FAQ

1. Is there any admission quota for each programme? 
Offer is made based on a number of factors, such as academic result, interview performance etc.  The School may adjust the intake quota as appropriate taking into consideration the demand of each individual programme and/or the requirements of the respective overseas partners.

2. Can I apply for Financial Assistance?
Students can apply for Government’s Non-means Tested Loan Scheme (NLS). Please visit www.sfaa.gov.hk for further details.

3. Can I apply for Continuing Education Fund (CEF)?
Some local and overseas programmes offered by SPEED have been included in the list of reimbursable courses for Continuing Education Fund (CEF) purposes.  Eligible applicants will be reimbursed 80% of the course fee, subject to a maximum sum of HK$10,000, on successful completion of a reimbursable course. Please visit www.sfaa.gov.hk/cef for further details.     

4. Can I apply for the courses if I am not a Hong Kong resident?
Non-local students who do not have the right of abode in Hong Kong must obtain a student visa in order to study in Hong Kong.  Please visit the HKSAR’s Immigration Department website at http://www.immd.gov.hk for further details on student visa application.

5. Can I get my course fees back if I cancel my enrolment before the commencement of the course?
Course fees are normally not refundable according to the School’s Refund Policy, with the exception of unsuccessful applications and course cancellation.  Fees paid and places enrolled are not transferable to other parties.

A) Qualification & Recognition

1. Does PolyU recognise PolyU SPEED academic award?

Both PolyU award and PolyU SPEED award are granted by PolyU Senate.  In principle, SPEED cannot grant any award on its own.  Therefore, PolyU SPEED award is recognised by PolyU.

2. Will there be any difference between the parchment of PolyU award and that of PolyU SPEED award?

The parchment of PolyU SPEED award contains the PolyU logo only (without
SPEED logo) while the full English name of PolyU and SPEED will also be printed.

3. What is the difference between “ordinary degree” and “honours degree”? 

Under the traditional British university system, "honours degree" programmes are undergraduate degree programmes which generally require a graduation dissertation.

In the USA, universities do NOT offer "honours degree" programmes.  All university students are studying on four-year ordinary degree programmes.

In Australia, students normally enrol on three-year ordinary degree programmes.  Those with excellent academic performance are invited by universities to enrol on "honours degree" programmes, which are designed as research-based programmes for preparing students to pursue study in MPhil/ PhD.

 4. What is the difference between PolyU SPEED degree and PolyU degree? 

The undergraduate degree programmes of PolyU normally carry “honours” classification (i.e. 1st, 2nd & 3rd) whilst PolyU SPEED degree programmes lead to “ordinary degree” with award classification of “distinction”, “credit” and “pass”.

5. Does HKSAR Government recognise PolyU SPEED degree? 

In the previous years, there were PolyU SPEED degree graduates employed by the HKSAR Government on positions requiring a recognised degree. 

All PolyU SPEED top-up degree programmes have been listed in the Qualification Register (QR) at Level 5 (Bachelor’s Degree level).

6. What is the employment prospect of PolyU SPEED degree graduates?

Below are some findings of the graduate survey in 2011:

For the graduates who have joined the workforce,

— nearly 80% of them secured employment within 3 months.

— over 60% of them got at least 2 job offers.

— their average monthly salary was around HK$11,000.

7. Can PolyU SPEED degree graduates apply for admission to master’s degree programmes?

Yes, all PolyU SPEED degrees are granted by the Senate of PolyU.  Generally speaking, these graduates can apply for admission to postgraduate programmes offered by PolyU and other universities.

Some of our graduates have completed or are studying master’s degree programmes in famous local and overseas universities.

B) Application & Admission

1. When will the programmes be open for applications?  When will the programmes begin?

All programmes are normally open for applications during March to June each year.  Unless otherwise specified, programme commencement is early September each year.

2. What are the general admission requirements for the top-up Bachelor’s Degree Programmes?

Applicants should possess an Associate Degree or a Higher Diploma or equivalent.  Mature applicants (aged over 25) with relevant working experience and prior studies in related fields may also apply.

3. What are the selection criteria and when will the applicants be informed of the application results?

Applicants’ academic performance in prior study will be the major consideration during the initial screening process.  For part-time programmes, applicants’ working experience will also be considered.  Short-listed applicants may be invited to attend admission interview and/ or test.

Applicants without the requisite academic qualifications but have fulfilled the requirements for mature candidates may also be considered.

Applicants of top-up degree programmes without sufficient knowledge in the areas concerned may be required to complete bridging course(s) as designed by SPEED before programme commencement.

Applicants will normally be notified of the application results one month after the closing of applications.

4. How can I submit an application?

There are 2 ways for submission of application during the application period:

·          Complete application form online at the web admission system:

http://www.cpce-polyu.edu.hk/speed/its/speed_was

Please refer to the procedures stated on the website for settling application fee and providing supporting documents to SPEED Offices after submitting the application online.

·          Complete the hardcopy of application form and send it with proof of application fee payment and supporting documents to SPEED Offices.  Please refer to the procedures as stated in the last page of the application form.

5. If my application is successful, when will I be required to pay the tuition fee?  Will the fee paid be refundable if I subsequently wish to withdraw from the programme enrolled?

Successful applicants will normally be required to pay the tuition fee for the first semester of study (15 credits for full-time students and 6 credits for part-time students) within 2 weeks from issuing of the notification of offer.

Applicants with financial difficulties may apply for payment deferment.  If approved, they will be required to pay HK$5,000 only, as registration fee, within 2 weeks from issuing of the notification of offer.

If a registered student submits an application for withdrawal before the programme commencement, the tuition fee paid after deducting a registration fee of HK$5,000 will be refunded. (For students who have been admitted to PolyU honours degree programmes or government funded Bachelor’s degree programmes of other local institutions, only HK$1,000 will be deducted.)  No refund will be made for withdrawal application submitted after the programme commencement.

6. If I need to take bridging course(s), will I be required to pay additional fee?  What is the duration of the bridging courses?

The fee of the bridging courses is HK$3,500 per course.  Students concerned will be required to pay the fee when completing programme registration procedures.  The bridging course fee paid is non-refundable.

If a student failed to complete the bridging course requirements and is eventually not eligible for admission to the top-up degree programme, the tuition fee paid for the programme will be fully refunded.

There will be 35 contact hours for each bridging course.  Classes will be held on weekdays, Saturdays and/ or Sundays from early July to late August.

7. If I have completed an Associate Degree or a Higher Diploma in related disciplines, will I be entitled for credit transfer for related subjects on admission to a PolyU SPEED top-up degree programme?

The PolyU SPEED Bachelor’s Degree programmes are top-up programmes with Associate Degree or Higher Diploma as the entry qualification.  Normally, credit transfer will not be granted for students based on studies at sub-degree level.

C) Study Pattern

1. What is the normal study pattern for students?

Full-time students are normally required to study 15 credits* in each 14-week semester. Generally speaking, students may enjoy a summer break after two 14-week semesters in an academic year.

Part-time students are normally required to study 6 credits* in each 14-week semester and 3 credits* in each 7-week summer term.

* Most of the subjects are 3-credit subjects.  A 3-credit subject normally consists of a total of 42 contact hours.

2. How many classes will students be required to attend in a week?  When will the classes be held?

Under normal study load, the number of contact hours per week is about 15 for full-time students and 6 for part-time students.

Classes for full-time students will normally be held during daytime while classes for part-time students will normally be held on weekday evenings and/ or Saturday afternoons.

3. Will students be allowed to deviate from the normal study pattern?

In consultation with the Programme Leader, students may adjust the study load according to their own needs.

In any case, the maximum duration of study on a top-up Bachelor’s Degree programme is 3 years for full-time students and 6 years for part-time students.

Heriot-Watt University
Northumbria University

1. Do the programmes offered by PolyU SPEED in collaboration with overseas universities require registration under the Education Bureau?
In compliance with the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance, all programmes offered by non-local universities through PolyU SPEED are exempted from registration under the Ordinance.  As conveyed by the Non-local Courses Registry of the Education Bureau, the registration or exemption from registration of a non-local programme is an assurance that the institution offering the programme is a recognised body in the home country. It also assures that effective measures are in place to ensure the standard of the programme offered locally is comparable to that of the home programme and is recognised as such by the institution, the relevant accreditation authority (if any) and the academic community in the home country.  Further details on such Ordinance can be obtained via the Education Bureau website at www.edb.gov.hk. 

2. Is the award conferred by the overseas university?
Yes. The award will be conferred by the overseas university.

3. What is the medium of instruction?
Classes will be conducted in English.

4. When will classes commence?
For Heriot-Watt University's programmes, classes will commence in February and August/September.
For Northumbria University's programmes, classes will commence in February and/or September.

5. When does application start?
For Heriot-Watt University's programmes, application will be invited in October/November (for the February intake) and in April/May (for the August/September intake).

For Northumbria University's programmes, application will be invited in October/November (for the February intake) and in April/May (for the September intake).

6. What are the entrance requirements?
For Heriot-Watt University's programmes:

1. What are the entry requirements for CAM courses?

修讀「學分累積制」課程，是否需要符合指定的入學資格？

CAM is open to all lifelong learners. Most CAM courses are open-entry and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Some courses, however, have specific entry requirements or prerequisites. This is to ensure that learners have the prior knowledge or skills necessary for studying the topics covered.

「學分累積制」是為終身學習而設，大部份課程均以「先到先得」方式取錄學員。但部份課程亦有註明入學條件或先修科，目的是確保學員有一定的基礎知識，以應付該課程需要。

2. Are CAM students required to take specified courses in order to earn Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) awards?

「學分累積制」學員是否需要修讀指定的課程，才可考取專業進修學術資格？

You may take whatever courses you are interested in provided that you have fulfilled the entry requirements (if any) specified in the course information. You may study when you are ready or your other commitments allow, and leave at any exit points if your circumstances change.

There are, however, requirements on the number, level, nature and Grade Point Average of the credits used for claiming a PCE award.  You should refer to “Further details about CAM” on this website.

你只要符合個別課程資料上所列的入學資格（如有），便可根據自己的興趣和需要選修課程。你亦可按個人情況，訂定進修計劃，考取專業進修學術資格或選擇暫停學業。

申請專業進修學術資格須符合有關學分數目、水平、性質及平均積分點的規定。詳情可參閱本網頁內 “Further details about CAM” 。

3. I have to suspend my studies under CAM because of my work commitment.  Can I use the CAM credits for claiming PCE awards later?

因為工作關係，我需要暫停修讀「學分累積制」的課程，已累積的學分是否可在日後才用作申請專業進修學術資格？

The credits earned under CAM are valid for life.  You may use the credits earned under CAM for claiming PCE awards in any academic year provided that you have met the requirements for a PCE award by 31 July of that year.

透過「學分累積制」取得的學分是終身有效的。若你能在七月三十一日前達到申請專業進修學術資格的要求，則可於該學年學期終畢業。

4. How many credits may be transferred from my previous studies to CAM?

我以往進修所取得的學分，有多少可以被轉移入「學分累積制」呢？

You may apply for credit transfer under CAM (Application Form SPD32C).  We shall then assess your academic proof and decide how many credits can be transferred to CAM.

The use of credits earned by way of credit transfer to claim PCE awards is subject to the regulations for credit transfer as stipulated on “Further details about CAM” on this website.

你可申請「學分累積制」的學分轉移（申請表SPD32C）。我們會根據你的學歷證明文件，決定可轉移學分的多寡。

在使用轉移的學分作申請專業進修學術資格時，須符合詳列於本網頁內 “Further details about CAM” 之條件。

5. I am a CAM student. Can I use library and computing centres?

我正修讀「學分累積制」課程，我可否使用圖書館和電腦室？

The kinds of facilities available are specific to the CAM course in which you are enrolled in and are listed in the promotional materials of the respective course and the admission letter. Normally, the right to use these facilities, if granted, will be available throughout the duration of the course.

學員可否享用教學設施要視乎所報讀的科目而定。有關詳情列於課程推廣資料及入學通知書內。一般而言，獲准學員可在修讀有關科目期間享用設施。

6. If I have already obtained a PCE award and wish to study towards other PCE awards at higher level under CAM, what should I do?

若我已取得一個專業進修學術資格，而欲繼續考取更高等級的專業進修學術資格，應怎麼辦？

If you wish to re-use the credits previously used in obtaining a PCE award for claiming another PCE award at higher level, you should apply for credit transfer (Application Form SPD32C) and pay an application fee of HK$150 to transfer your previously claimed credits back to CAM.

若你打算用以前已獲取專業進修學術資格的學分，作申請一個更高等級的專業進修學術資格，你應向學院申請學分轉移（申請表SPD32C）及繳付港幣一百五十元正作為申請費。