Choose an Enrichment Year
with the students’ perspective

Study / activities: Medical escape-room research; ANU public health, Japanese and mathematics electives.

Student’s comments: Reports educational-research learning and appreciation of Australian nature; views on the escape room are study-participant feedback, not a personal course rating.

This account also covers: HKU — Medical education research attachment.

Study / activities: Philosophy/history of science and religion; contemporary ethical and theological debates.

Student’s comments: Frequent presentations and small-group discussion improved empathetic expression; fencing developed resilience. Travel included practical setbacks.

Study / activities: Bioethics and global health governance; film electives, paediatric reconstructive-surgery shadowing and a Honduras service trip.

Student’s comments: Valued academic freedom, relationships and independence; global-health teaching strengthened an interest in health policy; described shadowing and service as deeply meaningful.

Study / activities: Rigorous bioethics seminars; cultural and structural influences on ethical decisions; healthcare leadership seminars.

Student’s comments: Learned to treat ethical tensions as careful ongoing conversations; valued campus friendships, teamwork and the cultural diversity of New York.

Study / activities: Philosophy, law, policy and clinical ethics; thesis on the ethics of cosmeceuticals.

Student’s comments: Said the year strengthened critical thinking, careful listening, humility and empathy; appreciated New York and independent living.

Study / activities: Small bioethics seminars, ethics consultations, research ethics, a device-industry thesis and additional research/shadowing.

Student’s comments: Initially intimidating but highly rewarding; valued diverse classmates, inspiring guest speakers and a strong community beyond classes.

Study / activities: Medicine, law, philosophy and public health; paediatric ethics and a sports-ethics project.

Student’s comments: Paediatric ethics was a favourite subject; rugby created belonging and balance; living abroad increased independence and adaptability.

Study / activities: Clinical, global, research and paediatric ethics; prenatal-testing thesis and public-health electives.

Student’s comments: Wanted frameworks for difficult medical decisions; described academic growth, friendships and meaningful first experiences, including a medical mission.

Study / activities: Discussion-based ethics teaching, consultations, research boards and a surgical-ethics thesis.

Student’s comments: Initially nervous but found the year rewarding; observing ethical decisions alongside surgery reinforced a surgical career interest.

Study / activities: Clinical, cancer, end-of-life, law and global ethics.

Student’s comments: Called the year an adventure and valued pursuing interests alongside new activities such as collegiate ultimate frisbee.

Study / activities: Interactive bioethics courses and US campus life.

Student’s comments: Enjoyed highly interactive teaching and campus culture; learned cooking to manage expensive New York food costs.

Study / activities: Medical/research ethics, consent, justice, disability rights and ethical analysis of real cases.

Student’s comments: Reports stronger ability to identify stakeholders, conflicting values and defensible approaches to practical ethical dilemmas.

Study / activities: Kinesiology, psychology, economics and physics; Australian studies, astronomy and business information.

Student’s comments: Electives helped clarify future interests; Perth exchange made the student more outgoing and confident and provided space for reflection.

This account also covers: HKU — Free electives.

Study / activities: Psychology and bioscience electives, including ageing, stress and disease.

Student’s comments: Enjoyed Durham's character and a lighter workload; food costs and limited Asian-food options encouraged learning to cook, a valued life skill.

Study / activities: Korean society/language, global issues and AI ethics; further Korean visiting study.

Student’s comments: AI study was especially valuable; discussion revealed Korean medical/healthcare perspectives. Creative group work increased confidence and daily Korean fluency.

This account also covers: Yonsei University — Visiting student programme.

Study / activities: Public-health field research and Cambodian cataract-care observation; biochemistry/environmental/social electives.

Student’s comments: Valued understanding effective care in low-resource settings; Canadian hall/club life supported personal and cultural development.

This account also covers: University of Toronto — Exchange.

Study / activities: Childcare-centre renovation, murals and childcare in Greece; support for disadvantaged/SEN families in Hong Kong.

Student’s comments: Reports improved teamwork and patient, attentive listening; learned about practical needs of families and communication with SEN children.

This account also covers: Sowers Action Hong Kong — Service internship.

Study / activities: Community beautification in Chios; German and medical microbiology in Austria.

Student’s comments: Immediate benefits to children were particularly rewarding; initially difficult language/academic adaptation became fascination with international medical education.

This account also covers: University of Innsbruck — Exchange.

Study / activities: Clinical/research ethics, health law, neuroethics, sports ethics and an adolescent-patient-portal capstone.

Student’s comments: Said training sharpened critical thinking and encouraged questioning assumptions; the year reshaped ideas about justice, trust and future medical practice.

Study / activities: Foundational bioethics, law/policy, human-research ethics and IRB interview capstone.

Student’s comments: Found the programme rewarding; capstone clarified both sides of ethical review and US-system insights offered ideas to bring home.

Study / activities: Poster describes clinical neuroscience, AI/coding, biostatistics, omics and translational neurophysiology research.

Student’s comments: Reports stronger research methodology and computational/neuroimaging skills; exact programme title is not stated, so it should not be treated as a confirmed named course.

Study / activities: Neuropathology, psychiatric conditions, literature appraisal and stroke-cognition research.

Student’s comments: Research exposure was the greatest gain; describes the year as rewarding and enjoyable and values personalised-rehabilitation insights.

Study / activities: Teaching children in Lima’s disadvantaged communities; Austrian exchange and extensive solo travel.

Student’s comments: Taught resourcefulness, cultural humility and listening; returned feeling more curious, less judgmental and braver.

This account also covers: University of Salzburg — Exchange.

Study / activities: Psychology, public health, social science, qualitative research and AI/workplace wellbeing.

Student’s comments: Diverse classmates challenged assumptions about stigma; especially enjoyed linking knowledge to practical change and stakeholder perspectives.

Study / activities: Mental-health inequalities, epidemiology, interventions, policy and economics.

Student’s comments: Highlights confidence and friendships gained through university a cappella alongside studies; limited explicit course evaluation.

Study / activities: Apathy assessment in first-episode psychosis; psychology, economics and neuropharmacology electives.

Student’s comments: Mainly describes research and subjects studied; no explicit overall personal evaluation in the poster excerpts.

This account also covers: HKU — Psychiatry research attachment.

Study / activities: Neuroscience foundations and a project using clinical data.

Student’s comments: Highlights strong clinical foundations, research experience, lifelong friendships and travel.

Study / activities: Python/PyTorch, machine learning, medical imaging and a heart–brain project using twin data.

Student’s comments: Started with little technical exposure and gained practical coding skills; appreciated time to slow down and explore life beyond medicine.

Study / activities: Women's/children's health, perinatal mental health, birth defects, statistics and research.

Student’s comments: Said the programme provided a solid foundation in clinical research; diverse classmates improved communication and intercultural understanding; valued independence and reflection.

Study / activities: Anatomy with neuroscience/psychology options, independent clinical research, statistics and scientific writing.

Student’s comments: Valued multidisciplinary choice and working with NHS consultants; presenting research built confidence; campus activities supported wellbeing and independence.

Study / activities: Advanced anatomy, self-directed dissection research, surgical skills and prostate-cancer data analysis.

Student’s comments: Lists practical and research opportunities, including suturing and robotic laparoscopy; no explicit overall personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Cardiovascular sciences, echocardiography and CRISPR molecular-laboratory research.

Student’s comments: Especially valued supervised echocardiography; research taught patience, precision and cautious interpretation rather than expecting positive results.

Study / activities: Cardiac physiology, disease management and cardiac imaging/research.

Student’s comments: Reports an in-depth clinical perspective, with valued travel, exercise and reconnecting with friends; no explicit overall course recommendation.

Study / activities: Cardiovascular physiology, disease, imaging and primary-aldosteronism research.

Student’s comments: Highlights learning echocardiography on real people; also participated in food-rescue volunteering.

Study / activities: Cardiac physiology, imaging, echocardiography and ejection-fraction research.

Student’s comments: Appreciated the connection between science and practical decisions; living abroad was exciting and personally meaningful.

Study / activities: Cardiac science, imaging, echocardiography and inflammatory liver-disease laboratory research.

Student’s comments: Research introduced experimental troubleshooting; travel challenged cultural assumptions and increased comfort with diverse people.

Study / activities: Cardiomyocyte regeneration, proliferation and metabolic laboratory research.

Student’s comments: Scientific project report; no explicit personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Comparison of fetal cardiac MRI reconstruction methods.

Student’s comments: Scientific project report; no explicit personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Cardiovascular/metabolic pathophysiology, evidence appraisal, investigations and aldosteronism research.

Student’s comments: Highlights stronger critical understanding and practical interpretation skills; no explicit overall satisfaction rating.

Study / activities: Health systems, development, conflict, inequalities and adolescent mental-health research.

Student’s comments: Strengthened interest in adolescent mental health, evidence-based care and equity; living abroad developed independence and communication.

Study / activities: Health inequalities, systems, development, conflict and independent research.

Student’s comments: Describes an enriching year with personal growth, international friendships and unforgettable experiences beyond academics.

Study / activities: Immunology, host–microbe interactions, therapy design and CAR-Treg laboratory research.

Student’s comments: Therapy-design teamwork was memorable despite repeated roadblocks; learned resilience, practical skills and teamwork through failures.

Study / activities: Immunology, infectious disease, translational therapy and laboratory research.

Student’s comments: Reports stronger medical knowledge and laboratory skills; considers immunotherapy knowledge directly relevant to future clinical practice.

Study / activities: Immunology, infection, cancer immunotherapy and entrepreneurship-related electives.

Student’s comments: Cancer immunotherapy was the favourite module, especially haematological topics and the translational development perspective; living alone increased independence.

Study / activities: Neuroscience with pharmacology, neuroendocrinology, immunology and developmental options.

Student’s comments: Said intercalation deepened interest in neuroscience; independent living taught housing and utility management; valued London's parks, culture and travel.

Study / activities: Neurodegeneration, pain, neuroendocrinology, debates and mouse-brain imaging research.

Student’s comments: Described a fun, enjoyable year with academic and cultural opportunities; grateful for studying abroad.

Study / activities: Independent laboratory work on genetic causes of hearing impairment.

Student’s comments: Describes a defining, life-changing year and values moving from classroom learning into a working laboratory.

Study / activities: Neurodegeneration, memory, neuroendocrinology, programming and pain literature research.

Student’s comments: Living alone included loneliness but developed resilience; volleyball provided community and lasting friendships.

Study / activities: Neuroscience, neuroendocrinology, neuropharmacology and immunotherapy-design electives.

Student’s comments: Enjoyed hands-on laboratory work and neuroimaging software; intervention pitching improved creative/appraisal skills and the year clarified future goals.

Study / activities: Primary-care systems, inequalities, discussion-based learning, clinical placement and obesity datasets.

Student’s comments: Discussion was highly rewarding; exposure to underserved patients was eye-opening and deepened appreciation of primary care.

Study / activities: Stem cells, biomaterials, immunology and laboratory work on tissue regeneration.

Student’s comments: Valued learning practical laboratory skills and understanding translational barriers such as rejection and regulation; outside work strengthened communication and teamwork.

Study / activities: Stem cells, tissue engineering, immunology and nanoneedle ocular gene-editing research.

Student’s comments: Laboratory access was memorable and helped fulfil an ambition to contribute to new medical approaches.

Study / activities: Biomaterials, microbiome, stem cells and nanoneedle gene-editing research.

Student’s comments: Research project is identified as the course highlight; otherwise primarily reports scientific methods/results.

Study / activities: Regenerative-medicine study, laboratory research, sports and university social life.

Student’s comments: Combining research, social activities, sport and travel made the year fulfilling; highlights scientific depth and collaboration.

Study / activities: Birth defects, assisted conception, maternal/fetal research, reproductive physiology, perinatal mental health and stem cells; qualitative study of early-pregnancy-loss services.

Student’s comments: Learned coding, qualitative analysis and writing through the research project; particularly valued European travel, new food/scenery and time with friends, concerts and musicals.

Study / activities: Assisted conception, reproductive physiology, perinatal mental health and fetal MRI research.

Student’s comments: Incredibly rewarding; supportive clinicians shaped fetal-medicine interests. Clinic shadowing and teamwork strengthened confidence and independence.

Study / activities: Japan-related electives, Japanese self-study and a Japanese exchange.

Student’s comments: Fulfilled a longstanding dream of living in Japan; learned cultural manners and open-mindedness beyond textbook knowledge.

This account also covers: HKU — Free electives.

Study / activities: Epidemiology, R statistics, outbreak simulation, spatial analysis and neglected tropical diseases.

Student’s comments: Praised expert teaching and international classmates; highlighted learning R and experiencing different cultures.

Study / activities: Infectious-disease control, epidemiology, neglected tropical diseases and a schistosomiasis project.

Student’s comments: Expert teaching prompted serious interest in infectious-disease epidemiology; praised welcoming classmates and London's culture, but noted expensive dining, rain and transport delays.

Study / activities: Disease-control policy, sanitation, neglected tropical diseases and transcriptomic research.

Student’s comments: Appreciated the balance of clinical relevance and public health, plus global expert perspectives; independent living and cooking were rewarding.

Study / activities: Statistics, clinical trials, study design, demographic methods and an alcohol/hypertension project using Zimbabwean data.

Student’s comments: Explains the relevance of the research and lists modules; no explicit overall personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Study design, R, clinical trials, advanced statistics, EHR analysis and childhood-leukaemia population research.

Student’s comments: Calls the year rewarding; values research skills and mutual support within an international, diverse cohort.

Study / activities: Advanced immunology, vaccines, parasitic infection and a malaria antibody project.

Student’s comments: Enthusiastically recommended deeper immunology study; valued attending an immunology congress, meeting peers and gaining confidence through solo travel.

Study / activities: Infection immunology, flow cytometry, Western blot, ELISA and STATA/research design.

Student’s comments: Values practical preparation for laboratory work and personal growth through independent living, diverse peers and reconnecting with friends.

Study / activities: Clinical microbiology, diagnostics, pathogen genomics and a bacterial antimicrobial-resistance project.

Student’s comments: Praised theoretical and practical training; particularly valued bioinformatics skills and learning from international peers and professors.

Study / activities: Clinical infection, pathogen evolution, diagnostic laboratory practice and E. coli genomic research.

Student’s comments: Found the year rewarding; described workload as lighter than preclinical medicine, allowing other interests; independent living improved financial literacy and responsibility.

Study / activities: Pathogen culture/identification, genomics, presentations and dengue-transmission research.

Student’s comments: Valued laboratory experience and international friendships; first-time independent living was challenging and strengthened resilience; support from friends helped through the degree.

Study / activities: Clinical microbiology and diagnostic lab practice, including unknown-organism identification.

Student’s comments: Called the year enjoyable and rewarding; especially valued practical diagnostic sessions and opportunities to engage with conferences.

Study / activities: Lectures, laboratory work and antimicrobial-resistance genomic research.

Student’s comments: Living independently abroad was challenging and rewarding; developed scientific presentation and public-health skills.

Study / activities: R programming, statistical models, survival/Bayesian analysis, causal inference and a cardiac risk-model project.

Student’s comments: Emphasised learning to manage, analyse and present health data, with detailed mathematical foundations; no explicit satisfaction rating.

Study / activities: Mathematical medical statistics, R/Stata/Stan and confounding in electronic-health-record research.

Student’s comments: Found the experience nourishing; valued better understanding of scientific evidence and its limitations, with skills useful for communicating findings.

Study / activities: Nutrition, dietary assessment, statistics, epidemiology, maternal and child health, qualitative research and intervention planning.

Student’s comments: Statistics felt intimidating initially but became useful; learned much more than expected and would repeat the experience; enjoyed friendships and travel.

Study / activities: Public-health nutrition, statistics, emergency nutrition and chronic disease.

Student’s comments: Called the year rewarding; group work developed confidence in contributing ideas; independent living and travel strengthened problem-solving and cultural awareness.

Study / activities: Nutrition, inequality, maternal/child health, emergencies, epidemiology and population data.

Student’s comments: Calls the programme the most rewarding part of EY; appreciated looking beyond individual patients to social and global influences.

Study / activities: Public health, policy and healthcare systems from clinician, patient, policymaker and community perspectives.

Student’s comments: Found study academically and socially meaningful; international collaboration broadened healthcare perspectives and independent travel built confidence.

Study / activities: Economic evaluation, health policy, sustainability and statistical methods; heart-failure cost-effectiveness review.

Student’s comments: Emphasised new policy, Markov-model and STATA skills; valued international hall friendships and opportunities for sport and travel.

Study / activities: Health economics, economic evaluation, epidemiology and screening cost-utility research.

Student’s comments: Essay-based assessment was initially challenging compared with medical school; study with new friends helped adaptation and developed teamwork/leadership.

Study / activities: Cost-effectiveness modelling, Excel, Stata and health-policy analysis.

Student’s comments: Values analytical skills; solo travel improved budget planning, problem-solving and self-reflection.

Study / activities: Health governance and systems; comparative dissertation on doctor-workforce policy.

Student’s comments: Valued stepping back from clinical detail to understand health systems; independent living and time for reflection helped clarify personal goals.

Study / activities: Research, policy analysis, critical appraisal and health-system thinking.

Student’s comments: Said the year strengthened evidence-informed reasoning and collaboration; reinforced an aspiration to contribute to public health and primary care.

Study / activities: Public-health issues, policy, epidemiology and statistics.

Student’s comments: Valued new healthcare perspectives, independence and international friendships; museums and travel were major highlights.

Study / activities: Quantitative/qualitative methods, policy, health promotion and global/maternal health.

Student’s comments: Structural determinants challenged thinking; collaborative coursework and cultural/travel experiences were highlights.

Study / activities: Eye-health systems, research/statistics and microbial-keratitis diagnostic review.

Student’s comments: Inspired by international eye-health workers and their ambitions to improve care at home; valued unfamiliar perspectives alongside technical skills.

Study / activities: Public-health approaches to eye care with a small international cohort.

Student’s comments: Calls it among the most meaningful experiences; especially values 12 classmates from nine countries, supportive friends and growing cooking/independent-living skills.

Study / activities: Reproductive health, epidemiology, policy, social research and STI-programme design.

Student’s comments: Programme design was particularly challenging; nevertheless highly rewarding, with diverse classmates and broader social/political perspectives on health.

Study / activities: Human physiology and human rights; three months of sustainable-farming volunteering in Rome.

Student’s comments: Describes nature and teamwork in farm activities; gives limited explicit evaluation of the courses.

This account also covers: University of Gothenburg — Exchange.

Study / activities: Neuroscience and brain/skull-base surgery; vertebrate natural history and field trips.

Student’s comments: Praises exceptional Leiden mentorship; Berkeley’s International House and weekly field trips made academic/cultural learning especially meaningful.

This account also covers: UC Berkeley — Exchange.

Study / activities: Global health, humanitarianism, conflict and epidemiology; health-system advocacy.

Student’s comments: Found advocating for equitable healthcare rewarding; initially apprehensive about going alone but grew confident and made international friends.

Study / activities: Exercise physiology, nutrition, motor control and psychology; dissertation adapted when trial data were unavailable.

Student’s comments: The year reinforced interest in sports medicine; independent travel built confidence and empathy; highlighted wellbeing habits and coping with unpredictability.

Study / activities: Emergency-department support in Tanzania, health advocacy in HK; Swedish, GIS and neuroscience.

Student’s comments: Tanzania plans changed because of social unrest. Emphasises listening, empathy and everyday language; exchange added independence and friendships.

This account also covers: Tanzania Health Opportunities — Service placement; Health in Action Hong Kong — Service internship.

Study / activities: Swedish society/language, sustainable eating and neuroscience; cognitive assessments and R/SPSS analysis.

Student’s comments: Exchange brought friendships and self-understanding; research developed clinical assessment and data skills.

This account also covers: HKU — Psychiatry research attachment.

Study / activities: Cell-death laboratory research in Melbourne, cancer/nutrition clinical research at QMH and preclinical medicine refresher courses in Sweden.

Student’s comments: Reports stronger scientific integration, adaptability, intercultural communication and teamwork; gives little placement-specific personal evaluation.

This account also covers: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute — Research internship; HKU — Surgery research attachment.

Study / activities: Endometriosis stem-cell microscopy, followed by an elderly gastric-cancer/sarcopenia study at HKU.

Student’s comments: Poster reports research methods and findings; no explicit personal evaluation of either placement.

This account also covers: HKU — Clinical Oncology research attachment.

Study / activities: Endometriosis tissue microscopy followed by broad bioscience study at Berkeley.

Student’s comments: Praised Berkeley's supportive environment and exchange of ideas in seminars/office hours; learned critical thinking and connections between different scientific subjects.

This account also covers: UC Berkeley — Bioscience study abroad.

Study / activities: Endometriosis tissue-clearing microscopy; paediatric surgery research and clinical observation.

Student’s comments: Enjoyed a culturally diverse Monash lab and unfamiliar microscopy; parent interviews and clinic exposure at HKU developed communication and understanding of family concerns.

This account also covers: HKU — Surgery research attachment.

Study / activities: Programming, algorithms, computing fundamentals, data science and machine learning.

Student’s comments: Praises NUS campus and strong support for a beginner without a computing major; enjoyed residence badminton facilities.

This account also covers: HKU — Minor in Computer Science.

Study / activities: Community education, hostel support and project planning; HKU economics, Buddhist studies and geography electives.

Student’s comments: Lists practical community responsibilities and activities; no explicit course-by-course recommendation.

This account also covers: HKU — Free electives.

Study / activities: Nepal community service and menstrual-health survey; Berkeley integrative biology and vertebrate fieldwork.

Student’s comments: Nepal challenged previous assumptions and built gratitude; Berkeley's passionate classmates and fieldwork inspired greater curiosity and drive for future medical study.

This account also covers: UC Berkeley — Bioscience study abroad.

Study / activities: Health checks/talks for street sleepers; neuroscience, Roman history and ancient philosophy.

Student’s comments: Service deepened awareness of social disadvantage; especially enjoyed ancient philosophy. UK weather took time to adapt to.

This account also covers: Salvation Army Hong Kong — Street-sleeper service attachment.

Study / activities: Psychology and logistics in Newcastle; a second European exchange semester.

Student’s comments: Acknowledges a tough curriculum and exhaustion, while valuing cultural encounters, resilience and opportunities to explore the world.

This account also covers: University of Vienna — Exchange.

Study / activities: R/text mining, German language and cross-cultural exchange; tailored activities for refugee women and children.

Student’s comments: Exchange developed adaptability and technical skills; refugee service strengthened empathy, teamwork and sense of purpose through listening to individual needs.

This account also covers: University of Innsbruck — Exchange.

Study / activities: Bariatric-surgery research methodology; London exchange and European travel.

Student’s comments: Both semesters encouraged stepping beyond the comfort zone; independent living and travel improved self-understanding and cultural awareness.

This account also covers: HKU — Surgery research attachment.

Study / activities: Neurological disorders, laboratory methods and traumatic-brain-injury tissue research.

Student’s comments: Highlights the opportunity to work with fresh patient samples and communicate science through varied formats; no overall rating.

Study / activities: Musculoskeletal examination, ultrasound and qualitative gait-analysis research.

Student’s comments: Values bringing theory into practice and stronger appreciation of research-informed decisions and patient education.

Study / activities: Weekly composition tutorials, commissions, performance and professional music practice.

Student’s comments: Values world-class teachers and the creative environment; helped build a possible parallel career in composition alongside medicine.

Study / activities: SOAS music, film, digital futures and advocacy courses; HKU music electives and performances.

Student’s comments: Found SOAS seminars especially fulfilling because students were encouraged to discuss opinions; music study and organising a recital developed initiative and creativity.

This account also covers: HKU — Free electives.

Study / activities: Chemistry, geography, development and food sustainability; sociology, environmental history, gender studies and photojournalism.

Student’s comments: Broadened understanding of the social context of healthcare and developed questioning and interview skills.

This account also covers: HKU — Free electives.

Study / activities: Photojournalism, performance, competition law and agriculture; childhood immunotherapy laboratory/sequencing work.

Student’s comments: Paris study and cultural encounters were fun and memorable; Australian laboratory work was eye-opening and showed technology’s diagnostic/treatment importance.

This account also covers: University of Queensland / Ian Frazer Centre — Research attachment.

Study / activities: Neural mechanisms of anaesthesia, wet-lab/data science, leadership and healthcare-design courses.

Student’s comments: Felt supported by mentors and friends; Silicon Valley encouraged thinking about healthcare through innovation and interdisciplinary problem-solving.

Study / activities: Staphylococcus typing, antimicrobial susceptibility and Stockholm exchange.

Student’s comments: Research was challenging but rewarding; contamination and coding problems required repeated troubleshooting. Travel and friendships were enriching.

This account also covers: HKU — Microbiology research attachment.

Study / activities: Supervised medical-team support; gender, film and postcolonial media studies.

Student’s comments: Uganda prompted reflection on the purpose of studying medicine; Sweden introduced unfamiliar cultural subjects and a slower pace of life.

This account also covers: Watoto Uganda — Service placement.

Study / activities: Emergency-department support in Tanzania, health advocacy in HK; Swedish, GIS and neuroscience.

Student’s comments: Tanzania plans changed because of social unrest. Emphasises listening, empathy and everyday language; exchange added independence and friendships.

This account also covers: Health in Action Hong Kong — Service internship; Lund University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Human bioscience electives at Berkeley; HKU fracture research, imaging and clinical observation.

Student’s comments: Found Berkeley inspiring and connected molecular discoveries to real life; the HKU attachment developed X-ray/data skills; broader experiences fostered independence.

This account also covers: HKU — Orthopaedics and Traumatology research attachment.

Study / activities: Berkeley neuroscience, psychology and microbiology; schizophrenia sleep-profile research at HKU.

Student’s comments: Called Berkeley adventurous and refreshing and enjoyed academic/artistic exploration; the research section reports findings rather than a personal evaluation.

This account also covers: HKU — Psychiatry research attachment.

Study / activities: Nepal community service and menstrual-health survey; Berkeley integrative biology and vertebrate fieldwork.

Student’s comments: Nepal challenged previous assumptions and built gratitude; Berkeley's passionate classmates and fieldwork inspired greater curiosity and drive for future medical study.

This account also covers: Nepal — Education service programme.

Study / activities: Endometriosis tissue microscopy followed by broad bioscience study at Berkeley.

Student’s comments: Praised Berkeley's supportive environment and exchange of ideas in seminars/office hours; learned critical thinking and connections between different scientific subjects.

This account also covers: Monash University/Hudson Institute — Research attachment.

Study / activities: Genetics, molecular biology and pandemics; Korean exchange and language practice.

Student’s comments: Berkeley strengthened independent, critical learning; daily Korean use increased communication confidence and cross-cultural friendships.

This account also covers: Yonsei University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Biomechanics, molecular biology, computational/cognitive study; Utrecht humanities/cultural learning.

Student’s comments: Berkeley’s competitive environment was life-changing; enjoyed coding/technology culture. Dutch museums and traditions made learning tangible.

This account also covers: University College Utrecht — Exchange.

Study / activities: US visiting study; protein-binder laboratory work and programming in Finland.

Student’s comments: Academically rewarding and personally unforgettable; mistakes became lessons with helpful laboratory support. People were the most meaningful part.

This account also covers: University of Helsinki — Exchange.

Study / activities: Cancer, pandemics, psychedelics and surgical skills; paediatric patellar-dislocation research.

Student’s comments: US culture and local friendships were eye-opening; unexpectedly found nature outings with friends the best part.

This account also covers: HKU — Orthopaedics and Traumatology research attachment.

Study / activities: Neuroscience and brain/skull-base surgery; vertebrate natural history and field trips.

Student’s comments: Praises exceptional Leiden mentorship; Berkeley’s International House and weekly field trips made academic/cultural learning especially meaningful.

This account also covers: Leiden University Medical Centre — Exchange.

Study / activities: Health economics, philosophy, public management and humanities; ethical analysis of obesity prevention and inequality.

Student’s comments: Found diverse perspectives intellectually stimulating and learned to revise assumptions; valued the chance to become a broader person.

Study / activities: Dedicated neurosurgical research, specialist academic training and surgical exposure.

Student’s comments: Travel and unfamiliar environments developed independence, cultural appreciation and adaptability for future clinical practice.

Study / activities: Preclinical imaging, animal models, MRI/SPECT and cardiac-amyloidosis research.

Student’s comments: Found the programme engaging; hands-on laboratory work and Royal Free Hospital training were highlights.

Study / activities: Imaging physics and clinical applications, MRI/CT/EEG methods and an MS/menopause imaging project.

Student’s comments: Praised the clinical/scientific environment and multidisciplinary technical training; reports research skills and planned conference presentation.

Study / activities: Commercialisation, IP, regulation, digital health/AI and entrepreneurial finance; startup and chatbot assignments.

Student’s comments: Found the year rewarding; appreciated understanding how business frameworks bring medical innovations to patients.

Study / activities: Healthcare business and innovation, AI, startup pitching and entrepreneurial networking.

Student’s comments: Said the programme broadened horizons beyond medicine and developed an entrepreneurial mindset; valued hackathons, networks and travel.

Study / activities: Dementia, stroke, epilepsy, motor systems and cognition; spinal-cord MRI analysis and R statistics.

Student’s comments: Reports technical skills, friendships and travel; no explicit overall course recommendation.

Study / activities: Patient-focused neuroscience, stroke management and an MS remyelination dissertation; optional consultant shadowing.

Student’s comments: Found the year intellectually stimulating; especially enjoyed the stroke module and its relevance to future clinical work; developed independence.

Study / activities: Translational neuroscience, neuroimaging, STATA and an epilepsy cardiac-biomarker project.

Student’s comments: Valued connecting basic science with clinical applications and building data-analysis skills; enjoyed London's music scene and travel.

Study / activities: Dementia, stroke, epilepsy, motor systems and cognition; intracranial EEG/fMRI dissertation.

Student’s comments: Lists clinical learning and travel experiences; no explicit overall personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Clinical neuroscience, experimental design and fruit-fly research into movement disorders.

Student’s comments: Reported stronger laboratory/data skills and critical appraisal; found friendships and travel made the year personally memorable as well as academically rewarding.

Study / activities: Clinical neuroscience and experimental neuronal/imaging methods.

Student’s comments: Experimental Approaches was the favourite module, offering close exposure to unfamiliar techniques; music performance developed transferable persistence.

Study / activities: Digital health, AI, venture finance, regulation and machine-learning/health-tech projects.

Student’s comments: Reframed medicine as a system improved through evidence, technology and entrepreneurship; highlights multidisciplinary leadership and cross-border collaboration.

Study / activities: Cheminformatics, molecular docking, computational tools and pharmaceutical patent law.

Student’s comments: Found the pharmaceutical business perspective intriguing; studying abroad revealed new interests and increased curiosity, independence and confidence.

Study / activities: Mechanistic and therapeutic immunology with laboratory research.

Student’s comments: Describes a demanding year alongside six-hour lecture days and competitive swimming; friendships and support made the intensity manageable.

Study / activities: Health systems, inequality, politics, climate, humanitarianism, migration and qualitative research; refugee-vaccination dissertation.

Student’s comments: Gained a more critical understanding of structural influences on health and confidence in interdisciplinary research; balancing travel with MSc deadlines required discipline.

Study / activities: Conflict, humanitarianism and disaster-risk reduction; dissertation on Hong Kong hospitals.

Student’s comments: Teaching strengthened interest in disaster medicine and humanitarian work; valued friends from diverse backgrounds and trying new campus activities.

Study / activities: Python, epidemiology, statistics, machine learning and clinical-AI model maintenance.

Student’s comments: Relearning statistical first principles was humbling; staying with confusion was hardest, while connecting methods across disciplines was most rewarding.

Study / activities: Eye subspecialties, research appraisal, statistics and a dissertation defended in a viva.

Student’s comments: Reports stronger ophthalmology knowledge and academic/research skills; no explicit overall satisfaction rating.

Study / activities: Omics, genetics, imaging, bioinformatics and molecular-dynamics research.

Student’s comments: Reports gaining quantitative and molecular-simulation skills; valued meeting people with varied backgrounds and travelling during breaks.

Study / activities: Biomedical imaging, genetics, multiomics and a vascular-dementia imaging/histology project.

Student’s comments: Gained imaging, laboratory and collaboration skills; campus societies brought friendships and cultural learning.

Study / activities: Genetics, bioinformatics, personalised therapy and retinal/brain vascular research.

Student’s comments: Valued first-hand laboratory experience and understanding how clinical risk scores are developed; emphasised people and experiences alongside the qualification.

Study / activities: Imaging, genetics, omics, Python and Down-syndrome neuronal research.

Student’s comments: Gained confidence in self-directed learning and unfamiliar laboratory methods; balancing a full MSc with competitive sport tested personal limits positively.

Study / activities: Multiomics, genetic-assay validation, imaging and emerging therapies.

Student’s comments: Broader than expected from preclinical medicine; especially enjoyed biomedical imaging and gained confidence through independent travel.

Study / activities: Bioinformatics/Python, biomedical imaging, genetics and transplant-related research.

Student’s comments: Values diverse peers and scientific skills; independent living built resilience, communication and cultural empathy.

Study / activities: Genomics, imaging, bioinformatics, nanomedicine and R-based lung-cancer research.

Student’s comments: Highlights resilience, awareness and respect for complexity through academic and overseas experiences.

Study / activities: Genomics, data-driven care, bioinformatics, Python/R and multiple research projects.

Student’s comments: Calls the year enriching; gained coding confidence and independence through cooking, daily routines, friendships and travel.

Study / activities: Genomics, bioinformatics, imaging and postpartum-immunity systematic review.

Student’s comments: Values supportive friends as a second family, community volunteering and memorable European travel.

Study / activities: Imaging, genetics, multiomics, bioinformatics and fibrosis/lung-cancer biomarkers.

Student’s comments: Poster details academic content and coding/research; no explicit overall personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Clinical cancer-data research followed by economics/business and business-intelligence study in Madrid.

Student’s comments: Research criticism was humbling but completing a paper built confidence; saw shared logic between research and business data work; Madrid broadened career and life perspectives.

This account also covers: Queen Mary Hospital — Research attachment (oesophageal cancer).

Study / activities: Biomechanics, molecular biology, computational/cognitive study; Utrecht humanities/cultural learning.

Student’s comments: Berkeley’s competitive environment was life-changing; enjoyed coding/technology culture. Dutch museums and traditions made learning tangible.

This account also covers: UC Berkeley — Bioscience study abroad.

Study / activities: Hong Kong/Asian politics, foreign policy and democratic theory; Middle East relations and EU governance.

Student’s comments: Strengthened belief that politics and medicine are connected; travel and exchange expanded international perspectives.

This account also covers: HKU — Minor in Politics and Public Administration.

Study / activities: Violence, social harm, child health, therapeutic work, disability and independent study.

Student’s comments: Initially struggled to catch up with final-year peers and social-science essay writing; the social model of disability broadened the student’s future clinical perspective.

Study / activities: Dissection, MRI-informed anatomy, comparative anatomy and a hepatic-vascular dissertation.

Student’s comments: Dissection was challenging but rewarding, especially within limited time; gained planning/manual skills and valued close course friendships.

Study / activities: Circadian rhythms, neural circuits, synaptic plasticity and time-perception research.

Student’s comments: Struggled at times with statistics and programming; these developed patience and critical use of data.

Study / activities: Social-media/AI use and mental-health research; Bristol exchange.

Student’s comments: Living alone was harder than expected but especially rewarding; gained independence and enjoyed first travel beyond Asia.

This account also covers: HKU — Psychiatry research attachment.

Study / activities: Health inequalities, governance, bodily autonomy and human rights; organ-donation dissertation.

Student’s comments: Lists academic interests and assessment topics, with travel/social photographs; no explicit overall personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Health inequalities, governance and ethical/legal issues including AI and bodily material.

Student’s comments: Fascinated by close links between health and law; gained appreciation of systemic influences and more open conversations about wellbeing.

Study / activities: Ophthalmology clinical/research skills; Bristol happiness, marketing and economics electives.

Student’s comments: Happiness teaching encouraged wellbeing practices; marketing and economics offered useful healthcare perspectives; living abroad developed cooking and budgeting skills.

This account also covers: HKU — Ophthalmology research attachment.

Study / activities: Education and animal biology at Nottingham; psychology, sociology and body-function courses at Bristol.

Student’s comments: Enjoyed exploring unfamiliar subjects; group projects taught teamwork and sociology sharpened ethical reasoning; living in Europe developed independence.

This account also covers: University of Nottingham — Exchange.

Study / activities: Animal/human physiology and music-wellbeing study in Melbourne; psychology, happiness and film at Bristol.

Student’s comments: Enjoyed integrating music and brain science; found happiness teaching practical for wellbeing; cross-cultural experiences strengthened independence and gratitude.

This account also covers: University of Melbourne — Exchange.

Study / activities: Developmental psychology and philosophy; supervised clinic support in Uganda.

Student’s comments: Bristol was enjoyable and built friendships; Uganda was transformative and prompted appreciation of home, family and basic necessities.

This account also covers: Watoto Uganda — Service placement.

Study / activities: Psychosis follow-up, patient recruitment and neuroimaging research; US exchange.

Student’s comments: Describes the exchange as fruitful and unforgettable, with travel that broadened the student’s worldview.

This account also covers: HKU — Psychiatry research attachment.

Study / activities: Education/leadership theories, research paradigms and adaptive-curriculum research; teaching opportunities.

Student’s comments: Described a new academic experience and valued intercultural learning; reported opportunities to host teaching and observe educational practice.

Study / activities: Educational theory, simulation, leadership, change management and qualitative education research.

Student’s comments: Calls the year fruitful and meaningful; solo travel strengthened independence, planning and readiness for uncertainty.

Study / activities: Biomechanics, gait analysis, motion capture and rehabilitation planning.

Student’s comments: Changed how the student understands movement; valued connecting laboratory data with clinical decisions and interdisciplinary teamwork.

Study / activities: Motion capture, force platforms, electromyography and knee-surgery outcomes.

Student’s comments: Clinical shadowing and real-patient research were highlights; valued multidisciplinary perspectives and learning to handle missing follow-up data.

Study / activities: Psychological research on alcohol reward and emotional-awareness traits.

Student’s comments: Research was limited by funding/sample size and measurement issues; the poster discusses these constraints rather than overall course satisfaction.

Study / activities: French, sociology, philosophy and astronomy; philosophy, morality and introductory AI at Exeter.

Student’s comments: Explains aims of satisfying curiosity and improving ethical problem-solving; no explicit retrospective course evaluation.

This account also covers: HKU — Free electives.

Study / activities: Buddhism and geography; archaeology, accounting, statistics and ADHD.

Student’s comments: Enjoyed seminar discussions; multicultural flatmates improved communication and made the student more outgoing and willing to try new things.

This account also covers: HKU — Free electives.

Study / activities: Neuroscience, brain imaging, reproducible statistics and Alzheimer's/microglia research.

Student’s comments: Valued transferable imaging and data skills; found Glasgow friendly and life in Scotland relaxing; travel increased cultural appreciation.

Study / activities: Neuroscience, imaging, R data skills and glioblastoma imaging-biomarker research.

Student’s comments: Reports useful technical skills and neurosurgical mentorship; sport and language learning supported discipline and intercultural communication.

Study / activities: Neuroimaging, R statistics, reproducible research, animal models and image analysis.

Student’s comments: Reports stronger practical research and appraisal skills; diverse collaborators and independent living developed confidence and adaptability.

Study / activities: Cardiovascular laboratory methods, imaging, statistics and pharmacology.

Student’s comments: Praised professors and a course that complemented medical training; valued international classmates and enjoyable friendships.

Study / activities: Imaging, epidemiology, statistics, laboratory techniques and cardiovascular science.

Student’s comments: Calls the year rewarding; research and clinical workshops broadened specialty interests, with photography as a new hobby.

Study / activities: Advanced immunology, laboratory training, R programming and inflammatory-disease bioinformatics.

Student’s comments: Valued learning beyond undergraduate immunology and acquiring R skills that opened research opportunities; appreciated Scottish cultural experiences.

Study / activities: Immunology, laboratory/research training, omics and conference-based dissertation work.

Student’s comments: Congress talks were inspiring; using R for the first time was challenging but interesting. Enjoyed trying unfamiliar volunteering activities.

Study / activities: Host–pathogen biology, cellular immunology, research technologies and practical laboratory training.

Student’s comments: Valued exploring molecular mechanisms beyond clinical training, learning from experts and collaborating with classmates from varied backgrounds.

Study / activities: Genetic diagnostics, clinical genomics, laboratory assays and population screening.

Student’s comments: Valued NHS diagnostic perspectives and dissertation flexibility; independence, community teaching and new relationships were important gains.

Study / activities: Genetic diagnostics, case discussion, molecular methods and variant reanalysis.

Student’s comments: Valued transferable communication/appraisal skills, friendly Scottish people and space to explore beyond a hectic medical curriculum.

Study / activities: Genomics, omics/R, cancer biomarkers, experimental design and glioma systematic review.

Student’s comments: Reports stronger computational/appraisal and collaboration skills; learning horse riding developed resilience and confidence.

Study / activities: Public health, epidemiology, statistics, organisation management and health economics/HTA.

Student’s comments: Said study broadened horizons and preparation for medicine; took student-representation and community roles alongside the course.

Study / activities: Nutrition, athletic performance, research evidence and personalised exercise planning.

Student’s comments: Developed analytical/debate skills and appreciation of allied-health collaboration; horse riding was enjoyable but challenged emotional control and problem-solving.

Study / activities: Stem cells, bioengineering, tissue scaffolds, molecular methods, AI imaging and metabolomics.

Student’s comments: Describes interdisciplinary training and useful practical methods; no explicit overall satisfaction judgement.

Study / activities: Stem-cell clinical applications and sequencing-data research into nerve repair.

Student’s comments: Values understanding both current applications and future possibilities; nature and European travel enriched the year.

Study / activities: Human physiology and human rights; three months of sustainable-farming volunteering in Rome.

Student’s comments: Describes nature and teamwork in farm activities; gives limited explicit evaluation of the courses.

This account also covers: La Nuova Arca Italy — Service placement.

Study / activities: US visiting study; protein-binder laboratory work and programming in Finland.

Student’s comments: Academically rewarding and personally unforgettable; mistakes became lessons with helpful laboratory support. People were the most meaningful part.

This account also covers: UC Berkeley — Bioscience study abroad.

Study / activities: R/text mining, German language and cross-cultural exchange; tailored activities for refugee women and children.

Student’s comments: Exchange developed adaptability and technical skills; refugee service strengthened empathy, teamwork and sense of purpose through listening to individual needs.

This account also covers: Poland — Refugee service placement.

Study / activities: Community beautification in Chios; German and medical microbiology in Austria.

Student’s comments: Immediate benefits to children were particularly rewarding; initially difficult language/academic adaptation became fascination with international medical education.

This account also covers: Greece — Childcare/community volunteering.

Study / activities: AR public education about eye disease; microbiology, ultrasound, sports medicine, global health and Japanese.

Student’s comments: Valued seeing research develop from scratch; exchange broadened subjects, independence and resilience.

This account also covers: HKU — Ophthalmology research attachment.

Study / activities: Digital assessment of first-episode psychosis; nutrition, business and entrepreneurship.

Student’s comments: Research faced rejection, incomplete questionnaires and technical issues. Overseas adaptation/work–life balance were difficult, and the student missed family and HK food.

This account also covers: HKU — Psychiatry research attachment.

Study / activities: Microbiology/immunology laboratories, social geography and healthcare shadowing/support.

Student’s comments: International friendships broadened perspectives; supporting terminally ill patients and families was eye-opening and valuable for future practice.

This account also covers: Christian Healthcare Backpacker Hong Kong — Service placement.

Study / activities: Chinese philosophy, Western music, neurobiology, exercise physiology and pathophysiology.

Student’s comments: Values connecting arts, philosophy and neuroscience to holistic mental health and preventive care.

This account also covers: HKU — Free electives.

Study / activities: School mental-health activities for pupils/teachers; intercultural competence, political philosophy and psychology.

Student’s comments: Service built public-presentation experience; exchange broadened perspectives and provided tools for understanding cultural behaviour.

This account also covers: St. James’ Settlement Hong Kong — Service placement.

Study / activities: R/Python, genomic analysis, computational biology, omics and deep-learning imaging research.

Student’s comments: Required independent trial-and-error thinking beyond memorisation; praises practical, interactive teaching and dedicated staff. Hospital volunteering was rewarding.

Study / activities: Chemistry, biology, public health and bacteriology; support for SEN children and families.

Student’s comments: Communicating with SEN children was the greatest challenge; service was highly rewarding and taught patience, empathy and leadership.

This account also covers: Sowers Action Hong Kong — Service internship.

Study / activities: Animal/human physiology and music-wellbeing study in Melbourne; psychology, happiness and film at Bristol.

Student’s comments: Enjoyed integrating music and brain science; found happiness teaching practical for wellbeing; cross-cultural experiences strengthened independence and gratitude.

This account also covers: University of Bristol — Study abroad / intercalation (award unspecified).

Study / activities: ADHD data collection; environmental science and Melbourne academic/cultural activities.

Student’s comments: Research improved organisation and ethics awareness; exchange was intellectually and personally enriching and expanded global perspectives.

This account also covers: HKU — Research attachment (department unspecified).

Study / activities: Education and animal biology at Nottingham; psychology, sociology and body-function courses at Bristol.

Student’s comments: Enjoyed exploring unfamiliar subjects; group projects taught teamwork and sociology sharpened ethical reasoning; living in Europe developed independence.

This account also covers: University of Bristol — Study abroad / intercalation (award unspecified).

Study / activities: Fall-prevention screening, bedside education and multidisciplinary observation; biology/psychology electives abroad.

Student’s comments: Patient contact strengthened perspective-taking, leadership and teamwork; exchange and UK football culture were memorable.

This account also covers: Queen Mary Hospital — Patient Resource Centre attachment.

Study / activities: Sports-injury anatomy and assessment, rehabilitation, physical activity and an ankle-sprain research project.

Student’s comments: Sport and travel helped discover interests outside medicine; returned feeling more confident and well-rounded, with valued friendships.

Study / activities: Sports injury, nutrition, trauma certification and placements with sports/ballet teams.

Student’s comments: Professional placements and surgical observation were valued; wheelchair basketball changed the student’s perspective on inclusive sports medicine.

Study / activities: Paediatric resting-state fMRI research and new computational techniques.

Student’s comments: Valued a close small cohort, cross-cultural teamwork and learning unfamiliar research tools; the year supported holistic development.

Study / activities: Photojournalism, performance, competition law and agriculture; childhood immunotherapy laboratory/sequencing work.

Student’s comments: Paris study and cultural encounters were fun and memorable; Australian laboratory work was eye-opening and showed technology’s diagnostic/treatment importance.

This account also covers: Sciences Po Paris — Exchange.

Study / activities: Philosophy of mind/emotion at Salzburg; speech-emotion AI validation and spine-clinic observation in Shenzhen.

Student’s comments: Called Salzburg intellectually and culturally enriching; clinical/research collaboration in Shenzhen broadened understanding of innovation and patient care.

This account also covers: HKU–Shenzhen Hospital — Orthopaedics research attachment.

Study / activities: Carotid-stent outcomes after neck irradiation; Austrian exchange.

Student’s comments: Values international friendships and memorable European travel; gives limited explicit course evaluation.

This account also covers: HKU — Surgery research attachment.

Study / activities: Teaching children in Lima’s disadvantaged communities; Austrian exchange and extensive solo travel.

Student’s comments: Taught resourcefulness, cultural humility and listening; returned feeling more curious, less judgmental and braver.

This account also covers: International Volunteer HQ Peru — English-teaching service.

Study / activities: Public-health field research and Cambodian cataract-care observation; biochemistry/environmental/social electives.

Student’s comments: Valued understanding effective care in low-resource settings; Canadian hall/club life supported personal and cultural development.

This account also covers: GX Foundation — Humanitarian health service.

Study / activities: Psychology and logistics in Newcastle; a second European exchange semester.

Student’s comments: Acknowledges a tough curriculum and exhaustion, while valuing cultural encounters, resilience and opportunities to explore the world.

This account also covers: Newcastle University — Study abroad.

Study / activities: Community/healthcare service in Uganda, followed by university exchange in the UK.

Student’s comments: Service exposed low-resource settings; study and travel broadened cultural perspectives and informed communication and decision-making.

This account also covers: Watoto Uganda — Service placement.

Study / activities: Food science, nutrition and sustainability; molecular biotechnology, microbiology and immunology.

Student’s comments: Highlights broader understanding of food–body relationships and experimental-design skills; mainly describes learning rather than rating the experience.

This account also covers: HKU — Minor in Food and Nutritional Science.

Study / activities: Medical-misconduct research and disciplinary hearings; international business, negotiation and French courses.

Student’s comments: Found nonmedical courses thought-provoking and felt accomplished holding basic French conversations; valued cultural experiences and friendships.

This account also covers: HKU — Medical Ethics and Law research attachment.

Study / activities: Patient-safety scoping review; French language and business negotiation.

Student’s comments: French was initially difficult but increasingly rewarding; language and administrative barriers developed resilience, while negotiation taught empathetic communication.

This account also covers: HKU — Medical Ethics and Law research attachment.

Study / activities: Swedish cultural exchange; psychology, counselling role play and psychoeducation.

Student’s comments: Initially worried about fitting in but found football teammates inclusive; psychology improved self-understanding and future patient communication.

This account also covers: HKU — Minor in Psychology.

Study / activities: Gamified neurology learning; economic development, sustainability and gender/development.

Student’s comments: Values clinical/pedagogical feedback and sharing cultures with international classmates; describes expanded academic horizons.

This account also covers: HKU — Medical education research attachment.

Study / activities: Broad electives including Southeast Asian politics; Swedish cultural exchange.

Student’s comments: Friendships and Nordic experiences encouraged reflection on becoming a more resilient, present and humane doctor.

This account also covers: HKU — Free electives.

Study / activities: Cell-death laboratory research in Melbourne, cancer/nutrition clinical research at QMH and preclinical medicine refresher courses in Sweden.

Student’s comments: Reports stronger scientific integration, adaptability, intercultural communication and teamwork; gives little placement-specific personal evaluation.

This account also covers: HKU — Surgery research attachment; Lund University — Medical exchange.

Study / activities: Community/healthcare service in Uganda, followed by university exchange in the UK.

Student’s comments: Service exposed low-resource settings; study and travel broadened cultural perspectives and informed communication and decision-making.

This account also covers: University of Warwick — Exchange.

Study / activities: Support for mothers/children and clinic activities; Uganda community and healthcare volunteering.

Student’s comments: Reports deeper understanding of barriers faced by ethnic minorities and healthcare in a developing country; handwriting makes some details uncertain.

This account also covers: PathFinders Hong Kong — Service internship.

Study / activities: Developmental psychology and philosophy; supervised clinic support in Uganda.

Student’s comments: Bristol was enjoyable and built friendships; Uganda was transformative and prompted appreciation of home, family and basic necessities.

This account also covers: University of Bristol — Study abroad / intercalation (award unspecified).

Study / activities: Supervised medical-team support; gender, film and postcolonial media studies.

Student’s comments: Uganda prompted reflection on the purpose of studying medicine; Sweden introduced unfamiliar cultural subjects and a slower pace of life.

This account also covers: Stockholm University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Synthetic circular RNA engineering, molecular validation and laboratory techniques.

Student’s comments: Thanks the supervisor and lab team for mentorship; the poster primarily reports research findings.

Study / activities: Patient-specific surgical planning, biomedical engineering, CAD and thesis laboratory work.

Student’s comments: Enjoyed interdisciplinary medicine/engineering; friendships were most special. Orchestra rehearsals were long but taught discipline and teamwork.

Study / activities: Genetics, molecular biology and pandemics; Korean exchange and language practice.

Student’s comments: Berkeley strengthened independent, critical learning; daily Korean use increased communication confidence and cross-cultural friendships.

This account also covers: UC Berkeley — Bioscience study abroad.

Study / activities: Korean society/language, global issues and AI ethics; further Korean visiting study.

Student’s comments: AI study was especially valuable; discussion revealed Korean medical/healthcare perspectives. Creative group work increased confidence and daily Korean fluency.

This account also covers: Ewha Womans University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Global health, neuroscience, microbiology, kinesiology and climate geography; SEN-child activities and home visits.

Student’s comments: Found the global-health course particularly beneficial; service developed leadership and awareness of housing-related health inequalities.

This account also covers: Sowers Action Hong Kong — Service internship.

Study / activities: Caregiver mental-health proposal, thematic analysis and multi-sector service; Shanghai exchange.

Student’s comments: Service broadened awareness of social problems and communication skills; exchange brought educational/cultural contrasts and international friendships.

This account also covers: Fudan University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Microbiology/immunology laboratories, social geography and healthcare shadowing/support.

Student’s comments: International friendships broadened perspectives; supporting terminally ill patients and families was eye-opening and valuable for future practice.

This account also covers: University of Leicester — Exchange.

Study / activities: Caregiver mental-health proposal, thematic analysis and multi-sector service; Shanghai exchange.

Student’s comments: Service broadened awareness of social problems and communication skills; exchange brought educational/cultural contrasts and international friendships.

This account also covers: Be Priceless Hong Kong — Service placement.

Study / activities: Endometriosis stem-cell microscopy, followed by an elderly gastric-cancer/sarcopenia study at HKU.

Student’s comments: Poster reports research methods and findings; no explicit personal evaluation of either placement.

This account also covers: Monash University/Hudson Institute — Research attachment.

Study / activities: Cardiac MRI research, consent and database work; economics and philosophy in Beijing.

Student’s comments: Values the open academic environment and opportunities to explore history and enterprises.

This account also covers: Peking University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Cardiac MRI, biostatistics, imaging analysis, peer teaching and an AI entrepreneurship competition.

Student’s comments: Research strengthened critical interpretation; describes the AI competition as fruitful but arduous and values teaching connections.

Study / activities: Prognostic value of cardiac MRI four-dimensional blood flow.

Student’s comments: Scientific project report; no explicit personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Swallowing difficulties after nasopharyngeal-cancer treatment; scoliosis/spine research and Shenzhen clinical attachment.

Student’s comments: Describes activities and research findings; no explicit overall personal evaluation.

This account also covers: HKU — Orthopaedics and Traumatology research attachment.

Study / activities: Exercise science, Buddhism, design and geography; broader study alongside independent activities.

Student’s comments: Said each subject offered a different perspective on the world and medicine; reflected on resilience and learning from setbacks.

Study / activities: Community education, hostel support and project planning; HKU economics, Buddhist studies and geography electives.

Student’s comments: Lists practical community responsibilities and activities; no explicit course-by-course recommendation.

This account also covers: Nepal — Education service programme.

Study / activities: SOAS music, film, digital futures and advocacy courses; HKU music electives and performances.

Student’s comments: Found SOAS seminars especially fulfilling because students were encouraged to discuss opinions; music study and organising a recital developed initiative and creativity.

This account also covers: SOAS University of London — Exchange.

Study / activities: Chemistry, geography, development and food sustainability; sociology, environmental history, gender studies and photojournalism.

Student’s comments: Broadened understanding of the social context of healthcare and developed questioning and interview skills.

This account also covers: Sciences Po Paris — Exchange.

Study / activities: Psychology, quantitative methods, art, mythology and exercise; ACL surgery research.

Student’s comments: Found psychology interesting and applicable to everyday life; quantitative methods were tough but exciting.

This account also covers: HKU — Orthopaedics and Traumatology research attachment.

Study / activities: Psychology, communication and therapeutic techniques including play therapy.

Student’s comments: Reports better understanding of mind–body relationships, self-understanding and the importance of friendships and social support.

Study / activities: French, sociology, philosophy and astronomy; philosophy, morality and introductory AI at Exeter.

Student’s comments: Explains aims of satisfying curiosity and improving ethical problem-solving; no explicit retrospective course evaluation.

This account also covers: University of Exeter — Exchange.

Study / activities: Mathematics and economics; extracurricular medical volunteering in mainland China.

Student’s comments: Electives sharpened critical thinking and lifelong-learning interests; volunteering reinforced social responsibility.

Study / activities: Kinesiology, psychology, economics and physics; Australian studies, astronomy and business information.

Student’s comments: Electives helped clarify future interests; Perth exchange made the student more outgoing and confident and provided space for reflection.

This account also covers: Curtin University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Psychology, intermediate Japanese and sports science.

Student’s comments: Links these subjects to empathetic communication, cultural awareness and holistic care; language projects developed leadership.

Study / activities: Japan-related electives, Japanese self-study and a Japanese exchange.

Student’s comments: Fulfilled a longstanding dream of living in Japan; learned cultural manners and open-mindedness beyond textbook knowledge.

This account also covers: Kwansei Gakuin University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Broad electives including Southeast Asian politics; Swedish cultural exchange.

Student’s comments: Friendships and Nordic experiences encouraged reflection on becoming a more resilient, present and humane doctor.

This account also covers: Uppsala University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Buddhism and geography; archaeology, accounting, statistics and ADHD.

Student’s comments: Enjoyed seminar discussions; multicultural flatmates improved communication and made the student more outgoing and willing to try new things.

This account also covers: University of Glasgow — Exchange.

Study / activities: Chinese philosophy, Western music, neurobiology, exercise physiology and pathophysiology.

Student’s comments: Values connecting arts, philosophy and neuroscience to holistic mental health and preventive care.

This account also covers: University of Leicester — Exchange.

Study / activities: Allergic/anaphylactic disease research, testing methods and data analysis.

Student’s comments: Reported a deeper understanding of local allergy patterns and improved concise scientific writing.

Study / activities: Infectious-disease modelling, One Health, zoonoses and an MRSA-control capstone; orthopaedic practicum.

Student’s comments: Found infectious-disease knowledge useful for future practice; called research tough but refreshing and practicum skills rewarding.

Study / activities: Infectious disease, policy, statistics, digital surveillance and patient-interview practicum.

Student’s comments: Calls the experience rewarding; values applying theory in questionnaires and strengthening face-to-face communication and data-analysis skills.

Study / activities: Epidemiology/data analysis and a hospital hand-hygiene communication campaign.

Student’s comments: The practicum boosted confidence presenting ideas to different audiences and applying knowledge in an unfamiliar hospital setting.

Study / activities: Health economics, policy, statistics and epidemiology; hospital practicum with clinical observation and research.

Student’s comments: Recommends MPH to students interested in public health and wider impact; valued connecting public-health theory with hands-on work.

Study / activities: Policy, quantitative methods, finance and economics; Clean Air Network environmental-policy practicum.

Student’s comments: Reports applying evidence to public education and a policy brief; no explicit overall personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Epidemiology, biostatistics, health economics, governance and practicum policy analysis.

Student’s comments: Values combining scientific data with financial and policy perspectives for sustainable healthcare and clearer evidence communication.

Study / activities: Health economics/policy, systems financing and an Orbis eye-health practicum.

Student’s comments: Shifted perspective from individual care to population prevention; valued culturally sensitive community education.

Study / activities: Public-health foundations, economics/management and radiology-related practicum research.

Student’s comments: Reports night lectures and a particularly demanding second semester with six lecture days plus practicum; gained analytical skills and time management under pressure.

Study / activities: Comprehensive primary healthcare, health needs, research and evidence-informed programmes.

Student’s comments: Highlights communication and needs-assessment skills; does not give an overall satisfaction rating.

Study / activities: Biostatistics, epidemiology, health systems, infectious disease and hospital/community practicum.

Student’s comments: Community work developed gratitude, relationships with children and appreciation of families' resilience; described volunteering as precious.

Study / activities: Biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy, politics and leadership.

Student’s comments: Highlights stronger quantitative research and critical-appraisal skills, plus understanding of resource allocation and health inequities.

Study / activities: Analysis, optimisation, operations research, numerical methods and seminars.

Student’s comments: Highlights presentation/MATLAB skills and preparation for statistics; especially enjoyed presenting Arrow’s theorem.

Study / activities: Psychiatric epidemiology, clinical interviews and population-based statistical analysis.

Student’s comments: Reported gaining research skills and meeting international researchers at a schizophrenia congress; does not give a general course recommendation.

Study / activities: Laboratory research into targeted treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia.

Student’s comments: Expresses gratitude for supervisor guidance and lab collaboration; mainly reports scientific work rather than course satisfaction.

Study / activities: Young-onset diabetes and ICU utilisation research; conference presentation.

Student’s comments: Reports a research project and presentation; no explicit personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Clinical oncology, AI-assisted lung-cancer datasets and real-world survival analysis.

Student’s comments: Learned that clinical data require careful definitions and validation; AI can improve speed but clinical judgement remains essential.

Study / activities: Paediatric immunodeficiency reviews, clinical-data standardisation and AI; supporting coursework and peer teaching.

Student’s comments: Describes improved clinical-data skills, Cantonese communication and consolidation of knowledge through peer tutoring; no general recommendation.

Study / activities: Diabetes control and biliary-tract cancer epidemiology.

Student’s comments: Poster reports scientific findings; no explicit personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Ophthalmology and AI diagnosis using fundus images; epidemiology, statistics and bioinformatics coursework.

Student’s comments: Highlighted a first conference presentation at ARVO in Colorado; no explicit overall course evaluation.

Study / activities: AI-assisted anti-ageing drug discovery, bioinformatics and wet-lab validation.

Student’s comments: Felt the programme bridged foundational medicine and active discovery; thanked the team for support; poster also notes laboratory work during holidays.

Study / activities: Paediatric immunology, genetic analysis and multidisciplinary diagnostic research.

Student’s comments: Learned that collaboration among clinicians, laboratory staff and bioinformaticians matters in both research and practice.

Study / activities: Psychiatry/diabetes kidney-risk prediction, psychosis coursework and conference participation.

Student’s comments: Lists research and psychiatric learning, with international congress exposure; no explicit overall personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Inhalable nanomedicine formulation for lung-cancer therapy.

Student’s comments: Scientific findings are presented; no explicit personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Glioblastoma mitochondrial-transfer laboratory research.

Student’s comments: Poster reports scientific findings and conference/exchange exposure; no explicit personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Bioinformatics, pharmacology, vascular biology and a cardiac-rehabilitation trial.

Student’s comments: Lists technical learning, animal-lab training and peer teaching; no explicit overall personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Extracellular-vesicle/miRNA research for cancer liquid biopsy.

Student’s comments: Emphasised patient mentoring and supportive lab colleagues, who made research enjoyable despite limited prior experience.

Study / activities: Molecular diagnosis of inborn errors of immunity in paediatrics.

Student’s comments: Poster focuses on the research; no explicit overall personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Smartphone sound, ECG and facial signals for atrial-fibrillation diagnosis.

Student’s comments: Scientific project report; no explicit personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Microbiology research into human circovirus and hepatitis; assay development.

Student’s comments: Describes research and short clinical activities; no explicit overall personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Country-park visits, social support and mental-health outcomes.

Student’s comments: Poster concentrates on project results and policy implications; no explicit personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Epigenetics and antiviral research; cell culture, qPCR, plaque assays and literature review.

Student’s comments: Emphasises time management for overlapping experiments and balancing research with rest and friendships.

Study / activities: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery research.

Student’s comments: Describes research and sporting activities; no explicit overall course evaluation.

Study / activities: Gut inflammation, immune checkpoint LAG3 and microbiota/metabolism.

Student’s comments: Describes an eventful, fulfilling year with room for hobbies alongside substantial personal challenges.

Study / activities: Regional anaesthesia, postoperative outcomes and healthcare resources.

Student’s comments: Values learning from colleagues, additional courses and international research seminars; no overall course rating.

Study / activities: Persistent opioid use after cancer surgery; R, regression and epidemiology.

Student’s comments: Early clinical research demystified the process and sparked interest in evidence-based practice; additional science courses prepared for clinical years.

Study / activities: Medical-misconduct research and disciplinary hearings; international business, negotiation and French courses.

Student’s comments: Found nonmedical courses thought-provoking and felt accomplished holding basic French conversations; valued cultural experiences and friendships.

This account also covers: Université Lumière Lyon 2 — Exchange.

Study / activities: Patient-safety scoping review; French language and business negotiation.

Student’s comments: French was initially difficult but increasingly rewarding; language and administrative barriers developed resilience, while negotiation taught empathetic communication.

This account also covers: Université Lumière Lyon 2 — Exchange.

Study / activities: Medical escape-room research; ANU public health, Japanese and mathematics electives.

Student’s comments: Reports educational-research learning and appreciation of Australian nature; views on the escape room are study-participant feedback, not a personal course rating.

This account also covers: Australian National University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Gamified neurology learning; economic development, sustainability and gender/development.

Student’s comments: Values clinical/pedagogical feedback and sharing cultures with international classmates; describes expanded academic horizons.

This account also covers: Uppsala University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Staphylococcus typing, antimicrobial susceptibility and Stockholm exchange.

Student’s comments: Research was challenging but rewarding; contamination and coding problems required repeated troubleshooting. Travel and friendships were enriching.

This account also covers: Stockholm University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Genetics, omics, R/Python and introductory AI; accounting and economics electives.

Student’s comments: Highlights practical coding and classification models linked to medicine; mainly reports learning rather than personal course evaluation.

Study / activities: Eight courses covering literature, history, phonology and creative writing.

Student’s comments: Creative writing helped turn reading into personal creative practice; contemporary literature exposed diverse voices and identities.

Study / activities: Programming, algorithms, computing fundamentals, data science and machine learning.

Student’s comments: Praises NUS campus and strong support for a beginner without a computing major; enjoyed residence badminton facilities.

This account also covers: National University of Singapore — Exchange.

Study / activities: Food science, nutrition and sustainability; molecular biotechnology, microbiology and immunology.

Student’s comments: Highlights broader understanding of food–body relationships and experimental-design skills; mainly describes learning rather than rating the experience.

This account also covers: University of York UK — Exchange.

Study / activities: Exercise physiology and laboratory assessment; additional psychology and meteorology electives.

Student’s comments: Valued increased health awareness and exercise-prescription knowledge; mentions time for personal interests and holidays.

Study / activities: Exercise prescription, nutrition and physiology; softball leadership and child activities.

Student’s comments: Excited to deepen a longstanding sports interest; highlights exercise as medicine and leadership/project-management growth through sport.

Study / activities: Six exercise/health courses, fitness laboratories and pain-related health education.

Student’s comments: Valued applying course knowledge through talk delivery and exercise demonstrations; no explicit overall satisfaction rating.

Study / activities: Hong Kong/Asian politics, foreign policy and democratic theory; Middle East relations and EU governance.

Student’s comments: Strengthened belief that politics and medicine are connected; travel and exchange expanded international perspectives.

This account also covers: University of Birmingham — Exchange.

Study / activities: Swedish cultural exchange; psychology, counselling role play and psychoeducation.

Student’s comments: Initially worried about fitting in but found football teammates inclusive; psychology improved self-understanding and future patient communication.

This account also covers: Uppsala University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Developmental/social psychology, personality and neuroscience; psychiatric physical-health outcomes and patient assessment.

Student’s comments: Psychology offered a different view of people; research was fruitful because it combined quantitative work with real patients.

This account also covers: HKU — Psychiatry research attachment.

Study / activities: Diabetic-retinopathy experiments, village service and first-aid training.

Student’s comments: Described a fulfilling, joyful year; learned from failed experiments and emphasised listening and presence during service.

This account also covers: Wu Zhi Qiao Charitable Foundation — Service placement.

Study / activities: Ophthalmology clinical/research skills; Bristol happiness, marketing and economics electives.

Student’s comments: Happiness teaching encouraged wellbeing practices; marketing and economics offered useful healthcare perspectives; living abroad developed cooking and budgeting skills.

This account also covers: University of Bristol — Study abroad / intercalation (award unspecified).

Study / activities: AR public education about eye disease; microbiology, ultrasound, sports medicine, global health and Japanese.

Student’s comments: Valued seeing research develop from scratch; exchange broadened subjects, independence and resilience.

This account also covers: University of Leeds — Exchange.

Study / activities: Vision-language AI models for myopic maculopathy.

Student’s comments: Scientific results poster; no explicit personal evaluation.

Study / activities: Social prescribing and youth wellbeing; laboratory retinopathy research.

Student’s comments: Community service widened awareness of Sham Shui Po and improved adaptability and communication amid unexpected situations.

This account also covers: Wellness PLUS Complex Hong Kong — Service placement.

Study / activities: Human bioscience electives at Berkeley; HKU fracture research, imaging and clinical observation.

Student’s comments: Found Berkeley inspiring and connected molecular discoveries to real life; the HKU attachment developed X-ray/data skills; broader experiences fostered independence.

This account also covers: UC Berkeley — Bioscience study abroad.

Study / activities: Psychology, quantitative methods, art, mythology and exercise; ACL surgery research.

Student’s comments: Found psychology interesting and applicable to everyday life; quantitative methods were tough but exciting.

This account also covers: HKU — Free electives.

Study / activities: Swallowing difficulties after nasopharyngeal-cancer treatment; scoliosis/spine research and Shenzhen clinical attachment.

Student’s comments: Describes activities and research findings; no explicit overall personal evaluation.

This account also covers: HKU — ENT research attachment.

Study / activities: Cancer, pandemics, psychedelics and surgical skills; paediatric patellar-dislocation research.

Student’s comments: US culture and local friendships were eye-opening; unexpectedly found nature outings with friends the best part.

This account also covers: UC Berkeley — Bioscience study abroad.

Study / activities: Bone-lengthening outcomes, X-ray measurements and surgical shadowing; Beijing exchange.

Student’s comments: Surgical observation was eye-opening and improved imaging confidence; values roommates/local friendships and notes affordable delivery food.

This account also covers: Peking University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Berkeley neuroscience, psychology and microbiology; schizophrenia sleep-profile research at HKU.

Student’s comments: Called Berkeley adventurous and refreshing and enjoyed academic/artistic exploration; the research section reports findings rather than a personal evaluation.

This account also covers: UC Berkeley — Bioscience study abroad.

Study / activities: Apathy assessment in first-episode psychosis; psychology, economics and neuropharmacology electives.

Student’s comments: Mainly describes research and subjects studied; no explicit overall personal evaluation in the poster excerpts.

This account also covers: King’s College London — Exchange.

Study / activities: Social-media/AI use and mental-health research; Bristol exchange.

Student’s comments: Living alone was harder than expected but especially rewarding; gained independence and enjoyed first travel beyond Asia.

This account also covers: University of Bristol — Exchange.

Study / activities: Developmental/social psychology, personality and neuroscience; psychiatric physical-health outcomes and patient assessment.

Student’s comments: Psychology offered a different view of people; research was fruitful because it combined quantitative work with real patients.

This account also covers: HKU — Minor in Psychology.

Study / activities: Swedish society/language, sustainable eating and neuroscience; cognitive assessments and R/SPSS analysis.

Student’s comments: Exchange brought friendships and self-understanding; research developed clinical assessment and data skills.

This account also covers: Lund University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Digital assessment of first-episode psychosis; nutrition, business and entrepreneurship.

Student’s comments: Research faced rejection, incomplete questionnaires and technical issues. Overseas adaptation/work–life balance were difficult, and the student missed family and HK food.

This account also covers: University of Leeds — Exchange.

Study / activities: Psychosis follow-up, patient recruitment and neuroimaging research; US exchange.

Student’s comments: Describes the exchange as fruitful and unforgettable, with travel that broadened the student’s worldview.

This account also covers: University of California Irvine — Exchange.

Study / activities: Single-cell analysis of tumour-to-bone signalling using bioinformatics tools.

Student’s comments: Poster presents scientific findings rather than a personal evaluation; degree status is not specified.

Study / activities: ADHD data collection; environmental science and Melbourne academic/cultural activities.

Student’s comments: Research improved organisation and ethics awareness; exchange was intellectually and personally enriching and expanded global perspectives.

This account also covers: University of Melbourne — Exchange.

Study / activities: Cell-death laboratory research in Melbourne, cancer/nutrition clinical research at QMH and preclinical medicine refresher courses in Sweden.

Student’s comments: Reports stronger scientific integration, adaptability, intercultural communication and teamwork; gives little placement-specific personal evaluation.

This account also covers: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute — Research internship; Lund University — Medical exchange.

Study / activities: Endometriosis tissue-clearing microscopy; paediatric surgery research and clinical observation.

Student’s comments: Enjoyed a culturally diverse Monash lab and unfamiliar microscopy; parent interviews and clinic exposure at HKU developed communication and understanding of family concerns.

This account also covers: Monash University/Hudson Institute — Research attachment.

Study / activities: Bariatric-surgery research methodology; London exchange and European travel.

Student’s comments: Both semesters encouraged stepping beyond the comfort zone; independent living and travel improved self-understanding and cultural awareness.

This account also covers: Queen Mary University of London — Exchange.

Study / activities: Carotid-stent outcomes after neck irradiation; Austrian exchange.

Student’s comments: Values international friendships and memorable European travel; gives limited explicit course evaluation.

This account also covers: University of Salzburg — Exchange.

Study / activities: Clinical/surgical observation, suturing, robotic-surgery exposure and conference learning.

Student’s comments: Describes a transformative year; patient trust and encounters across language barriers shaped understanding of global-health responsibility.

Study / activities: Breast-cancer research and patient interviews; healthcare support for pregnant migrant domestic workers and children.

Student’s comments: Patient encounters taught empathy in breaking bad news; admired mothers' resilience and the charity's commitment despite limited resources.

This account also covers: PathFinders Hong Kong — Service internship.

Study / activities: Philosophy of mind/emotion at Salzburg; speech-emotion AI validation and spine-clinic observation in Shenzhen.

Student’s comments: Called Salzburg intellectually and culturally enriching; clinical/research collaboration in Shenzhen broadened understanding of innovation and patient care.

This account also covers: University of Salzburg — Exchange.

Study / activities: Emergency-department support in Tanzania, health advocacy in HK; Swedish, GIS and neuroscience.

Student’s comments: Tanzania plans changed because of social unrest. Emphasises listening, empathy and everyday language; exchange added independence and friendships.

This account also covers: Tanzania Health Opportunities — Service placement; Lund University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Diabetes-treatment laboratory data, patient communication and collaborative report writing.

Student’s comments: Values hobbies, work–life balance and exploring Chinese culture; describes EY as an exceptional year.

Study / activities: Breast-cancer research and patient interviews; healthcare support for pregnant migrant domestic workers and children.

Student’s comments: Patient encounters taught empathy in breaking bad news; admired mothers' resilience and the charity's commitment despite limited resources.

This account also covers: HKU/Queen Mary Hospital — Breast Surgery research attachment.

Study / activities: Support for mothers/children and clinic activities; Uganda community and healthcare volunteering.

Student’s comments: Reports deeper understanding of barriers faced by ethnic minorities and healthcare in a developing country; handwriting makes some details uncertain.

This account also covers: Watoto Uganda — Service placement.

Study / activities: Cardiac MRI research, consent and database work; economics and philosophy in Beijing.

Student’s comments: Values the open academic environment and opportunities to explore history and enterprises.

This account also covers: HKU — Diagnostic Radiology research attachment.

Study / activities: Bone-lengthening outcomes, X-ray measurements and surgical shadowing; Beijing exchange.

Student’s comments: Surgical observation was eye-opening and improved imaging confidence; values roommates/local friendships and notes affordable delivery food.

This account also covers: HKU — Orthopaedics and Traumatology research attachment.

Study / activities: Fall-prevention screening, bedside education and multidisciplinary observation; biology/psychology electives abroad.

Student’s comments: Patient contact strengthened perspective-taking, leadership and teamwork; exchange and UK football culture were memorable.

This account also covers: University of Nottingham — Exchange.

Study / activities: Patient assessments, research planning, ethics approval, funding, SPSS and clinical-database work.

Student’s comments: Learned that patient communication needs patience and clarity, particularly with older participants; appreciated seeing the full research process.

Study / activities: Clinical cancer-data research followed by economics/business and business-intelligence study in Madrid.

Student’s comments: Research criticism was humbling but completing a paper built confidence; saw shared logic between research and business data work; Madrid broadened career and life perspectives.

This account also covers: Universidad Nebrija — International Diploma in Economics and Business.

Study / activities: Health checks/talks for street sleepers; neuroscience, Roman history and ancient philosophy.

Student’s comments: Service deepened awareness of social disadvantage; especially enjoyed ancient philosophy. UK weather took time to adapt to.

This account also covers: Newcastle University — Exchange.

Study / activities: Childcare-centre renovation, murals and childcare in Greece; support for disadvantaged/SEN families in Hong Kong.

Student’s comments: Reports improved teamwork and patient, attentive listening; learned about practical needs of families and communication with SEN children.

This account also covers: Greece — Childcare/community volunteering.

Study / activities: Global health, neuroscience, microbiology, kinesiology and climate geography; SEN-child activities and home visits.

Student’s comments: Found the global-health course particularly beneficial; service developed leadership and awareness of housing-related health inequalities.

This account also covers: York University Canada — Exchange.

Study / activities: Chemistry, biology, public health and bacteriology; support for SEN children and families.

Student’s comments: Communicating with SEN children was the greatest challenge; service was highly rewarding and taught patience, empathy and leadership.

This account also covers: University of Manchester — Exchange.

Study / activities: School mental-health activities for pupils/teachers; intercultural competence, political philosophy and psychology.

Student’s comments: Service built public-presentation experience; exchange broadened perspectives and provided tools for understanding cultural behaviour.

This account also covers: University of Leicester — Exchange.

Study / activities: Social prescribing and youth wellbeing; laboratory retinopathy research.

Student’s comments: Community service widened awareness of Sham Shui Po and improved adaptability and communication amid unexpected situations.

This account also covers: HKU — Ophthalmology research attachment.

Study / activities: Diabetic-retinopathy experiments, village service and first-aid training.

Student’s comments: Described a fulfilling, joyful year; learned from failed experiments and emphasised listening and presence during service.

This account also covers: HKU — Ophthalmology research attachment.