5.1 Definition
Enrollment in programs involves payment of tuition and other prescribed fees where appropriate and completion of the registration process.
Failure to enroll in the program in any regular term will result in automatic withdrawal from the program and the University, unless a formal approval of Leave from Study has been obtained (see Section 5.7).
Moreover, a student must be officially registered in the program in the regular term when the student is being considered for graduation from that program.
5.2 Double Registration
Unless prior permission from the Director of Academic Records and Registration is obtained, students are not permitted to concurrently register for another program at this University or at another local/non-local tertiary institution. If students are found to be registered elsewhere without seeking prior approval, they will normally be required to discontinue their study at this University.
Students who wish to apply for simultaneous registration are required to submit an “Application for Double Registration” (form RR-29)* to the Academic Records and Registration Office (ARRO) together with appropriate documentary evidence. Students will be notified of the result of the application in writing.
5.3 Late Registration
Non-local postgraduate students admitted to the University in a particular academic year must complete registration in their programs by the end of the add/drop period in the Fall or Spring Term. Under special circumstances, students may apply in writing to ARRO via the department for late program registration for the term concerned.
Registration in Programs
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5.4 Mode of Study
Most postgraduate programs are available on both full-time and part-time basis. The taught programs leading to the EMBA, MA, MBA and MSc degrees, as well as graduate diplomas, are suitable for students interested in part-time study.
Students may apply to their home department, prior to the beginning of a regular term, for transfer from full-time to part-time status or vice versa.
When such a transfer is allowed, the remaining program requirements will be determined.
Full-time students in taught programs are expected to be in attendance during those terms for which their programs are scheduled. For part-time students, attendance shall be as above except on a part-part-time basis as defined by the requirements of their programs of study.
5.5 Study Commitment
Students admitted to a full-time program are expected to study full-time for their programs, and are cautioned that outside work commitments may impede their academic performance.
Full-time taught postgraduate students may not engage in part-time employment for more than 10 hours per week in regular term. They may apply for taking up study-related internship, of no more than 20 hours per week throughout the year, subject to the prior approval of the program director. For exceptional cases involving internship work of more than 20 hours per week, case-by-case approval has to be obtained from the program director, Associate Dean (PG), and the Office of Postgraduate Studies.
5.6 Duration of Study
The normative period of study for the part-time graduate diploma programs is one year and a half. For the full-time graduate diploma programs, the normative period of study is half a year to one year.
The normative period of study for the full-time taught master’s programs is one or one-and-a-half years as specified by individual programs. For part-time taught master’s programs, students may expect to take twice the time of full-time students.
The maximum time allowed for degree completion is five years for a master’s degree. The maximum period of study for a graduate diploma program is three years. Time limits for part-time study are the same as for full-time study. The time limits are in effect whether or not the student is in continuous registration. That is, period of approved Leave from Study (see Section 5.7), and suspension period are also counted toward the maximum time allowed for degree completion.
5.7 Leave from Study
Students are discouraged from interrupting their program of study. In exceptional circumstances with sufficient justifications, students may apply for Leave from Study for one regular term, subject to approval of the major department. Applications for Leave from Study for two consecutive regular terms require the approval of the school.
Applications for Leave from Study for more than two consecutive regular terms will normally not be considered. Any exception to this rule requires the approval of the Office of Postgraduate Studies.
The approved period of Leave from Study will be counted towards the time limit for completion of the program being pursued (see Section 5.6).
To apply for Leave from Study, students should submit an “Application for Leave from Study” (form RR-8a)* together with the appropriate supporting documents to the department for approval before the start of the proposed leave period.
5.8 Change of Registration
A student may change from one program of study to another with the permission of the major department to which the student wishes to transfer. If a transfer is approved, that department will determine which credits from the student's former program apply to the new program.
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Normally, the transfer will not be effected until the following regular term. Students who wish to transfer to another program of study in the middle of a term should obtain the prior approval of the major department and the Dean or the Dean’s designate. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, requests for program transfers to be effected in the middle of a term are not supported.
For students who have transferred from one program of study to another, the maximum time for degree completion will be counted from the first day of registration at the University.
To apply for program transfer, students are required to submit an
“Application for Program Transfer” (form RR-6a)* to the receiving department for consideration.
5.9 Registration Beyond Program Completion
Students who have completed their program requirements are not allowed to continue their registration for the same program of study in subsequent terms.
5.10 Withdrawal from the University
Students who withdraw or are required to withdraw from the University must complete clearance procedures as specified by the Director of Academic Records and Registration. Only those who have completed the formal procedures for withdrawal will be entitled to receive refund of caution money and a free copy of the transcript.
To apply for withdrawal and refund of caution money, students should complete and return the “Application for Withdrawal of Study” (form RR-12)* form to ARRO.
* All forms are downloadable from the ARRO website under the section “Useful Information and Forms” at
http://arr.ust.hk/reg/in/in_forms/forms_std_student/forms_std_student.html.