Types of Qualifications
 

Students may be granted exemption from courses if they have taken similar or equivalent postgraduate courses with satisfactory performance (“B” grade or above). 

Qualifications, either gained at other tertiary institutions or at another programme of studies previously undertaken at CUHK(SZ), or equivalent, may include:

1. postgraduate courses completed when the student was a postgraduate student or an undergraduate student; in the latter case, a postgraduate course which was already used to earn an undergraduate degree cannot be reused for exemption.
2. courses completed in undergraduate programmes may also be considered if the programme prescribes undergraduate courses, but in any case accounting for at most 15% of the total units required for graduation;
3. courses taken by CUHK(SZ) students on approved exchange programmes during their postgraduate studies.

Note that the above three exemption conditions must be written in the programme proposal and be approved by the University Academic Board. Contact programme registry office to confirm details if needed. Contact reference: https://gs.cuhk.edu.cn/page/28

In listing all these qualifications, it is not suggested that they shall necessarily be recognized, as the decision in each case will rest with the recommendation of the Graduate Panel Chairperson concerned and will be subject to approval by the Dean of the Graduate School on a case-by-case basis, taking into account individual circumstances.  Students should consult the Graduate Panel concerned on the possibility of granting course exemptions before making applications.
 

General Principles of Exemption

1. It is up to students to initiate applications. Recommendations should be made by the Graduate Panel to which the student belongs, to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval.
2. For taught programmes, a course taken elsewhere will be recognized as equivalent to a CUHK(SZ) course if it is comparable in scope and standard, and provides the student with sufficient knowledge to pursue higher level courses at CUHK(SZ) for which the exempted course is a pre-requisite.
3. For research programmes, exemption may be recommended if the student’s training in another postgraduate degree programme is considered to be of sufficient standard to warrant exemption from a course or certain courses in the CUHK(SZ) programme.
4. In making its evaluation, the Panel should take into account the status of the institution where the qualification was gained, the level and content of the course(s) under scrutiny, the grade achieved and how long ago the course was taken.  The Panel concerned may set a test if appropriate.
5. The Panel concerned will decide whether the student, if exempted from a course, is also exempted from the corresponding units in his/her CUHK(SZ) programme of studies, or (s)he will have to take another course to make up the units.  The student cannot take a course for which exemption has been granted.
6. For taught programmes, the total number of units exempted may not exceed half of the required number.
7. Courses exempted under this policy will not count in GPA calculations and will appear on transcripts only as the total number of equivalent units recognized.

Application Procedure

Students may be granted exemption from courses if they have taken similar or equivalent postgraduate courses with satisfactory performance (“B” grade or above). 

Students may submit applications for course and unit exemption in SIS(paper applications as an alternative when electronic applications are not sufficient ) to the Graduate Panel concerned during their normative period of study with the following supporting documents:

How to fill in the online Course & Unit Exemptions application form in SIS.pdf

1. certificates/diplomas – copies to accompany applications. Panels/Graduate School may request to inspect originals from students, and/or verify directly with the issuing institution;
2. transcripts – copies to accompany applications. Panels/Graduate School may request to inspect originals from students and/or verify directly with the issuing institution; and
3. course descriptions – copies of course content of courses taken.
4. proof of compliance – attached with University Acadamic Board approved program proposal to show that the exemption application followed specific University Acadamic Board approved exemption rules（highlighted). Contact programme registry office to confirm details if needed. Contact reference: https://gs.cuhk.edu.cn/page/28

Remark: Please merge all the above documents in order and in one PDF before submit. Wrong type of document may cause push back.

Paper form and workflow link here

Processing of the applications will start upon receipt of all necessary documents and payment of the application fee(if applicable). Decisions will be recorded at the Graduate School.