City University of Hong Kong: A Comprehensive Look at the Campus and its Location

City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is a dynamic, public research university located in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. Since its establishment, CityU has rapidly developed into a leading global institution renowned for its commitment to professional education and cutting-edge research. The university champions a 'Discovery-enriched Curriculum' to foster innovation and critical thinking among its diverse student body.

Overview of CityU

CityU is a young and dynamic university that emphasizes innovative problem-driven research and the connection between knowledge and society. The goal is to train a new breed of professionals to anticipate and respond to the challenges of the fast-changing, knowledge-driven global environment of the 21st century. All classes are in English. Language study is optional, not required. At the undergraduate level, City U comprises the College of Business, College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, College of Science, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, and the School of Creative Media, School of Data Science, School of Energy and Environment, and School of Law.

Established in 1994, CityU has performed strongly in international rankings. According to Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), CityU is ranked 48th in the world in 2021 and 4th among the world's top 50 universities under 50 years of age in 2020. CityUHK endeavours to deliver high-quality professional education by offering integrated interdisciplinary cutting-edge programmes to transform students into creative problem-solvers, effective communicators and future leaders in order to help society deal with change constructively and effectively. CityUHK has established itself as one of the most innovative universities in Asia, pioneering research in diverse fields that are of high relevance on pressing issues, in particular the five overarching research themes.

Colleges and Schools

CityU offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines. CityU comprises the College of Business, College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, College of Science, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, and the School of Creative Media, School of Data Science, School of Energy and Environment, and School of Law.

College of Biomedicine: A newly established College with a groundbreaking initiative to tackle pressing challenges in life and health sciences through interdisciplinary collaboration.
College of Computing: A centre of excellence in the integrated study of computer science, data science and statistics.
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences: Places strong emphasis on whole-person development through well-rounded and broad-based education programmes.
Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences: First of its kind in Hong Kong, serves as a leading local and regional centre of excellence in research and training.
School of Energy and Environment: Fosters an interdisciplinary approach to develop sustainable energy and environmental technologies.

Research Institutes and Centres

Apart from Colleges and Schools, CityUHK has established Research Institutes, Centres and Laboratories with the purposes of advancing scholarly activities through collaborative research, research dissemination or creative endeavours. The Hong Kong Institute of AI for Science is dedicated to advancing AI and shaping the future of scientific research.

Location and Campus

City University of Hong Kong occupies an urban campus located in Kowloon. The official address is Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon. Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong, comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. The Victoria Harbour, separating the glass towers of the Hong Kong Island and the busy streets of Kowloon, is one of the world's most spectacular waterways. Beyond the commercial districts are beautiful islands and unspoiled beaches along the coast. One of the world's tallest Buddha statues is found on the Lantau Island, the largest outlying island in Hong Kong. The official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English. Cantonese is the indigenous and most widely spoken dialect. Use of Putonghua (Mandarin) is growing.

CityU is located in Kowloon Tong, an affluent, low density, quiet residential district just minutes away from the happening Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, and a short train ride Hong Kong Central. CityU is right on the MTR line and is connected via a pedestrian link to Festival Walk, a seven-story mall with hundreds of shops, restaurants, cinema and ice rink. City U’s premium location affords students easy access to all that the city has to offer and is considered the most appealing aspect of the City U exchange program by past participants.

Key Buildings

The main campus is connected to the Festival Walk shopping centre and the Kowloon Tong MTR station, which serves the East Rail line and Kwun Tong line of Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system.

Yeung Kin Man Academic Building: Formerly known as Academic 1, was completed in stages from 1989 to 1994. The floor area is 63,000 m2 (680,000 sq ft), and includes 116 laboratories, 18 lecture halls, classrooms and canteens. The building is divided by colour, in order of purple zone (P), green zone (G), blue zone (B), yellow zone (Y) and red zone (R).
Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Academic Building: Previously called Academic 2, was designed by architecture firm Aedas.
Lau Ming Wai Academic Building: Was called Academic 3. Facilities include a 600-seat auditorium, classrooms, information technology laboratories, millimetre wave state key laboratories, restaurants, learning shared spaces, and administrative offices. The building was designed by the Hong Kong architectural firm Ronald Lu & Partners. The third and sixth floors are connected to the Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Academic Building, while the fifth to seventh floors are connected to the student dormitory and Shaw Creative Media Centre.
Hu Fa Kuang Sports Centre: Was a five-storey sports centre which houses a multi-purpose hall and four practice gymnasiums for badminton, basketball, volleyball, martial arts and dance, and other activities. Construction work commenced in November 2017 on the Jockey Club One Health Tower at the site of the former sports hall.
CityU International Centre: A ground-breaking ceremony was held for the CityU International Centre on 29 November 2021.
Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre: Designed by the eminent architect Daniel Libeskind and was selected as one of the 10 most spectacular university building in the world by Emporis.

Student Residences

Student residences are located on Cornwall Street, near Lau Ming Wai academic building. They provide housing and recreational space for undergraduates and postgraduates. Among them, halls 1 to 9 were designed by the British firm RMJM, while halls 10 and 11 were designed by P&T Group. Construction work for the 5th phase of the Student Hostel project at Whitehead, Ma On Shan commenced in March 2022. Lee Shau Kee Student Residence Village at Whitehead, Ma On Shan was also put into use in 2024 to provide more than 2000 bed spaces for students. Off-campus Accommodation in town is also reserved by the University for the needed.

Located at Cornwall Street, the Student Residence is within 10 to 15 minutes walking distance to the main campus. For each resident, facilities in the room include: a single bed with mattress (resident should bring beddings for his/her own use, e.g. pillow, bed sheet and quilt), a wardrobe, a study desk/chair, bookshelves, telephone (shared by roommates), a computer network connection port, shower room and toilet shared between two adjacent rooms (only for undergraduate halls), washbasin and mirror cabinet in the shared shower room and a card-operated window type air-conditioner on fee-charging basis. In view of the limited capacity, no guarantee of accommodation in the Student Residence can be made. Therefore it is extremely important you submit your housing application by the required deadline or earlier.

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Student Life

CityU has more than 60 student associations and societies under the umbrella of the Students' Union (SU), therefore, it's easy to get involved on campus and meet people with similar interests. All students in full-time undergraduate programmes are full members of the SU. Exchange and other students are welcome to apply to the SU for associate membership. Student clubs in CityU are diverse. Sport teams are mentored by Student Development Services. There are 18 sports teams in total.

Student life in the CityUHK MBA Programme is vibrant and dynamic, offering a rich blend of academic rigor and personal growth. Students are engaged in a diverse range of activities, from collaborative group projects and interactive workshops to networking events and industry visits. The programme fosters a supportive community where students can connect with peers, faculty, and industry leaders, enhancing their learning experience. Beyond academics, students have numerous opportunities to participate in seminars, and social events, allowing them to cultivate lasting friendships and professional relationships while developing essential leadership and teamwork skills. This enriching environment prepares students not only for successful careers but also for impactful contributions to their communities.

Sports and Recreation

Hu Fa Kuang Sports Centre was a five-storey sports centre which houses a multi-purpose hall and four practice gymnasiums for badminton, basketball, volleyball, martial arts and dance, and other activities.

Academics

CityU offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including business, science, engineering, humanities and social sciences, creative media, law, data science, and veterinary medicine. Students may participate in this program for a semester or academic year. For either of these sessions, students select from courses offered through CityU's academic departments grouped under the different faculties.

Students in programs like the Engineering exchange program MUST register for 12-18 credits of courses at City U to stay as a full-time student and maintain visa eligibility. Of this study load, a minimum of 9 credit hours must be registered with departments under College of Engineering. Students are advised to have back-up courses in case their first choice class be fully occupied. Academic environment, teaching style, course structure and grading scale at City U is influenced by the British education system, where class sessions are along, lecture-based, and grades are distributed on a bell curve with heavy weight placed on mid-term and finals. Students should be prepared to make learning style adjustment accordingly.

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College of Business

The College of Business at the City University of Hong Kong aims to be a globally-oriented, innovative business school, producing impactful business knowledge and nurturing next-generation business leaders for an ever-changing world. The College is committed to providing quality business education for students, producing innovative research with impact, and pursuing pro-actively strategic linkages with academic and business institutions all over the world. The College consists of the Departments of Accountancy, Decision Analytics and Operations, Economics and Finance, Information Systems, Management, and Marketing. The College offers a full range of high quality, discovery-enriched business programmes including BBA, BSc, specialized master’s, MBA, EMBA, DBA and PhD. The College has around 200 academic staff of diverse cultural backgrounds. This diversity helps students develop a global vision of the business environment.

Global Engagement

City University of Hong Kong supports a wide array of global functions. These include active international student and faculty recruitment, extensive student exchange programs with over 400 partner institutions worldwide, joint academic degrees and programs, and numerous international research collaborations. CityU also maintains a strong global alumni network and has a significant presence and collaborative projects in Mainland China, particularly within the Greater Bay Area, enhancing its role as a bridge between East and West.

Exchange Programs

For students wishing to study Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Biomedical, and Computer Engineering, CityU is a good option and is best suited for those who are independent, proactive, and self-motivated. Much of the learning in study abroad takes place outside of the classroom. Students should balance academics with community engagement, social/cultural activities, travel, and fully take advantage of what a semester in Hong Kong has to offer.

Locations Around the World

To extend CityU's research impact, facilitate knowledge transfer to industry, and contribute to the technological and economic development, CityU has presence in:

Shenzhen, Guangdong, China: To extend CityU's research impact, facilitate knowledge transfer to industry, and contribute to the technological and economic development of Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area.
Chengdu, Sichuan, China: To enhance CityU's academic and research footprint in Western China, support local innovation, and build partnerships with local government and industries.
Various locations, Global: To strengthen CityU's global engagement strategy, foster international academic exchange, and enhance its worldwide presence and reputation.

Unique Aspects of Hong Kong

With a population that is mainly ethnic Chinese and a special historical background, Hong Kong is a global city in which Chinese traditions intertwine with Western culture. You will find multiple denominations of churches sharing space with Chinese joss houses, temples, mosques, and synagogues. It is not surprising to see elderly residents playing ancient Chinese board games on digital tablets. In Hong Kong, people celebrate the Christmas and Easter holidays alongside Buddha’s Birthday and Chinese New Year. Hong Kong is also an innovative city where state-of-the-art skyscrapers are designed in consultation with Feng Shui masters.

Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located in Southern China in East Asia. It is frequently described as a place where East meets West, reflecting a cultural mix of the territory's Chinese roots with the culture brought to it during British colonization. Hong Kong was officially returned to China in 1997. While densely populated, Hong Kong is also known for its well-managed parks and greenways, and the beautiful Victoria Harbor. Hong Kong touted as one the world’s top culinary capitals, where you may find the cheapest Michelin restaurant in the world. Chinese and English are both official languages.

Leadership and Faculty

As of April 2025, City University of Hong Kong' leadership includes:

Professor Freddy Boey Yin Chiang - President and University Distinguished Professor
Professor Michael M. Yang - Provost and Deputy President, Chair Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences
Professor Julie Li Juan - Associate Provost (Academic Affairs) and University Registrar, Chair Professor of Marketing
Professor Raymond Chan Hon-fu - Vice-President (Student Affairs) and Chair Professor of Mathematics

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