Schools Which University Offers the Best Path for an International Physics Undergrad?

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The discussion centers on an international undergraduate student majoring in Physics considering transfer options to three universities: Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST), University of Manitoba, and Louisiana Tech University. The student aims to pursue a Master's and Ph.D. at a top North American university, particularly in the U.S., where only 25% of accepted students are international. Cost is a significant concern, with annual tuition ranging from approximately $19,000 to $21,000. Key considerations include the duration of undergraduate programs—HKUST offers a three-year program, while Manitoba has a four-year program—and the focus of research at each institution, with HKUST leaning towards experimental physics. The student is encouraged to research each university's department, including graduate placement rates and available research opportunities, to make an informed decision. Notably, HKUST has a higher number of faculty with degrees from prestigious institutions like UC Berkeley and MIT, which may influence graduate prospects.
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Hi,
I'm an international undergrad student having major in Physics. I've got the offer to transfer my credits to:
1. Hong Kong University of Science & Technology. (Annual costs approx. 19000 USD)
2. University of Manitoba, Canada. (Annual costs approx. 21000 USD)
3. Louisiana Tech University. (Annual costs approx. 20000 USD)

I've got some reservations: I want to have my M.S & Ph.D completed at one of the top North American Universities (specially in the U.S). I got to know that for M.S & Ph.D the top universities in U.S accept 25% students from outside the U.S. Other 75% comes from within the U.S.

Also, I can't spend a lot for my undergrad study. So I've chosen these universities. Which University is more likely to cost less than the others(i.e. scholarships/ financial aids/ student loans)?

Which university do you suggest (from where I can really study Physics & get a chance to have my M.S & Ph. D in the U.S)?
 
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This is a hard comparison... the universities you've listed here are really different... it's going to probably require research on your part. I'd suggest that you look at department web pages or contact the departments themselves to see if they have any information about where recent graduates from the undergraduate programs have gone on to pursue their graduate degrees. Also, you should look at the research projects availability to undergraduates at the various institutions... look at publication rates, quality of research, how those projects themselves would advance you in the field which you want to later pursue, etc.
 
@Physics Girl, generally HKUST has 3 years of undergrad study where Univ. Manitoba has 4. Why is this 1 year difference- I don't know.
Here are the course names:
http://www.phys.ust.hk/UG-courses/"
http://www.physics.umanitoba.ca/course_info.html"

Also, research in HKUST is based on mostly experimental rather than theoretical.
http://web.phys.ust.hk/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=19&Itemid=79"
http://www.physics.umanitoba.ca/research.html"

From the class of HKUST graduating this year(55 students), a few students went to SUNY Stony Brook, one to Cornell & some to other mid- level universities for higher study. However, I don't know about UManitoba's Physics grads placement for higher education.

HKUST has a few more teachers who hold Ph.D degrees from universities like UC Berkeley/ MIT/ Princeton than UManitoba.

Can you please help me out? Because I've fell in an infinity loop in choosing which is better.
 
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Hey, I am Andreas from Germany. I am currently 35 years old and I want to relearn math and physics. This is not one of these regular questions when it comes to this matter. So... I am very realistic about it. I know that there are severe contraints when it comes to selfstudy compared to a regular school and/or university (structure, peers, teachers, learning groups, tests, access to papers and so on) . I will never get a job in this field and I will never be taken serious by "real"...
Yesterday, 9/5/2025, when I was surfing, I found an article The Schwarzschild solution contains three problems, which can be easily solved - Journal of King Saud University - Science ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT https://jksus.org/the-schwarzschild-solution-contains-three-problems-which-can-be-easily-solved/ that has the derivation of a line element as a corrected version of the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein’s field equation. This article's date received is 2022-11-15...
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