HKUST welcomes you as an exchange student, for one term or one year. With so many courses offered, you will be able to design a study program that meets your interests and needs. You can further your major or minor discipline, or explore a totally different one. You are allowed to select undergraduate courses across faculties. As long as you meet prerequisite requirements and provided that there are seats available, you can normally take most undergraduate courses offered at HKUST. More information will be provided closer to the time of course selection. Before leaving home, check with your home institution on its credit transfer policy for the courses you plan to take at HKUST. EXCHANGE AT HKUST CHINESE LANGUAGE COURSES The HKUST Center for Language Education offers Cantonese and Putonghua courses for students from non-Chinese language backgrounds. Exchange students are welcome to enroll in these credit-bearing courses. Enrollment is free as the courses form part of HKUST’s academic programs. Alternatively, you can enroll in one of the non-credit bearing Cantonese or Putonghua courses on a fee-paying basis. These courses are meant for students who wish to pick up the local language at leisure. They do not offer credits and will not appear on your official HKUST transcript. ACADEMIC YEAR AND TERM DATES The academic year runs from September to August, with the Fall and Spring terms being the major terms. Exchange students can choose to study at HKUST for one or both terms. In addition, students interested in summer exchange at HKUST may enquire with your home institutions. Fall Term: Early September to late December Spring Term: Late January / early February to late May COURSE NUMBERING AND PREREQUISITES You can enroll in any undergraduate course as long as there are places available and you fulfill the course prerequisites and any other enrollment conditions prescribed for the course. Postgraduate level courses are usually not open for enrollment to undergraduate exchange students. CREDITS The Fall and Spring terms are each 13 weeks long. Most courses at HKUST are 3 credits, with three hours of lectures per week, totaling 39 lecture hours per term. The normal credit load is 15 credits each term. The minimum credit load is 12 credits (equivalent to 3 or 4 courses) and the maximum is 18 credits (equivalent to 5 or 6 courses). ASSESSMENT A two-week final examination period takes place at the end of the Fall and Spring terms. Exam schedules are normally announced in the middle of the term. The format of the exams will vary from course to course. HKUST uses a 4.3 grading scale, with letter grades, with Grade D being a marginal pass. The typical course assessment is based on a combination of items, which may include class participation, projects, labs, mid-terms and final exams. You should check with your home institution on its policy regarding the transfer of grades. TRANSCRIPT HKUST will issue electronic transcripts detailing the courses taken and the grades obtained. CREDIT TRANSFER Credit transfers are handled by your home institution in accordance to their policies. You should consult your home institution on this matter. 10 11
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