Studying in Asia: the study opportunities
The variety of study opportunities in Asia corresponds to the size of the huge continent. There are many good reasons to study one or more semesters in one of the countries in Asia.
For example, semester and language stays in China are very popular with German students. These offer students a unique opportunity to familiarize themselves with the cultural customs and language of the country. This is not only interesting for sinologists and Asian scientists. According to Countryaah, China is the largest country in Asia.
Mastering Mandarin is also an important additional qualification for future managers, business and financial experts. The universities are generally equipped with modern facilities. In the course of increasing international interest, they now also offer English-language courses and courses at an international level.
The universities of Japan and South Korea are also opening up more and more to international students. Some already offer courses in English. In addition, the governments are trying to cooperate with international universities. The same applies to Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia or Singapore. Foreign universities have increasingly established themselves there in recent years. This makes it possible to have internationally recognized Bachelor ‘s, Master ‘ s and PhD degrees in a dreamlike tropical environment- Acquire degrees. The largely low cost of living also makes the region attractive to many international students.
For all who only want to study part of it in Asia, Asian universities offer the opportunity to take part in a semester abroad or in special study programs. These include summer sessions that take place at some universities during the German semester break.
There is also, for example, an English semester program in India and Vietnam from the Norwegian organization “Kulturstudier” and the Oslo University College. In terms of content, topics such as Peace and Conflict Studies or Development Studies are available.
In addition to teaching, many semester programs also include a range of leisure activities. They offer the opportunity to immerse yourself in the flair of Asia while gaining international study experience. Depending on the type of program, the academic achievements in Asia can also be credited towards studying in Germany.
Studying in the United Arab Emirates with its seven sheikdoms is an entirely different experience of Asia. Life here takes place somewhere between ultra-modern luxury cities and oases like from 1001 nights. The education system is experiencing immense investments and there are numerous good universities. They are internationally oriented and also offer English-language study programs. It is also possible to study here without knowledge of Arabic.
| Country | Number of students per teacher in primary school | Proportion of children starting primary school (per cent) |
| Afghanistan | 44 (2017) | 28.2 (1993) |
| Bahrain | 12 (2017) | 97.4 (2017) |
| Bangladesh | 30 (2017) | 90.5 (2017) |
| Bhutan | 35 (2017) | 79.9 (2017) |
| Brunei | 10 (2017) | 93.8 (2017) |
| Burma | 23 (2017) | 97.7 (2017) |
| Philippines | 29 (2016) | 95.0 (2016) |
| United Arab Emirates | 25 (2016) | 94.6 (2016) |
| India | 35 (2016) | 92.3 (2013) |
| Indonesia | 16 (2017) | 91.9 (2017) |
| Iraq | 17 (2007) | 92.3 (2007) |
| Iran | 27 (2015) | 98.6 (2017) |
| Israel | 12 (2016) | 97.0 (2017) |
| Japan | 16 (2016) | 98.2 (2016) |
| Yemen | 27 (2016) | 83.1 (2016) |
| Jordan | 21 (2017) | 92.4 (2004) |
| Cambodia | 42 (2017) | 90.6 (2017) |
| Kazakhstan | 21 (2017) | 86.2 (2017) |
| China | 17 (2017) | 89.1 (1997) |
| Kyrgyzstan | 25 (2017) | 89.9 (2017) |
| Kuwait | 9 (2017) | 87.3 (2017) |
| Laos | 22 (2017) | 93.3 (2017) |
| Lebanon | 12 (2017) | 86.3 (2017) |
| Malaysia | 12 (2017) | 98.6 (2017) |
| Maldives | 10 (2017) | 99.5 (2017) |
| Mongolia | 30 (2017) | 97.9 (2017) |
| Nepal | 21 (2017) | 94.7 (2017) |
| North Korea | – | – |
| Oman | 10 (2017) | 94.1 (2017) |
| Pakistan | 45 (2017) | 76.5 (2017) |
| Qatar | 12 (2017) | 94.4 (2017) |
| Saudi Arabia | 12 (2016) | 97.4 (2014) |
| Singapore | 15 (2016) | 99.5 (2016) |
| Sri Lanka | 23 (2017) | 99.1 (2017) |
| South Korea | 16 (2016) | 96.1 (2016) |
| Syria | 25 (2002) | 63.2 (2013) |
| Tajikistan | 22 (2017) | 97.7 (2017) |
| Taiwan | – | – |
| Thailand | 16 (2017) | 98.0 (2009) |
| Turkmenistan | – | – |
| Uzbekistan | 21 (2017) | 96.2 (2017) |
| Vietnam | 20 (2017) | 98.0 (2013) |
| East Timor | 31 (2011) | 78.7 (2017) |
Hong Kong
The Hong Kong finance and trade metropolis of China’s southern coast has been a ” special administrative region ” in China since 1997. The return after 150 years as a British colony took place under the formula “one country, two systems” so that Hong Kong could maintain its capitalist system, open society and independent judiciary. Beijing has been cold-tempered about the demands of Hong Kong citizens to introduce a democratic electoral system, and in the 2010s, its hold on Hong Kong has tightened.
Geography and population
Hong Kong (Xianggang on pinyin) on China’s south coast is an archipelago area consisting of Hong Kong Island, about 230 islands, the Kowloon Peninsula and a mainland area called New Territories, which occupies 97 percent of the land area of over 1,000 square kilometers.
Hong Kong is heavily hilly with steep, snowy mountain terrain and up to 1,000 meters high peaks on the mainland. Less than a tenth of the land area is cultivable. The climate is subtropical with rain and heat during the summer months. In winter, the air is cool and dry.
In 2013, the densely populated Hong Kong had about 7 million inhabitants, 95 percent of whom were Chinese. Official languages are English and Chinese. Most Hong Kong residents speak Cantonese, a dialect strongly deviating from the Chinese. The most important religions are Buddhism, Daoism (Taoism) and Christianity, but there are also Muslims and Hindus.
History
Hong Kong became a British crown colony in the 1840s. A hundred years later, hundreds of thousands of people fled from the newly formed People’s Republic of China to Hong Kong. In the decades that followed, Hong Kong developed into a trade and finance metropolis. In 1997, the British left Hong Kong to China.
As early as the 18th century, Europeans began to set up trading stations in southern China, and in 1841 a British naval force occupied Hong Kong Island. The following year, China formally departed the island, which became the British crown colony and free port, and soon the Chinese must also give up the Kowloon peninsula. Today’s scope got Hong Kong in 1898, when the British leased the New Territories for 99 years. Since the Communists took over China in 1949, over a million refugees flocked to Hong Kong. At the same time, the colony embarked on intensive, export-oriented industrialization. Clothes, watches, home electronics and toys “Made in Hong Kong” are spread around the world.
Hong Kong-China relations have been characterized by mutual interests. The area has long been a valuable opening for China to the outside world, while Hong Kong depended on China for its supply of food and water. The colonial regime therefore avoided quarrels with the mighty neighbor. After Beijing refused to extend the lease agreement, the United Kingdom and China agreed in 1984 that the colony should be returned in 1997 and become a “special administrative region” (SAR) in the People’s Republic. The formula “one country, two systems” gave Hong Kong contractual right to retain its capitalism, its social order and all civil liberties and rights for at least 50 years. Many were skeptical of these promises, especially after China’s brutal crackdown on Beijing’s insurgency in 1989. In an effort to calm the turmoil, Britain began at the last moment and against Beijing’s determined will to expand the direct democracy that was most limited during the colonial years. The number of elected seats in the local parliament was increased, among other things.
After 13 years of tense countdown, Britain’s flag over Hong Kong was hauled overnight to July 1, 1997 and replaced by China’s.
Economy
Hong Kong is an important trade and finance metropolis. Hong Kong has been able to achieve this position with the help of a favorable situation, the liberal economic rule of the British and the skill and effort of Chinese residents. The economy is heavily dependent on trade with the outside world and on the financial sector.
The importance of the manufacturing industry has diminished as many factories have moved into the Chinese neighboring Guangdong province, where wages are lower. The lung disease Sars in 2003 caused a temporary decline in the economy, especially the tourism and transport sector. The global financial crisis of 2008-2009 also affected the open export-dependent economy. Domestic consumption, however, has begun to play an important role for the economy as well as the steadily increasing tourism, mainly from the mainland.
Hong Kong has one of the world’s busiest ports and is an important gateway to China’s foreign trade. Hong Kong still trades separately. The exchange rate for the region’s currency, the Hong Kong Dollar, is linked to the US Dollar exchange rate.