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Postgraduate entrance exam candidates head to Hong Kong

2024-08-11

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One of the most obvious changes in Hong Kong in recent years is that more people are speaking Mandarin on the streets.
As an international metropolis, Cantonese and English were once the main languages ​​of communication here. If you accidentally use Mandarin, you may be disdained and looked down upon by "a northerner".
But now,Looking at all the major universities in Hong Kong, students from the mainland account for half of the total
Taking the University of Hong Kong as an example,In the 2019-2020 academic year, there are 13,395 master's students, of which 6,810 are international students, accounting for about 51% of the total number of master's students; and there are 5,485 mainland students, accounting for about 80% of international students.

Studying Abroad in Hong Kong

As employment competition becomes increasingly fierce, a master's degree has gradually become a threshold for many employers.
Postgraduate study has become a necessity.
You don't have to travel across the ocean to enjoy the same treatment as studying abroad. The one-year master's program gives you more time advantages than your peers, whether you want to work directly or use it as background material for applying for a doctorate.Postgraduate study in Hong KongThey are all impressive academic qualifications.
All of a sudden, Hong Kong schools became popular among postgraduate entrance examination candidates.In addition to top universities such as the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, second- and third-tier Hong Kong universities have also received a flood of applications.
For taught postgraduate programmes (MA), City University of Hong Kong offers a maximum of 5,000 places each year. In the 2022/23 academic year, it has received more than 56,000 applications from mainland students, almost three times as many as two years ago.

The best value for money

Among this huge group of students, the vast majority come to Hong Kong to study for a master's degree.
In Hong Kong, master's programs can be divided into taught and research-based programs. The former focuses on combining theory with practice, and credits are obtained by completing subject assignments and related exams. The general duration of study is one year. Research-based master's programs usually last for two years, and are mainly conducted under the guidance of a tutor on a certain topic.
It only takes one year to obtain a master's degree. While enjoying world-class teaching resources and job opportunities, it saves both time and money. Studying for a master's degree in Hong Kong is highly sought after.

Avoid the MainlandThe employment situation is grim, and the number of postgraduate entrance examinations and recruitment is high.fiercecompete,With excellent QS academic rankings, lower study fees than the UK and the US, high school recognition, and even relevant subsidies and tax exemptions, Hong Kong is a good choice for studying abroad.ofThe king of cost-effectiveness.
at the same time,Hong Kong is facing a "talent shortage". Being able to stay here after graduation and get a decent and high-paying job is also an important reason that attracts young people to Hong Kong.
Where to go ashore
“In other countries, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, the number of applicants increases by 10% to 20% each year at most, but in Hong Kong, it has doubled year-on-year.
As more and moreMany people went to Hong Kong.The track is getting crowded.The most intuitive feeling is the "disguised improvement" of admission requirements and the superior backgrounds of other applicants.
The application criteria for Hong Kong universities include school background, GPA, internships, scientific research and IELTS scores.
The Finance and Financial Engineering Program of City University of Hong Kong recently disclosed the backgrounds of graduate students entering in 2022. Among the 34 students, 21 graduated from mainland universities, all from 985 universities such as Fudan University and Zhejiang University.
"In the past few years, when there were not many applications, we would send out 600 or 700 admission notices for every 1,000 applicants, but only about 100 people showed up. Now, there are more than 2,000 applicants, so we have more room to choose and only send admission notices to the top 20% of students."This was revealed by a dean of one of Hong Kong's eight universities.
Not only do the applicants have excellent academic backgrounds, their GPAs are also among the best.
In a law school of the Chinese University of Hong KongIn the application group, the lowest reported GPA was 86, and over 90 points has become the standard.Similarly, an IELTS score of 6.5 cannot guarantee admission to CUHK. Currently, applicants’ IELTS scores are all 7, 7.5, or even 8.
Figure | Postgraduate entrance exams in Hong Kong universities are becoming increasingly competitive
At the same time, the cost of studying abroad, which is slightly cheaper than studying in the UK and the US, is still expensive for ordinary people.
A 4-square-meter living room with a shared toilet can cost more than 5,000 yuan in rent just because it is close to a school.
Even if you go to great lengths to get an offer from a Hong Kong university, you may not necessarily get a satisfactory return.
Hong Kong has developed finance and foreign trade, but its industrial structure is relatively simple and white-collar jobs are not diverse.In addition to finance, computer science, lawyers, and doctors, the salaries of more fresh graduates may beIt's the same level as blue-collar jobs like restaurant dishwashers.
Hong Kong used to be the Chinese cultural and entertainment center, the world's film center, and the media center, but as a liberal arts student, it is very likely that you will not be able to find a job that matches the salary and labor, "even if you work hard, you will not get the deserved reward."
In the face of global competition for talent, Chief Executive John Lee has repeatedly stressed in public speeches that we should not only "steal" talent from abroad, but also actively cultivate local talent.
Legislative Council member Hung Man said that Hong Kong should try to retain these mainland students who come to study in Hong Kong. "After one year of studying in Hong Kong, they can get familiar with the environment of Hong Kong and have a certain sense of identity with Hong Kong. We should let them become the new force of Hong Kong and add fresh blood to the labor force of Hong Kong."