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School Reference Reports / Reference Reports DEADLINE: 20 March 2024 (11:59 pm)

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The Chinese University of Hong Kong

The information in this page is provided by the institution.  Should there be any discrepancies between information listed here and on the institutions' websites, the latter shall prevail.  Please contact the respective institution directly if you have any enquiries.


CUHK aims to provide students with a conducive learning environment to facilitate their all-round personal growth.  The University offers a comprehensive range of facilities and services to students and the main ones are listed below.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong Library 

The Chinese University of Hong Kong Library (CUHK Library) is one of the major academic research libraries in East Asia, attracting students and scholars to its rich and extensive print, online and special collections. It comprises the University Library and six other Libraries – the Chung Chi College Elisabeth Luce Moore Library, the New Asia College Ch’ien Mu Library, the United College Wu Chung Library, the Li Ping Medical Library at the teaching hospital in Shatin, the Architecture Library and the Lee Quo Wei Law Library.

With over 2.8 million print volumes, 5.4 million electronic books,160,000 electronic journals and 1,000 databases, the Library welcomes over a million visits per year. Collections reflect CUHK’s bilingual and multicultural environment. Access to the electronic collections and searching of library resources (LibrarySearch) is from our website at http://www.lib.cuhk.edu.hk. Books can be borrowed from any of the Libraries, and as part of Hong Kong Academic Library Link (HKALL) students can also use books from the seven other university libraries in Hong Kong.

The Library offers inspirational facilities, with around 4,500 study spaces across its buildings. It caters for all, from silent individual study to the vibrant Learning Garden collaborative area and innovative MakerSpace. There are extensive PC facilities and WiFi is enabled throughout the libraries. The Library also accommodates the needs of post-graduates and researchers with individual study rooms. During the semester 24/7 study space is normally available in the Learning Garden at the University Library, the Architecture Library and all year round at the Li Ping Medical Library.

In addition to a roving help team, librarians offer specialist support in person, via chat, email or phone, and library orientation sessions are organised for new students at the beginning of each academic year. Workshops, both online and in-person are held throughout the year, so that students can find, use and apply the information they need effectively. Information guides and news about all of the Libraries are available on the Library website.

Using the library and our resources in person or on the web is a key factor in success at University. We look forward to welcoming you to the Library!

IT and Network Facilities

The learning experience of students at CUHK is made more convenient and enjoyable by state-of-the-art IT facilities and a wide range of services by the Information Technology Services Centre.  The one-stop University portal offers students personalized access to administrative systems, email, eLearning platform, library services, and many other online services and campus information.

Learning Commons are equipped with IT resources, audio visual facilities, multi-functional printers, and functional spaces to facilitate students’ private and collaborative work.

The entire campus, including classrooms, student hostels, teaching blocks, academic and administrative buildings, is connected to the University Campus Backbone Network via high-speed 10 Gigabit or Gigabit Ethernet links. When on campus, students can enjoy Wi-Fi services in these buildings as well as some outdoor areas. While off campus, they can connect to the campus network through commercial broadband service providers using virtual private network (VPN) connection. They can also access free Wi-Fi at different hotspots in Hong Kong and at many overseas universities under a partnership programme. In addition, CUHK also operates the Hong Kong Internet Exchange (HKIX), the hub for Internet traffic between Hong Kong and overseas.

Hostel Accommodation and Colleges

CUHK is the only university in Hong Kong with a collegiate system. In addition to its four constituent Colleges (namely, Chung Chi, New Asia, United and Shaw), five new Colleges - Morningside College, S.H. Ho, C.W. Chu, Wu Yee Sun and Lee Woo Sing College - have been established recently to further strengthen our unique college system and cater for the growth in student population. Over 50% of CUHK undergraduates reside in more than 20 hostels of our Colleges. Jointly with six postgraduate halls, the University offer over 9,000 hostel places to students. 

All full-time undergraduates at CUHK are affiliated with one of the Colleges. Each College is distinctive, but together they shape the character of the University.

Colleges are congenial communities with their own hostels, dining halls and other facilities. They are where students receive pastoral care and whole-person education, and offered exciting palettes with which to colour their university life, including overseas exchange, student visitor programmes, seminars, mentorship and community service programmes, and training in languages, IT and leadership. Extracurricular activities are also organized by the college student unions.

The plethora of non-formal learning opportunities offered by the Colleges complement the formal curricula, nurture students' interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity, and build up their confidence and sense of social responsibility. And scholarship and financial aid schemes are available to enable one to fully exploit the potential for personal growth.

Health Service

The University Health Service (UHS) provides medical service, health education service, and dental service to full-time students, staff and dependents, and retired staff and dependents.  UHS is equipped with Outpatient Service Unit, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory and Physiotherapy Unit to provide primary medical services. For serious or specific medical consitions, UHS will refer patients to specialists or hospitals  for treatments. The Health Education Unit organizes regular talks, student activities, awareness campaigns and vaccination programmes. The Dental Unit provides dental and prosthodontics service. Most of the medical services are free of charge, while the Dental Unit charges according to the service provided.

Sports Facilities

Leisure complements study, and adds another dimension to education at CUHK.  To promote student interest in physical activities, the University provides a variety of sports facilities, including two sports fields, five gymnasia, a 50-metre standard swimming pool, eleven tennis courts, six squash courts, eleven fitness rooms and a Water Sports Centre.

Student Activities and Services

The Office of Student Affairs coordinates university-wide student activities, liaises with the student unions and their affiliated societies, and provides assistance and advice for student functions.  The Office also offers a wide range of services, including (i) Career Planning and Development(ii) Student Experience and Development(iii) Wellness and Counselling; and (iv) Learning and Cultural Enhancement Services.

Student Exchange and Short-term Experiential Learning Activities

Going on exchange is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It allows students to appreciate and explore different cultures and learning styles, hone language skills, and grow as confident individuals. CUHK has over 270 student exchange partners in more than 36 countries and regions. Every year, over 1,000 CUHK students participate in student exchange programmes for one term or one academic year. Furthermore, many CUHK students take part in short-term experiential learning activities outside Hong Kong arranged by the Colleges and academic departments throughout the academic year.

To further foster global learning and experience, the Global Online Academic Learning (GOAL) Programme provides opportunities for students through online programmes and platforms. This includes the APRU Virtual Student Exchange (VSE) Programme which allows students from over 60 member universities of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), including CUHK, to take academic courses and participate in co-curricular programmes offered by member universities. Besides learning from some of the best universities in the world, the VSE gives access to students to a wide range of opportunities for cultural immersion, career preparation, global leadership training, and peer networking without needing to travel.

To learn more about exchange and short-term learning opportunities, please visit http://www.oal.cuhk.edu.hk/gettingstarted

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Thanks to the numerous donors for their generous donations, the University offers various scholarships, prizes, and awards to recognize students who have demonstrated academic excellence and outstanding performance in non-academic areas such as music, sports, creativity and community service. Different types of bursaries and loans are also provided to help eligible students who have financial need.  

In 2021-22 academic year, over 9,200 individual scholarships, prizes and awards were distributed, through the University and its constituent colleges, to students in various disciplines of study, with the total combined value amounting to around HK$194 million.