Frequently Asked Questions

The University does not have any academic entry requirements for most of its distance learning programmes. Admission is open to anyone in Hong Kong over the age of 17.

You should note, however, that some of the programmes, especially those in the areas of education and nursing, are designed for people already holding certain qualifications. In addition, each programme in postgraduate level stipulates its own programme-specific entry requirements.

To find out if there are any entry requirements to a programme, you could browse the programme page.

Yes. If you think you need further study in languages to enable you to complete HKMU courses satisfactorily, you may decide to take the following Language Enhancement courses:

1000-level:

• ENGL 1070EED — English for Post-secondary Study
• ENGL 1110EED — English for Effective Communication I: Listening and Speaking
• ENGL 1120EED — English for Effective Communication I: Reading and Writing

2000-level:

• ENGL 2200EED — English for Effective Communication II: Reading and Writing
• ENGL 2205EED — Preparing for IELTS
• ENGL 2210EED — English for Effective Communication II: Listening and Speaking

There are also enhancement courses for Chinese and Putonghua languages. These include:

• CHIN 2280ECD — Applied Chinese
• PTH 1150ECD — Foundation Putonghua
• PTH 2250ECD — Effective Use of Putonghua

These courses are at the University level. Credit-units gained from completing them may be counted towards the free choice credit-unit component that is a feature of most of our programme designs.

The University offers programmes leading to sub-degree (i.e. certificate, diploma, higher diploma and associate degree) and Bachelor’s degree qualifications in Arts, Social Sciences, Business, Education, Nursing, and Science, etc. Master’s degrees are also available in certain areas. You may browse admissions.hkmu.edu.hk/dl/programmes for more details.

First of all, you may study courses in any of the programmes. If your particular interests or career requirements are not met by one of the University’s named programmes, you may decide to aim for the award of a Bachelor of General Studies (BGST) or Associate of General Studies (AGST). These two programmes offer students the opportunity to construct their own programmes of studies within the framework of their programme requirements.

For further information and advice, an application form requesting BGST or AGST academic support is available for download via these links below:

Requesting for academic support of AGST
Requesting for academic support of BGST

Yes. You should be aware, however, that when you change your programme of study, the programme regulations/requirements may also be changed. Therefore, the courses that you have already completed, and the credits you have obtained by examination or advanced standing/credit exemption, may not be counted towards the newly-chosen programme.

Please note that continuing students applying to the distance learning programmes or postgraduate programmes with specific entry requirements shall pay the application fee of HK$300. Graduates of the University who have already obtained a qualification awarded by the University or graduates of LIPACE high diploma will be given a waiver of the application fee when they apply to such programmes.

There will be no application fee incurred for continuing students who apply to change a programme of study that has no specific entry requirements.

Each course code carries a ‘subject’ to indicate the area of ‘academic discipline’, ‘offering school’, ‘course level’ and ‘medium of instruction’. Please see example below.

Course Code under the 5-credit system
Course code: ACT B415

A course code with a suffix ‘C’ indicates that Chinese is used as the medium of instruction; a suffix ‘B’ indicates the course is bilingual; all others are in English. A suffix ‘F’ indicates the course is delivered mainly in the face-to-face mode; a suffix ‘W’ indicates e-learning mode.

*Some courses may have no credit value attached to them. The course code of these courses also starts with ‘0’.

Course Code under the 3-credit-unit system
Course code: BUS 1000BED

The first four-digit number indicates the course level: 1XXX (1000-level), 2XXX, 3XXX, 4XXX, 8XXX. The 5th letter indicates the School (A / B / E / N / S). The 6th letter indicates medium of instruction (E: English, C: Chinese, B: Bilingual). The 7th letter indicates the mode (D: Distance Learning, F: Face-to-Face, W: Blended / e-Learning).

The academic year starts with the Autumn term in early September followed by the Spring term beginning in mid-January when most courses are offered. Some courses will be offered in Summer term which starts in late May.

The duration of a one-term and a two-term distance learning course consists of 16 study weeks and 32 study weeks respectively, both will be followed by a three-week examination period.

It is worth noting that two-term courses starting in Spring term usually involve a 12-week summer break* after the first 19 study weeks. They will then continue with a further 16 weeks of learning in the following Autumn term.

For postgraduate programmes delivered in face-to-face mode, each of the Autumn and Spring terms consists of 15 study weeks and a 3-week examination period, whereas the Summer term consists of 12 study weeks and a 2-week examination period.

For details, you may refer to the current academic calendars.

*May not be applicable to some programmes/courses which have teaching activities in Summer term.

As a distance learning student, you have the flexibility to manage your own study pace, except for a few specific programmes in the professional areas such as education and nursing.

If you are a new student studying a distance learning programme, we advise you to start with a course at 1000-level under the 3-credit-unit system. Courses at this level are designed to help you re-establish good study habits. Most of the University’s course materials and set books are also available for reference in the University’s libraries and at some public libraries. However, if you wish to apply for Advanced Standing, you are advised to contact the Advanced Standing Team of the Registry first before course enrolment (Tel: 2768 6624, Email: regaso@hkmu.edu.hk).

You should make reference to the respective programme regulations/requirements each time before course enrolment to ensure that sufficient and appropriate credits/credit-units are obtained for the programme awarded.

Usually, the course registration periods for different terms are:

• Autumn term: June to July
• Spring term: November to December
• Summer term: March to May

Some programmes/courses may have a different offering schedule due to availability of study activities or academic planning of the School concerned.

It depends on the number of credits/credit-units the course carries, and whether you are familiar with studying by distance learning.

In general, no, but remember that there may be advisory prerequisites or compulsory prerequisites for taking certain courses. You should also note that some degree programmes require mandatory successful completion of certain courses to qualify for an award.

New students or students entering distance learning postgraduate programmes for the first time can register for courses with a total maximum registration value of 15 (under the 5-credit system) or 12 (under the 3-credit-unit system). For continuing students, the maximum registration value is 30 and 24 respectively.

The registration value of a course is the credit value of the course divided by the number of terms it takes to complete. It is an indication of a student’s study load. For example, under the 5-credit system, a 20-credit course of two terms’ duration has a registration value of 10, while a 5-credit course of one term’s duration has a registration value of 5; under the 3-credit-unit system, an 18-credit-unit course of two terms’ duration has a registration value of 9, while a 3-credit-unit course of one term’s duration has a registration value of 3.

Prior approval is required from the Dean of the School concerned in order to exceed these limits.

Examinations are normally held in December/January, May/June and August. The examination timetable will be announced to students by email and on the University Website (Current Students) approximately 6 weeks prior to the start of examination period concerned; whereas student in confinement will be informed by mail. You may also view the current academic calendars for examination period.

With the exception of programmes being phased-out or some professional programmes, most of our distance learning programmes set no restrictions on how long you can take to complete your qualification. If you wish, you may take a break of any length after completing a course, and resume your study in a future term.

Under the 5-credit system, if you study for the maximum of 15 registration value in the first term, and 20 registration value in the following terms, the approximate time you would need to obtain a 120-credit ordinary degree would be three and a half years (the time would be shorter if you achieve advanced standing/credit exemption/study through pathway). In general, you are expected to study between 30 to 40 hours a week for a 20-registration-value study load. This would be similar to being a full-time student. For students who may have full-time jobs, they may tend to spread the study load for a degree over a period of five to six years.

Under the 3-credit-unit system, if you study for the maximum of 12 registration value in the first term, and 15 registration value in the following terms, the approximate time you would need to obtain a 90-credit-unit ordinary degree would be three and a half years (the time would be shorter if you achieve advanced standing/credit exemption/study through pathway). In general, you are expected to study between 30 to 40 hours a week for a 15-registration-value study load.

With the exception of programmes being phased-out or some professional programmes, most of our distance learning programmes set no restrictions on how long you can take to complete your qualification. If you wish, you may take a break of any length after completing a course, and resume your study in a future term.

As the University is migrating from a 5-credit system to a 3-credit-unit system, courses under the 5-credit system will be phasing out in the coming years. You are strongly advised to adhere to the Recommended Course Enrolment Plan and Programme Regulations to facilitate your completion of the programme before last conferment date.

No. One of the advantages of distance learning is that you can set your own objectives and goals. The University offers multiple certified exit points through its articulated sub-degree programmes.

To strengthen environmental awareness in alignment with the University’s ESG policy, the University will provide only free electronic versions of Course Materials to students starting from the 2025 Autumn Term. Students studying in distance learning mode can access Course Materials electronically via the Online Learning Environment (OLE). The Course Materials contain specially structured learning materials such as Study Units, assignment questions and other supplementary materials. The University also makes use of other media, such as video and audio programmes, computer software, and online learning tools to enrich students’ learning experience. For students who prefer receiving printed versions of the complete set of Course Booklets (mainly Study Units, Study Guides, etc.), they can utilise the University’s Print-on-demand (POD) service. Please be aware that using the POD service will incur printing and mailing fees. For further details, please refer to the Course Material Distribution webpage for Distance Learning Programmes.

Electronic Library resources are available for access 24 hours daily. When registering the distance learning courses, you can choose your tutorial group which are run by tutors who will provide teaching comments and advice on your assignments and is available by telephone to answer your queries (during designated timeslot set by tutors). Your tutor will also run optional tutorials and/or surgery sessions, etc. on weekday evenings or at weekends. Students studying postgraduate courses delivered in face-to-face mode will have more frequent and regular class sessions.

To support students in mastering the fundamental competencies required for academic achievement, a set of interactive self-learning materials has been developed, covering academic honesty, active reading, note-taking, essay writing, presentation and examination skills. Students can visit ole.hkmu.edu.hk/courses/study_skills for more information and to begin their learning journey.

Most courses have an end-of-course written examinations, your result in a course will depend on your performance in both the continuous assessment and the examination, and in some cases, the required attendance at the compulsory day schools or laboratory sessions.

An email account will be provided to all students. All academic and administrative information will be sent to the student’s university email account as far as applicable. This includes information about the student’s programme and courses, tutorial timetables, changes to tutorial and study schedules, University news, and student announcements. For this reason, enrolled students should check their email account frequently to access important and updated information.

The University provides self-study facilities including discussion rooms and self-study rooms in addition to the Library on campus. Since the University’s online learning facilities and Electronic Library are accessible anywhere with Internet access, you can also study at home, at your workplace, at public libraries, and even on your business trips.

Yes. You have opportunities to meet the fellow members of your class by attending supplementary lectures and/or tutorials or day schools or laboratory sessions, etc. at the University campuses. You may also meet your classmates in the University library. Some students get together as self-help groups in their homes, the library, or other convenient locations. There are activities organized by various student societies in which you could participate.

The University is committed to supporting students with disabilities or special educational needs (SEN) to pursue their studies to the fullest extent of their abilities. Available services include in-class accommodations, special examination arrangements, and access to learning equipment to facilitate equitable participation in study and assessment. Students have to submit an online application before the start of each term, or as early as possible, accompanied by relevant medical documentation.

Before course enrolment, students are encouraged to review course information and consult their Programme Leader or Course Coordinator regarding requirements, assessments, and workload. Upon approval of support services, students should contact their Course Coordinators at the beginning of each term, or as early as possible, to arrange any specific in-class accommodations.

While the University allows flexibility in arrangements for students with SEN, all students are assessed according to the same academic performance standards as other HKMU students. The Student Affairs Office (SAO) coordinates the overall provision of SEN services. To learn more, please contact SAO staff at 2768 6059, email sao_sen@hkmu.edu.hk, or visit www.hkmu.edu.hk/sao/diversity-and-inclusion/support-for-special-educational-needs.

The fee of a distance learning course depends on the study level and the number of credits/credit-units of the course. You may refer to course fee page via distance learning admission webpage (admissions.hkmu.edu.hk/dl/courses).

Students in confinement can obtain a copy of the course-on-offer list with course fees from the welfare officers of their institutions.

Elderly persons aged 65 or above with a Senior Citizen Card will be offered a 30% discount on the tuition fees at the time of course registration. If you are interested in the Scheme, you should submit your application in person and produce your senior citizen card for verification during office hours. If you prefer to apply by mail, you should submit your application together with a copy of your senior citizen card, however, you will be required to show the original senior citizen card for verification during office hours afterwards.

To comply with the requirements of the HKSAR Government’s Office of the CEF, the University will not offer any tuition fee discount or reduction to students applying for “CEF reimbursable courses”.

Besides, those students applied for the Scheme cannot enjoy the 10% HKMUAA Ordinary Member discount when enrolling in course(s) at postgraduate level.

Applicants interested in the short courses offered by the Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education may contact LiPACE for further information or visit their website.

The Government and the University provide various financial assistance schemes to financially support the needy students, e.g. the University’s Bursary and Loan schemes, Government’s grant and loan schemes and the Continuing Education Fund. Please visit the Student Affairs Office website for more details.

The University has been granted authority by the Hong Kong Government to validate its own courses on a self-accreditation basis. Our graduates are treated exactly the same as the graduates of other Hong Kong tertiary institutions by the Government for employment purposes.

An advanced standing scheme is in place to recognize students’ prior qualifications. Your previous qualifications may be recognized if they are completed at the tertiary level. The qualification you hold must be at Level 4 of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework or equivalent. If you wish to transfer credits/credit-units to a Postgraduate Diploma or Master’s degree, the qualification you hold must be at Postgraduate level standard, that is, at least be a Postgraduate Certificate/Postgraduate Diploma or a higher degree at Master’s degree level.

Claims for advanced standing will be considered when you are a registered student. If you plan to study our distance-learning programme and have never registered with the University, you may submit your application under the Extended Scheme to the Advanced Standing & Graduation Team in the Registry.

Also, the University has set up entry pathways for various programmes for which the programme credit/credit-unit requirements are reduced. These programmes require a specific qualification for entry. In other words, students are given exemption of credit/credit-units upon admission if they satisfy the entry requirements of the pathway programme concerned.

For more details on Advanced Standing, you may contact the Advanced Standing & Graduation Team of the Registry (Tel: 2768 6624, Email: regaso@hkmu.edu.hk) or visit www.hkmu.edu.hk/distance-learning-students/advanced-standing.

Persons living overseas are welcome to pursue their studies through distance learning. However, they should note the following before submitting applications for enrolment:

1. Students will be provided with course materials designed by experts in their respective fields, which should enable students to successfully complete the course requirements. The electronic version of these materials is accessible through the Online Learning Environment (OLE). For students who prefer receiving printed versions of the complete set of Study Units or Study Guides, they can utilise the University’s Print-on-demand (POD) service. Please be aware that using the POD service will incur printing and mailing fees.
2. There will be tutorial classes. Most tutorial classes are voluntary, but few require students to attend satisfactorily in different forms of compulsory day schools or laboratory sessions, etc., in order to pass the course. Normally, classes are held at University campuses and/or in Hong Kong.
3. Examinations are also held in Hong Kong. However, arrangements can be made for students not residing in Hong Kong to take the examination overseas, but the extra expenditure incurred will be borne by the students. As there are stringent requirements on overseas examinations arrangements, therefore, not all applications will be approved.
4. Students not residing in Hong Kong who wish/need to attend tutorial classes, Day Schools and examinations in Hong Kong should enquire with the Immigration Department of the HKSAR Government about entry requirements and visa applications. The University will not act as the sponsor (Entry for Study). Normally, entry visas are not issued for people who come to Hong Kong solely for the purpose of studying distance learning programmes.
5. Overseas applicants are typically not eligible for any form of financial assistance.

You may start studying the distance learning programme in either the Autumn term or the Spring term each year. Autumn term begins in September while Spring term begins in January. The course registration period for the Autumn term starts in June, while that for the Spring term begins in the preceding November. There is the Summer term registration in late March, which is only for continuing students. Some courses may have a different schedule.

You may download the latest programme brochure online via our webpage (admissions.hkmu.edu.hk/dl) or obtain a copy from the following University units:

1. Information Centre (G/F, Main Campus; Tel: 2711 2100)
2. Counter of the School of Open Learning (Basement, Block B, Main Campus; Tel: 2768 6743)
3. Admissions & Enrolment Team (Distance Learning), Registry (5/F, Block A, Main Campus; Email: regadm@hkmu.edu.hk)

The HKMU Stanley Ho Library is located on Levels 1 and 2 of the Main Campus. There is also a branch library, Ho Sik Yee Library, located on Level 5 of the Jockey Club Campus.

Enquiry: 2768 6777 · Email: libwww@hkmu.edu.hk

Opening hours^

^ Distance learning programme students who have not currently registered in HKMU course(s) are classified as inactive students. Students who have been inactive for not more than one year can enter the Library from Monday to Friday, except during examination period. Students who have been inactive for more than one year cannot enter the Library at any time.

*The Library will be closed on the first three days of the Lunar New Year.
**Festival days include Mid-Autumn Festival, Winter Solstice, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Lunar New Year’s Eve.

Notice of opening hours and any subsequent changes will be announced in advance via the Library homepage and posted at the Library entrance. The Electronic Library at www.hkmu.edu.hk/lib is available for access 24 hours daily.

The two campus libraries offer a wide range of resources, including course set textbooks, course materials, course-related audio-visual materials, books, journals, reference materials, and more.

The Electronic Library provides abundant learning resources including full-text e-books, e-journals, e-news, databases, dissertations, online multimedia, reference resources, supplementary readings and selected past examination papers from academic departments. Students can access the Electronic Library anytime anywhere while they are on campus, at home or in office.

The Interlibrary Loan Service enables students and staff to directly request scholarly resources, such as books, book chapters, journal articles and other resources that are not available in the HKMU Library but can be obtained from over 600 partner libraries worldwide. For details, please refer to the Library website.

Library staff members are happy to assist students in making use of all library resources.

Yes, there are self-access computing facilities at the University’s Ho Man Tin Main Campus, Jockey Club Campus, Kwai Hing Campus and HKMU-CITA Campus.