U21 Programme in Global Issues

This page is for HKU students only.

Structure and Curriculum

How long does it take?

Completion of the Certificate will normally add the workload of an additional semester to your overall study programme (although most students will take this programme alongside their normal workload for their degree curriculum). However, if your degree/faculty regulations permit, the subjects that you take on this Programme can count towards BOTH your HKU degree AS WELL AS the U21 Certificate. If your degree regulations do NOT permit this, then you would have to take these four subjects in addition to your normal undergraduate load.

What are the course requirements?

To complete the Certificate, you must undertake a compulsory subject plus three elective units (four subjects or courses in total), achieving a grade of more than fifty per cent in all subjects. You must also complete fifty per cent of the Certificate (two out of four possible units) through at least one other partner university, whether online, or face-to-face while on an exchange programme at that university. The Certificate will be awarded on the completion of your principal degree. On your transcript, that you can show to your potential employers, we will give the grades of all the four courses that you have passed.

Compulsory subject

All students must complete the compulsory module, Global Citizenship-Global Issues (online), administered by the University of British Columbia. It is best to take this course first, although this is not a requirement. It is, however, usually offered in both semesters.

Elective subjects

Students will be required to undertake three elective subjects in addition to the compulsory subject in order to complete the 24 credit unit Certificate. All University of Hong Kong subjects in the Curriculum each represent 6 credit units, and the subjects of partner institutions listed on these webpages also constitute 6 credit units each for HKU students. Please note, however, that these credit units CANNOT be counted towards your HKU degree unless (a) this is allowed within your faculty's regulations, or (b) you have your faculty's approval of this arrangement. If in doubt, talk to your Faculty Office.

 

Entry to the Certificate

Applicants must demonstrate an ability to manage independent, unsupervised study and must satisfy the following criteria:

* enrolment at the University of Hong Kong; and
* an EAS student, or
* completed at least one year of study at HKU, preferably with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

For the first two years of pilot study, we will give preference to, first, EAS students, and second, students enrolled for the IBGM programme at HKU.

 

Notes

Subjects offered as part of the Certificate may involve prerequisites. Relevant departments will determine whether prospective students can satisfy prerequisites. Students may be asked to demonstrate familiarity with essential concepts gained through the completion of cognate subjects to meet prerequisite requirements. In the cases of the on-line courses, they are currently all designed to have NO prerequisites.

Students are advised that any subjects listed on these webpages are subject to availability as well as prerequisite requirements.

Places will be limited during the pilot period. Applications will be assessed on either a first-come-first-served basis or a competitive basis. Details will be made known at the time of inviting applications (which may be sent to a limited number of students in the first instance).

 

Contact

You will know that your contact person in the University is Ms. Ung Lee Ling, whose office is in the Global Lounge, G/F., Swire Hall building (tel: 2219 4126, email llung@hku.hk). She will give you all the necessary information about the programme, will oversee applications, and will help register successful applicants for each of the courses. If you have any problems as you go through the Programme, please contact her, and we will discuss the issues that you raise if necessary.