Affected by the academic fraud scandal, the University of Hong Kong has launched a genuine student-recruiting strategy this application season in an effort to save enrollment.
Not only has it reinstated early application rounds, but HKU has also generously offered each applicant a scholarship of HK$250,000.
Source: HKU official website
There was some speculation at the time—was this HK$250,000 the total award pool, a cap, or, perhaps (sounded unrealistic), HK$250,000 per person?
A month ago, HKU began "announcing winners" one after another, and people realized that it really was HK$250,000 per person.
Source: Xiaohongshu
Some sighed that HKU really tried hard this time.
But looking at last year's ranking of the most employer-favored Hong Kong university graduates, one can only say that HKU indeed needed to step up.
PolyU and EdUHK Join the Table; Is HKU's Advantage Fading?
CTgoodjobs, a well-known recruitment platform in Hong Kong, recently released the "2023 Graduate Salary and Employment Survey" report.
The report covers hot topics such as graduate salaries, the most employer-favored institutions, and popular industries.
Source: CTgoodjobs
Respondent employers in the report mainly came from 23 industries, and graduates were mostly from 11 local Hong Kong universities and other institutions.
Looking at the industries of respondent employers, fast-moving consumer goods, trade, distribution, wholesale, and retail occupied a relatively large proportion, followed by banking, insurance, securities, and finance. These industries also have an undeniable presence in the job market, providing numerous job opportunities for graduates and having a significant impact on graduates' salaries and employment situations.
The main findings include the following three points:
Source: CTgoodjobs
Most Employer-Favored Hong Kong University Graduates
From the CTgoodjobs survey, it can be seen that the University of Hong Kong ranks second among the most employer-favored institutions with 47.5%, while the top-ranked Hong Kong Polytechnic University accounts for over half (53.2%). The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology ranks third with 43.3%.
Source: CTgoodjobs
Expected Salaries of Hong Kong University Graduates
The report shows that the average expected monthly salary of graduates is HK$24,838, while employers are only willing to pay HK$17,293—a payment gap of up to HK$7,500.
Source: CTgoodjobs
Looking at individual institutions, in 2023 the gap between expected salary and the salary employers were willing to pay ranged from HK$7,000 to HK$9,000.
Source: CTgoodjobs
The Education University of Hong Kong had the largest gap between graduates' expected salary and the salary employers were willing to pay (HK$12,366).
Comparing year-on-year, affected by the macro environment, graduates' expected salaries from all institutions have increased, generally by HK$5,000 to HK$6,000.
Source: CTgoodjobs
And EdUHK once again ranked first with an increase of HK$8,333, with an expected salary of HK$28,333 topping all institutions.
Even students from the top three universities might ask: on what grounds?
Employment Situation of Hong Kong University Graduates
Overall, 48.6% of students had already found stable employment before graduation, and another 15.4% were both stably employed and still seeking other jobs.
Most students underwent 1 to 3 interviews before employment, with only 8.3% not attending any interviews and 14.7% having experience with 6 or more interviews.
Source: CTgoodjobs
In terms of the time needed to find a job, regardless of educational level, most graduates were able to find a job within one month.
Interestingly, the job-search duration for holders of a master's degree or above showed a polarized trend: a higher proportion either found a job within one month or needed two months or more.
Source: CTgoodjobs
Looking at the number of employed graduates by institution, the average employment proportion was 62.9%. The highest were the Education University of Hong Kong (83.3%) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (70%).
Source: CTgoodjobs
How to Prepare for Applying to Hong Kong Master's Programs?
In addition to the above data, the report also indicates that since 2023, an increasing number of positions are now only open to master's degree holders.
This is certainly good news for international students planning to apply for a Hong Kong master's program. So the question is, how should one plan for it?
After planning the application timeline, you should also pay attention to the following TWO! MAJOR! POINTS:
1. Prepare early and don't procrastinate—you never know whether the DDL or early online application will come first! Taking 25Fall as an example, many Hong Kong universities, including the "Top Three", PolyU, and CityU, have advanced their first round of online applications to September! If you want to seize the initiative, submitting your application before October is undoubtedly the best choice.
2. Cross-disciplinary applications are allowed, but prerequisite courses must be met! Hong Kong universities are not opposed to cross-disciplinary applications, but the scope should not be too broad; it's best to stay within the same broad category. When writing your personal statement, it is advisable to describe more about your practical experience to demonstrate your understanding and insight into the professional field.
Application Deadlines for Master's Programs at the Top Three Hong Kong Universities at a Glance
25Fall master's applications to Hong Kong are already in full swing, and deadlines for various popular programs at the Top Three have been set. Students who wish to apply should hurry and submit their applications!
The University of Hong Kong
⭕2024/11/4 Statistics, Data Science, Social Work, etc.
⭕2024/11/15 Artificial Intelligence, Nonprofit Management, etc.
⭕2024/12/2 Psychology, Behavioral Health, etc.
⭕2024/12/6 English Studies, etc.
⭕2024/12/27 Applied Linguistics, TESOL, etc.
⭕2024/12/31 Building Services Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Energy Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management, Innovative Design and Technology, Microelectronics Science and Technology, Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Computer Science, etc.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
⭕2024/10/14 Economics, Electronic Engineering, etc.
⭕2024/10/21 Social Policy, Social Service Management, Social Work, Master of Social Work, etc.
⭕2024/10/31 Business Administration, Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, E-Commerce and Logistics Technologies, Anthropology, etc.
⭕2024/11/18 Japanese Studies, Financial Technology, etc.
⭕2024/11/19 MA in English (Applied English Linguistics), MA in English (Literary Studies), etc.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
⭕2024/11/1 Chinese Culture, Social Science, Analytical Chemistry, Aeronautical Engineering, Civil Infrastructural Engineering and Management, Biomolecular Engineering and Health Informatics, Chemical and Energy Engineering, Intelligent Building Technology and Management, Environmental Engineering and Management, Information Technology, etc.
⭕2024/12/1 Telecommunications, Integrated Circuits, Electronic Engineering, Financial Technology, Big Data Technology, Engineering Enterprise Management, etc.
⭕2025/1/1 Mechanical Engineering, etc.
Deadlines for master's programs at other universities are also being released successively. Interested students can keep an eye out.
Whether it’s master’s applications or job hunting after graduation, CheersYou（清柚教育）hopes everyone can get a satisfactory offer and have all their wishes come true!
For more admission cases and questions about studying abroad and graduate applications, you can also add the contact information of a CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor below for details.
