Arrange for Insurance

• For Non-Local Students
  
  1. Compulsory Medical Insurance
  As a full-time degree-seeking non-local postgraduate student, you are required to join the Compulsory Medical Insurance Scheme for Non-Local Students. The medical insurance fee will be paid at the same time as the tuition fee.
  
  2. Travel Insurance (optional)
  You are suggested to purchase travel insurance to cover any accidents during your trip to Hong Kong and before the program registration with HKUST.
   
• For Local Students
  
  1. Medical Insurance (optional)
  You can opt for extra protection and resources to cover medical services other than that provided by the campus clinic by joining the University’s Optional Hospital & Surgical Benefits Plan.

   Arrange for Accommodation

• Guaranteed university accommodation will be given in the first 2 years of your full-time research postgraduate studies at HKUST. The Student Housing and Residential Life Office (SHRLO) manages on-campus student residence and provides assistance in finding off-campus accommodation. Learn More
• If you are seeking a flat, you are strongly recommended to appoint a licensed estate agent regulated by the Estate Agents Authority. Learn More

 Information for Full-time New Research Postgraduate Students Admitted in Spring 2024-25

• If you wish to apply for university accommodation for the residential period from 20 January 2025 - 31 July 2025, please submit an online application to SHRLO during the application period from 18 November to 29 November 2024.  Learn More 

• Guaranteed hall residence is only available provided that application is submitted and any other required procedures are completed within the stipulated period in prescribed manner. Late applications are generally not accepted. 

• The results of housing application will be released on 16 December 2024. If you receive the hall offer, please follow the instructions in the email to confirm online your acceptance by the stipulated deadline. 

Information for Full-time New Research Postgraduate Students Admitted in Fall 2025-26

• More details will be announced in June. Please stay tuned. 

University-level Activities at a Glance (for Spring 2024-25)

English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) Speaking Test

• 22 - 24 January 2025

Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Briefing

• TBC

Program Registration

Email notification will be sent to you by the Academic Registry from early August (for Fall admission) or early January (for Spring admission). Do follow the instructions to complete the program registration.

Please note that you will only receive the notification when all the required official documents for offer confirmation are verified. For non-local students, student visa/ entry permit or appropriate visa for study must be obtained. Please allow sufficient time for processing your visa application. Check out your status at the Online Admission System.

Activate ITSC Network Account

Activate your ITSC network account to receive important emails from the University:

• Check out the Invitation email for Program Registration and click the link to “Activate your ITSC Network Account”
• Check your Student ID number on the Online Admission System.
• Use your Student ID number and HKID card number/ date of birth to activate.
• Add "@ust.hk" as approved sender in your email to ensure you can receive the emails from the university.

Enroll in Professional Development Courses

All MPhil and PhD students are required to take two Professional Development Courses (PDCs) as part of their program requirements. The PDCs aim to provide students with a comprehensive set of essential transferable skills to enhance their personal growth and career development.

University-level Professional Development Course

The University-level PDC, PDEV 6770 Professional Development for Research Postgraduate Students, is a course which is composed of a series of workshops and modules that must be attended before completion of RPg studies.

Discipline-specific Professional Development Course

To further prepare RPg students to excel in their future career, discipline-specific PDCs were introduced to equip students with the knowledge and skills required for the development and advancement of their professional career inside and outside academia.

Refer to the Postgraduate Program Catalog for the PDC requirement of your program.

Attend Training for Graduate Training Assistants

At HKUST, we consider education in teaching and learning an integral part of postgraduate studies. As such, all full-time research postgraduate students will be trained about teaching techniques and take up teaching-related tasks as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA) under the supervision of your departmental faculty.

As part of the graduation requirement, all FT RPgs are required to complete the PDEV6800 - Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education course. You can visit the course page for more course information.

This New GTA Briefing Session aims to help you understand more about your roles as a full-time research postgraduate student and as a GTA during your study. We highly suggest you join this briefing session, as we will introduce the details about this graduation required course to you.

New GTA Briefing Session for Spring 2024/25

• Date: TBC 

Detailed information about the briefing will be sent to you via HKUST email. Please stay tuned.

Learn More

Register for Spoken English Test ELPA

All new full-time MPhil and PhD students are required to take the English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA), a spoken English test administered by the Center for Language Education (CLE) of the University, before the start of your first term of study at HKUST. Students who are native English speakers may apply for exemption from taking the test.

ELPA Speaking Test for Spring 2024/25

• Date: 22 - 24 January 2025

Students whose spoken English test score is below the threshold score are required to take LANG 5000 Foundation in Listening and Speaking for Postgraduate Students until they pass the course by attaining at least Level 4 in the ELPA Speaking Test before graduation. Students who obtained a score below Level 4 in the ELPA Speaking Test would not be allowed to serve as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) until they have passed LANG 5000.

Learn More

Request for Deferral of Admission

Talk with your supervisor/Department/Program Office and seek the approval from them if you wish to apply for the deferral of admission.  Usually the deferred admission are valid for not more than two consecutive regular terms or one year. 

Emergencies during Travel

• In case you encounter any difficulties/ emergency matters during your travel, you are advised to seek help from International SOS (ISOS) at +852 2528 9900 (collect calls will be accepted) or +1 215 942 8226. ISOS is a medical and security services company that offers 24/7 assistance worldwide.
• Please quote HKUST Membership number “07AYCA093635” when seeking assistance from ISOS.
• You are strongly advised to download the ISOS Assistance App before your departure to Hong Kong. Learn More

Supporting Students with Special Education Needs (SEN)

For students who have special education needs and wish to seek support, please contact the SEN Support Term. Learn More

Course Registration and Class Enrollment

• Acquaint yourself with the general rules for postgraduate course registration and departmental course requirements for the program.
• View the program requirements and course details at Postgraduate Program & Course Catalog.
• Class enrollment is processed with the web-based Student Information System (SIS). Learn More