China: Hong Kong Baptist University Exchange

Overview 

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) is located in the heart of the Kowloon Tong district. HKBU offers undergraduate students a diverse array of study options. Students will immerse themselves in rich cultural diversity, extensive shopping, miles of hiking, over 235 islands, beautiful beaches, and thousands of restaurants—all while earning college credit at our partner university.

There is no foreign language requirement for enrollment at HKBU and most classes are taught in English. Although the majority of its seven million residents are ethnically Chinese, English is widely spoken in Hong Kong. The official languages are English and Chinese.

Students have access to two sports centers that offer an array of exercise options including a fitness center multi-purpose gymnasium, a soccer field, squash courts, a swimming pool, table tennis rooms, and roof-top tennis courts. Support services are provided by the International Student Exchange Centre (ISEC) who offer counseling services for international students and organize orientation programs to familiarize visiting students with HKBU and Hong Kong culture.

Living Arrangements 

Students are housed in a modern residence hall comprised of a North and South tower and four living communities. The hall can accommodate approximately 1,800 students. When applying to live in the residence hall, students may indicate their preference of a roommate from Hong Kong, mainland China, or another international student to enhance the cultural experience.

Program Dates 

• Fall Semester: late August - Late December
• Spring Semester: Early January– late May
• Academic year: late August- late May

This program is offered annually. 

Academics  

Courses and Credits: Semester or Year Option

Students are expected to register for a minimum of 12 HKBU credits per semester. They can select from a wide variety of disciplines offering courses taught in English including:  Business, Cinema and Television, Communications, Economics, Geography, History, Humanities, Information Systems Management, Journalism, Political Science, Religion, Philosophy, Social Sciences, Sociology, and more.

HKBU also offers a variety of Chinese cultural courses as well as beginning and intermediate courses in Mandarin.

Courses and Credits: Summer Option (not available in 2025)

HKBU offers an exciting 4-week summer program in July. Participating students may choose from 13 courses in the areas of Business, Communication, Film, Language (beginner Cantonese and Mandarin), Social Science, and Science. All courses (except Chinese language) are taught in English and participants will earn up to 6 credits on the program.

You can read more about the HKBU Summer Program here. To be considered for this program, start your OGO application here.

Cost  

Please see the student budget worksheets below for cost information.

Undergraduate Student Budget Worksheet - Fall 2025

Items that are not related to the program (i.e., additional entertainment, souvenirs, extra travel, contingency funds) are not included in the cost estimates provided and should be budgeted for separately.  

*Note: 

• Non-resident surcharge waived for the credit hours associated with this program. 
• If you are nominated to this program, you will be required to pay a deposit to confirm your participation. The deposit is a down payment on the total costs to be billed by OHIO. 

Looking for Funding Opportunities? 

More information on financial aid and scholarships can be found on our funding pages.

Eligibility 

This program is open to undergraduate students of all majors who have a 2.5 GPA. 

Students who will be on probation at any point during the program for a conduct offense that took place less than a calendar year from the program start date may not study abroad. Read the entire conduct policy.  

This program only accepts degree-seeking OHIO students who are enrolled full time. 

To be considered for this program, participants must have a at least a high school diploma or the equivalent (e.g. GED) by the start date of the program. Additionally, students should have completed one year of college by the time of travel. Students enrolled in College Credit Plus (CC+) are not eligible for study away programs.

Application Requirements 

This program requires applicants to submit:

• A personal statement: A 1 - 2 page typed essay about yourself, your academic and career interests, and your motivation for studying abroad on this particular program.
• 2 reference letters
• A DARS:
• A course list: This program requires a listing of the 8-10 host institution courses that you would be interested in taking while studying overseas and their description.

Applicants must also complete an interview as part of the selection process.

Note: Applicants will be asked to submit a copy of their passport soon after their application is received by OGO. If you are considering applying for this exchange program and do not currently hold a valid passport, you are advised to apply for your passport as soon as possible.  

Entry and Exit Requirements 

U.S. citizens are required to have a valid U.S. passport when traveling outside of the United States. If you plan to study or travel abroad in the next year,  apply for your passport  now. Some countries also require a visa to legally enter or reside in the country.

US citizens will need a visa to enter the country for the length of this  program. Students participating in the HKBU summer program will additionally need a short-term, single-entry visa to China.  HKBU and OGO will advise you on the visa process.  You may need to show sufficient funds to support yourself while in-country.  Please also note that visa requirements may vary if you plan to stay in the country longer than the program dates or travel to other countries during or after the program.  Please familiarize yourself with these recommendations and requirements prior to applying to a program.

For more specific visa related information, please visit OGO’s  Visa Information Page 

Information for  Non-U.S. citizens  

Resources 

• Health and Safety
• Accessibility Requests and Accommodations