Hi everyone!
My name is Dahye Yoon, and I’m a third-year medical student at the University of Southampton. This summer, I participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Programme at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). I’d like to share my amazing experience in Hong Kong, what I learned there, and offer some tips for students interested in applying for the programme through this post!
Application to join the programme
Unlike other courses, my course has a shorter summer break as I move onto the senior years. Therefore, I wanted to make the most of my last full summer break by immersing myself in a completely different cultural environment and creating cherishable memories. I began exploring summer schools and research opportunities and came across the research programme hosted by CUHK through the study abroad opportunities posted by our university.
The application process involves uploading basic documents, including transcripts and ID, as well as submitting a statement of purpose explaining why you want to spend your summer at CUHK and take part in a particular research project that you chose.
Arrival, Introduction Week, and the Accommodation
Upon arrival, I checked into the accommodation at CUHK. An interesting aspect of CUHK is its college system, where students follow the culture and rules of their respective colleges. This system extends to the accommodation, so you stay with students from the same college. For those in the summer research program, we were all allocated to S. H. Ho College. S. H. Ho College is conveniently located near the main entrance, which is ideal given that CUHK is a huge university. The college also has a large canteen offering a variety of delicious Hong Kong food, so I didn’t need to go out for every meal as it provided good-quality, affordable local meals.
Regarding the room, I was placed in a shared room and had a lovely roommate from Canada. Although I was initially concerned about sharing a room with someone I hadn’t met before, this roommate system allowed me to connect with many lovely people who share similar academic interests. It also led to memorable experiences as students from the same halls spent a lot of time together outside the research period and explored Hong Kong together.
The introduction week included a welcome ceremony and a dinner at a nice local restaurant. During this time, I met students from various parts of the world studying different subjects. Meeting people outside my course and university was a fantastic experience that broadened my perspective, and I really enjoyed it.
Additionally, during the introduction week, I met my supervisor and the research team who would be supporting me throughout the research period. They gave us a tour of the JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, where I worked for two months. They also provided insights into working and studying public health in Hong Kong, which I found very interesting.
My Research Experience at JC School of Public Health and Primary Care
I was fortunate to be assigned to my first-choice research topic, which focused on the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in international travellers. As someone with a keen interest in public health, I was eager to explore this field further. While I had some research experience at Southampton, opportunities to work with individuals outside of the UK were limited. Conducting research in Hong Kong provided me with valuable insights into public health and the experience of collaborating with researchers beyond my home university.
I genuinely enjoyed my time at CUHK, where my supervisors were really supportive of my project. They understood my learning objectives and made every effort to provide all of the meaningful opportunities. I primarily learned how to conduct systematic reviews but was also actively involved in fieldwork at a local elderly home in Hong Kong. This included obtaining consents from the participants, extracting relevant medical records and completing the research sheets and collecting samples from elderly patients with various infections. Interacting with patients and observing the healthcare environment outside the UK were invaluable experiences for me as a medical student. By engaging in both the theoretical and practical aspects of the research, I gained a better understanding of public health research and developed essential skills such as communication skill for obtaining consent and effective collaboration with fellow researchers.
Another benefit of this research experience was gaining a more objective view of the field I aspire to work in. Working closely with professionals in the field provided me with insights into their daily lives, workloads, and typical tasks. This was especially useful as I consider pursuing further studies and a career in this area.
At the end of the research programme, I had the opportunity to present my findings to a team of professor, statistician, and PhD students, and received constructive feedback. This feedback was helpful in refining my work, and I was able to create a clear and effective poster to present my research after this presentation.
Experiencing Hong Kong Culture and, Most Importantly, the Food!
Though I’ve completed my programme, I still miss Hong Kong and would love to go back. The amazing people, delicious food, and rich cultural experiences made the past two months unforgettable.
During the programme, I met many passionate and friendly fellow students. We spent a lot of time together exploring Hong Kong’s tourist spots. People outside the programme were also incredibly kind and helpful. Despite the language barrier – since I don’t speak Cantonese – I always met many locals who were helping me a lot, making my experience in Hong Kong heartwarming.
The cultural experiences were exceptional. I visited various museums, islands, central areas, and local streets, each with its own unique history and stories, which deepened my immersion in the environment.
One of the highlights of Hong Kong was the food. The university and college canteens offered a wide variety of delicious, affordable options, and I enjoyed discovering new canteens within the university. Outside campus, I explored local eateries in Central, Sham Shui Po, Tai Po, and Jordan. Each area had unique restaurants and dessert spots, and even after two months, I felt there was so much more to try. One of my favourite dishes was tomato noodles; I tried it at five different places, all of which were excellent. Of course, I also enjoyed classic Hong Kong street food and milk tea!
What I learned and Overall Reflection
Staying away from home and living in a completely different environment, especially abroad, always offers amazingly memorable experiences. Through this programme, I had significant academic and personal growth.
Academically, I learned details about the public health field and how researchers engage with their topics. I encountered many new aspects of research, such as conducting fieldwork in elderly homes, communicating with participants who speak only Cantonese, and handling medical records not written in English. Although it was challenging at first, working in an unfamiliar environment was a motivating opportunity that helped me to keep learning and improving skills This experience also sparked my interest in exploring broader research fields, moving beyond my previous focus. I realised areas to improve personally to pursue a career in academic medicine. The high workload in public health required strong organisational skills for arranging meetings with participants and collaborating with professionals from different fields, such as statistics and clinical medicine. Developing these organisational skills in advance through working with academics in public health was very beneficial for me.
Personally, I discovered the beauty of interacting with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. As an international student, I have always enjoyed learning a lot from students from different cultural backgrounds around me. Being surrounded by individuals from universities worldwide and engaging closely with them over two months significantly broadened my perspectives.
Lastly, being away from home and in a new environment has made me more mature and independent.
Top Tips for students who are interested in spending summer at CUHK
- Identify Your Research Interests: Knowing what you want to explore is important because the programme allows you to rank your preferred research topics. You’ll spend two months studying the topic you’re allocated, so choose something that genuinely interests you.
- Learn Basic Cantonese: While many people in Hong Kong speak English fluently, local restaurants and shops often use only Cantonese. Learning some basic Cantonese will make communication easier and show your respect and interest in the local culture.
- Apply Early and Prepare Your Documents: Receiving an offer is just the beginning. There’s additional paperwork to complete, such as applying for a visa. It’s helpful to prepare your documents in advance, especially if you’re managing other responsibilities, like exams, during the application period.
- Balance Work and Leisure: The programme focuses primarily on research, so it’s important to engage actively with your supervisor and develop various skills. However, it’s also a fantastic opportunity to explore Hong Kong’s culture and tourist spots. Manage your time effectively to enjoy both your academic work and cultural experiences.
- Prepare for the Weather: Hong Kong summers are hot and humid, which might be different from what you’re used to in the UK. I personally love hot weather so it was fine for me, but be sure to stay hydrated and take care of yourself in the extreme heat.
Overall, I highly recommend this programme for its rewarding research experience and lovely cultural immersion. I hope this post helps you understand what a summer research programme in Hong Kong is like and provides guidance on how to apply if you’re interested in spending your summer there. I encourage you to take advantage of this amazing opportunity next year to create memorable experiences and gain valuable insights!