hong kong harbour

Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Schulich/Social Work only

Located in the heart of Hong Kong, near Victoria Harbor and Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, or PolyU, has over 30,000 students and is one of the top 10 universities under 50 years of age.

Key information

Language

English, Cantonese

Semester

Fall, Winter

Program type

Exchange

Application information

Application status

Open October 1, 2024

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2025-2026 applications

Priority deadline: January 5, 2025

University-specific additional requirements

Applicants do not need a reference.

2026-2027 applications

Open October 1, 2025

Program details

  1. Schulich

    PolyU offers several areas of engineering. Each department is listed here as well as a list of offered courses (called "subjects" at PolyU). Please write your desired courses AND the department in the Course List section of your online application.

    • Faculty of Constn & Env: Civil Eng & Building Services, Envl Eng, Geomatics
    • Faculty of Eng: Electrical Eng, Electronic & Information Eng, Industrial & Systems Eng, Mechanical Eng, Biomedical Eng Aeronautical & Aviation Eng

    As an exch student, you can take courses from all eng areas, as long as you meet the requirements of each course and courses are approved by your academic advisor. However, at least 50% of your courses must come from 1 department.

    Currently, the "host departments":

    • Dept of Civil & Env Eng
    • Dept of Land Surveying & Geoinformatics

    Students at PolyU must take between 9 and 18 credits per semester. This works out to 3-6 UCalgary half-course equivalents. 3 HKPU credits = 3 UCalgary units

  2. Social Work (on hold)

    The Faculty of Social Work has a practicum opportunity at this university. Please contact Jessica Ayala for more information. (on hold)

PolyU has two semesters, Fall and Spring. 

  • Fall semester runs late Aug/early September to the holidays in December
  • Spring semester runs early January to mid-May
  1. Costs

    Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider. 

    The best time to live in Hong Kong is as a student, as student accommodation in Hong Kong is often heavily subsized. PolyU's monthly estimate of living expenses is as follows (semester is roughly 4.5 months):

    On-campus Accommodation 1,400 HKD
    Food 3,000 HKD
    Laundry & AC in dorm 200 HKD
    Miscellaneous Expenses 900 HKD
    Visa/Admin fee (one time) 550 HKD
    Total per month: 5620 HKD

    Also, don't forget to include things like flights, visas, insurance, vaccinations, etc. in your budget planning.

    Hong Kong cost comparison for other items vs. Calgary: Click Here 

  2. Funding

     Since you remain a degree seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.

    Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (based on a funding-first model where students apply prior to committing to a global learning program) and the Global Learning Award (students apply after being accepted to a global learnng program; the amount varies year-to-year as the money is split among chosen recipients). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.

    China International Study Travel Award: offered annually to continuing undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Calgary. See funding page for more details. 

    HKCBA Award 3 prizes awarded annually. Apply directly to HKCBA ($3000/$2000/$1000)See funding page for more details. Deadline: October 31, 2022

All exchange students are guaranteed accommodation at PolyU Student Halls of Residence for a twin-share room (no single rooms available). Application instructions for accommodation are typically sent in the admission email from PolyU, and typically opens for applications in early August/December. Poly U has 2 blocks of students halls (Hung Hom and Homantin) managed by the university.

This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in Schulich School of Engineering at UCalgary, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-) or permission of the exchange advisor.

The Social Work Practicum is open to regular, full-time students in the BSW program, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B). PROGRAM ON HOLD

 

Please note that all university campuses in Hong Kong prohibit smoking on campuses in accordance with Hong Kong law. 

What supports or services are available at PolyU?

Hong Kong Polytechnic is located in a relatively flat area adjacent to the lively Kowloon Harbourfront, making it a more accessible option in Hong Kong for those with mobility concerns. Students with mobility, academic, or any other type of accessibility needs can consult with the Student Affairs Office. Quote: "We welcome applications from people with disabilities. Applicants who fulfill the essential entry requirements and satisfy the specified physical demands of the selected programme will be considered for admission on the same academic grounds as other applicants. Reasonable use of assistive technology is welcomed where appropriate."


Have questions?

Global Learning 101

Please watch this short YouTube playlist before reaching out or booking an appointment. In these videos, you will learn much of the basics about Global Learning, which may answer your initial questions.

Watch Global Learning 101

Academic Advising

Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how this program might align with your degree (e.g. best time to go, what courses you need).

After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/transfer credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.

Find your academic advisor

Global Learning Advising

If you have questions, please reach out to our office! We offer drop-in advising for general inquiries, and if you have questions about this specific program or any others, you can book an appointment with the responsible advisor.

Please use the link below to find the most up-to-date information about our current advising options.

View the Global Learning Advising page

The exchange advisor for this program is: Veronica V. Cardoso

How to Apply

Download the application guide

This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.

Application guide

Identify three programs of interest

We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.

Check requirements and deadlines

These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.

Start your application

Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!

Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.

APPLY NOW

International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.

For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.

If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.

Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.