GENERAL ACADEMIC REGULATIONS FOR TAUGHT POSTGRADUATE DEGREES PROGRAMMES

[For students admitted in 2020/21 academic year and thereafter*]
 
(with a glossary of terms)

* exclude Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
* include the taught components of Research Postgraduate (RPg) and Doctor of Education (EdD) Programmes

1. Admission

1.1

Applicants for admission to a programme of the University are required to meet the stipulated entrance requirements of the programme. A waiver may be given to applicants with specific talents or achievements and a wealth of experience as defined in the specific programme entrance requirements. The University does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, nationality, religion, ethnic origin or disability upon admission. Students with disabilities are encouraged to inform the University of their needs so that timely assistance may be provided.

2. Registration

2.1	After being accepted by the University for admission to a programme, applicants must pay the requisite fees and complete the registration procedures as prescribed by the University. Current students will be re-registered automatically each semester throughout the period of study if fees have been paid up to date.
2.2	Each student is issued with a Student Identity Card. The Card enables a student to gain access to the University’s facilities such as the Library, sports centre, and student halls.
2.3	Classes for all programmes are normally scheduled from Monday to Saturday including daytime and evenings.

3. Fees

3.1	Once admitted to the University, students are normally required to pay the following fees: Admission Acceptance Fee Payable by a stipulated due date upon offer of admission Tuition Fee Please refer to the specific programme handbook for tuition fee payment Caution Money A deposit to make good any outstanding debts to the University incurred in, for example, damage to the property of the University. Unused caution money is converted to graduation fees Extension Fees If a student in a self-financed Master’s or Doctoral programme has to study beyond the normal study period, he/she has to pay for an extension fee by semester Continuation Fee A fee required for students who are allowed to retain their student status without having to attend any courses in the programme, e.g. cases of deferment of studies, cases pending for graduation and cases with suspension of studies Students' Union Membership Fee An annual fee chargeable to full-time students Graduation Fee A lump sum to cover the cost for graduation, including the cost of an award certificate; the lump sum can be covered by caution money subject to no outstanding claims Other Fees Information available on the websites of related units
3.2	Students who fail to settle overdue fees without prior approval will be treated as having unofficially withdrawn from the programme. An administration fee will be charged to these students for reactivating their student status in addition to the full settlement of overdue fees. Re-instatement of the student status will not be considered for unofficially withdrawn students with prolonged overdue fees. They will be required to re-apply for admission to their programmes.
3.3	Tuition Fees Arrangements under Special Circumstances 3.3.1 Credit Transfer & Course Exemption (i) Credit Transfer No waiver of fees for credit transfer. For tuition fees charged according to the number of credits taken, fees would not be collected if credit transfer has been granted for the course. (ii) Course Exemption As students must replace the exempted course with another course of the same credit value, tuition fees for the substitute course taken will be charged and it does not involve any waiver of fees. 3.3.2 Deferment of Studies (i) If the application for deferment of studies is submitted before the completion of the first half of a semester according to the academic calendar of the programme, any tuition fees paid for the deferred semester will be carried forward. (ii) If the application for deferment of studies is submitted after the first half of a semester, the tuition fees paid for the deferred semester will not be refunded nor carried forward to the resumed semester; tuition fees not paid for the deferred semester have to be paid when resuming studies. 3.3.3 Withdrawal of Study For application submitted after the commencement of a semester, students are required to pay the full tuition fees for the whole semester and other outstanding fees before such applications will be processed. 3.3.4 Add/Drop Courses Students are required to pay the full tuition fees for any courses dropped after add/drop period of the programmes. 3.3.5 Discontinuation Tuition fees for the semester that the student is officially discontinued will be waived.

4. Course Enrollment

4.1	Students must ensure the completion of course registration before the course starts. Students who have not registered for any course in a semester (for full-time students) / two consecutive semesters (for part-time students) (excluding the summer semester) will be considered to have withdrawn from their programme at the University (as stipulated in 14.1) unless deferment of studies has been approved by the relevant Programme Leader/Coordinator.
4.2	Students are required to view the Consolidated e-Billing in The Portal student portal which includes all fees/charges such as tuition fees, hall fees, caution money, etc. in one billing. Students should settle the payment on or before the specified deadline. Tuition fees paid are non-refundable.
4.3	Registration in some courses is restricted to students having the necessary prerequisites.
4.4	Students can add or drop a course during the add-drop period or before the third class meeting. Students are permitted to drop a course after the add-drop period but before the examination period or the deadline for submission of final assignments or presentation, whichever applicable, only for strong personal reasons, such as serious illnesses; the grade W (Withdrawn) will be recorded on the students’ transcript.
4.5	Failure to attend a course does not automatically result in the course being dropped. Please refer to para 13.1 for the regulation on Leave of Absence.
4.6	A visiting student is not enrolled in any particular programme, but may take courses. Students who have completed their programme but wish to take further courses will be considered as visiting students.

5. Change of Programme/Area/Strand or Mode of Study

5.1	New students will normally not be considered to transfer to another programme if the programmes are offered in the same mode of study and programmes of the same academic level during their first semester of registration.
5.2	A current student, who wishes for special reasons to change from one programme/area/strand or mode of study to another during the course of study should meet the stipulated requirements and consult the relevant Programme Leaders/ Coordinators for advice and approval.

6. Double Registration

6.1

Students who are enrolled in any full-time award-bearing programmes (lasting for one year or longer) of the University are not permitted to simultaneously register for another qualification at the University or a post-secondary qualification at any institutions except with prior approval by the Board of Graduate Studies. Violation of this regulation will lead to discontinuation of studies from the University. In case of doubt, students should seek advice from the Board of Graduate Studies (via the Graduate School).

7. Admission

7.1	The length of a programme is stipulated in the curriculum. To complete the curriculum, students are required to complete satisfactorily all the specified course requirements including coursework, school attachment, block practice, internship or similar programme required activities, as applicable.
7.2	Normally, there are two semesters in each academic year for academic activities, such as coursework, field experience, overseas immersion, internship and summer institute.
7.3	The maximum period of study for a programme will be determined as follows: Normative Length of Programme Maximum Period of Study 1 year 2 years 1.5 years 3 years 2 years 4 years 3 years 5 years 4 years 7 years Remarks: The above table is not applicable to Research Postgraduate (RPg) programmes.
7.4	Students are expected to graduate within the stipulated period of study, inclusive of any change of programmes/majors, periods of leave of absence, deferment of study, suspension of study and Field Experience activities. Students who have to study beyond the normal study period has to pay for an extension fee by semester as specified by the respective programme. Students who fail to complete a programme within the maximum period of study will normally be required to discontinue their studies at the University (as stipulated in 12.1(iii)).
7.5	Students who wish to extend their period of study beyond the maximum programme duration are required to apply in writing to obtain prior approval from the Programme Leader/Coordinator. Likewise, students who wish to pursue a fast track to complete a programme below its normal period of study should obtain prior approval accordingly.

8. Course Assessments and Grades

9. Research Project

9.1	Specific guidance for preparation, presentation (if applicable), submission, and assessment of research project is specified in the corresponding course outline.
9.2	The research project should be completed within the stipulated period as specified by the respective programme.
9.3	For completing dissertation and thesis or produce other publications, students should comply with Guideline on Ethics in Research as stipulated by the University’s Human Research Ethics Committee.

10. Graduation Requirements

10.1

Students are responsible for the completion of all the graduation requirements of the programme in which they are officially enrolled. To graduate, students must: (i) achieve the minimum number of credit points required by the programme and satisfy all other stipulated programme requirements such as Field Experience, language exit requirements, and Dissertation / Thesis / Research Project (if applicable); (ii) obtain a Programme GPA of 2.00 or above; and (iii) complete the requirements as prescribed by the programme.

11. Award Classification

11.1	The Board of Examiners recommends classifications of award in accordance with the following guidelines: Award Classification Overall GPA Distinction 3.40 and above Credit 2.70 – 3.39 Pass 2.00 – 2.69

*Award Classification is not applicable to Research Postgraduate and Doctor of Education Programmes.

12. Discontinuation of Studies

12.1

A student will normally be required to discontinue his/her studies at the University if he/she: (i) fails to have probation lifted after he/she has been put on academic probation for two consecutive semesters; or (ii) has received warning(s) but has failed to improve to meet the expectations of the University with respect to professional and personal behaviour; or (iii) has exceeded the maximum period of study without prior approval as stipulated in 7.4; or (iv) has simultaneously registered for another qualification at the University or a post-secondary qualification at any institutions without prior approval as stipulated in 6.1; or (v) fails to meet the graduation requirement as prescribed by the Programme.

12.2

Normally, students who are required to discontinue their studies at the University will not be considered for re-admission to the same programme in the following three academic years.

13. Leave of Absence

13.1	In exceptional circumstances where students need to take a leave of absence for 30% of scheduled classes/lectures or more, students should inform their course lecturers and are required to obtain prior approval from the Programme Leader/ Coordinator by submitting a leave application form.
13.2	Students who are absent for 30% of scheduled classes/lectures or more in a course without prior permission (as stipulated in 13.1) will be given a grade F (Fail) by their course lecturers. The grade F will be recorded on the students’ transcript.
13.3	Where necessary, individual courses / course lecturers / programmes / departments may specify their attendance requirements.

14. Deferment and Withdrawal

14.1	Students can apply for deferment of study if there is a genuine need. The period of deferment in each application is normally one semester. The deferment period is included in the maximum period of study (as stipulated in 7.3). A continuation fee per semester is required upon approval of the application. Students who have not settled the continuation fee will be considered to have withdrawn from the programme of study at the University (as stipulated in 4.1). No re-instatement of student status will be considered for withdrawal students.
14.2	Students who fail to return to the University to resume studies at the end of the approved period of deferment will be considered to have withdrawn from the programme, effective on the day following the deferment period.
14.3	Students who wish to withdraw from studies shall submit a withdrawal form to the University. Effective date of withdrawal is given 3 working days from the date of submission of the completed form.

15. Suspension of Student Activities

15.1	Field Experience Coordinators will report to the relevant Associate Dean to seek his/her approval in consultation with the Director/Co-director of School Partnership and Field Experience to suspend any student immediately from Field Experience/practicum placed by the University, should they and/or school personnel have major concerns about the behaviour of the student on block practice or on other Field Experience/practicum activities. Students of teacher education programmes who demonstrate that they are unsuitable to enter the profession will be prevented from joining Field Experience/practicum or suspended from continuing such activities.
15.2	The relevant Associate Dean has the authority to prevent or suspend a student from other activities such as overseas immersion, internship, summer institute and academic exchange if the student, on the report of the Programme Leader/ Coordinator, is found to be unsuitable.
15.3	Conversely, if an Field Experience Coordinator has strong grounds for concern that a student is experiencing serious bodily or emotional harm on account of the Field Experience/practicum placement, he/she will report this to the relevant Associate Dean for his/her approval to remove the student immediately from the placement school.
15.4	The decision of suspension will be relayed in confidence to the relevant programme personnel. If the student is dissatisfied with the decision, he/she can appeal to the relevant Faculty Dean.

16. Review of Board of Examiners’ Decisions on Discontinuation

16.1	A student who is required to discontinue his/her studies by the Board of Examiners under the General Academic Regulations will be notified by the Secretary of the Board of Examiners immediately after the decision for discontinuation is made, and be advised to (i) send new/additional information he/she might have to the Chairperson of the Board of Examiners for consideration; and/or (ii) ask for an opportunity to present his/her case before the Board of Examiners by the stipulated deadline, if he/she so wishes.
16.2	The Chairperson of the Board of Examiners, after consideration of the student’s submission, will decide if there are grounds for the case to be re-considered by the Board of Examiners. If the student asks for a hearing before the Board of Examiners, the Chairperson will decide whether to invite the student to appear before the full Board of Examiners, or to form a separate panel to hear the case, if deemed appropriate. The Panel should involve at least the Chairperson of the Board of Examiners or a senior academic staff member nominated by the Faculty Dean/Dean of Graduate School as Chairperson, the Programme Leader/ Coordinator, and the relevant teaching staff from the subject department(s).
16.3	The Panel, after hearing of the case, will convey its recommendation to the Board of Examiners for the final decision. Depending on the recommendation, the Board of Examiners may make decisions through one of the following ways: (i) decision by circulation; or (ii) a full Board of Examiners meeting to be convened.
16.4	The decision of the Board of Examiners will then be conveyed to the student accordingly.
16.5	If the student feels that there is perceived injustice in the above procedures governing the review of the decision of the Board of Examiners on discontinuation, he/she can make an appeal to the Students’ Appeal Committee following the prevailing procedures stipulated in the Student Handbook. The decision of the Students’ Appeal Committee will be final.

17. Dismissal

17.1	Students who, upon verification, are found to have committed serious violations of the University’s regulations or Laws of Hong Kong, will be subject to dismissal by the University immediately after the findings have been substantiated.

18. Academic Honesty

18.1

Students are required to carry out all academic activities honestly and in good faith. Any act that contravenes standards of academic honesty such as plagiarism, impersonation, cheating in examinations and collusion is strictly prohibited by the University.

18.2

Any alleged cases of academic misconduct will be handled by the Head of the academic department concerned, who will then conduct a thorough investigation. An investigation report should be sent to the relevant Associate Dean who will consider whether there are prima facie grounds for referring the case to the Student Disciplinary Committee for further consideration, decision and action. Any proven act of academic misconduct may result in suspension of studies, postponement of graduation, dismissal from the University or other forms of penalties.

Glossary