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Research postgraduate students of the University who are studying beyond the normative period of study and in their final stage of thesis writing may register in the "Continuing Students", and pay a reduced tuition fee to maintain their student status, subject to the endorsement of the thesis supervisor and Department Head/PG Coordinator. The previous mode of study, whether full-time or part-time before changing to this status, will remain unchanged. Eligible students may complete an Application for "Continuing Student" Status of Research Postgraduate Students (Form RR-45).
Applications have to reach the Academic Registry at least four weeks before the start of the term the "Continuing Student" status fee is to be effected.
Please refer to the following details before applying:
The tuition fee for "Continuing Students" is a quarter of the full-time tuition fee, rounded up to the nearest five dollars per term and has to be settled full in a single payment. For 2024-25 academic year, the "Continuing Student" fee is HK$5,265 per term.
"Continuing Students", regardless of their mode of study, are not eligible to receive any forms of financial assistance, including but not limited to Postgraduate Studentship (PGS) and Postgraduate Research Assistantship (PGRA), regardless of the source of funding.
"Continuing Students", regardless of their mode of study, are not entitled to on-campus student accommodation.
"Continuing Students" are not allowed to register for or audit any courses, apart from mandatory registration for MPhil Thesis Research (XXXX 6990) or Doctoral Thesis Research (XXXX 7990), whichever is appropriate.
The current tuition fee refund arrangements for RPgs do not apply to "Continuing Students". In effect, students who graduate in a regular term when they register in the "Continuing Student" status are not eligible for tuition fee refund even if they complete their program requirements within the first three months of a term.
Once having registered for the "Continuing Student" status, students are not allowed to change back to regular student status.
There is no time limit for research postgraduates to register as "Continuing Students”. However, the maximum study period governing research postgraduate studies still holds.
An MPhil student may register as a "Continuing Student" if all of the following conditions have been met:
completed two full-time equivalent (FTE*) years of study.
fulfilled the coursework requirements of the program of study (excluding MPhil Thesis Research).
completed almost all the required research work and has written a significant portion of his thesis as confirmed by the thesis supervisor.
A PhD student may register as a "Continuing Student" if all of the following conditions have been met:
completed three full-time equivalent (FTE*) years of study.
fulfilled the coursework requirements of the program of study (excluding PhD Thesis Research).
passed his Qualifying Examination.
completed almost all the required research work, and has written a significant portion of his thesis as confirmed by the thesis supervisor.
* One FTE year of study is equivalent to one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study. Leave from Study taken does not count toward FTE year of study.