Visiting Postgraduate Students

Course Registration

Registration can be made in one of the following two modes:

• Regular Registration Mode
  Students are required to participate fully in the course, including attendance at lectures, tutorials and seminars and completion of coursework and examinations (if applicable). Those who successfully complete the course and fulfil the specific requirements set by the College/School/Department will earn the credit units for the course(s) and receive a Certificate of Completion. 
• Auditing Mode
  Students are required to attend lectures, tutorials and seminars only. Upon fulfilment of the attendance requirement for a particular course, the student will be issued a Certificate of Attendance but no credit units will be earned.

Credit Transfer

If a student subsequently gains admission to a relevant postgraduate programme, the credit units earned through the “Regular Registration Mode” can be transferred by submitting an application, subject to the following guidelines and the prevailing University's Academic Regulations:

1. credit transfer should be limited to a maximum of 30% of the total credit units for the award being pursued; and
2. grades from the transferred credits obtained through visiting postgraduate studies may be counted in the calculation of a student’s GPA for the award being pursued.

Medium of Instruction

Unless otherwise determined by the Senate for a specific course or programme, the medium of instruction and assessment at the University is English.

Certificates and Transcripts

For students registered under the “Regular Registration” mode, a Certificate of Completion* will be issued upon successful fulfilment of the course requirements. Students may also apply for an academic transcript indicating the course(s) and credit units taken, and the grade(s) achieved. A fee will be charged for transcript application.

For students registered under the “Auditing” mode, a Certificate of Attendance* will be issued upon fulfilment of the course attendance requirement, but no credit units will be given.

Both the Certificate of Completion and Certificate of Attendance are issued by the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies. Please click here for more information.  For academic transcripts, applications should also be made to the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies.

*Applicable to postgraduate-level courses only

Course Information and Class Schedule

Please refer to the list of courses available for visiting study below for course selection and the Course Information for reference. The course information for 2024/25 will normally be available from late July 2024. Prior to that time, applicants may refer to the course information in the preceding year for initial reference. Applicants are advised to check whether they fulfil the course pre-requisites, if any, before submitting their applications.

The class schedule for 2024/25 Academic Year is available from late July 2024. Applicants seeking to attend more than one course in a semester should check the class schedule before submitting an application or once the class schedule is available as mentioned above, to ensure there are no timetable clashes.   

Students who would like to arrange a credit transfer for visiting courses taken at the City University of Hong Kong are advised to check the acceptance of the course with their home university before submitting their applications. Once the admission offer is made and accepted by the applicant, no further changes can be made unless specific approval is obtained from the course-offering School/Department.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are charged on a credit basis. A course normally carries three credit units. For courses offered in Semester A and B 2024/25, the fee varies from HK$5,900 to about HK$11,150 per credit (except for some courses, e.g. EMBA/MBA courses, for which a higher tuition fee will be charged). The tuition fee will be indicated in the admission letter. Applicants will be required to pay the full course fee upon acceptance of an offer of admission. All tuition fees paid are non-refundable and non-transferable.

The University reserves the right to cancel any courses, in which case the tuition fee paid for those courses will be refunded.

Application Period

An academic year comprises Semester A, Semester B and Summer Term.

Non-Local Applicants (Please also refer to the “Points to Note for Non-local Applicants” section)

Since non-local applicants may take a longer time to prepare their arrival in Hong Kong, applications are accepted year round, but should be received by the following application deadlines. However, as the University’s class schedule may not be available at the time of application, applicants are advised to check the class schedule when available to avoid timetable clashes.

Local Applicants 

Application Procedures

Download forms here. (Requires Adobe Reader).

A non-refundable and non-transferable application fee of HK$500 is charged for each application (up to 10 courses on the same application). You may submit additional applications if you wish to register for more courses. Your provision of all the personal data requested in the application form is obligatory. Your application may not be considered if you fail to provide all information as requested or it is not clear from your statements that you have the minimum qualifications.

Students who would like to arrange a credit transfer for visiting courses taken at City University of Hong Kong are advised to check the course acceptability with their home university before submitting their applications. Once the admission offer is made and accepted by the applicant, no further changes can be made unless specific approval is obtained from the course-offering department.

Methods of Payment of Application Fee:

1. Local applicants:
   EITHER
   • by ATM transfer to the CityU’s Hang Seng Bank account (number 293-318028-003); or
   • by VISA or MasterCard (complete the “Application Fee” section of the application form). 
2. Applicants residing outside Hong Kong:
   EITHER
   • by VISA or MasterCard (complete the “Application Fee” section of the application form); or
   • by bank draft payable to “City University of Hong Kong” (if you submit more than one application form, a bank draft for the total fee amount is acceptable).

Please DO NOT send personal cheques or cash.

Application forms should be sent to the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies (Visiting Postgraduate Admissions), City University of Hong Kong, 4/F, Fong Yun-wah Building, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong with the following documents:

1. proof of payment of the application fee (the original ATM advice) or bank draft, and
2. true copies of academic transcripts certified by the issuing authority or certificates relevant to your application. Submitted documents will not be returned.

Use of Application Information

Application information including your HKID card/passport number will be used in the admission evaluation process. Upon your enrolment in the University, such information will become part of your student record and may be used for all purposes relating to your study in accordance with the procedures of the University.

In accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, you have the right of access to and the right of correction of the information contained in your application form, and the right to request a copy of such data. If you wish to obtain more information, please write to the write to the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies. You may be charged a fee for each request.

The application data relating to unsuccessful applicants will be destroyed at the end of the admission exercise.

Please refer to the University’s European Union and the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Privacy Notice that may be applicable to you.

Rules and Obligations

Visiting students’ studies are governed by the University’s Academic Regulations.

Upon completion of their studies, students are required to settle any loans and fines with the relevant department(s)/office(s) of the University, and return their student ID cards to the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies (Student Records).

Withdrawal of Study

Visiting students who wish to discontinue their studies should send written notification and return their student identity cards to the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies (Student Records). Any tuition fees paid will not be refunded for any reason.

Points to Note for Non-Local Applicants

• Persons holding the following documents issued by the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (IMMD) are classified as non-local students:

  • student visa / entry permit; or

  • visa / entry permit under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG Visa); or

  • dependant visa / entry permit who were aged 18 years old or above when they were issued with such visa / entry permit by IMMD.

• Persons who do not have the right of abode or right to land and wish to enter Hong Kong for the purpose of education are required by law to obtain a valid student visa/entry permit issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department before travelling to Hong Kong. Persons holding a “Permanent Hong Kong Identity Card” (as distinguished from a “Hong Kong Identity Card”), a full-time employment visa/work permit (for part-time study) issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department are NOT considered as non-local applicants. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain a valid student visa/entry permit before arrival, and to comply with the terms and conditions of the visa/entry permit. If you are unable to produce a valid student visa/entry permit, you will not be allowed to enrol in the course offered.
• For information about applying for a visa, please consult the website of the Hong Kong Immigration Department at www.immd.gov.hk. For assistance on student visa sponsorship, please visit the website of the Global Engagement Office at http://www.cityu.edu.hk/geo to find out the steps to follow.
• Because of visa restrictions, non-local visiting students are required to undertake a full-time study load of ≥12 credits (e.g., at least 4 courses of 3 credit units each) in semester A or B; at least 6 credit units in Summer Term (e.g., at least 2 courses of 3 credit units each).
• The class schedule for Semester B (January entry) and Summer Term (June entry) is normally available at the time of application. For admission in Semester A (September entry), applicants are advised to check the class schedule which is available in late July for course(s) offered to avoid timetabling clashes.
• It is MANDATORY for all non-local students to have suitable and adequate insurance, which should include but is not limited to travel, personal accident, medical expenses (accident and non-accident), hospitalisation and emergency evacuation/repatriation throughout the entire period of their studies in Hong Kong. You should arrange your own insurance before coming to Hong Kong. If you are unable to do so or would like additional coverage, you may purchase the insurance plan for non-local students arranged by the University. Further information is available at the website of our Global Engagement Office at http://www.cityu.edu.hk/geo/cns_healthninsur.htm. 
  Global Engagement Office:
  Phone: (852) 3442 8089  Email: geoins@cityu.edu.hk
  Fax: (852) 3442 0223  Website: http://www.cityu.edu.hk/geo

• Visiting Postgraduate Students are not eligible for on-campus student residence and should therefore arrange their own off-campus accommodation as early as possible before arrival in Hong Kong. Some basic information on off-campus accommodation in the market is available at http://www.cityu.edu.hk/sro/htm/e_off-campus.htm.
  For enquiries, please contact the Student Residence Office:
  Phone: (852) 3442 1111    Email: sro.offcampus@cityu.edu.hk
  Fax: (852) 2794 7716    Website: http://www.cityu.edu.hk/sro