Stay true, and persistence is the key!

Committing to a university located six time zones away from home was not an easy decision. However, the abundant research opportunities at HKU and its flexible yet focused educational pathways convinced me that becoming an HKU student would equip me with essential skills for my future career.

Choosing HKU and the Faculty of Science has been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made.

Looking back, HKU was not just where I studied; it was where I grew up intellectually. The faculty’s kindness, the friendships I formed, and the intellectual atmosphere all played a critical role in shaping who I am today. I met peers at HKU who have also gone on to pursue PhDs in mathematics, statistics, and related fields. Many of us remain close friends, and the support we received from one another and from faculty continues to echo throughout our careers.

I chose HKU because it’s the best university in Hong Kong and offers the top programme for elite science students.

HKU’s flexible curriculum gave me the freedom to explore my interests in my first year, allowing me to try out different introductory courses before deciding on my major. This helped me discover my passion for Food and Nutritional Science.

The Summer Research Fellowship and Overseas Research Fellowship provided me with the opportunities to gain early exposure to working in a lab and helped me adapt to research work. I love doing experiments and analysing data – it excites me! This experience has solidified my desire to pursue a career in the laboratory.

One of the most invaluable lessons I learned during the research programme was that not every attempt would give favourable outcome, and the process could be frustrating.

Do not be afraid to ask questions, even if they are elementary.

Explore as many research fields as you can during undergraduate study to help you identify your true research interests.

Through all those research experiences, my understanding of ecology and biodiversity deepened, which made me one step closer to my dream to be a researcher.

I was really excited when I found this programme and was really interested in its interdisciplinary courses.

I believe having a clear objective of why you want a PhD and articulating it clearly will help.

The ability to carry out interdisciplinary research is a major calling card.

The Food and Nutritional Science Major has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of human nutrition and food security, essential for shaping my career pathway.

At Yale, I experienced their graduation ceremony, attended some inspiring seminars, and even got to hear Nobel Laureate Svante Paabo share his insights.

This Overseas Research Fellowship is a precious experiential learning opportunity that I would highly recommend to all science students. It is not merely a research project, but a remarkable journey where you can enrich your personal experiences and discover your own potential.

No matter you are pursuing your career in food industry or interested in exploring more in this area, I would certainly recommend this course based on my amazing experience here.

The Faculty stresses on the wellbeing and overall development of its fellow students and is making every effort to help them thrive and fulfil their ambitions.

Graduate research students here are always encouraged to raise questions and discuss with supervisors. New exciting research ideas often come out from these conversations.

A combination of all (opportunities and environment) here at HKU Science elevates my game to the next level and moves me towards becoming a better scientist.

Teamwork and perseverance are the foundations of impact-driven scientific progress.

Being in such a scientific community also allowed me to have engaging conversations about research with other group members on a daily basis, which helped me develop my own research interest.

Be curious and confident! There might be challenges on the way, during the application, but don’t be scared! For a research career, you have to always be curious and confident towards challenges!

SRF provided me with a treasurable experience and an early taste of conducting scientific research. It definitely strengthened my determination to pursue academic research in my later studies as well as reinvigorating my curiosity in Physics.

If you really want to start something, know why you’re doing it.

If you are as lost as me, just make sure you go out to the world and try.

The MStat programme is a truly enriching experience which will help students get one step closer to their career goals.

Completing this course has been challenging but, thanks to the challenge as well as the high level of tuition, immensely rewarding.