The Chinese University of Hong Kong

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 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 2.6 million print volumes, 6.8 million electronic books, 230,000 electronic journals and 1,600 databases, the Library welcomes over 2 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 https://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, the reading room at Chung Chi College Elisabeth Luce Moore Library, LG/F at New Asia College Ch’ien Mu Library, United College Wu Chung Library, and Learning Commons at the Wu Ho Man Yuen Building, and all year round at the Li Ping Medical Library.

In addition to a roving help team, librarians offer specialist support in person, via email, phone, or WhatsApp-a-Librarian, 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.

IT and Network Facilities

At CUHK, students can make use of the advanced IT facilities and various services provided by the Information Technology Services Centre to enhance their learning experience. The one-stop University portal allows students to access administrative systems, email, eLearning platform, library services, and many other online services and campus information in a personalized way.

Learning Commons and User Areas offer IT resources, audio visual equipment, multi-functional printers, and functional spaces that enable students to work individually or in groups.

The whole campus, including teaching blocks, student hostels, academic and administrative buildings, is linked to the University Campus Backbone Network through high-speed connections up to 100Gbps. The campus network also has high-speed connections with Hong Kong Internet Exchange (HKIX), Hong Kong Academic and Research Network (HARNET) and many research & education networks and cloud services in supporting university’s educational and research activities.

Students can use Wi-Fi in various buildings on campus. Off campus, they can access the campus network using virtual private network (VPN) connection through commercial broadband providers. They can also get free Wi-Fi at different hotspots in Hong Kong and at many overseas universities under a collaborative programme.

Beyond core IT and network services, CUHK offers a wide range of productivity and learning tools to support students’ academic work. These include office applications, cloud-based collaboration tools for document creation, communication and group projects, as well as essential software provided free of charge, such as anti-virus and PDF editing tools.

The University also provides AI-enabled tools to enrich teaching and learning, helping students with research, content creation and data analysis under guided and responsible use.

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 10,000 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

University Medical Service Office (UMSO) provides primary health care to the University members. The service includes outpatient medical service, emergency care, health examination, laboratory service, referral to specialists or hospitals, health education and promotion service, and dental service.

UMSO has an Outpatient Service Unit, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory, and Physiotherapy Unit to provide primary medical service. For serious or specific medical conditions, UMSO medical professionals will base on clinical judgement to refer patients to specialists or hospitals. The Robert Dan Health Education Centre, located on the lower ground floor of UMSO, regularly organizes health talks, student physical and mental activities, health promotion campaigns, vaccination programmes etc. General medical service is free, dental service charges a nominal fee. There is also a self-paid dental service scheme for the enrollment of those in need.

For details of UMSO service, please visit https://www.umso.cuhk.edu.hk

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, five squash courts, twelve 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; (iv) Learning and Cultural Enhancement Services; and (v) Administration and Amenities.

Student Exchange and Short-term Experiential Learning Activities

Going on exchange is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It allows students to explore different cultures, experience different teaching methodologies, take courses that are not available at CUHK, hone language skills, grow as confident individuals and meet people from around the world. This will be one of the most rewarding chapters for university students. CUHK has over 290 student exchange partners in 38 destinations. Every year, over 1,000 CUHK students participate in student exchange programmes for one term or one academic year. Furthermore, many CUHK students join short-term experiential learning activities (e.g. language programmes, field studies, internships, community service) outside Hong Kong arranged by the Colleges, academic departments, and the Office of Academic Links (OAL) throughout the academic year.

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

Additionally, financial support is available for CUHK students to take part in term-time exchange programmes, university-wide summer exchange programmes, and other non-local learning programmes. Details can be referred to the webpage at: https://www.oalglobal.cuhk.edu.hk/scholarshipsandfinancialaid/

Scholarships and Financial Aid

With the generous support of various donors, the University offers a wide range of scholarships, prizes, and awards to recognize exceptional 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 available to support eligible students with financial need.

In the 2024-25 academic year, over 11,000 individual scholarships, prizes and awards amounting to approximately HK$259 million in total, were distributed to students in a broad range of disciplines through the University and its constituent colleges.