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HKUST FAQs | Learning More about our University Life

Language/语言:   English   简体中文
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By: Ken Deng   Published on 31 Aug. 2024 , Updated on 21 Oct. 2024

Approx. 4500 words, 19 mins

Do you know is HKUST an open campus to the public? Is it close to mountain⛰️ or sea🌊? In this article, I will tell you the secrets🔑 (FAQs) behind our university.

As mentioned in my other articles, university is quite different↔️ from high school. Students can learn more about our university life to be well-prepared.

I will share some common questions🙋‍♂️, my comprehensive answers💬 with some personal examples, and some useful links🔗 to our university website🌎.

Most questions below will only related to our Clear Water Bay (Hong Kong) campus.

Overview

In this FAQ, I will split into a number of categories, including:

  • Campus 🏫
  • University Living Matters 🏡
  • (New) IT Services 🖥️
  • Accommodation 🏘️
  • Study and Academics 🧑‍🎓
  • Extra-curricular Activities 🎉
  • Living in Hong Kong 🛍️

Latest Updates

I may update this page from time to time (throughout my university journey) for the latest information.

  • Discovered more study places (e.g., Computer Barn 🖥️, Engineering Commons 🎊)
  • Added another possible MTR station with buses to HKUST (Choi Hung)
  • Added information for university IT services (as an ITSC Student Helper)

Campus

Is HKUST an open campus?

Yes ✅

Our HKUST campus (Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong campus, since 1991) is an open campus👋 where everyone, including visitors and tourists, can enter.

We don’t❌ need to tap our university card🪪 when entering and leaving our campus.

HKUST Seafront

HKUST Seafront

However, the following places are not open to the public (university card required):

  • Library 📚
  • Learning Commons (Library LG1 Floor) 📝
  • Halls (Dormitories) 🏡
  • Sport Facilities 🏃
  • LG5 Student Amenities (for Student Societies) 🎉
  • Laboratories 🧪
  • Computer Barns (Room/Lab) 🖥️

HKUST Library LG5 Entrance

HKUST Library LG5 Entrance

Its Guangzhou Campus (since 2022) is not open and online visitor registration (via WeChat mini-app) is required.

Note: Clear Water Bay campus students may enter its Guangzhou campus using his/her university card.

Did you Know?

HKU (The University of Hong Kong) used to be an open campus.

Since 1 May 2024, however, it implemented Tourist Flow Management🚧 requiring online registration in advance (limited daily quota).

HKU Tourist Flow Management

HKU Tourist Flow Management

Therefore, there may be more visitors to our HKUST campus.

Another university with an open campus in Hong Kong is HKBU (Hong Kong Baptist University) near Kowloon Tong Station (Kwun Tong Line and East Rail Line).

Are there any open days?

Our university is already an open campus, but hidden facilities (like the Library and Laboratory) will also be open to the public on a day - Information Day.

It’s usually between September and November each year for Hong Kong universities.

Apart from the hidden facilities, there will be guides and activities🔍 for the public.

For more information, please be mindful of the Undergraduate Admissions page on the university website🌎 (hkust.edu.hk for HKUST) from August to October.

HKUST 2023 Information Day

How is the transportation at your university? Does it have metro (MTR) connected?

Unfortunately, our university isn’t close to a metro (MTR) station.

However, there are some MTR stations with direct bus routes to HKUST (fast with 10-min ride). For example:

  • Hang Hau (Tseung Kwan O Line) (closest, most commonly used)
  • Choi Hung (Kwun Tong Line)

Note: Fares (prices) shown below are for reference only and subject to change.

Closest MTR Stations to HKUST Campus

Closest MTR Stations to HKUST Campus

Buses to HKUST From Hang Hau Station (Exit from Exit B):

  • Bus: 91M ($6.8; to HKUST South Gate)
  • Minibus: 11 ($8.1; to HKUST South Gate)
  • Minibus: 11M ($6.0; to HKUST North Gate)

Direct Buses to HKUST from Hang Hau Station

Direct Buses to HKUST from Hang Hau Station

Buses to HKUST From Choi Hung Station (Exit from Exit C2):

  • Bus: 91M ($6.8; to HKUST North Gate)
  • Bus: 91 ($8.1; to HKUST North Gate)
  • Minibus: 11 ($8.1; to HKUST North Gate)

Direct Buses to HKUST from Choi Hung Station

Direct Buses to HKUST from Choi Hung Station

As well as bus stations, there are some Taxi Stands at campus gates.

For more information, you can look at the “Transportation” part in this article:

Read Article 

Common Mistake

Check the train directions carefully when taking MTR Tseung Kwan O Line back to HKUST Campus, whether to Po Lam (correct) or LOHAS Park (wrong).

Many students made a mistake:

Rushing onto the Tseung Kwan O Line train without checking directions, which may end up in LOHAS Park (NOT Hang Hau).

Common Mistake: Rushing into Train Without Checking Directions

Common Mistake: Rushing into Train Without Checking Directions

What are the differences between North and South Gates?

They are close to different campus buildings and different parts of Hong Kong.

The North Gate is close to the Red Sundial (an iconic sculpture of HKUST), Administrative Building, Academic Building, Library and Halls,
while the South Gate is close to LSK (Lee Shaw Kee) Building, CYT (Cheng Yu Tong) Building and Shaw Auditorium (for performances).

Both gates have Bus Stations (to different directions of Hong Kong) and Taxi Stand.

Personal Example

Personally, I use the North Gate more often as it’s closer to the Library and Halls.

HKUST North Gate Bus Stop & Taxi Stand

Is your campus close to a mountain or a sea?

Yes ✅

Our HKUST campus lies on a mountain⛰️ and is close to the sea🌊 (Port Shelter). It’s on the Eastern side of Hong Kong.

The two gates (North and South Gates) lie at the top of the mountain.

Whether in Academic Building, Library, Hall (Dormitory) or campus roads, there is always the seaside view.

I usually go down to Seafront enjoying the natural sound🔊, view🌊 and air💨 from the sea. Then climb up the mountain🏃 for daily exercise (my Daily Exercise Route).

My HKUST Daily Exercise Route

My HKUST Daily Exercise Route

Does your campus have tourist attractions or highlights?

Yes ✅

There are many things attracting visitors and tourists.

For example:

  • Red Sundial 🗼 near North Gate: An iconic sculpture of HKUST.
  • Observation Deck 🔭 near Atrium (North Gate): Enjoying the seaside view.
  • One-World Fountain ⛲️ near LG7 Restaurants: Enjoying the water flow like the Internet.
  • Seafront 🌊: Playing sports, enjoying fresh air and relaxing.

For more information, you can look at our university website.

HKUST Red Sundial & Seafront

Did you Know?

Like tourist attractions, some items might be simple (so many people may just glance at them) but have special meanings.

For example, at our university's Red Sundial🗼, we can see a Vertical Line between 2 and 3 (ideally) from the top⬇️ at 2:30 pm (14:30) during sunny weather☀️.

Vertical Line on HKUST Red Sundial at 2:30 pm

Vertical Line on HKUST Red Sundial at 2:30 pm

Are there any sports facilities on your campus? Are they free?

Yes ✅

Our university has a range of sports facilities (usually at Seafront). For example:

  • Table Tennis Room 🏓
  • Badminton/Tennis Court 🏸🎾
  • Playground 🏃⚽️
  • Swimming Pool 🏊

HKUST Playground (Fok Ying Tong Sports Center)

HKUST Playground (Fok Ying Tong Sports Center)

Unlike some other universities, our facilities are free💸, but we need to tap our university card🪪.

Moreover, we can book👆 them online (plus library rooms) in advance with our university account.

USThing Booking Function (Sport Facility & Library)

Does your campus have supermarkets and café?

Yes ✅

Our university has a range of facilities for students living on campus. For example:

  • Starbucks Coffee (near Atrium) ☕️
  • Pacific Coffee (in LSK (Lee Shau Kee) Building) ☕️
  • Fusion Supermarket (LG7) 🛒
  • 7-Eleven Convenience Store (LG5) 🛍️
  • 24-Hour Food Vending Machine (LG5, in McDonald’s) 🌯

HKUST Starbucks & Fusion Supermarket

Are there any student discounts in your university stores?

Yes ✅

Showing our university card🪪, we can enjoy some discounts:

  • Supermarket and Convenience Store: 5% off
  • Souvenir Shop: 10% off
  • Café: 30% off

Does your campus have ATMs for Banks?

Yes ✅

Our campus has ATMs🤑 (Automated Teller Machines) for BOCHK (Bank of China (Hong Kong)) and Hang Seng Bank.

Apart from the ATMs, there are also the branches of them.

What kind of food can you get from your university restaurants?

Our university has a range of restaurants with different types of food, from all-day American breakfast🍳, congee, noodle🍜, Guangzhou Morning Tea (e.g., Siu-Mai)🍵, Korean hambergers🍔, BBQ🍗, fried rice and hot dishes🥗 to Japanese Noodles🍝.

Our University Breakfast

Do your campus restaurants open continuously or only at specific time ranges?

Unlike high school, our university restaurants open continuously ⏳.

Major restaurants typically open between 07:30 and 21:00 (last order: 20:30), but some restaurants may close earlier (especially during weekends and holidays).

Please note that we separate Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner by some cut-off times:

  • Breakfast / Lunch: 11:00
  • Lunch / Afternoon Tea: 14:30
  • Afternoon Tea / Dinner: 17:00
Did you Know?

The cut-off time between Breakfast and Lunch in Mainland McDonald's is 10:30, but it's 11:00 in Hong Kong.

Personal Example

My high school 🏫 restaurants only open at 3 specific time ranges: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Do your campus restaurants support WeChat Pay or Alipay?

Yes ✅, but only in some of the restaurants.

They also support:

  • UnionPay QR Code
  • PayMe (by HSBC)
  • Hong Kong Octopus

Some other restaurants accept Octopus💳 as the only payment source.

As a university of science and technology, what high-tech applications🛠️ are there?

Focusing on Science and Technology, our university has been implementing a range of high-tech applications right on campus.

  • Path Advisor 🗺️
  • On-campus WiFi Connection (Number of People) Estimation System 🛜📊
  • Bus Station Waiting Time Estimation System (Image 1) 🚌📊
  • Smart Hall AC Meter (Image 2) 💨🎛️
  • Restaurant Pre-order 🌯🍽️
  • (Recently Discovered) Solar Panel at the Top of Buildings ☀️⚡️

Bus Station Estimation System & Hall A/C Meter

HKUST Building Top Hidden Solar Panels

University Living Matters

How do you get important notices and updates?

Well, email📩 is our primary source for the latest information, along with Canvas announcements📣 for courses.

After entering the university, we will get our university account with an email inbox📨 (under our university website’s domain name; e.g. @connect.ust.hk).

University Email Message

University Email Message

Apart from the emails, there are a lot of notice boards, from different departments, schools and student societies, on campus.

HKUST North Bus Station Notice Boards

HKUST North Bus Station Notice Boards

How do you check your grades, course enrolment, etc.?

We can check our information (like grades and course enrolment)📊 in our university systems with our university accounts.

Can you check the information (e.g., grades) right on your phone?

Yes ✅, but we usually check them using our university apps📲 (e.g., USThing, HKUST Student) as the original systems have much smaller fonts on phones.

Note: I am currently one of the leaders (formally Core Members; also member) of the USThing app development team🛠️ (on my website’s “About” page) making this app.

USThing App Academics Home Page

USThing App Academics Home Page

IT Services

As a university ITSC Student Helper (familiar with IT services), I will comprehensively answer questions in this section.

Are there any Printers or Scanners at your University? Do you need to pay for it?

Yes ✅

Our university has many Multi-Function Printers (MFPs) distributed around the campus (including dormitories (Halls)), including Printing🖨️, Scanning📄 and Copying📑 functions.

Campus Printers near LTD at HKUST

Campus Printers near LTD at HKUST

We have to pay for credits for printing and copying, depending on the paper size (A3 or A4) and colour mode (Black/White or Colour), but scanning (sending to university email📩 or USB drive🔌) is free.

Like our restaurants, it also supports WeChat Pay and Alipay📲.

At the beginning of each academic year, there are some free credits for printing (a.k.a. Carbon Count).

We need to swipe our university card🪪 to use the printers/scanners.

For more information, please look at our university ITSC department website.

Did you Know?

At our university, both single-sided and double-sided printings of the same paper size (A3/A4) share the same price.

This encourages students to save papers and trees by printing on both sides.

Are there any Computer Labs/Rooms at your University?

Yes ✅

Our university has some Computer Barns🖥️ provided by the ITSC department.

We can not only use the computers provided. There are also some large monitors🖥️ we can connect to our own laptop💻 (using HDMI/Type-C cables🔌).

Multi-Function Printers (MFPs) are available both inside and outside Computer Barns.

For more information, please look at our university ITSC department website.

Personal Example

Utilising the large screens, I can write program codes🧑‍💻 more easily and efficiently for web/app development.

Does your University have WiFi?

Yes ✅

The university WiFi is available everywhere✅ on campus, including dormitories (Halls)🛏️.

It's the "eduroam" WiFi🛜 (meaning Education Roaming) and we need to log in to our university account🪪 to connect to it.

Did you Know?

Apart from our university, we can also connect to the "eduroam" WiFi at other universities, especially when doing visiting or exchange✈️.

Caution

Unlike regular WiFi with password only🔐, our university WiFi uses enterprise-grade security.

This means we need not only our username (or email address) but also the passwords.

Accommodation

Is the accommodation guaranteed?

Yes ✅, but it’s only guaranteed in the first 2 years (non-local students).

Since Year 3, only the selected students, using lottery🔖, will be offered Hall places.

For more information, please look at the SHRLO (Student Housing & Residential Life Office) website.

Did you Know?

If you are not offered a Hall (or do not apply to Halls), SHRLO also offers you guidance💡 for off-campus housing🏘️ in Hong Kong.

Does your Hall have designated sleeping hours with lights off?

No ❌

Unlike high schools, our university Halls will not force students to turn off lights at a specific time.

This means we can turn on our desk lamp🛋️ overnight✅🌙 if we are more than busy.

However, it has its Quiet Hours (11 pm to 7 am) when we should not make noise🤫.

The Hall gates open 24 hours a day. This means you can go back and exit at any time, including midnight and noon.

Also, there are no restrictions on the latest get-up time and the latest time leaving Hall.

Are the Halls on campus?

Yes ✅

Unlike some other universities, our Halls are majorly within the campus itself🏫 close to the Academic Building.

Some of our Halls have a direct connection with bridges🌉 and roofs☔️ to the Academic Building. This means we may not need an umbrella during rainy and foggy weather.

Did you Know?

As well as our campus, there are many bridges connecting among different buildings in Hong Kong.

HKUST Bridge Link between Academic Building and Halls

What are typically inside the Halls?

It depends on each Hall and room type. Each Hall has slightly different facilities.

They typically have Common Rooms (close to the sea🌊) on each floor with desks🛋️, refrigerators❄️, water fountains💧🥤 and microwaves♨️.

Inside each room, there is a desk🛋️, notice board📌, bookshelf📚 and wardrobe👕 beside each bed.

Apart from that, each room also has an air-conditioning (AC; paid)🌬️, fan🪭 and small refrigerator🧊.

Some Halls also have fitness equipment🚴, pianos🎹 and big self-study rooms✍️.

HKUST Hall I Top Entrance & Bridge Link

HKUST Hall I Top Entrance & Bridge Link

Do your Halls have WiFi?

Yes ✅

Our university campus WiFi🛜 is also available in Hall rooms.

Do you need to pay for Air Conditioning, refrigerators, microwaves and laundry?

Generally Yes ✅, but refrigerators and microwaves are free.

We have to pay💸 for Air Conditioning🌬️ and Laundry🧺🫧 separately on our university online systems.

The cost of both depends on the number of minutes used and their types.

Like our restaurants, it also supports WeChat Pay, Alipay📲 and UnionPay bank cards💳.

Do you need to apply to Halls every term or year?

We apply to halls every single year, like:

  • around June to August for new students
  • around March to April for current students (both Regular and Summer Terms)

The times may vary each year. We should check our emails📩 and university notice boards and apply before the deadline.

When can you start living in your Hall?

The Hall check-in time is usually at the end of August, several days before the start of the Fall Term and a new Academic Year.

Do you need to check out Halls manually?

Yes ✅

Like hotels, we have to manually check out Halls at the end of the Spring Term (usually at the start of June).

The check-out deadline is usually several days after the last final exam.

Do you need to check out your Hall after the Fall Term (before Winter)?

Generally No ❌

If we have the Hall offer for the whole Residential Year (Regular Terms), we don’t need to check out our Hall after the Fall Term (around the start of January). We can leave our belongings inside our Hall in Winter.

The Hall will generally be valid✅ until the end of the Spring Term (around the start of June). We can also live in the Hall throughout the Winter Term/Vacation.

However, the Hall fee is paid for each Regular (Fall/Spring) Term. We need to check our email inbox📨 and pay the Hall fee for the Spring Term during the Winter Term.

Study and Academics

Are electronic devices allowed at your university?

Yes ✅

There are no restrictions for using electronic devices (phones, iPad, laptops, etc.) and they are necessary for some courses.

Also, using phones is generally allowed📲✅ in most lessons.

Where can you self-study on campus?

At our university, we have many choices☑️ for self-study places. For example:

  • Library 📚
  • Learning Commons ✍️ (Library LG1 Floor; opens 24 hours) (most commonly used)
  • Student Center (opens 24 hours; opened from Nov. 2023)
  • Starbucks Coffee ☕️ (connecting to Student Center)
  • Shaw Auditorium 🥳 (1/F and 2/F)
  • Computer Barn 🖥️
  • Engineering Commons (for Engineering School Students) 🎊
  • Hall (dormitory) 🏢

Self-study Places at HKUST (Library, Learning Commons)

Are there administrative classes at your university?

No ❌

We don’t have administrative classes, unlike high schools🏫.

We choose courses based on our graduation requirements and interests. This means different students have different courses and sections (classes).

How many terms do you have each academic year?

Like high schools, we have two regular terms: Fall Term (usually begins in September) and Spring Term (in February).

Apart from regular terms, there are also two optional terms: Winter Term and Summer Term.

They are optional, which means we can choose not to enroll on any course. For example, if we have internships, summer schools or other plans.

For more information, please look at our university Academic Calendar.

Personal Example

Due to my driving learning🚙🛞 and exams (for a Driving License)🪪 and other plans, I didn’t enroll in any course in the Year 1 Winter and Summer Terms.

Do you need to pay separately for Winter/Summer terms? Are there extra cost?

No ❌

We don’t need to pay and there are no extra costs for Winter and Summer terms, regardless of whether we take courses.

We pay our tuition fee before Fall and Spring terms, which includes courses during irregular terms.

Are the majors decided in Year 1 or university application? When are they decided?

Typically, we choose a school/program in admission first.

Then we take fundamental courses and choose some majors in our Year 1 journey based on our interests.

At the end of our Year 1 journey, we will have a major based on our Year 1 academic performance, which is Major Selection Exercise.

Our university has 5 schools:

  • SSCI: School of Science
  • SENG: School of Engineering (my school)
  • SBM: School of Business & Management
  • SHSS: School of Humanities & Social Science
  • AIS: Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies
Personal Example

I study in the School of Engineering (SENG).

In Year 1, I picked the following majors, in our university system, as my first 3 choices:

  • Computer Science (COMP)
  • Computer Engineering (CPEG)
  • Electrical Engineering (ELEC)

Based on my Year 1 academic performance (Best 24 credits for SENG), I was offered Computer Science (COMP) major, as shown on my website’s About page.

How do you choose courses? Do you need to choose as early as possible?

We can look at the course descriptions, check graduation requirements and choose courses right on our university systems.

Yes ✅. We need to enroll in courses early (before each term) as they have limited quotas.

But don’t worry. You will be at the front of the waitlist as possible when it’s full (the earlier you enroll).

We can look at the Class Schedule & Quota board (with our university accounts) to learn more.

Class Schedule & Quota Board

Class Schedule & Quota Board

Can you add or drop courses after the term starts?

Yes ✅

There is an add/drop period of around 14 days after the start of each term.

The course decisions for this term will be final once this period ends.

What are credits?

Credits measure the value of each course. Each course is typically worth 3 to 5 credits.

It’s usually used in:

  • Graduation Requirements Calculation (like 120 total credits)
  • GPA (Grade Point Average; e.g., CGA, TGA and MCGA) Calculation

As well as earning credits by taking courses, we can also transfer credits from courses learned outside our university.

What is credit transfer?

If we already took equivalent courses outside HKUST (our university), we can get a Credit Transfer so that we will not need to take it again.

For example:

  • courses (official exams) taken in high school (A Level, IB, etc.)
  • courses taken in other universities/colleges during exchange

For more information, please look at our university Academic Registry website.

Personal Example

I took A Level as my high school curriculum with the following courses (official grades B or above (A*, A or B)):

  • Mathematics (9709) (to MATH1003: 3 credits)
  • Further Mathematics (9231) (to MATH1013: 3 credits)
  • Physics (9702) (non-transferrable)
  • Computer Science (9618) (to COMP1001: 3 credits)

The bracket shows the equivalent course with credits transferred (grade: T).

When do you typically start and end your lessons every day?

It depends on everyone’s courses chosen and schedule.

Generally speaking, the earliest possible time for a lesson is 9 am. We usually call those students with their first lesson at 9 am “早九” in Chinese.

According to my personal experience, the last lesson may not go beyond 8 pm.

My Personalised Schedule:

My Personalised Schedule (Public Version)

My Personalised Schedule (Public Version)

Did you Know?

Just before 9 am, many students wait for lifts from the Hall area to the academic building.

How many hours do you have lessons and study every day?

It depends on everyone’s schedule, course enrolment and extra-curricular activities.

Personal Example

For me, personally, every weekday on average (for reference only):

  • Lessons: 4 hours
  • Homework and Projects: 2 to 4 hours
  • Extra-curricular Activities: 2 to 4 hours

How can you find classrooms?

The classrooms depend on courses chosen and are shown in our personal schedule.

We can follow the lift signs, head to the correct floor and find the room number.

Lift Lobbies (13-15; 17-18) at our University

Moreover, HKUST is special for its advanced technology, including Path Advisor helping students find classrooms more easily.

HKUST Path Advisor to LTE

HKUST Path Advisor to LTE

Are all lessons/lectures compulsory?

It depends on each course as stated in their descriptions/notes.

At our university, there are many lesson types including:

  • Lecture (L)
  • Tutorial (T)
  • Lab (LA)

Lectures (L) are generally not compulsory without attendance and will not affect grades. This means there is no penalty for being late or leaving early or being absent.

However, tutorials (T) and labs (LA) are generally compulsory which can affect grades.

Personal Example

One of my courses (ELEC1100: Robot Design Fundamentals) is special for its pop-up online quiz in lectures and tutorials (worth 10% of the final grade).

This means lectures and tutorials are compulsory for this course.

“Alright! This is the end of our lecture and we have quiz. Please take out your phone or iPad.”

HKUST Lecture Theatre (LT)

HKUST Lecture Theatre (LT)

Can you download lecture notes in advance?

Generally Yes ✅, but it depends on each course.

For most courses, the lecture notes are only released several days before that lecture.

We can download them on the Canvas system.

Are there any recordings if you miss a lesson?

Generally Yes ✅

The non-compulsory lesson recordings will generally be released several days after that lesson.

Do you have assignments/homework every day?

Generally No ❌

We don’t have assignments too frequently. Instead, depending on each course, each assignment typically lasts for 3 days to 2 weeks.

Each assignment has a deadline (due date) and we should finish it early.

Do Assignments at Any Time

Do Assignments at Any Time

How do you submit your assignments/homework?

Generally, we both download and submit homework documents (usually in PDF, image or Word formats) on the Canvas system.

However, some courses have their separate homework systems. For example:

  • MATH1013/1014: WeBWorK
  • PHYS1112/1114: Pearson
  • COMP2011/2012: ZINC
Did you Know?

We use a course management system, Canvas, managing the course materials, including:

  • assignments/homework handout and submission
  • lecture, tutorial and lab notes/files
  • announcements (like exam schedule and venues)
  • grades check

What will happen if you don’t do your assignment?

Unlike high schools with some penalties, it will only affect your final grade (0% score for that assignment) at university if you do not submit it by the deadline.

For some courses, late submission only deducts partial marks (the system will not close at the deadline), depending on the policy for each course.

For example (Course 2 in the image below), 1% extra will be deducted for every minute late until 0% (i.e., 100 mins late).

Late Penalty for University Assignments

Late Penalty for University Assignments

Caution

Please note that no one will remind or push you for your assignments at university. You should always be mindful of your deadlines.

Are the (final) exam venues on campus?

Yes ✅

Written exams are typically held right on campus, unlike some other universities.

The exam venue can be in lecture theatres (LTs), small classrooms, sports halls, etc. on campus.

How many credits can you take each term?

We can take 12 to 18 credits (both inclusive) in each regular term (Fall/Spring). It's much lower in Winter/Summer Terms.

However, if we want to study more, we can apply for Credit Overload (more than 18 credits) in the university system.

How are course grades calculated?

Each course typically comes with letter grades at the end of each term, ranging from A+ (4.3) to F (Fail; 0.0)

After each term, the university also calculates GPA (Grade Point Average) ranging from 0.000 to 4.300 keeping 3 decimal places (3 d.p.), including:

  • CGA (Cumulative Grade Average) for ALL courses throughout our university journey
  • TGA (Term Grade Average) for the courses during this term
  • MCGA (Major Cumulative Grade Average) for the courses satisfying major requirements

For more information, please look at our university’s Academic Regulations (UG).

Apart from course grades, can you check grades separately for each exam/assignment?

Yes ✅

We can check them, including grades for quizzes (if any), midterm and final exams, in the Grades section on the Canvas system.

Apart from checking grades, there may be some paper-checking sessions where we can check our exam papers (no photos or takeaway) and appeal if necessary.

What can be affected based on grades/GPA?

Some opportunities have minimum GPA requirements. For example:

  • SENG Ambassador or Peer Mentor: CGA >= 2.300
  • COMP Teaching Assistant (UGTA): CGA >= 3.300
  • Admission Scholarship Renewal: CGA >= 3.000
  • Scholarships: CGA >= 3.500, 3.700, etc. (may vary)

At the end of our university study journey, we can get different honor levels of degrees based on our GPAs.

In addition, students with TGA 3.700 or above can be put on the Dean’s List.

What will happen if your GPA is too low?

Generally speaking, there are some restrictions if you have a very low GPA.

You may not be able to enjoy some opportunities with minimum CGA requirements.

There are also some penalties, checked at the end of each regular term, including:

  • Academic Warning: CGA or TGA < 1.700
  • Academic Probation: CGA < 1.500 (ends once CGA rises to 1.500 or above)
  • Academic Dismissal: Academic Probation for over 3 continuous Regular (Fall & Spring) Terms where the CGA were always below 1.500

For more information, please look at our university’s Academic Regulations (UG).

Do you need Chinese skills to study at your university?

Generally No ❌

We majorly use English in teaching, learning, assignments and exams.

However:

  • There is a Common Core course (for UG students) under Chinese Communication category: Putonghua, as a graduation requirement
  • We may use Cantonese in our daily life (like restaurants, Halls and student societies by Hong Kong locals)

Extra-curricular Activities

Are there regular extra-currlcular events at your university?

Yes ✅

There is a range of events in different places on campus, including:

  • Student Society/Union Recruitment: first 1 to 2 weeks of each term
  • Career Mosaic (finding jobs and companies): several weeks later
  • Study Abroad Week

We need to be mindful of our university emails and notice boards.

Student Society Recruitment & Career Mosaic

What kinds of opportunities can you apply at your university?

We can join a range of opportunities, but many of them care about our past experiences like academics, programming, leadership and team building.

They majorly require a CV (resumé, like Personal Statement) checking your past experiences. Some of them also include Admission Tests and Interviews.

  • Global Learning (e.g. Exchange)🔄,
  • Internship/Job opportunities,
  • Entrepreneurship🤵,
  • Student society/club,
  • Student ambassador📣/helper,
  • Research🔬,
  • Project making (like USEL (Undergraduate Student-initiated Experimental Learning) at our university),
  • Competition.
Tip

"Regardless of the results, every single application brings you a wonderful experience." (from my Friendly Words)

Can you apply for internships or jobs?

Yes ✅

There is a range of internships and job opportunities.

Our university has some internship positions, such as UGTA (Teaching Assistant), Student Helper, etc.

However, we can only work for up to 10 hours per week on average on Regular (Fall/Spring) Terms (all paid work combined).

Apart from the on-campus internship, we can also find internships and jobs from various companies through the university Career Center website (Job Board; with our university account) and during the Career Mosaic event.

Living in Hong Kong

What is Octopus in Hong Kong?

Octopus is a multi-function card (which now can be integrated into phones using NFC) with many purposes and money topped up.

It’s not only a transportation card. Apart from transportation (like bus and MTR), it can also be used for general small payments (up to HK$3,000), whether in shops, restaurants, etc., like a small “bank card”.

Hong Kong Octopus Card

Hong Kong Octopus Card

Where can you top up your Hong Kong Octopus?

At university, it is convenient that we can top-up our Octopus right on campus, at the 7-Eleven Convenience Store (LG5 Floor).

This means we don’t need to top up at the MTR Custom Service Centre.

Apart from that, we can use the Octopus app to top up with the Hong Kong bank account.

HKUST 7-Eleven Convenience Store

HKUST 7-Eleven Convenience Store

Are there university student discounts for Hong Kong transportation?

Yes ✅, but only in the metro (MTR).

We have to apply for a Student Octopus (usually at the start of each academic year, to be renewed every year) to enjoy this discount.

However, there are majorly no student discounts (i.e., full adult fare) for buses (including mini-buses).

Is a Hong Kong local phone number and bank account necessary?

Yes ✅

They are necessary in our university journey.

Most application forms only accept 8-digit Hong Kong local phone numbers.

We also need a local bank account for some payments and refunds (like internship salary payment).

Are there free WiFi in Hong Kong?

Yes ✅, but public free WiFis generally have time limits (like 30 minutes a day) in Hong Kong.

However, there are some free WiFis (no time limits) exclusively for Hong Kong university students in major shopping malls, including:

  • Universities via CSL
  • Universities via Y5ZONE

Like our university campus WiFi, we can log in as usual with our university account.

For more information, please look at our university ITSC website.

Where can you buy Computer Accessories in Hong Kong?

There are many places we can buy computer-related things.

For example, in the Computer Centre at Wan Chai or Sham Shui Po.

Apart from that, there is also an Apple Store at Kwun Tong, the closest one to our HKUST campus.

Computer Accessories (e.g., Wireless Charging) in my Hall

Computer Accessories (e.g., Wireless Charging) in my Hall

Which map do you usually use in Hong Kong?

In Hong Kong, we use Google Maps.

Still have questions?

If you still have questions or can't understand this article, you can contact (and chat with) me via email asking me🙋 further questions💬.

Disclaimer

1. Related Knowledge displayed in this article is for ease-of-understanding only. I cannot ensure that they are 100% correct.

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