More about HKUST
The program utilizes the blockchain technology that registers and verifies the issued electronic documents. By registering on the blockcert server, the documents are cryptographically signed, tamper-proof, and shareable. As funded by the Sustainable Smart Campus as a Living Lab initiative, the goal is to enable a wave of innovation that gives individuals the capacity to possess and share their own official records.
The content of the official documents is saved in an electronic file in JSON format which can be verified and viewed at this HKUST official website:
https://registry.hkust.edu.hk/verify or https://registry.ust.hk/verify.
The JSON file and the associated URL are issued to the graduates/students who may pass them to other parties at their discretion. After successful verification of the JSON file at the University website, an authenticated copy of the document can be viewed or downloaded in formats such as PDF or HTML.
At present, the University issues the following documents in electronic format:
HKUST students/graduates will receive an email notification from the University when an electronic document is issued.
Save the JSON file and the associated URL in a secured folder, as it may contain your personal data.
Upload the electronic document (in JSON format) to the HKUST Blockcerts Verifier at https://registry.hkust.edu.hk/verify/upload, or click on the associated URL which links directly to the HKUST verification page. The system will then respond with the verification result in a few seconds. After successful verification, an authenticated copy of the document can be viewed or downloaded in formats such as PDF or HTML.
The authentic and verifiable electronic document from HKUST exists only in JSON format or the associated URL. Electronic documents in any other format (such as PDF or HTML) will not be verified.
Students/Graduates may save and transfer the electronic documents to other parties at their discretion. The Verification Statements below should go together with the file or URL so that the recipient knows how to proceed:
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology issues some official documents in electronic format (JSON format and the associated URL) which are verifiable with blockchain technology. Please visit the official website for electronic document verification, viewing and other processing details: https://registry.hkust.edu.hk/verify.
Upon receiving the JSON file or the associated URL for HKUST students/graduates, please follow the steps below for verification:
The system will then respond with the verification result in a few seconds. After successful verification of the JSON file, an authenticated copy of the document can be viewed or downloaded in formats such as PDF or HTML.
The authentic and verifiable electronic document from HKUST exists only in JSON format or the associated URL. Electronic documents in any other format (such as PDF or HTML) will not be verified.
Blockcerts is an open standard for creating, issuing, viewing and verifying blockchain-based documents. These digital documents are registered on a blockchain, cryptographically signed, tamper-proof, and shareable. Blockchain can be explained in simple terms as a chain of blocks where each block is dependent on the one before it. Every block contains a hash, data and the hash from the previous block. The hash is an entirely unique identifier for each block on the blockchain.
If the data in even one single block changes, then so does its hash and this makes the whole blockchain invalid. Blockchain is maintained by a very wide network of users or nodes. The only way to tamper with a single block would be to tamper with all of the blocks, all at the very same time.
This is impossible. This is what guarantees the integrity of the data. This innovative technology gives individuals the capacity to possess and share their own official records with secure verification.
The original data is saved onto a private and secure server by HKUST and the hash of this issued certificate is recorded onto the blockchain.
Yes. Users may upload a JSON file or go to the associated URL, with their mobile device, to verify and view the blockcerts document.
Documents issued do not have an expiry date.
The e-documents issued by HKUST are Award Certification Letter, Academic Transcript and Degree Diploma.
Yes, you can download the electronic document after a successful online verification.
Currently, the e-diploma will only be issued to student who graduated in 2018/19 academic year and after. We may consider issuing blockcerts diploma to the graduates in the earlier years if there is a demand.
Students or graduates may submit applications for e-Transcript and Award Certification Letter (for graduates only) via online now, please visit the below pages for further details.
The paper copy of the degree diploma will still be issued and there is no plan to cease the production. Graduates will be issued both the paper and electronic copy of the degree diploma for the time being.
Not at the moment. Bulk processing is one of the features for future development.
Future plans include batch processing of multiple document verifications, the addition of other types of document, and exploration of an ‘e-CV’.