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Surviving Your First Year: Advice from Those Who Have Been There
The arrival of September marks a new beginning for our students as they enter the HKU campus to embark on their postgraduate journey. Adjusting to a new environment can sometimes feel lonely and even intimidating, which is why we have invited current postgraduate students to share their insights and tips on how to make the most of your first year at HKU.
Engage with communities around you!
Joowee Tan, PhD in Phychology, Year 3, Malaysia
My advice is to actively participate in activities both on and off campus!
During my first year, I took full advantage of the opportunities provided to explore Hong Kong. The Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) and the Postgraduate Student Association organised events like coffee chats, interactive workshops, and social gatherings, which helped me meet fellow students and share our campus life experiences.
Living in the residential college was crucial in expanding my social network. I joined group visits to the Big Buddha and Cheung Chau, guided by local students, allowing me to enjoy Hong Kong’s breathtaking scenery while making new friends. Additionally, participating in festival celebrations helped me appreciate the rich cultural diversity within our community, creating lasting memories and connections. I’m grateful to have made lifelong friends that I cherish to this day!
Joowee sightseeing around Hong Kong with fellow students from her residential college.
Stay active!
Sihan Chen, PhD in Computer Science, Year 2, China
Working out is a great way to relieve stress and stay healthy.
As an RPg student, one thing you must do is keep active! We are constantly rushing between the lab and the library, carrying the pressure of research tasks and tight deadlines. Working out is a great way to relieve stress and stay healthy. HKU offers convenient facilities for this. My favourite is CSE Active at the heart of the Centennial Campus, which makes it easy to take a break from intense lab work and get moving! In addition, HKU B-Active and the Stanley Ho Sports Centre provide larger spaces and more equipment—perfect for sports lovers.
Manage your stress through sports!
Alireza Kalaei, PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Year 4, Iran
Engaging in sports has not only helped me maintain a healthy lifestyle but also provided opportunities to meet new people and strengthen friendships.
One of the ways I managed stress and maintained my well-being throughout my PhD journey was by joining sports activities at HKU and at my residential college.
Engaging in sports has not only helped me maintain a healthy lifestyle but also provided opportunities to meet new people and strengthen friendships. These experiences created countless great memories and allowed me to form meaningful connections. Moreover, I explored new sports, constantly pushing myself to develop my skills. Even after a few years, these activities remain an essential and enjoyable part of my life.
Communicate and manage your time well!
Duan Chengqi, PhD in Data Science, Year 2, China
Make it a habit to engage actively with your supervisor.
Unlike coursework-based programmes, research demands a higher degree of independence and perseverance. Progress can be slow and uncertain, so it is important to cultivate patience and resilience.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned is the importance of communication. Make it a habit to engage actively with your supervisor—share your progress regularly, discuss challenges openly, and seek guidance whenever you feel stuck. Do not underestimate the support that peers and college mates can provide. Exchanging ideas and experiences not only helps clarify your own thinking but also creates a sense of community.
Time management is another critical skill. With fewer fixed deadlines, self-discipline becomes essential to sustain steady progress. At the same time, remember to balance your academic commitments with rest. Burnout is real, especially in the early stages, and maintaining a sustainable pace will serve you better in the long run. Above all, approach the first year with curiosity, openness, and the willingness to adapt. Each challenge you encounter is part of the process that shapes you into an independent researcher.
Beat boredom and stay focused with your earphones!
Kyungmin Kim, PhD in Microbiology, Year 3, South Korea
My must-have item for 1st Year RPg students: Earphones!
When you’re spending hours at the bench or watching data roll in, it’s easy to feel exhausted and bored out of your mind. That’s where a good pair of earphones can totally save the day. Throw on your favourite music or podcast, and suddenly those long, repetitive experiments don’t seem so bad. It’s an awesome way to stay entertained and boost your mood, helping you push through even the toughest and most time-consuming parts of your research.
Labs and research environments are often buzzing with noise—chatter from colleagues, machines running, etc. If you’re trying to focus on complex tasks like analysing data or writing your thesis, distractions can really get in the way. Noise-cancelling earphones help block out all that unwanted sound! Trust me, having that little bubble of calm around you makes a huge difference in how productive and stress-free your study environment will be.
Get on top of your note-taking game!
Bo Chen, PhD in Surgery, Year 4, China
Digital notes, such as OneNote, offer significant advantages.
We all need to take notes. While pen and paper are familiar and convenient, digital notes, such as OneNote, offer significant advantages, including:
- Free for HKU students - it is included under the HKU license for Microsoft Office 365.
- Go beyond text - it is versatile for collecting and organising various content types, going beyond basic text entries like daily schedules, class notes, and experiment logs. It further supports web clipping, image insertion, audio notes, and video linking.
- No more lost notebooks - OneNote notebooks are cloud-based, enabling automatic, seamless saving and synchronisation across all your web-enabled devices. Content is neatly organised into notebooks, sections, and notes for easy customisation – no more mindless hunting through piles of notes!
- Share notes for group work - OneNote's sharing feature enables easy collaborative material collection for group projects.
Bo’s drawing of a human heart on OneNote.
Your first year as an RPg student at HKU will be full of many firsts—rest assured, the Graduate School is here to support you through this challenging yet rewarding journey!
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