The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST Business School

Business students looking to catch a ride on the Asian economic boom would do well to consider The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the “top MBA school in Asia” with a “strategic location at the heart of Asia.” “The focus of the program is on the region,” and the program is in “a perfect location to leverage Asia’s booming economy.” “Ever since my studies, I have had the ambition to prepare myself for a career in the Asian region,” one student says, explaining the decision to attend HKUST. HKUST employs a “very strong teaching facility in finance” and an “intense academic atmosphere.” “The MBA office has some major gaps to cover, but it is clearly trying to improve itself to better serve the MBA students.”

Academics at HKUST can be intense, and the “workload is a killer.” “We need 100+ hours a week” to complete homework, classes, group projects, discussion, and club activities, according to one student. Although students also note that “the school is very supportive.” The Administration “must be the friendliest and [most] helpful bunch of people I have ever met.”

Despite the problems students have with the MBA office, they are much happier with the professors. “Overall the school has brilliant teachers that are balanced between academia and business experience,” offering a “nice blend of practitioners from the East, business professionals from the West, and academics.” “I was initially worried about joining a business school based in Hong Kong because of perceived language barriers,” one student explains. “Thankfully, I never faced such a challenge because all the professors were educated from the top business schools in the United States, and as a result, their communication skills are exceptionally good.” Some of the “business leaders in Asia” who the school boasts as faculty include WalMart China’s former president, PepsiCo Asia’s former president, and the GM of Hutchinson Whampoa’s Investment and Head Legal Counsel.

“Hong Kong is the best transition point to the China market,” and HKUST provides lots of help for students to get in on the action. “As a European with work experience in North America, I wanted to become part of the Asian growth story,” one student says. “What better place could there be than the leading Asian business school!” HKUST takes students on trips to different cities and even countries in the region, such as Beijing or Singapore, to get students acquainted with the Asian style of business. The business school also stations representatives in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. The HKUST career team constantly offers workshops, networking opportunities, one-on-one career coaching sessions, and many other services to help students begin careers.

HKUST is best “known for finance,” and 45 percent of graduates accept a job in finance or accounting. Some students say HKUST “needs to improve on other career tracks.” For example, there are “very few courses on marketing.” Students also wish the school had a better brand recognition outside of Asia. “I really think the key for the school is to build a stronger brand,” one student says. “I heard from exchange students from U.S. top schools that our classes are comparable.” Eighty-one percent of students found employ- ment within three months of graduation, and their average base salary was $93,500 in U.S. dollars. Some companies that have recruited from HKUST include ANZ, Banco Santaner, Barclays, Cisco, Citi, DuPont, Google, IMS Consulting, J.P. Morgan, Li & Fung, LinkedIN, Microsoft, Nomura, Samsung, and Walmart.

HKUST boasts a very diverse student body, as the school “attracts students from all over the world. “On any given day, we have at least around fifteen to twenty nationalities rep- resented in class.” “Ninety-seven percent of students are from overseas,” and the school is a veritable “United Nations.” This means students approach school in different ways. “Westerners are very liberal” at HKUST, while “there are many students from China, who have a somewhat more conservative approach.” The school has “more than ten clubs and often has different activities,” which makes “life at HKUST really interesting and fascinating.” Students like to “participate in different social events, like doing chari- ty work, mingling with students of other schools, and having dinner with alumni.” “Half of the students are more into social networking, and half are not very sociable,” suggests one student. Students spend most of their time doing work, and “sleeping fewer than five hours is common” in the fall.

“The campus is amazing” and “located next to the bay,” offering great views from dorm room windows. “Sports facilities available are great, including soccer pitch, track, in/ outdoor pools, in/outdoor basketball, tennis, ping pong, squash, weight lifting, wall climbing, volleyball, and badminton.” Some students say dorm “facilities are worn out,” and business students should try to live off campus. “The student housing is meant for undergraduates. There are only two bathrooms shared by the whole floor.” MBA stu- dents will begin to move to a larger and nicer dorm in 2014.