I’m really energized by the fact that our students are pursuing excellence and that they are engaged. They take their classes seriously… and it’s about not just studying and learning, but looking for ways to actively contribute to the program. We have a lot of student leadership in the program. It’s a culture where we have students who want to challenge themselves – with support – and it’s just a really energizing environment.”

The HKUST MBA has been one of Asia’s top-ranked MBAs for many years – the Financial Times has ranked it top 25 globally 15 times. But, what is it actually like to study there?

Stephen Shih, Associate Dean of MBA Programs at HKUST Business School and a former Partner at Bain & Company, shares what makes the HKUST MBA unique. We cover Hong Kong’s strategic importance, the benefits of studying at a renowned science and technology university, HKUST’s flexible curriculum, and the differences between the 12 and 16-month program options. Stephen also shares his views on AI’s impact on MBA careers, what employers are prioritizing, and what the HKUST admissions team actually looks for beyond GMAT scores.

Topics

Program Highlights – What Makes the HKUST MBA Unique?

• Introduction (0:00)
• What Makes the HKUST MBA Unique? (8:25)
• How HKUST is “Future-Proofing” its MBA as AI Reshapes Business (13:20)
• Why Hong Kong for Your MBA (20:00)
• HKUST MBA’s 12 and 16-Month Course Structure (22:45)
• HKUST MBA’s Student & Learning Culture (25:00)

HKUST MBA Admissions & Scholarships – How to Improve Your Chances? 

• What HKUST MBA Looks for from Applicants (27:00)
• Post-MBA Goals (29:00)
• Interviews (31:05)
• GMAT/GRE Scores (32:15)
• Stephen’s Final Application Tips (35:50)
• How HKUST MBA Admissions Views Scholarships & How Applicants Can Win Funding (37:35)

Career Opportunities at HKUST – What to Know & How to Prepare

• How to Leverage HKUST’s Career Resources to Land Post-MBA Jobs (40:30)
• HKUST Industry Placements & Resources for Entrepreneurs (45:45)
• What Applicants Need to Know about Landing Jobs in Hong Kong, China & Asia-Pacific (51:00)
• Maximizing ROI at the HKUST MBA (52:15)

About Our Guest

Stephen Shih is the Associate Dean of MBA Programs at HKUST Business School. Previously, he was Executive Vice President of Learning & Development at Bain & Company in Shanghai, China. Stephen served as Head of MBA Career Services and Corporate Relations at HKUST from 2010-11 before returning to Bain & Company as a Partner and leading its organization practice in Asia-Pacific. Stephen majored in Economics at Princeton University and got his MBA from UCLA Anderson.

Show Notes

• HKUST MBA
• HKUST MBA Scholarships
• HKUST Entrepreneurship Center
• HKUST MBA SuperConnector Podcast

HKUST Full-time MBA Highlights

HKKUST Full-Time MBA Highlights (last updated April 2026)

• Length, Intake, Size: 12 or 16-months, August intake, up to 65 students/year
• Typical Class: 6 years average work experience / 84% international with 20+ nationalities / GMAT Average (660), GRE Average (322)
• Curriculum:
  • Fall & Spring
    • 8 core courses 
  • Summer:
    • Optional summer internship
    • Electives – choose from 60+ electives
  • Fall
    • Electives – choose from 60+ electives
    • Exchange – HKUST has 60+ exchange school partners and is the only Hong Kong business school member of GNAM, which allows for one-week intensive courses at 33 schools in 31 countries
  •  150 Full-time professors from 25+ countries 
• Admissions:
  • GMAT/GRE required
  • Minimum 2 years of full-time work experience (cohort has 2-14 years work exp.) 
  • 5 application rounds between October and May 
• Careers:
  • Visas: Upon graduation, non-local full-time graduates can apply for a visa that allows you to stay and work in Hong Kong for up to 24 months, with options for extensions if employed, without any restrictions on employment type or employer through the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG)
  • Placement, Class of 2024: 93% received offers w/in 3 months, $130,500 USD average annual base salary ($18,500 average signing bonus), adjusted for purchasing power parity; graduates experienced 138% increase in salary after 3 years
  • Top Destinations, Class of 2024: 59% Hong Kong / 16% East & Southeast Asia / 14% Mainland China / 9% South Asia / 2% Middle East (68% changed their work location)
  • Top Industries, Class of 2024: 39% financial services / 16% consulting / 12% IT & technology / 11% manufacturing / 7% consumer goods & retail / 2% healthcare / 2% media & entertainment (70% changed their industry)
  • Top Functions, Class of 2024: 44% finance & accounting / 20% consulting
    17% general management / 13% marketing & sales / 3% IT / 3% operations & logistics (64% changed their function)
  • 50+ recruiting companies
• Scholarships: 15 types of scholarships available, including merit scholarships, professional & leadership awards and regional awards – see full list
• Rankings: Ranked #24 worldwide by Financial Times in 2026
• Alumni: 110,000+ HKUST alumni and 6,700+ HKUST MBA Alumni from 70+ countries
• Tuition: 600,000 HKD; Estimated living costs 21,500 HKD/month
• Accreditations: AACSB, EQUIS

MBA Application Resources

• The Best MBA Programs in Hong Kong – Head-to-Head
• Get free school selection help at Touch MBA
• Get pre-assessed by top international MBA programs
• Our favorite MBA application tools (after advising 4,000 applicants)

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