Every year, international and local students in Hong Kong rush to submit applications to higher education institutions in Hong Kong and around the world. The destinations of choice for most students are Europe, Australia, and North America. However, if Europe is your ultimate destination for university, head to the European Higher Education Fair from 9-10 March 2014 to get a better feel for where your choice of higher education will take you.
Regardless of whether or not you want to study in Europe, there is no harm or excuse not to attend the European Higher Education Fair. The admission is free and each registered participant is automatically entered into a drawing for a free trip to Europe!
In a trade show like setup, there are various booths participating in the fair from different countries and universities. Both bachelor’s degree and master’s degree are the focus at this education fair. Some notable higher education institutions include: University of Cologne (ranked 81st in the 2013 Financial Times’ ranking for MBA programmes), POLIMODA (fashion), Instituto Marangoni (fashion), Lund University (research), and Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne (hotel management).
Throughout the two days, there are also various seminars hosted by either an exhibiting country or university. The seminar line-up for the 2014 show has presentations from hospitality management programmes, seminars from each country in the fair, and free language lessons in Spanish, Italian, French, and German.
With eleven different countries represented at the European Higher Education Fair from all over the European Union, attendance is an excellent opportunity to learn what’s available to you and your educational career in Europe. One of the major advantages of attending this education fair is to speak to university and country representatives. You’ll be able to find out more information about the university without the costs of visiting the institution personally and you can get answers to any other questions you may have about your choice in higher education.
Studying in a foreign country can be difficult for anyone, especially if you don’t understand the culture or the language. For the students venturing into countries where English or Chinese is not a common language, finding out about cultural differences while speaking to university representatives can help you make the transition into university life easier. Take this opportunity to ask about the climate, local practices, and customs, as well as other cultural differences that you may experience while you’re studying in a particular country.
While a majority of exhibitors for the European Higher Education Fair are from France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, those interested in attending university in the UK should attend the Education UK Exhibition, which takes place in late January 2014 and caters to a wider audience that includes not only higher education, but boarding and prep schools for younger students interested in education abroad. The exhibit will help students understand what resources are available, from visa applications to jobs after graduation in the UK.
Other expos and fairs with European destinations to keep an eye on or attend are the Education and Career Expo in the middle of February 2014 and the Study in France Virtual Education Fair that takes place online through the end of January 2014. The Education and Career Expo includes many Hong Kong based universities and career opportunities, but also has additional European institutions not included in the European Higher Education Fair. The French virtual fair is strictly online with seminars, chat rooms, and videos about studying and living in France. Real-time one-on-one meetings can be set-up during this virtual conference if needed.
As a student considering higher education abroad, take advantage of the career and education expos and fairs in Hong Kong prior to applying for a foreign university. Ask questions, speak to university alumni and representatives, and get to know your future institution and country of study even before leaving the comforts of home. This will help make your transition into university as smooth as possible.
