Program Details
Location
Hong Kong,
China
Term
Summer Session
Housing
Dormitory
Languages Taught In
English
Program Eligibility
Student Type
UofM Students
Student Year
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
GPA
2.8
Events & Info Sessions
There are currently no events for this program. Explore more events on our events page.
About
Spend your summer at the coastal campus of Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST). Founded in 1991, HKUST is already known as a leading international research university, offering a variety of courses in science, engineering, business and management, humanities and social sciences, and interdisciplinary studies. Located on the Sai Kung Peninsula, the campus is surrounded by country parks and nature reserves, and is only a 15-minute bus ride from urban areas.
Learn more about the HKUST Summer School.
Housing & Meals
HKUST offers on-campus dorm living for all summer school participants. You are responsible for all of your daily meals. Learn more about HKUST accommodations.
Excursions
A variety of activities will be organized to help you make new friends and adjust to university life at HKUST, including an onsite orientation, welcome reception, a Hong Kong tour day, and additional program activities.
You will be paired up with a current HKUST student as your buddy, who could be your first friend in Hong Kong. Your buddy will help you get acquainted with campus life and the city, offering valuable insights and support during your study at HKUST.
Accessibility
If you have a disability and plan to study abroad, visit our Accessibility Abroad page to learn about considerations, answer questions, and request accommodations before you go abroad.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop a stronger sense of confidence by engaging in a highly independent study abroad program and foster second language acquisition whenever possible.
- Learn to appreciate diverse world views, accept complexity, and embrace ambiguity; added benefit of reciprocity to foster mutual respect and understanding.
- Experience a new culturally specific academic system and incorporate different academic perspectives.
- Identify and communicate how your experience abroad has impacted you personally, academically, and professionally.
Faculty & Staff
HKUST has staff available to provide a pre-departure orientation, on-site student support, and advising to help you adjust to a new educational system as well as with cultural and campus integration.
Program Structure
Program Level
Upper and lower division coursework available
Courseload
3–11 credits (1–2 courses for one session, maximum of 3 courses for both sessions)
Coursework
Grade & Credit Conversion Scale
Choose from a variety of courses across the Schools of Science, Engineering, Business & Management, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Studies.
You can take 1–2 UG-level courses when you enroll in one session, and you can take a maximum of 3 UG-level coursesw when you enroll in two sessions. Academic transcripts will be issued by HKUST upon program completion.
You receive resident credit for the courses you take. Your grades factor into your University of Minnesota GPA and each course appears on your transcript with an A/F grade. UofM students are required to take a minimum of 12 credits per term. Consult the Learning Abroad Center's Academic Policies page for more information.
Global Identity
Global Identity: Connecting Your International Experience with Your Future is an optional 1-credit online course that helps you process your international experience and apply what you've learned upon your return. Global Identity gives you the opportunity to work individually with a trained cultural mentor, helping you articulate your newly acquired skills and differentiating you from your peers.
To access more information about the course, visit the Global Identity Course Information page.
Note: This option is only available to students participating in both sessions.
Program Dates
Submit the online application and complete the assigned application checklist according to the appropriate deadline:
Summer 2027
Application Open Date: August 1, 2026
Application Deadline: February 10, 2027
| Schedule | Dates |
|---|---|
| Session I | mid June–mid July |
| Session II | mid July–mid August |
Orientation Dates & Locations
The Learning Abroad Center provides pre-departure orientation in preparation for your time abroad. It is your responsibility to know the information shared at these orientations.
Orientation consists of several sessions, all of which are created to support your preparation to go abroad:
- Online Health & Safety Orientation: This asynchronous module can be accessed in your LAC checklist and is mandatory.
- LAC Program Orientation: Program-specific and important UofM registration information will be covered (academic registration, finances, arrival, housing etc.). Details will be sent to you via email.
Costs & Fees
University of Minnesota participants pay the program fee instead of on-campus tuition and fees for the term they are abroad.
If you do not see a budget estimate for the term you intend to go abroad, the fee has not yet been finalized. We strive to post fees for this program at least 30 days prior to the application deadline. The Learning Abroad Center will delay the posting of some fees until enrollments, inflation, and exchange rates are determined. Note the average increase in fees will be 3–10%. Program fees are based on estimates and may change depending on international economic factors.
Fees or tuition from home institutions may be added to or differ from the University of Minnesota Learning Abroad Center fees listed on this page.
Billing & Payments
Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.
Flight & Deposit Advance
The Flight & Deposit Advance (formerly Bridging Loan) is a no-interest/no-fees program that allows you to defer payment of your flight and LAC program deposit until your financial aid is disbursed.
Cancellation Policy
Before you apply to or confirm your participation on this program, review the Learning Abroad Center's Cancellation Policy to inform yourself of the timeline and financial obligations for canceling.
Prepare
Complete pre-application advising.
Apply
You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.
Complete
After you submit your application, you will receive an email notification confirming that your application was received. Submitted applications are assigned an application checklist, which will include the following items for you to submit to the Learning Abroad Center:
- Program Interest & Goals Essay
- Complete a Program Advising Meeting
Students who meet the eligibility requirements will be nominated by the LAC to HKUST. The nomination period is typically mid-November to mid-February. After HKUST receives and reviews your nomination, they will contact you to provide details on the application procedures and guide you to complete the HKUST online application. After you've completed their application, HKUST will review the application and send out an admissions decision via email.
Note: There is no course add/drop period for HKUST Summer School students. You are required to submit your study plan during the HKUST online application. Once the study plan is submitted, no changes to the study plan will be accommodated.
Next Steps
- Upon submitting the online application, you will receive an automated email message indicating your application was received.
- Follow the instructions on your application checklist to submit all of the items. Your application is not considered complete until all items on your application checklist are either received or waived.
- You will have applications with both the Learning Abroad Center and HKUST—make sure to follow instructions for both applications when they're sent to you.
- You will be notified of an acceptance decision by email. If accepted, you will be assigned a confirmation checklist. Log in to the online application to review the confirmation checklist and submit the required items.
After You Apply
Before your program begins, review these resources.
Health & Safety
Learn more about staying healthy and safe abroad, including mental health and wellness, international travel insurance, and safety precautions.
Power of Attorney
Consider designating someone as your power of attorney to act as your legal representative while you’re abroad.
Student Identity
Consult our resources on student identities as you prepare for your abroad experience.
Travel Resources
Ready to go abroad? Our travel resources will help you pack and learn what to expect.
Program Contact
For further information or questions about this program, send an email to
Christina Dunbar at [email protected],
or call at
612.624.3949.