Billy Cheung
Accounting A
Business B
Maths B
Chinese B
IELTS 6.5
BA Honours at Lancaster University
Hailing from a dynasty of Itchen graduates, Billy followed in his older brother’s footsteps by choosing Itchen Sixth Form College. Andrew, who was with us from 2012-2014 and went on to study Civil Engineering at the University of Surrey, sang in Itchen’s praises, influencing Billy’s decision to come to Itchen as well.
“My dad was happy with the great support that Itchen College offered. Lynne and Caroline were great. It definitely made Itchen College an attractive option,” Billy recalls.
With both boys in the UK, Andrew began his degree and Billy began his A Levels.
“My host family—Julie, John, and Sam—were amazing,” Billy says with a smile. “They provided a quiet, supportive environment with tasty meals, and I loved the fact that we had dinner together every evening. It really made me feel at home.”
And he’s not just saying that because I was his host brother! We shared a few gaming sessions and linguistic exchanges of Cantonese words (definitely polite greetings!).
Billy found the academic environment at Itchen just as supportive. He built strong relationships with his teachers, particularly Sarah, who taught accounting, and Pete, who taught maths. “The teachers were always there for me, even staying behind after class to answer questions and help me with my studies. They made learning comfortable and easy to engage with.”
Itchen’s welcoming culture, especially for international students, left a lasting impression on Billy. He appreciated the balance between study and the more relaxed, casual lifestyle in the UK compared to the fast-paced life in Hong Kong.
“In the UK, I had the freedom to explore the city centre with friends, and have some downtime between all the work. You probably remember that I spent most evenings and weekends in my room focussing on my studies!”
“I do, yeah,” I reply. Billy even stayed with us over Christmas during his second year, a testament to his dedication to achieving high grades.
“And now, in Hong Kong,” Billy continues, “the work life balance can be chaotic. For example, in my last job, I had to do overtime until past midnight, take a taxi back home at three in the morning, get a few hours sleep, then head back out to work at seven.”
My mind is blown.
But Billy credits Itchen for laying the foundation for his later success.
“I wasn’t the most studious before coming to Itchen,” Billy chuckles, which I respond with an incredulous look.
“No, seriously!” he adds. “Living away from my family made me grow up quickly. I had to become independent, disciplined and I had to work hard.”
And it worked. With a more than respectable A and three Bs in his A Levels (along with a 6.5 in IELTS), Billy walked straight into Lancaster University to pursue his degree in Business Management at The University of Lancaster – ranked 9th in the UK for business degrees! A year of his degree was spent working for HSBC in his native Hong Kong, before graduating back in Lancaster in 2020.
Today, Billy thrives, working in the compliance department of a law firm in Hong Kong. He’s constantly seeking new opportunities to grow, including pursuing certifications like the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Environmental Social Governance exams.
Reflecting on his time at Itchen, Billy says, “I remember one particular phrase my accounting teacher always said to me… It’s stuck with me for all these years.”
I gear myself up, ready for some words of profound wisdom.
“No worries,” Billy continues. “You’ll be fine!”
And with four years of working his way up the career ladder, passing even more exams and with one eye on another promotion, it’s safe to say that Billy is indeed fine.
