Pre-departure

Ahead of my journey, I researched local spots and must-see tourist stops such as the Tian Tan Buddha, the Dragon’s Back hike and Stanley Market. PolyU’s student halls are located centrally in Hong Kong, with the MTR train system making it easy to travel around cheaply. July/August are the peak months of monsoon season, so I focussed on packing appropriate clothing for the climate. The university had sent out a schedule for all our classes and enrichment trips/activities ahead of arrival, so I had a basic plan of the 4 weeks.

Arrival

When I arrived in HK, I was picked up by family friends from the airport – obviously this doesn’t work for most people, but I would advise looking up in advance how to get to the university since the airport is located on Lantau Island, away from mainland HK.

The dorm is separated into male and female floors, with everyone having a roommate, both sharing a bathroom with another pair. Roommate life is a bit daunting at first but in my experience, my roomie was a lovely Korean girl and we got on great! Everyone got on well with their roommates but moving rooms was always an option if needed.

At 10am on Orientation Day, everyone filed into the sports hall and sat with their pre-assigned groups before proceeding to listen to a short speech, commencing ice-breaker games, picking up lunch and going for a tour around campus with your group leader (a regular PolyU student also enrolled in the ISS). At the beginning of the ISS, everyone went out exploring or to get food in large groups, so this was a great opportunity to tag along and meet new people.

Studying at PolyU

All the classes were taught in English, offered in morning (9am-12pm) and afternoon (2pm-5pm) sessions with no classes on Wednesdays, providing a great opportunity to hike up Victoria Peak or catch a ferry to Macau and do some off-peak sight-seeing. There were regular assessments including small-medium sized tests, two spoken components and a final exam. We also had to buy a book which we used throughout the whole of the course.

Tips and Challenges

One challenge faced was the constant shift between immense heat and icy air-conditioning. Day-to-day, it’s important to bring easy layers, like a cardigan, so you can cover up inside shops and cool down walking outside – but the constant change of temperature can make you feel a bit unwell while you’re adjusting.

Something else to consider was the food: HK is known for affordable street food, and while this is true compared to the UK, it adds up fast when you buy every meal. It was difficult at first to find a good variety of healthy options, while watching the budget, and anyone with meat-related dietary restrictions was limited. Be aware that the heat and humidity can reduce your appetite too.

Sending regular updates home was quite tough too, if not because of the time difference, then because I was busy in the day and exhausted by the night, so to recount the day multiple times over was extremely draining. A method I saw working well was to have one place to update people all at once – like short vlogs uploaded to Instagram stories or a dedicated travel page – it’s less personal but significantly less draining!

Getting around HK was much easier than anticipated as the MTR is very cheap and efficient (just one stop costed ~40p!) Many people in HK can speak basic English and most signs/announcements have a translation, so not knowing Cantonese is rarely a problem. Sim cards were easy to organise ahead of arrival and were very helpful since stable Wi-Fi can’t be guaranteed when you’re travelling around. Over half the ISS students were from mainland China – where apps like WhatsApp, Instagram etc. are not available – so downloading WeChat and having an existing user verify you is important for staying connected.

In HK, cash is as important as cards, especially for small restaurants, local vendors and taxis, so it’s important to exchange some money before travelling. Travel cards like Revolut or Monzo are good for exchanges, transfers and withdrawals with low/no fees – HSBC was also helpful for the same processes since it’s one of the largest banks in HK. For transport around HK, it’s a good idea to get an Octopus card (like a London Oyster card – usually accepted in shops/restaurants too). It’s also worth noting that haggling at market stalls is customary (e.g. at the Ladies Markets), which is intimidating as a foreigner, but it’s worth trying to haggle down the price otherwise you’ll pay a high mark-up on your souvenirs! The dorm rooms had fridge/freezers, so it was easy to pick up stuff at the nearby supermarket to save money on things like breakfast, drinks and snacks. For bigger meals, there were great local street-food and casual restaurant options where you could find dishes for ~ £3-£7.

Why I recommend an international summer school

Some of the most invaluable things I took away from the ISS were the friendships and international connections with amazing and inspiring people from all over the world. It’s an extraordinary privilege to share a window of time with such a diverse group, knowing the probability of all of us being together again is almost zero – that makes every moment priceless.

Hong Kong PolyU is a fantastic place to study and an even better place to immerse yourself in rich culture. From vibrant city streets to tropical beaches and picturesque hikes, Hong Kong truly has something for everyone. I cannot endorse the experience of travelling and testing your independence enough. The International Summer School programme offers an incredible chance to challenge yourself and create unforgettable memories.

Charlotte studied at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
International Summer School, Hong Kong in summer 2025

If students would like to contact Charlotte for more information about participating in an international summer school, please contact the Global Opportunities team