A global exchange network: over three hundred partner institutions and summer international programmes

# A global exchange network: over three hundred partner institutions and summer international programmes

In a nutshell: The Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Office of Academic Links (OAL) oversees more than 280 exchange programmes^※ (spanning 286 partner institutions across 36 countries and regions^※, per Facts & Figures 2024/25). Each year over 1,000 students^※ go abroad through these channels. The International Summer School, the “Let’s Go Summer!” outbound funding scheme, and a suite of dual-degree programmes together form the structural backbone of undergraduate internationalisation at CUHK.

# Who runs CUHK’s exchange system?

CUHK’s undergraduate international exchange is managed by the Office of Academic Links (OAL) (學術聯繫處), the University’s central hub for global engagement. The OAL’s remit spans forging partnership agreements abroad, coordinating inbound and outbound student exchange, administering staff visits overseas, and advancing virtual exchange initiatives. According to the CUHK Strategic Plan 2021–2025^※, the University positions itself as a global university on the strength of “282 exchange partners across 36 countries and regions.” The latest Facts & Figures 2024/25^※ (current as of November 2024) updates those figures to 286 institutions in 37 countries and regions. The OAL also maintains a global Destinations directory, enabling students to filter by location and subject match.

Beyond the university-level OAL, individual Faculties and Colleges each preserve their own exchange quotas — the Business School, for instance, sends students to over thirty top-tier business schools across North America, Europe, and Asia. The total pool of exchange places actually available university-wide therefore comfortably exceeds what any single office lists.

# What types of exchange programme exist, and what are the entry requirements?

The OAL website^※ divides CUHK exchange programmes into three main categories. All full-time undergraduate or postgraduate students may apply, though each category carries a minimum GPA requirement (typically 2.5–3.0 on a 4.0 scale) and language thresholds:

Term-time exchange is the core offering: students pay local tuition to CUHK while the host institution waives its fees, under a bilateral reciprocal agreement. Credits earned during the exchange period can be transferred back to CUHK upon approval.

# Where are the 286 partner institutions distributed?

Drawing on the OAL Destinations page^※ and publicly available Faculty information, CUHK’s exchange network breaks down geographically as follows (major regions illustrated):

The complete list follows the latest OAL website version^※ and is subject to additions and withdrawals each academic year.

In geographic terms, Europe and North America account for the largest share of CUHK exchange places, followed by intra-Asia destinations (Japan, South Korea, mainland China), then Southeast Asia and Oceania. This distribution aligns with CUHK’s positioning as a university that prizes global outlook and local rootedness in equal measure.

# What summer international programmes exist, and who are they best suited to?

CUHK’s summer international offerings run along two tracks: “outbound” and “in Hong Kong.”

Outbound track — the “Let’s Go Summer!” funding scheme

Each year the OAL recommends curated summer programmes at partner institutions to undergraduates, providing tuition/programme-fee subsidies. The 2026 edition^※ covers destinations in France, Germany, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom (six countries in total); the 2025 edition included Canada and Japan. Programmes typically last 4–8 weeks and focus on language training, cultural courses, or field research. They are designed for students seeking a first overseas experience on a limited budget.

In-Hong Kong track — the International Summer School (ISS)

CUHK simultaneously recruits students from across the globe to attend summer programmes on its own campus. The ISS July session^※ offers 20 English-taught courses spread across five academic streams: “Chinese Language,” “Environment, Science and Technology,” “Global Business and Management,” “Society and Humanity,” and “Understanding China.” The August session^※ concentrates exclusively on intensive Mandarin and Cantonese language training. The 2026 July session runs from 21 June to 29 July 2026; the August session from 3 to 26 August. The ISS is open to undergraduates worldwide, with no prior Chinese required, and on-campus accommodation is available separately.

Short-term Study Abroad

This is the self-funded track: CUHK students join cultural, language, or research programmes (1–4 weeks) at partner institutions at their own expense, though Faculty or College scholarships may be applied for to offset costs. It offers a flexible alternative for students unable to commit to a full semester away.

# What dual-degree programmes are available, and with which prestigious overseas partners?

Dual-degree programmes represent the deepest layer of CUHK’s internationalisation: upon completing the course of study, students receive degrees from both universities simultaneously. The following are officially announced undergraduate dual-degree programmes^※:

Details of each programme should be verified against the CUHK undergraduate admissions page^※ and the respective Faculty’s latest announcements.

Dual-degree students must satisfy the graduation requirements of both institutions, making for a demanding workload. Graduates, however, hold two degree certificates, which confers a clear advantage when applying for postgraduate study or entering the job market.

# Which international university alliances does CUHK belong to?

Beyond bilateral agreements, CUHK amplifies its network benefits through several multilateral academic alliances. Its principal memberships include:

• Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) : links over 50 leading research universities across the Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Under the APRU framework, CUHK took the lead in creating the APRU Virtual Student Exchange (VSE) programme, which allows students to take courses across member universities without travelling.
• Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) : CUHK joined in October 2011 as Hong Kong’s first member university^※, working alongside 22 other research-intensive universities on cross-institutional research in areas such as climate change, public health, and the globalisation of higher education.
• Association of East Asian Research Universities (AEARU) : members include the University of Tokyo, Seoul National University, Peking University, and Tsinghua University, among other top East Asian institutions; it promotes regional student and scholarly exchange.
• Thematic networks, including the International Universities Climate Alliance and the Alliance of International Science Organizations in the Belt and Road Region (一帶一路區域國際科學組織聯盟), which connect CUHK to collaborative work on sustainable development and transregional research.

These multilateral alliances allow CUHK to superimpose “network value” onto bilateral agreements. WUN members, for example, can give reciprocal priority for exchange places, while APRU-VSE offers a geography-free virtual course-taking pathway — especially meaningful for students unable to travel.