FAQ for Chinese Language and Culture Courses

Chinese language courses for international undergraduate students

Please note: for enquiries regarding this page’s information, please contact Chinese Language Centre

* Alternative courses to fulfill the UG5 Chinese language enhancement requirements

These courses are intended primarily for full-time undergraduate students* and not open to auditors (i.e. non-UGC funded students).

* Full-time undergraduate students include :

a) HKU full-time students who are exempt from taking a Practical Chinese language course offered by the Chinese Language Enhancement Programme (CLEP);

b) exchange/visiting students whose native language is not Mandarin, taking CHIN9501-08; and

c) exchange/visiting students whose native language is not Cantonese, taking CHIN9511-12.

Application procedures

Students will be placed into appropriate classes according to their language background and proficiency.
The number of students for each sub-class is limited to 20 and will be allocated on the basis of academic benefit to students.
Students should not enroll more than one course from the list of CHIN9501-9512 per semester.
Any course with an enrollment of less than 8 will be cancelled after the add-drop period.

Undergraduates in the Faculty of Arts who have been exempted from the course “CART9001” are permitted to take the courses with the prefix CHIN (i.e. Chinese language courses for international undergraduate students), which have been approved by the Faculty Curriculum Development Committee for inclusion in the Arts curriculum.

Application procedures (CHIN9501-08)

Application Procedure (for students who have successfully completed any of the CHIN9501-08 courses)

I. If you have successfully completed any of the CHIN9501-9508 courses at HKU, your application will be accepted if you complete the following application procedure:

(i) Register through the SIS as early as possible; (late applications will have lower enrollment priority);

(ii) Complete the online form of Statement of Current Level of Proficiency in Chinese Language and submit the hardcopy of the form to your Chinese teacher by November 29, 2024 (Friday).

(iii) Show up to the class which you have registered for in the second semester, and you will receive confirmation of your application “approval” after class.

Application Procedure (for NEW registrants)

II. If you are a NEW registrant (i.e., a full-time UG and exchange student who hasn't previously taken any of the CHIN9501-9508 courses at HKU) and would like to apply for CHIN9501-07 in the second semester, please note the following application procedure:

(i) Register through the SIS as early as possible; (late applications will have lower enrollment priority);

(ii) Attend the Written Test and Oral Test in person at the assigned times*.

* All the new registrants who have registered through SIS will be informed about the venues and time of the Written Test and Oral Test by HKU email after the course registration period.

After taking the written and oral tests in person at te assigned times, please note that:

📩 If the course suits you, we will send you an email. But your application status is “Pending” until you show up to the class in the second semester. You will receive confirmation of your application “approval” after class. OR,

📩 If the course you registered is NOT the appropriate level for you, we will send you an email identifying which course best suits you and copy the course coordinator/class teacher of the new course as early as possible after reviewing your placement tests. You will then need to register for the new course on SIS when the system is open and attend class according to the schedule. If you fail to register for the new course online on or before January 20, please contact the coordinator/class teacher of the new course for the venue and time of the new class.

* Please note that

(a) We will not be able to reply to any individual inquiry about your application result, the status of the application process, the reason for disapproval, or appeal for reconsideration after being disapproved.

(b) Applications will not be considered unless the above procedures are followed.

(c) In order to raise your enrollment priority, please don’t register for CHIN9501 if you have prior knowledge of Chinese (including Cantonese) language. Students who apply for Semester 1 courses are not guaranteed a seat if they complete the in-person written and oral tests after September 4, 2024 (Wednesday).

Application procedures (CHIN9511-22)

To gain admission, students have to go through specific screening procedures. Students should:

(i) register through the SIS (Student Information System) as early as possible (late application lower enrollment priority), and

(ii) submit the completed Statement of Current Level of Proficiency in Chinese Language (For students who register for CHIN9511, 9512 and 9521 only) to the course teacher in the first lesson, and

(iii) take the placement test (if any) in the first lesson.

(Note: Applications will not be considered unless the above procedures are completed.)