Global Student Programs Office

Transcription

1 Global Student Programs Office

2 Getting ready for studying abroad The Basics Expectation management

3 Dates Mark your calendar! Read the acceptance package of the host institution carefully Pick-up service Dormitory check-in Orientation First day of classes

4 Travel Arrangement Check the flight / train schedule Direct flight vs Transit / Stopover Price vs Travelling & Transit Time If you are taking indirect flights, remember to check the visa requirement for the transit port as some countries may require passengers to hold a transit visa for changing flights.

5 Passport/Travel documents Paperwork! Validity must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry to the host country and valid for the whole period of your exchange Other important stuff o Acceptance letter from host university o Transcript o Extra passport photos o Medical / immunization records Make copies! Keep with friends or family!

6 Visa Apply for a visa 2-3 months before the program start date. Check with the corresponding consulates the procedures and required documents well in advance. Some countries may need an appointment for visa application. If you are transiting through another country, you SHOULD check the transit visa requirement.

7 US Student Visa Student visa (F-1 Visa) for course of study more than 18 hours a week: Form I-20 Exchange Visitor Visa (J-1 Visa) for academic exchange: DS-2019 Please refer to for more details.

8 Schengen visa Austria Belgium Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Liechtenstein

9 Pack your luggage Check: Baggage allowance offered by the airline Prepare a checklist! Customs of the host country

10 Money! Money! Money! Exchange some money before you go Don t carry too much cash. Bring a combination of cash, travelers' checks, and credit Bring enough cash (or bank drafts) to cover your initial accommodation payment and other fees Don t keep all your money in one place! Plan for extra costs Find a home bank ATM or branch

11 Supplies Medicine medications, cold, headache, lotions... Check the weather and bring the right clothes Formal clothing Cultural clothing Sockets, voltage and adapters

12 Communication Roaming Convenient but costly Check how to deactivate the roaming function International Data SIM Usually does not allow voice call Local SIM card with data plan Can only get one on arrival With a local mobile phone number

13 Insurance All UG students who take part in the University s exchange program are covered by the University s Travel Insurance Plan. Covers ONLY: 1. Travelling between HK and destination country 2. Travelling WITHIN destination country Note: Place of Departure/Return 1. Hong Kong must be either a place of departure or return, if not both. 2. If both your place of departure and return are outside Hong Kong, you are NOT eligible to join this insurance scheme. You MUST arrange your own travel insurance for your exchange study. The following are NOT covered, and you must arrange your own insurance if you travel to: 1. Countries other than destination during outbound and return journeys 2. Countries outside destination during exchange period

14 Insurance Coverage & Certificate Coverage SFAO website: Leave a copy with family! Insurance Certificate No insurance certificate will be issued normally. Students who need the insurance certificate for visa application purpose should submit an application to the Scholarships and Financial Aid Office at Room 5016 (via Lift 3) Application form can be downloaded from SFAO website. Worldwide Emergency Hotline:

15 Safety abroad Research safety information in your host city and use wise judgment Be prepared to be treated differently than you are in Hong Kong Typical door in New York?

16 International SOS Provides worldwide medical and security support service free-ofcharge for HKUST undergraduate students who are on exchange, overseas internships, service learning, competitions and other activities. Before departure Go to Review the medical and security information about the destination country During exchange Contact ISOS for emergency assistance ** International SOS is not an insurance policy HKUST Membership ID: 07AYCA093635

17 Download the International SOS Assistance App to your smart phone before departure! available on ios, Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry One-click dialing to the closest ISOS Assistance Centre for immediate help

18 Get there Safely DON Ts! Accept help from strangers waiting around the airport Expect foreign transport to be as good as HK Carry all your valuables in one place Rent a car Use drugs or abuse alcohol Go on a trip without telling anyone Expect it to be as safe as HK DO s! Arrange for airport pick-up or make prior arrangements Learn about public transport Let local contacts know your itinerary Make copies of Google maps for directions so you re not lost Some phrases if you don t speak the language

19 What to do in an emergency Real emergencies are thankfully rare, but Calm yourself down 2. Get to safety 3. Do what you have to do calmly but quickly 4. Get assistance 5. Call first for the help that is most relevant 6. Contact ISOS for assistance 7. Tell HKUST what is going on Prepare for emergencies Know the local emergency numbers Leave copies of important documents with your family Let people know where you are and for how long Get familiar with the safety issues at your destination

20 No Harassment! Behave with confidence! Follow the lead of local women! Be vigilant when traveling on public transport! Make a fuss if harassed to draw attention! Be very careful about drinking Know your rights:

21 Academic Stuff! 1. Check the course registration schedule Pre-registration dates Registration dates Add/drop period? 2. Check the Course Equivalence Database 3. Choose some courses! Select a few more possible courses as back-up just in case 3. Seek academic advice from your School 4. Get pre-approval for credit transfer if courses are not on the database 5. Remember to KEEP the course syllabus for credit transfer

22 Credit Conversion For course-credit transfer, where a transferred course is equivalent to a specific course in the HKUST course catalog, the number of credits granted will be the same as the HKUST course, regardless of the number of credits given by the host institutions or any other factors. For credit-only transfer, where credits cannot be transferred to a specific HKUST course but to elective courses only, the number of transfer credits granted will be adjusted according to the conversion rule below. Credit system Semester System with study weeks per term 1 Quarter System 0.75 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) 0.5 Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) 0.25 HKUST credit equivalence

23 Why are you studying abroad?

24 We can travel the world and see absolutely nothing

25 The bigger your expectations the smaller your happiness

26 Cultural Perceptions

27 You re not in Hong Kong anymore Friendliness/politeness Personal space Privacy Time Food Humor Fairness Gender relations Ethnic/racial/national identity

28 Try to be where you are not 10,000 km away! Limit your time on the Net Let people know this is what you are going to do Get a local mobile number Switch the language on your devices to the local language Stay open mind + Listen + Understand + Learn Befriend the locals

29 The (typical) life of an exchange student Leaving home Return home Feelings of confidence Arrival abroad Cultural discomfort Gradual adjustment Feelings of unhappiness

30 And...remember Keep a journal you ll want to remember later!

31 Have a GREAT time!