Lingnan University’s liberal arts education unique to Hong Kong

It is not just the fact that Lingnan University (LU) is the only public liberal arts university in Hong Kong that makes it stand out.

One of the special features of the four-year undergraduate programmes at LU is that they are all based on a core curriculum. All undergraduates, irrespective of major, have to complete this core curriculum, which constitutes 33 credits, out of a total of 120, in their programmes. This ensures a well-rounded education, while making LU’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programmes among the best in the city.

Formerly, BA students have been able to choose from one of seven majors: Chinese, cultural studies, English, history, philosophy, translation and visual studies. But the options have since expanded.

“Last year we introduced a student-designed major as well as an  inter-disciplinary degree that combines philosophy, history and Chinese,” explains Wong Yiu Chung, LU professor in the department of political science, and director of core curriculum and general education. “We also have what we call the double-track system, with 20 per cent of the intake admitted by faculty and 80 per cent by individual departments,” he adds.

A more compact university compared to other tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, the total number of students at Lingnan is capped at 2,600, which leads to strong bonds between faculty and students. “This means more care is taken to listen to students and their demands,” Wong explains. “The faculty has a close relationship with the students, who feel comfortable asking for advice.” Such support, he believes, can be especially helpful for first year students, as adjusting to university life can be a challenge.

So what happens once students have completed their BA degree? “Graduates go into a very diverse range of careers, from teaching to TV scriptwriting and advertising,” Wong says.