A. Purpose of the Award
1. Postgraduate awards in the form of studentships are allocated to full-time research postgraduate students (RPgs) of the University to provide them with financial assistance for their daily subsistence, tuition fees and other expenses that may incur during the course of their study. The studentship award is provided to ensure that RPgs need not concern themselves with looking for other sources of income to support themselves. Full-time RPgs should devote full efforts to their studies.
2. Awards given are based on academic merit and the suitability of the RPg for the proposed program of study, as is the selection of applicants for admission to postgraduate studies.
3. PGS awards may be funded by the University, research grant secured by faculty members, donations, or a combination of these.
B. Eligibility
Only full-time RPgs of the University are eligible to apply for PGSs. Applicants may simultaneously be recipients of government grants and loans, and these applicants will be treated like all others in the selection process. Holders of other scholarship awards may receive PGSs provided that this does not violate the terms and conditions of the other awards. The studentship is conditional on demonstrated competency in English that satisfies the RPg’s department.
C. Administration
The allocation and administration of PGSs to RPgs is the responsibility of the department the RPg is registered with.
D. Amount and Duration of the Awards
1. For RPgs admitted in the 2003/04 academic year, their PGS rate will normally be HK$13,500 a month in their first year of study. However, the actual PGS rate awarded to an RPg will be determined by his or her home department, following the three-point scale of $13,500, $14,000 and
$14,500 a month.
2. RPgs admitted before the 2002/03 academic year may continue to receive the flat PGS rate of $15,500 for the 2001/02 academic year until they complete their current program of study. Those admitted in the 2002/03 academic year may follow the three-point scale of $14,500,
$15,000 and $15,500 a month as determined by their home department until they complete their current program of study.
3. Single-room accommodation in the University Apartments will be provided to awardees of full PGS. Room rental will be deducted from the PGS award amount. Details of the accommodation arrangements can be obtained from the Student Affairs Office.
4. The University believes that campus living is a desirable part of postgraduate studies. In addition to having easy access to academic and research facilities, the opportunity to interact, in a residential environment, with peers not only stimulates learning but may also lead to long-term friendship and business associations. It also provides opportunities for RPgs to learn to live harmoniously with fellow students of different cultures and background.
5. PGS recipients, who because of extenuating circumstances, have to live off-campus may be given special assistance by the Student Affairs Office on a case-by-case basis.
6. A PGS award commences at the time when an RPg begins his or her studies at the University.
7. PGS may be offered, at the most, for one academic year only. Departments may extend awards to cover July and August, 2004. Awards for the 2004/05 academic year will be reviewed and offered before the beginning of Fall Semester, 2004/05, subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory performance of the awardees.
E. Other Conditions
1. PGS recipients are not employees of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and PGS award is not taxable income.
2. As the provision of PGS award is to ensure that subsistence living of recipients is covered, students should devote full-time efforts to their studies. Recipients of PGS awards should not, therefore, engage in employment, full-time or part-time, with the University or any other employer.
3. During Winter or Summer Sessions, with the approval of the department, a student may engage in full-time research assistantship work within the University. In such cases, the PGS will be temporarily suspended during the period of employment as a research assistant.
4. Non-local students are not allowed to work in Hong Kong, part-time or full-time, as stipulated by Hong Kong Immigration Regulation. They must not engage themselves in the type of employment described in E3 above.
5. Recipients of PGSs may be required to engage in ancillary duties related to teaching or research, which supplement their formal degree programs. The nature of these assignments may change from time to time according to need. However, they are limited to 36 effective hours per month on average, based on 10 months a year. “Effective hours” includes both contact hours and preparation time.
In the case of research-related duties, if the duties performed by an RPg is directly related to his or her own research focus or project, the 36-hour limit should not apply. Such duties are not considered to be “work” as mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
6. PGS recipients who are enrolled on research postgraduate programs may have three weeks’ leave in an academic year (1 September to 31 August). This leave is inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays that lie within the leave period. Those who arrive late will have their annual leave pro-rated. Unused leave for one year cannot be carried forward to the next academic year. The decision on whether or not a requested leave should be granted rests jointly with the thesis supervisor of the RPg and the departmental PG coordinator.
F. Termination
1. PGS recipients not performing satisfactorily in their program of study, including their ancillary duties, may lose their award, but normally with at least one month’s written notice given by his or her home department.
2. The award of PGS is conditional on the PGS recipient undertaking and continuing full-time postgraduate studies at HKUST. Unauthorized leave will result in the immediate cancellation of the PGS. One month’s advanced notice is not required in such circumstances.
3. The award of a PGS will cease in the month the recipient has completed his or her program of study at the University.