Surviving in Hong Kong...Pls Help

Posted by ratri24 (145 days ago)

I am from Bangladesh and going to study PhD in Chinese University of Hong Kong for the period of 4 years.I have been also awarded with studentship for which I will get minimum 12800 HK$ per month to maximum 13800 HK$.
From this money I have to pay the tuition fees yearly which is 42100 HK$ per year and rent of the Dormitory which is 2270 HK$ monthly (rent also include water bill and electricity, but not AC).If I have my meals in campus that will not cost more than 100 HK$ per day.But obviously I would like to eat sometimes out.
I might also go for shopping but I am not a shopaholic, I buy whatever is needed.
I would also like to visit twice a year in the places around Hong Kong.Do you think I can survive with this amount of studentship?

Your advice will be highly appreciated.Please HELP.........................

Find what you are after in our Hong Kong A-Z Directory
Need a Moving Quote? Click Here

Posted by cara (145 days ago)

well...

your tuition fees over 9 months pay back are $4600/month.

4600 tuition
2270 accomodation
3000 food (on campus @ 100/day)
100 telephone (mobile, cheap, no IDD)

= $10,000/month

you CAN survive, BUT you MUST be VERY careful with your money. there wll not be a lot left over at the end of the month. you will not be able to go out and spend $100s on a weekend in Wanchai or LKF. you will HAVE to be VERY frugal.

Posted by funbobby (145 days ago)

any way you can supplement your funds with some campus tutoring? that might ease things up a bit

Posted by cara (145 days ago)

you could try that, but i believe if you are here on a study visa, you are not allowed to work....

Posted by woods99 (145 days ago)

You can eat free at the Sikh Temple, for an occasional treat.

Posted by funbobby (145 days ago)

true cara, but teachers (or anyone for that matter) on an Emp. visa are not 'allowed' to tutor either...that hasn't stopped many of them from doing so...

Posted by ratri24 (145 days ago)

Thanks for all the advice.I would like to correct Cara's calcultion.I have to pay half of the total tuition fees 6 monthly,i.e. 21050 HK$ at begining of each semster (2 semester per year).Thats mean I have to save around 3510HK$ each month.So the total cost per month will be (if I save 3600 HK$ per month for my tuition) 8970 HK$, which will be roughly 9000HK$.

Yeah as I will be a full time student I am not allowed to work outside nor in the campus as a tutor.But I will be assisting the research work and teaching of teachers as a part of my studentship.

Sorry,Wood cant accept you are proposal as I am a muslim.But thanks for your advice as well.

Can anyone tell me which cell phone company will be cheapest for me to use.

Posted by cara (145 days ago)

then if you actually have less outgoing per month, you should be ok.
when i first moved here i had roughly the same amount (about 13-15k) i managed alright, but it was hard work.

Posted by Philly Cheese (144 days ago)

I'm sure you can find some under the table work to supplement your studies.

Posted by tpol (144 days ago)

I think you can get mobiles cheap at $35 per month.

I like China Mobile out of the cheaper phone companies.

CTI is usually very cheap for IDD calls but I couldn't find Bangladesh

http://www.ctihk.com/Service_Ctr/1666/offer_d_eng.htm#part2

Maybe you could call them or send them an email for pricing

Posted by mrsmith (141 days ago)

I think that if you really struggle, the university will help you as they are investing in you anyways. As long as you enjoy life on the campus you should be OK. There are other students in a similar situation as you, so maybe when you arrive you can ask those ahead of you what they do to supplement their income, if any. I hope you enjoy your studies. I think you are meant to suffer a little when you are pursuing a PhD :)

Posted by Mr. H (141 days ago)

With accomodation at under 3000 a month and 10,000 gross, then I think you'll be fine, I survived on a $50 budget for food living on $16 sets from Cha Chang Tengs for 6 months whilst I was unemployed, it cost me arround $500 a month in food/drink (tea is free) and I was well fed.

Bills I kept to a minimum with no aircon, fan was okay (watch the difference, see the disk spinning in the meter- with the aircon on and off, you'll be amazed) so electricity was a 100/200 a month, water was about $20-40 a month and my rent was $1700).

I was okay but it meant to big meals, clothes from Mong Kok and minibuses only.

Life was good though, I enjoyed it!

Posted by ratri24 (136 days ago)

Thanks a lot to everyone for helping me out.