Job Discussion Forums

[Neilhrd]

I am a newcomer to the Hong Kong section of this forum and I would be grateful for some help.

I work in mainland China and my school has recently been asked to prepare students for applications and interviews at HK universities (University of Hong Kong and HK Poly Uni). I have done this kind of thing for US, Briish and Australian universities many times. But neither I not anyone else at the school has any knowledge of requirements in HK.

These are Chinese students but they will be studying in English. Their English level is pretty good by Chinese standards (IELTS 6 -6.5 approximately) and they seem generally intelligent and capable. They have opted to study in HK rather than top Chinese universities. The subjects they are applying for vary but include accounting and biology/medicine.

Apparently their admission is part of a quota of students from the mainland based on their college entrance test (gaokao) scores. But to get scholarships they have to have to submit application letters and have an interview in English and that is where I come in.

Does anyone know the answers to the following questions:

1. Are the interviews one on one, group discussion or both?
2. Do the universities take account of body language, psycometric testing
etc?
3. Do students have to give any kind of presentation or talk (perhaps
similar to IELTS speaking part 2)?
4. What kind of topics are covered?
5. How long do the interviews last?
6. Are the interviewers local or foreign teachers/administrators?
7. How are the interviews scored/ what are they looking for?
8. Are there any tips or things to avoid which you can share?

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

[forest1979]

They will have to be outstanding students to get in to study medicine at HKU!!

Good luck!

[Neilhrd]

Thanks for the reply Forest. It is nice to know somebody reads this forum.

I know the standard is high but the students have already applied and I had no influence over their decisions. Regardless of whether their goals are realistic or not I have to the best job I can with the students I am assigned.

At least these kids are motivated and willing to learn which is more than I can say for too many others in Nanning. So all I can do is give them enough preparation so that they are not humiliated and learn something from the experience.

Any help would still be appreciated.

[kowlooner]

I think most forum readers were themselves waiting for someone to be able to answer your question clearly and from an experienced point of view. Alas, it looks like there's no one here who's actually been in the position of performing these interviews, and thus the lack of response.

Anyway, you mentioned other courses of study besides medicine. One thing is fairly sure. The HK government and local universities seem to be fairly active in recruiting students from outside of HK, though I believe this is more the case for post-graduate work.

Regardless, HKU and PolyU would presumably have their own interview formats, so what might work for one might not for the other. Given the lack of information here, have you considered approaching the universities in question directly and asking them?

A quick google search gave these two links that might be useful:

http://jmsc.hku.hk/2009/11/bachelor-of-journalism/
http://www.danwei.org/newspapers/what_do_you_think_about_the_gr.php

Hope this helps.

[Neilhrd]

Thanks, those links are useful.

[forest1979]

I concur with Kowlooner.

A place like HKU, in particular, will certainly have its own procedures for interviewing students, especially in departments such as medicine and law, for instance.