Student Support Centre

Q1. What is Advanced Standing?

Advanced standing may be granted to eligible non-JUPAS students in recognition of their studies completed successfully before admission to the University (e.g. IB, GCE A-level, community college). Students are not required to make up these “advanced credits” during their course of study at HKU. Credits granted for advanced standing shall not be included in the calculation of the GPA

Q2. How can I obtain information for applying advanced standing credits?

Students may refer to the Handbook for Freshmen for more detailed information regarding advanced standing.

Q3. Can I apply for advanced standing?

Students who are eligible for applying for advanced standing are listed as follow:

• Transfer from other university;
• Associate Degree (AD) / Higher Diploma (HD) holders (admitted to Year 1 or Year 3);
• IB Diploma or GCE A-Level qualifications or other examination qualifications with 7-year secondary schooling.

Q4. How can I apply for advanced standing?

Students are required to submit the completed form “Application for Advanced Standing” (downloaded from the Faculty website via the link at https://engg.hku.hk/Teaching-Learning/BEng-BASc/Forms-for-Download, with supporting documents (e.g. detailed course syllabuses and transcript) to the Faculty Office (for BEng Year 1/BEng(BME) students) or home department (for all other students) for onward submission to the HKU course offering department(s) for approval, by the designated deadline specified in the application form, i.e. end of August for each academic year.

Q5. Can I re-apply for advanced standing credits or change my choice of advanced standing credits?

Application can only be submitted ONCE before the deadline. Any late application or amendment or application made in subsequent year of studies will not be considered.

Q6. Can I enroll for the course(s) which have been granted for advanced standing?

No, students are not required to complete any further courses for which they have been granted advanced standing.

Q1. How many credits I need to enroll during the course selection period?

Students shall normally select not fewer than 24 credits nor more than 30 credits of courses in any one semester (except the summer semester). Students should enroll courses for both first and second semesters during the course selection period in August if they have met the course pre-requisites and there is no timetable clash.

Q2. Can I apply for overloading/underloading of course(s)?

Student may, of their own volition, take additional credits not exceeding 6 credits in each semester, and/or further credits during the summer semester, accumulating up to a maximum of 72 credits in one academic year. Student who wish to apply for credit overload/underload in each semester should complete the form “Application for Credit Overload/Underload” (downloaded from the Faculty website via the link at https://engg.hku.hk/Teaching-Learning/BEng-BASc/Forms-for-Download), with the written support from student’s home Department for onward submission to the Faculty Office for approval.

Q3. Can I change my course selection after the course add/drop period?

Students are not allowed to make any further changes to the selection of courses after the add/drop period unless there are strong justifications for making such changes. For any requests of changes, students should seek prior approval from the course offering department and Home Department by completing the form “Application for Special Approval on Course Enrollment” (downloaded from the Faculty website via the link at https://engg.hku.hk/Teaching-Learning/BEng-BASc/Forms-for-Download), and submit together with supporting document(s), if any, to the Faculty Office for approval.

Q4. Do I need to enroll MATH1011 University mathematics I? If so, do I need to apply for overloading?

Students may refer to the Handbook for Freshmen for more detailed information regarding the mathematics course requirement for students with different qualifications.

Q5. Do I need to enroll ENGG1200 Engineering Physics?

ENGG1200 Engineering Physics is a pre-requisite course for ENGG1300, ENGG1310 and ENGG1350 for students without Level 2 or above in HKDSE Physics or Combined Science with Physics component, or equivalent. ENGG1200 is not for students with level 3 or above in HKDSE Physics or Combined Science with Physics component, and not for students who have passed PHYS1050.

Q6. Do I need to enroll CAES1000 Core University English (CUE)?

Students who have achieved Level 5 or above in English Language in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), or equivalent, are exempted from this requirement, and CUE is optional. Those who do not take this course should take an elective course in lieu. A list of qualifications recognized as equivalent to achieving Level 5 or above in the HKDSE English Language Examination can be viewed in the Handbook for Freshmen.

Q7. I have not studied Chinese Language during my secondary/high school education, how can I apply for exemption of CENG9001 Practical Chinese for engineering students?

Students are required to take “CENG9001 Practical Chinese for Engineering Students” to fulfil the University requirement and will take the course in their third year of study. Exemption will normally be granted to students who have not studied Chinese Language during their secondary/high school education, however they are recommended to take another language course or to take an elective course to replace “CENG9001 Practical Chinese for Engineering Students” for fulfillment of the graduation requirements for respective programme(s). Students who would like to apply for exemption for CENG9001 are required to complete the form “Application for Exemption from Chinese Language Course” (downloaded from the Faculty website via the link at https://engg.hku.hk/Teaching-Learning/BEng-BASc/Forms-for-Download), and submit together with supporting document(s), if any, to the Faculty Office for approval.

Q8. How many Common Core courses can I enroll within one academic year?

Student are required to complete 6 courses (36 credits) in the Common Core Curriculum and are strongly advised to complete the courses in their first three year of studies. The four Area of Inquires (AoI) are:

• Science, Technology and Big Data
• Arts and Humanities
• Global Issues
• China: Culture, State and Society

Students shall select at least one but no more than two courses from each AoI during the whole period of study with not more than 24 credits of courses being selected within one academic year except where students are required to make up for failed credits. Approval of course selection of common core courses is on a first-come-first-served basis. Please refer to the Common Core Curriculum website at https://commoncore.hku.hk for course description, timetable and course availability.

Q9. When and how can I enroll course in the summer semester?

Non-final year students may enroll summer courses through SIS during the add/drop periods of second and summer semesters. Final year students who will graduate in the coming June/July are not allowed to take any course in the summer semester.

Q10. I cannot add a course due to time clash. What should I do?

Please be reminded that students are not allowed to take any courses with timetable clashed. If there is any time clash problem, you should solve it by adjusting your course enrollment and re-consider your study plan.

Q11. I have tried to add the course several times but unsuccessful due to the class is full. What can I do?

Students should enroll course(s) in SIS by themselves during the add/drop period. If the class is full for the time being, you may try to keep checking the class status in case someone drop the course during the add/drop period.

Q12. I have enrolled the course but the course status is still “pending”. Does it mean that I have already enrolled the course?

If you successfully enrolled the course, the course status is “Approved”. If the course status is “Pending”, it requires approval by the course offering departments. Another email will be sent to you when the course status is changed from “Pending” to “Approved” or “Not Approved” to confirm the final status of your enrolment.

Q1. How can I apply for leave of absence?

Students who wish to apply for leave of absence should submit the completed form for “Application for Leave of Absence” (downloaded from the Faculty website via the link at https://engg.hku.hk/Teaching-Learning/BEng-BASc/Forms-for-Download), together with supporting document(s), if any, to the Home Department for processing. Students who go for exchange study should submit the completed form for “Application for Credit Transfer and/or Leave of Absence (For Student Exchange Programme)” (downloaded from the Faculty website via the link at https://engg.hku.hk/Teaching-Learning/BEng-BASc/Forms-for-Download), before the designated deadline specified on the application form

Q2. How many days do I need to apply for leave of absence?

Student who desires leave of absence for more than two full consecutive days for non-medical reasons shall apply to the Faculty of Engineering stating the reasons for which the leave of absence is sought. Permission for such leave shall be granted only in exceptional circumstances and shall not be granted by reason only that the student has already made arrangement to be absent. Student who cannot attend for between three and seven days inclusive because of his/her illness shall inform the Faculty of Engineering in writing at the earliest opportunity together with a certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner.

Q1. When can I declare my minor or major option in SIS?

Students can start to declare major/minor in the 1st semester of their second year of studies and they have to finalize their declaration by the 1st semester of their final year of studies. No further change will be allowed afterwards. Students can refer to the website of the Academic Advising and Scholarships Office at https://aas.hku.hk/list-of-major/ and https://aas.hku.hk/list-of-minor/ for further information on the requirements of difference major/minor options.