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. For students who are in confinement (local) or students with special education needs, please click here.

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

New students and students entering distance learning 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, a 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.

One important thing to remember when you apply for your first course is that you may be able to get credit for your previous studies. Credit exemption — known as advanced standing at the University — is available for many students who have completed tertiary level studies elsewhere. These transferred credits can count towards the requirements for most of our qualifications. If you have transferable credits from other educational institutions, you may be able to considerably shorten the time you need to complete your programme at the University.

The University has also set up entry pathways for various Bachelor’s Degree programmes and Master’s Degree programmes. The programme credit requirements are reduced for students admitted via entry pathways; in other words, students are given an exemption without the need to go through the advanced standing process. However, students must satisfy the entry requirements specified for admission to the pathway programmes. Holders of relevant qualifications are advised to apply for admission via these pathways if they satisfy the entry requirements. For details, please click here.

The Registry’s Advanced Standing & Graduation Team (Tel: 2768 6624) can provide more information. 

Sometimes two different courses contain such a high proportion of common material that they form an excluded combination. Normally, you should not take courses that form an excluded combination, as you are not allowed to count both courses in the excluded combination towards a single award. However, if you are pursuing more than one programme, you may register on courses that form an excluded combination if you need to, provided that they do not fall under the category of ‘Courses not allowed to be taken again’. Click here to see the list of courses which formed ‘excluded combination’.

A course may be replaced by a revised version but still contain very similar materials. Students who have successfully completed the phased out courses in a particular group will not be allowed to register for the corresponding replacement course. If a change in course level is involved, the revised level will be used towards the classification of award. Click here to see a list of the phased out courses.