In addition to the educational opportunity this offers, attendees will participate alongside other OMS Analytics students and alumni, and members of both the Atlanta and Shenzhen campuses’ faculty.
Where
Shenzhen is a rapidly growing city in Southern China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA), which has become a huge technology hub. The GBA consists of nine cities, including Hong Kong. It accounts for approximately 5% of China’s population and 10% of China’s gross domestic product (GDP).
During this 10-day trip, attendees will visit sites in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, including: the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, a global port complex, a multinational technology and entertainment conglomerate, one of the world’s largest logistics service providers, the world’s largest e-commerce platform, China’s first exclusively digital bank, one of the world’s busiest airports, and the Georgia Tech-Shenzhen campus. Attendees will learn about each location through the lens of data analytics.
The trip also includes several planned cultural excursions to unique villages, a museum, walking tours and light shows. To learn more, attend one of the information sessions listed below.
When
The inaugural trip to Hong Kong and Shenzhen is scheduled for June 23 – July 2, 2024. If you’d like to attend, but can’t at this time, the program hopes to offer this experience again in December.
Eligibility
To be approved for the program, applicants must be one of the following:
- an OMS Analytics alumnus
- a currently enrolled OMS Analytics student, who is in good academic standing and good disciplinary standing
Costs
The fee is $500 per person, which covers the analytics-focused field trips and cultural excursions mentioned above, as well as program events, venue fees, Hong Kong airport pickup, ground transportation in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, travel insurance, two group meals, related materials and supplies, and local staff support.
A $200 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of application. (April 22, 2024, is the deadline to apply.) The remaining $300 balance is due by May 29, 2024.
Expenses for international airfare, lodging, Chinese visa applications, meals, and personal spending, are not included in this fee. They are the responsibility of each participant.
Lodging
Participants will pay the hotels directly for all lodging costs. We’ve gathered Hong Kong and Shenzhen hotel options within proximity of each other that accommodate different budgets and occupancy choices (e.g., double occupancy, single occupancy, family occupancy).
Here is the approximate price range for this 10-day trip:
- 1 person sharing a double-occupancy hotel room: $300-$450
- 1 person taking a single-occupancy hotel room: $600-$900
- A family of 3-4 lodging together: $750-$1,450
The options above are for budget-minded travelers. If you’d like to stay in 5-star hotels, you can do so, but know that you’ll pay higher prices.
Pre-departure orientation session
Around mid-April, we’ll hold a virtual orientation session with confirmed participants to discuss logistical matters such as: airport pickup, international mobile data, currency and money matters, insurance and healthcare, electricity and electronics, customs procedure, etc.
Program contacts
Program Director
Prof. Xiaoming Huo
Program Coordinator
Ms. Windelyn Lin
Contact us for questions:
Application Process
1. Read carefully the information on this page and the linked documents.
2. If you’d like to participate in this enrichment experience, please sign up for one of these information sessions:
- Tuesday, March 12, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time: Register now.
- Tuesday, March 12, at 3 p.m. Eastern Time: Register now.
- Tuesday, March 12, at 7 p.m. Eastern Time: Register now.
Each session will be approximately one hour in duration.
3. Submit your application by the application deadline of April 22, 2024 using this link.
A $200 non-refundable deposit is required at the time of application. We will send detailed Chinese visa application instructions to those who have applied.
4. Apply for visa to China starting as early as 3 months before your planned arrival date to mainland China.
Fill out the China Online Visa Application (COVA) by following the visa application instructions but do not click the submit button on the COVA site.
Note the Application ID which allows you to return to the COVA site and update your visa application online within 30 days.
If you will be using a visa service to represent you for the visa application at a Chinese Embassy or Consulate, you will need to send the COVA Application ID and your passport number to that visa service to review and submit it on your behalf. You will need to drop off your passport, required supporting documents, and make the visa application fee payment to the visa service.
5. Make $300 USD program fee balance payment by the final program fee payment deadline of May 29, 2024. Detailed payment instructions will be sent to the program participants
6. You should purchase airfare once your Chinese visa is issued, or you may purchase a refundable airfare prior to the visa issuance.
7. Make your hotel reservation from the hotel options provided. Program ground transportation will be provided only to/from those hotels.
Passport and Visas
You must have a current and valid passport with at least 6 months of validity left from your return date and at least two blank visa pages left.
If you want to travel in China before or after the program, ensure you have enough entries and duration of stay on your visa.
If your application for a Chinese visa is denied, you can get a refund for the $200 deposit minus any credit card or wire-transfer fee you incurred as part of the transaction. Official documentation showing proof of the Chinese visa denial is required for a refund.
Visa to Hong Kong
Nationals of about 170 countries and territories may visit Hong Kong for 7 to 180 days visa-free. (See the visa policy of Hong Kong.) U.S. citizens do not need a visa to visit Hong Kong.
If your nationality does not exempt you from the Hong Kong visa requirement, please ensure you have sufficient time to apply for both the visa to Hong Kong and the visa to mainland China.
If you fail to secure a visa to Hong Kong, you can fly directly to Shenzhen; however, the program will not make a partial program-fee refund if you miss the Hong Kong portion of the program.
Visa to Mainland China
If you are a citizen of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Spain or Switzerland, you do not need a visa to visit mainland China for up to 15 days.
If you are a U.S. citizen, you should apply for a tourist visa (L-visa), and the cost is the same whether you apply for a single-entry visa or a 10-year multiple-entry visa.
The visa cost consists of a visa application fee ($140 for U.S. citizens; different amounts for citizens of other countries) charged by the Chinese Embassy, plus a charge from the visa service if you choose to use one.
We will provide detailed COVA instructions to students and alumni who apply to this enrichment program.
Air Travel Considerations
The most efficient flight route from Atlanta to Hong Kong takes approximately 24 hours, including one stop with a reasonable layover. The most efficient route from Hong Kong to Atlanta takes approximately 20 hours, including one stop with a reasonable layover.
In the summer, Hong Kong and Shenzhen are ahead of the U.S. Eastern Time Zone by 12 hours.
To fully participate in this enrichment program, plan to arrive in Hong Kong by Sunday, June 24. A local staff member will meet you at the Hong Kong Airport in accordance with the flight itinerary that you provide us.
Each program participant will book their own airfare.
This CNN article may be helpful when planning international air travel: The world’s best airlines for 2023, according to Skytrax
From the U.S. to Hong Kong, Korean Air (a member of the SkyTeam Alliance) offers flights via Seoul. If you have a long layover in Seoul, you may take advantage of the airline’s complimentary or low-cost transit tours.
From the U.S. to Hong Kong, Qatar Airways (a member of the OneWorld Alliance) offers flights via Doha. If you have a long layover in Doha, you may take advantage of the airline’s complimentary transit tours or even complimentary transit accommodation.
From the U.S. to Hong Kong, Turkish Airlines (a member of the Star Alliance) offers flights via Istanbul. For the long layover in Istanbul, you may take advantage of the airline’s complimentary Touristanbul service, a free layover service for all of its international transfer passengers. Anyone who flies through İstanbul and has a 6- to 24-hour layover can use this service.
We hope you participate in this new enrichment opportunity. It will be a great way to meet, and network with, other skilled analytics professionals in a truly unique learning environment.