Hi everyone,
I just received an offer for the 2026 Summer Research Internship Programme at the School of Computing and Data Science (mid-July to end of August). I'm an international undergrad and super excited, but since it's my first time in HK, I have a few practical questions:
1. Short-term Housing: The stipend provided is around HK$19.6k for the 1.5 months. I know HK rent is notoriously expensive. What are the best ways/platforms to find short-term sublets or flatshares near HKU (like Sai Ying Pun, Kennedy Town, or Sheung Wan)? The school suggested a WeChat mini-program (寄托港校租房), but I'd love to hear your personal experiences. Are there any FB groups or specific student housing blocks you'd recommend?
2. Visa Processing Time (ID992A): I am preparing my Student Research Assistant visa application right now. Since the start date is July 19, how long does the Immigration Department usually take to process this type of summer intern visa?
3. Connecting: Is anyone else here participating in this CDS summer program? It would be great to connect, and maybe we could group up to hunt for a shared apartment to split the rent!
Thanks in advance for any advice!