats. In addition to over 720,000 print volumes and a large collection of media resources, it provides access to more than 120,000 electronic and print journals, a large number of e-books, databases and other digital information resources. The library and the Learning Commons provide many places for individual and group projects or studying.
Students' Union
The Students' Union is an unincorporated association formed by HKUST students. It operates independently from the University, and all undergraduate students are eligible to be a full member at the University.
Student societies and clubs
Joining a club is a great way to make new friends or pick up a new skill or passion. There are more than 100 student societies affiliated to the Students’ Union, covering sports, recreational, academic, religious, music and other themes. There are over 30 sports clubs. No matter what your interests are, there is something for you.
School societies, such as BSU (Business Students' Union), ESU (Engineering Students' Union), SSU (Science Students' Union), HSSU (Humanities and Social Science Students' Union) and IPSU (Interdisciplinary Programs Students' Union) provide a great opportunity to meet people in your School.
The International Students' Association (ISA) and the Mainland Students and Scholars Society also host a number of events throughout the term.
Sports and recreation facilities
There is a wide variety of sports and recreation facilities available for your use. All the facilities at the Indoor Sports complex are fully air-conditioned. We have a large indoor sports hall of 1,600 sq m for activities such as badminton, basketball, volleyball and handball. In addition, there are courts for squash and table tennis, and areas for fencing, dance, indoor archery, martial arts and weight training.
Outdoor sports facilities include an artificial turf soccer pitch, a 400-meter 8-lane track, a hard-surface mini-soccer pitch, a basketball court, a lawn area and tennis courts. We also have a 50-meter outdoor pool and a 25-meter indoor pool for aquatic activities.
Food on Campus
There are many eateries on campus. They are a great place to meet with friends.
China Garden
Ground Floor, Academic Building
Dim sum lunch, Full-course Cantonese lunch and dinner
Canteens
Lower Ground 1 and 7, and LSK Building
Fast food, Chinese and western
Pacific Coffee
LSK Building
Breakfast (Muffin and different types of pastry); Lunch and dinner (Panini, packed salad)
Ebeneezer's (Halal-certified)
LSK Building
Kebabs, Indian curries, biryanis, pizza
LG7 Kitchen 3 (Vegetarian)
Lower Ground 7
Salad, Chinese and western
Passion
Academic concourse
Coffee, hot drinks, juice, baked goods, sandwiches, salads, pasta
American Diner
Courtyard
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
Hungry Korean
Courtyard
A variety of authentic Korean food: Gimbap, hot soups
UniBistro & The UniBar
University Center
Western breakfast, International lunch and dinner, alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks
UniQue
Conference Lodge
International dishes and local favorites, health-conscious meals, and vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free items
Seafront Cafeteria
Ground Floor, UG Hall VI
McDonald's & McCafe
Lower Ground 5
Starbucks
Piazza (beside the bookstore)
Subway
Ground Floor, CYT Building
Fusion (Supermarket)
Lower Ground 7