Mechahunter

hi! I'm currently a graduate student in the US but I don't like the program and am thinking about applying to Master's programs in Asia in English, so in particular I'm focusing on Hong Kong and maybe Singapore. I have a BS degree in a STEM field and and want to do the MS in a different STEM field. After I graduate, I would like to find a job in Asia (likely in Taiwan, Japan, or Hong Kong) instead of the US

Anyone know how difficult it is to be admitted to HKU, HKUST, or Chinese University of Hong Kong? Will they be willing to admit almost any foreigner because they have to pay for tuition? I got accepted into top 20 graduate programs in my STEM field in the US.

I've also thought about enrolling in a Master's program at Germany, Sweden, or Norway. Any one know about the programs at these countries?

b@r!um

About German universities in particular:

German Master's programs generally require a Bachelor's degree in the same subject or a very closely related one. For example, a math major could study statistics at the graduate level but not physics or engineering. Physics majors cannot easily switch to math or engineering either.

If you have the requisite undergraduate background, applying for admission is straight forward. Admission is generally automatic as long as you satisfy all formal prerequisites (e.g. a Bachelor's degree in the same subject with a minimum GPA and documented proficiency in the language that the degree is taught in). Public universities charge essentially no tuition (somewhere between 100 and 600 Euros per semester) but living expenses are on you. Foreign students are generally not allowed to work.

The DAAD gives stipends for living expenses to a number of foreign students. Most of those are for short-term endeavors (a few weeks up to one year max) but it wouldn't hurt to check if there are any grants you might qualify for.

CaribbeanSun

Hello I'm from Hong Kong! Universities here such as HKU accept very few international students.. 30% of the students are from Mainland and the rest are local. But if you have such an impressive résumé I guess you can always try
If you get accepted.. You should know that dorms are very very limited (HK is a teeny tiny place after all) and you might have to rent a place

Mechahunter

I'm talking about the MS programs, not the undergrad programs

kilojoule

It would seem odd for you to want to leave the US, which has arguably some of the best STEM programs in the world. My advice is to stay where you are. Anyway, for Hong Kong master programs, be prepared for some fierce competition, generally over 80% of graduate students there are from Mainland China (very smart students), while the rest are locals. Internationals from other countries make up a rather small part of the student population. I am not sure which STEM field you are talking about, but in general, HKUST is known for having the toughest but also best STEM programs in Southeast Asia. Do not expect jobs to be easy to come by, especially in STEM fields, internationals do not get preferential treatment, and you may find it hard to communicate with other graduate students (those from China) who may likely have had a more rigorous undergrad STEM education than you.

As for Germany, there are some very good STEM programs there. I have friends studying there, and the application process is quite straight-forward and simple. It is a good idea to know a little German, though not entirely necessary since most master programs are conducted in English. It is also a good idea to pick a school with good industrial connections so that you can get on-the-job training with your study.

Good luck!

Mechahunter

wow, that sucks to hear. I thought it was easy for international students to get accepted.

Drizzt

My opinion is ...just try...

But HK do not have strong STEM industry (or perhaps except Fin Engineering)
You may try Singapore if you really wanna have a career in Asia
Don't bother to study in Japan, their English standard is below paaaaaaaaaaar, you just can't survive