Due to severe shortage of residential places, taught course postgraduates do not normally get a place. These students are strongly advised to use the Accommodation Service (page xx) to find their own accommodation outside the University.
Enquiries for a residential place in the Robert Black College, which admits primarily postgraduate students and visiting scholars, should be directed to the Master of the College.
Enquiries about Graduate House and the St John’s College postgraduate residence should be directed to the Master of Graduate House and the Master of St John’s College respectively.
Enquiries regarding Pokfield Road Residences should be directed to CEDARS and enquiries for a residential place in Morrison Hall should be directed to the Manager of the Hall.
CEDARS runs a small scale service to assist students seeking off-campus accommodation. Information on rooms and flats available for renting in the vicinity of the University is available on the CEDARS website at http://cedars.hku.hk and is advertised on the notice boards of all the amenities centres and by the Faculty of Dentistry and CEDARS. Students who wish to look for rooms and flats in the University vicinity are invited to check the webpage of CEDARS and enquire at CEDARS. However, private accommodation here is extremely expensive, and students are strongly advised to make arrangements for accommodation before they arrive.
A list of hostels managed by non-profit making organizations is also available on the webpage of CEDARS. Students who wish to find short-term accommodation in these hostels should make arrangements directly.
A student with spouse can apply for on-campus postgraduate housing. The University has 10 double rooms in Graduate House, and 8 family flats in Pokfield Road Residences for married couples and these tend to be filled up fast.
There is currently no on-campus housing for students with children. Suitable family housing near the campus is in general rather expensive. A 400 sq. ft. apartment with two bedrooms will cost a monthly rental of about HK$15,000. This does not include the costs of gas, water or electricity. These apartments are usually rented on a mandatory 12-month lease and many landlords require the tenants to pay the first month's rent plus a security deposit equivalent to two months’ rent. The deposit will be kept by the landlord and returned to the tenant without interest when the tenant leaves if there is no damage to the property.
While postgraduate studentship (for selected MPhil and PhD students) is more than adequate to cover the expenses during the student’s studies in Hong Kong, it may not be sufficient to cover the expensive living costs for the entire family.
It is essential that students have sufficient funds to support their living in Hong Kong, including child care and medical costs if there are children and where the student’s spouse is not eligible for local employment.