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Understand a region.
Learn its languages.
Engage with the world.

Global and Area Studies at HKU combines interdisciplinary regional expertise, sustained language study and learning beyond the classroom.

Global knowledge begins with regional expertise

GLAS connects regional studies, language learning and global engagement to help students understand societies in context.

Regions

Develop coherent expertise in the histories, societies, cultures and politics of a world region

Languages

Use sustained language study to deepen regional knowledge and intercultural competence.

Experiences

Apply academic learning through field trips, exchange, internships and other experiential opportunities.

Spanish and Portuguese speaking world

Connect Iberian, Latin American and transatlantic histories, cultures and contemporary global issues.

East and Southeast Asia

Study the political, cultural, social and economic dynamics connecting East and Southeast Asia.

Europe

Explore Europe through its histories, cultures, societies, politics and global connections.

Regional concentrations:

Regional Concentrations are central to the revised GLAS curriculum. Students admitted in AY2026–27 are expected to use them as a planning framework.

Build your pathway.

Choose a regional concentration
Study a Related Language
Build Regional Expertise
Learn
from experience
Complete Your Capstone

2

1

4

5

3

Study the world in its languages.

Sustained language study is a core part of the GLAS experience. In the revised framework, your primary language is aligned with your Regional Concentration.

Korean

Tagalog*

Bahasa Indonesia

Thai

Japanese

Turkish

Italian

German

French

Swedish

Russian

Portuguese

Spanish

Arabic

* Language proposed for inclusion in Faculty of Arts syllabus

3

Choose the curriculum that applies to you.

If you are a first year student, you have not yet declared your major, so we invite you to explore the new curriculum now. Understanding the Regional Concentrations and language pathways will help you make informed course choices before declaring GLAS in Year 2.

Declared major before AY 2027-28:

Current curriculum

Will declare major in or after AY 2027-28:

Learn beyond Hong Kong.

Field Trips

Structured, academically grounded learning in the regions students study.

Exchange abroad

Study at a partner institution and deepen regional knowledge over a semester or year.

Internships

Apply disciplinary and language skills in host organisations such as government offices, museums, educational institutions and private companies.

Intensive Overseas Programmes

Use approved overseas study to build language proficiency and regional understanding.

News and events:

Where will GLAS take you?

Explore a major that connects regional knowledge, language proficiency and learning beyond the classroom.

Explore the Major
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