Can I take the first-year course “ENGL1009 Introduction to English Studies” if I got a grade D in the Use of English AS-level exam?
Normally, a minimum C grade in the Use of English AS-level exam is required for admission to any of the first-year course(s). You can apply for special consideration if you have other equivalent qualification(s) such as IELTS, TOEFL, GCSE, etc.
I’m a non-JUPAS applicant and didn’t sit for the Use of English AS-level exam; do I still qualify to take the first-year course “ENGL1009 Introduction to English Studies”?
Yes, you simply have to submit a copy of your equivalent qualification(s) such as IELTS, TOEFL, GCSE, IB Diploma, etc. to the School Office for consideration after you have made the course selection online.
Is it possible to take the first-year course “ENGL1010 The scholarship of English Studies” without enrolling in ENGL1009 too?
No, the first-year course “ENGL1010 The scholarship of English Studies” can only be taken concurrently with “ENGL1009 Introduction to English Studies”.
Can I take all the first-year courses offered by the School of English to fulfil the 18-credit Arts Distribution Requirement?
Yes. To gain familiarity with the breadth of the Arts curriculum, you are required to take in the first year a total of 18 credits from at least two different Arts programmes, and you can fulfil the requirement by taking all the first-year courses in the School of English [including “ENGL1009 Introduction to English Studies” (6 credits), “ENGL1010 The scholarship of English Studies” (6 credits) and “LCOM1001 Introduction to Language and Communication” (6 credits)].
How can I enrol in a research seminar?
Research seminars are mostly offered to outstanding third year students who wish to pursue advanced work in a designated area. If you are interested in enrolling in a particular research seminar (topics of which can be found on the School webpage), you have to consult individual seminar co-ordinators and get their approval before making the course selection online.
What shall I do if I am unable to enrol in courses online via the University Student Information System?
Please consult the School Office immediately whenever you encounter difficulties in making course selections. It is possible that you don’t meet a prerequisite to enrol in a particular course, which may require special consideration of your circumstances. Or it may be that there is a time clash with another course you have selected, which should be resolved by adjusting your course selection.
Can I transfer the credits gained from exchange studies to the major in English Studies?
Yes, if the courses which you have taken on exchange are comparable to the senior-level courses offered by the School of English. Before you go on exchange, you are strongly advised to consult the School Office on the course(s) you wish to take at the host institution, and you are required to submit the relevant course information, such as the syllabus, total number of contact hours, coursework requirement, credit weighting, etc. so that we can assess the comparability.
Can I still declare Language and Communication as a major in the second year without enrolling in “LCOM1001 Introduction to Language and Communication” in the first year?
Students intending to declare a major or minor in Language and Communication must pass the first-year prerequisite course LCOM1001 with at least a C grade. If you have not taken LCOM1001 in the first year, you have to apply for special consideration (with your first-year and Use of English AS-level or other equivalent exam results) via the School Office before the end of the course selection period. The School may consider allowing you to take the required first-year prerequisite and other senior-level courses simultaneously.
Is it possible to double-major or to take a major and a minor in the School of English?
Yes, we offer 3 majors and 3 minors (English Studies, Cross-Cultural Studies in English, Language and Communication) at undergraduate level, which you can combine according to your interest. Declaring either a double major or a major with a minor in any two of our programmes will allow you to gain a deeper knowledge in different areas of English literature and linguistics and to strengthen your academic record, especially if you are interested in pursuing postgraduate studies in English.
What is plagiarism and what happens if I am found to have committed plagiarism?
The University defines plagiarism “as the unacknowledged use, as one’s own, of work of another person, whether or not such work has been published”. In other words, you are committing plagiarism if you paraphrase or quote the work of another person without clearly identifying (according to academic conventions) the borrowed material and documenting its source. Plagiarism is a serious offence and any student who commits plagiarism risks failing the course and is liable to disciplinary action.
When do I have to apply for departmental ethics review?
As stipulated in the University’s Policy for Ethical Practice in Research, undergraduate students who are undertaking a research project involving the consent of human participants must apply for ethics review. An application form for departmental ethics review of undergraduate research projects can be downloaded via http://www.english.hku.hk/departmental_ethics_review.doc and needs to be submitted to the Research Supervisor for endorsement.
