Hello!

I've just applied to HKU and CityU in HK and wondered how long it takes them to review the application. On the website they say that they will tell you of the application result "by June" but it seems awfully late if you have to prepare a year away from home...

Also, do the schools conduct phone interviews for the LLM and if yes do they tell you beforehand?

Does anyone know how hard it is to get in? To be honest I have no idea of my chances of getting in either of these schools.

Thanks for your help!

Hi Jess

I got accepted to CityU today ; they don't e-mail you they just change the status of your application online and send you the acceptance information in the post so it might be an idea to check log onto the CityU applications website and have a look.

I'm not sure about HKU as I didn't apply there but ChineseU seem to be processing applications now too.

Which will you take if you get offered them both? Have you visited both universities?

Hey many thanks for that! I had a look and I've been accepted as well! I'm really chuffed!

I've not been able to visit either universities no, as I live in London. The reason I want to do a LLM is that I am starting my training contract in 2007 and so I thought that spending a year learning about law in Asia would be very cool :-)

I think it's a very difficult decision which university to chose. They both look good (HKU website is flashier :-) ) I will have to have a second look at both programs before I decide. In any case I have to wait for HKU's answer, if they reject me than that's that.

Where are you from? Which university do you prefer between City and CUHK?

I seem to be in a similar position to you! I'm from Ireland, spent a while living in China just after I finished univ. and thought it'd be a good experience to live in Hong Kong and get to know some Chinese law. I went to see the 3 main universities in Hong Kong while I was there to have a look at the facilities, locations etc. Not sure which I'll choose between ChineseU and CityU ; the programmes are pretty similar but there's differences in the accomodation, facilities, locations etc. send me an e-mail at dublinication@yahoo.com its cool to find someone in the same boat as myself!

Andy

I applied to HKU and CUHK (Chinese U). For CUHK, I found out that they've already listed some of their LLM acceptances on their website already. It's on www.cuhk.edu.hk/gss Kind of hard to find, if you don't know where to look. Otherwise you can always wait for a formal letter by August 2006 (pretty late, especially if you're not from Hong Kong!)

I also looked at applying at City U. Location is better for City. CUHK is a 25 minute train ride from New Territories into Kowloon. Also, programme is older than CUHK, whose law school is brand new. But, as far as I've heard (and this is only what I heard) CUHK has a much better reputation and rank as a school. It's also generally regarded as the no. 2 school after HKU. So, one would think CUHK is going to have the funds and resources to make their law program competitive with others.

Speaking of which, I also applied to HKU. If anyone knows when they tell applicants about their decisions, and how to find out, I sure would like to know! Thanks!

I got accepted to both CUHK and CityU. You are right that CUHK has a great reputation and they are putting a lot of money into their new law school and the campus in Shatin is great. My only reservation is that the postgraduate programs are in the Bank of America tower in Central, isolated and far from the main student life of the campus. CityU on the other hand is much more central. The campus is nice and they're a very innovative institution. As for the "reputation" i've been trying to decide just how important that really is ; internationally all 3 Hong Kong universities have a good reputation though i've heard that in Hong Kong there's some snobbery about it with everyone wanting to go to HKU. I'm looking a lot at student life too ; what the facilities are like, how easy it is to feel a part of campus life, suitable accomodation etc.

Interesting. I did not know that CUHK's postgrad programs will be in Kowloon. Personally, I think that's even better. You're (relatively) near law firms and companies and the life of the city. The drawback is you are far from campus. I guess it's what interests you. As for reputation, I totally agree with you about the snobbery on schools. However, I spoke with a bunch of former Hong Kong people, and unreasonable or not, if you plan to look into working in HK or in China, a lot of it is perception on strength/ranking of school. Overseas or internationally - no problem. Opinions I heard were mixed on City - both good and bad. My personal take is the tuition is pretty much the same for all 3 schools, so might as well go to the one that has the best rep. So, I'm probably going to CUHK, (HKU if I can actually get in). But, I'm sure quality-wise, really what's the tangible difference between City and CUHK? It's going to come down to a few more minor details like location, campus life, etc.

y

All right Jay

Congratulations getting into CUHK and Good luck with your CityU application ; I reckon you'll have no problem. I heard (though can't remember where) that the HK LLMs aren't too taxing and they're all at night which gives plenty of time for other stuff.

If you want to get in touch, swap some info or whatever my e-mail is dublinication@yahoo.com

Andy

Personally I wouldn't suggest going to CUHK. It's new and everything not set up yet. It's also too ambitious to admit JD, LLM and LLB students (about 200 in total) while there are only 10 academic staff. You won't have a lot of choices on courses.
In terms of location and student life, you will be stuck in New Territories. Commuting back and forth is possible but not desirable. Students there are emphatically Chinese - not international enough to give exposures.
Do think twice about going to CUHK...

Hello everyone:

Thought this might be of interest to anyone who has applied to HKU, I just got a letter from acceptance from HKU (and I'm in the US). If you applied based on their old deadline, you should hear from them this week.

I know HKU extended their deadline to the end of April. I think people who applied based on that new deadline will probably hear by post, something by the middle or to the end of the month.

Anyone who is going to HK, please feel free to post me an e-mail here.

I just received my acceptance from HKU as well. I think I might be going, I got rejected from Kyushu in Japan and my fallback is McGeorge in Sacramento. And tuition being only $10,000 U.S. in HK seems like a steal for a year abroad.

I am also in the U.S. and have never been to HK. Seems exciting.

Hey All ^^

Seems like there are quite a few who have apllied to study in HK! I'm from the UK and have sent off my acceptance fee for CUHK today. Hofeully I'll be on the International Economics course in Aug.
I love Hong Kong and have family over in NT. Not really sure what to expect, but I'm looking forward to doing something different before doing the LPC back home in 2007.
Would be nice to correspond with anyone before term starts!