University of Hong Kong and National University of Singapore compared

Choosing between the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) can be difficult. They’re both comprehensive universities teaching a wide range of subjects, they’re both based in Asian Tiger economies and most significantly, they are two of the world’s most prestigious universities. We compare the two academically and in terms of the support they offer international students to help you make a start.

But remember, this is no substitute for in-depth research of your own!

Academics

(To understand this a bit better, we recommend you read the QS World University Rankings methodology first).

In the QS Asian University Rankings, NUS finishes in second – one place higher than HKU. However, in the 2012/13 QS World University Rankings, HKU leads the way in 23rd. Only two places separate it from 25th ranked NUS, though, and the latter has been climbing the rankings since 2010, so who knows what the next installment will hold!

NUS

NUS is held in slightly higher regard with academics at present – in fact, if the rankings only consisted of their opinions, it would be in the top 10! ““International students choose to study with us because of the rigor and quality of an NUS education, the global and Asian orientation of our academic programs, as well as the many opportunities for cross-cultural learning,” reflects Professor Tan Eng Chye, the university’s provost.

“We continuously build on our strengths to attract top global talents to teach in the University, while striving to conduct research that generates innovative solutions to address real-world problems.” An example is a new research center focusing on a unique material called graphene, the applications of which mean that the market for it is predicted to be worth US$55 million by 2020.

The QS World University Rankings by Subject show the university’s strength in depth, with only the likes of Cambridge and Harvard rivaling it in terms of the number top 10 finishes. It ranks 3rd in both pharmacy & pharmacology and communications.

NUS has three Research Centers of Excellence, focusing on cancer science, mechanobiology and quantum technologies, and 22 university-level research institutes spread over a wide spectrum of subjects. It is known for being particularly strong in engineering and biomedicine.

But it’s not all research, says computing student Khyathi Nirmal Kumar, from India: “teaching is taken very seriously here. Tutorials ensure that students get enough individual attention. Moreover, lecturers and tutors are very approachable and they are always willing to spend time with students to guide them in their work or projects.”

HKU

HKU is very much part of the world’s academic elite, too.  It also performs well across the subject rankings, finishing highest in education (8th) and chemistry (9th) and frequently cropping up in top 20s. Though it ranks consistently below NUS, you shouldn’t make too much of this – we are still very much dealing with two of the best universities in the world here.

In terms of specialties, the university has identified five strategic research areas on which it focuses: biomedical engineering, China, community, environment and frontier technology.  Oh, and if you want to hear a fancy statistic, here’s one: according to Thomson Reuters, over 10% of HKU’s research staff are among the world’s top 1% of scientists in terms of the times other scientists reference their work.

For Sri Lankan engineering student Mohamed Shibly Jameel, the best thing about the university is the approachability of the lecturers: “Every teacher has his or her own method of teaching, which are very varied but one thing they all have in common is that they are always accessible to their students if they need help academically.”

It is the university’s ability to prepare graduates for work that makes it special in the eyes of Professor John Spinks, director of undergraduate admissions: “Perhaps the most compelling reason for international students to study at HKU is that the university has had virtually full employment for all its graduates for the last six consecutive years!  When employment rates around the world are spiraling downwards, this is an exceptional outcome, which may be attributed, in part at least, to the value that employers see in a degree from HKU.” Jameel echoes this: “If I have to describe HKU in one word, it would be ‘opportunity’.”

Social and Support

Introductions

For many international students, Hong Kong and Singapore are a long way away – so support can be very important. Luckily, both deliver on this front. At HKU every new international student is paired with a current student who will help familiarize them with the campus, show them around the city, and even pick them up from the airport! Spinks says that this scheme has proved very successful. The ‘First Year Experience’ program also offers a series of induction activities for new students.

At NUS, each student is assigned a member of staff as a mentor for the duration of their time at the university. It also offers the NUS i.CARE service, which is dedicated to helping international students settle in Singapore and at NUS. Through this, international students can also buddy-up with a local student, who can help them find their feet in Singapore.

Facilities

Both universities offer a wide range of non-academic facilities. Spinks’ list of what HKU offers ranges from a world-beating health center and psychological counselors, to a placement center to prepare students for the working world and to find them internships and jobs, to the newly opened ‘Learning Commons’, “A state-of-the-art place for students to work, with soft furnishings and teamwork cubicles with large flat screen monitors spread liberally around 6,000 sq m of space.” 

Jameel also talks up what the university has to offer: “As a student you have free access to two sport centers which cater to a wide range of activities, such as basketball, football, and tennis, to name just a few. The library has a wide range of books you can peruse, and a large collection of movies you can borrow for entertainment. Every part of the campus has wireless internet with a large number of computer terminals found all over the campus. In terms of support I firmly feel that the university has done much to take care of its students.”

NUS also boasts a wide range of recreational facilities, says Chye, and also has a new addition of its own: “The newly completed EduSports houses facilities for education, sports and cultural activities, as well as dining and retail outlets. This complements the existing learning and residential facilities, promoting a richer and more holistic NUS experience.” The university also has a dedicated careers center and the Office of Student affairs, says Chye, is dedicated to ensuring that students can enjoy an “enriching and rewarding” experience while at the university. He adds that the university boasts an impressive alumni network, with over 200,000 members across the world.

Kumar sums it up emphatically: “Here at NUS, there is always sufficient support for anything you might need as a student.”

Money matters

NUS notably offers needs-blind admissions to all students, meaning that if a student is good enough to get into the university, they will get all the financial aid they require. Chye emphasizes this point: “NUS strongly believes that no deserving student should be denied admission because of financial difficulty. We offer a range of financial aid to help reduce the burden on students and their families.” Additionally, scholarships are available for gifted students.

HKU also offers a range of scholarships, which are available to international students based on academic merit. Students must grain admittance to the university before applying. State financial aid is, not however, available.

In terms of fees, you can expect to pay US$16,875 at HKU as an international student, while at NUS fees vary from subject to student, but most international students can expect to pay in the region of US$11,000 a year. Medical and dental students will pay around US$32,250.

In both locations, you should be aware that the cost of living can be high. Kumar, however, reassures potential international students: “The cost of living may be high but it is easily manageable if you plan your expenditure. For instance, there are special public transport subsidies for students and these help to reduce our daily expenses.”

Jameel goes further, and says that, though it is more expensive than Sri Lanka, Hong Kong is perhaps not as pricey as you might think: “All my friends from Europe and US always point out how cheap living here is so I will have to take their word for it. As a student you will have the privilege to live in one of the residential halls which is much cheaper and more convenient than finding a room as ‘space’ in Hong Kong is very expensive. Everything else, food, transport, clothes and anything else you may want to do is considered either cheap or decent.”

• Want more? Why not read the National University of Singapore or the University of Hong Kong’s TopUniversities.com profiles?