Modification of the Admission Policy of the Residential Colleges in 2021/22

General principles

  • Appreciate the value of Residential Colleges;
  • Strive to maintain a more balanced and desirable mix of local and non-local student ratio.

The indicative quota is as follows:

Local Students
  • Local Year 1 students (20%)
  • Local Senior Intake Students & Local Students (56%)

All local students will be allocated according to their ranking of the respective combined scores of the scoring system.

Local Year 5 Students will not be eligible to apply for the RCs given their less engagement in their study life than students in other study years and thus a lower need for a bed place.

Non-local Students
  • Incoming Exchange Students (with established agreements on student exchange with the university) (4%)
  • Non-local Students (20%)
    • The first study year of Full-time Non-local students in four years of study (Guaranteed bedplaces)
    • Non-local Senior Intake
    • Non-local current students

For non-local students who have completed the first year of study and senior intake will be allocated according to their ranking of the respective combined scores of the scoring system. Given the capped quota of bed places, a certain number of Non-local students will have to live off-campus.

Remarks

  1. The above are indicative figures only. As the admission number may fluctuate year by year and would not be made available until July, an indicative quota is set up to guide the overall allocation which will be adjusted up and down 3% when situation requires.

  2. Adjustment would be made, taking into consideration the gender distribution as well as the actual demand of each group of students.

  3. If the demand is greater than the total number of bed places, the allocation of bed places will be based on the Scoring System. Lot drawing will be used for applicants who have the same scores above the threshold.

  4. Applicants are expected to provide information to the best of their knowledge; any misrepresentation of facts or submission of false information would result in disqualification of application as well as disciplinary action by the University, as appropriate.

Scoring System

Local Students

The scoring system is revised as follows:

Student GroupHome Distance from HSUHKOutstanding PerformanceParticipation in Campus LifeContribution and Participation in Residential LifeTotal Score
Local Year 1 Students 5015N/AN/A65
Local Senior Intake5015N/AN/A65
Local Current Students with Residential Experience25103035100
Local Current Students without Residential Experience40152520100

The scoring system for Local Year 1 Students as new admittees will remain unchanged, with the weighting mainly on “Home Distance from HSUHK”.

Similar to Local Year 1 Students, the scoring system for Local Senior Intake as new admittees will remain unchanged, with the weighting mainly on “Home Distance from HSUHK”.

While home distance is a significant component to be admitted to the RCs, contribution and participation of Current Students to the RCs should not be overlooked. In this regard, the weighting of “Home Distance from HSUHK” and “Contribution and Participation in Residential Colleges Life” should be in good balance.

To motivate students in Residential Colleges to actively participate in Residential Colleges activities, it is suggested that the score of “Home Distance from HSUHK” be lowered from 50 to 25 for Current Students with residential experience, while the “Contribution and Participation in Residential Colleges Life” be increased from 10 to 35.

While home distance is still significant, Local Current Students without residential experience are strongly encouraged to engage in the living and learning of the RCs by participating in the Non-residential Membership Scheme.

A maximum of 20 points of “Contribution and Participation in Residential Colleges Life” will be granted in the case of participation in the Non-residential Membership Scheme, the score of “Home Distance from HSUHK” will be relatively lowered from 50 to 40.

Non-local Students

Apart from the Incoming Exchange Students, Non-local Students, who will be guaranteed with bed places in their first year of study, the scoring system for other Non-local Students is as follows:

Student GroupHome Distance from HSUHKOutstanding PerformanceParticipation in Campus LifeContribution and Participation in Residential LifeTotal Score
Incoming Exchange StudentsGuaranteed Bed Place
Non-local Year 1 StudentsGuaranteed Bed Place
Non-local Senior Intake251540
Non-local Current Students010303575

Since most of the Non-local Senior Intake have been residing in Hong Kong during their previous study in other institutions, they are deemed more capable in adapting to the new study environment and having less accommodation needs in the RCs. The score of “Home Distance from HSUHK” be lowered from 50 to 25.

Similar to Local Current Students with residential experience, contribution and participation of Non-local Current Students to the RCs are highly valued.

The maximum score of “Contribution and Participation in Residential Colleges Life” for Non-local Current Students will be the same as the Local Current Students, which will be increased from 10 to 35. Besides, the score of “Home Distance from HSUHK” will be removed as this is not an effective differentiating factor for non-local students.

Scoring based on “Contribution and Participation in Residential Colleges Life”

To encourage students to participate in different RC activities and programmes to enrich their RC life in this “living and learning” community, scores will be given to their applications as a recognition.
Applicants will be required to submit the report on Contribution and Participation in Residential Colleges Life on the system according to their participation and contribution in individual RC activities and Join RC activities. Further enquiries and appeal of results should be directed to respective RC Masters.

The template of the report can be referred HERE.

Scoring for Contributions and Participation in RC and Joint RC activities is tentatively as follows:

RoleDescriptionPoints Per Activity
LeaderTo lead and organize an activity with the aim to fostering the fame for RC, enhancing communal relationship, creating a positive learning atmosphere and/or improving the living environment of RC effectively.15
EnablerTo give significant contribution to an activity with the aim to fostering the fame for RC, enhancing communal relationship, creating a positive learning atmosphere and/or improving the living environment of RC effectively.10
ParticipantTo actively participate in a RC / Joint RC activity.5

Transition in 2020/21

To allow a buffer time for the implementation of the revised scoring system in the academic year 2021/22, these transitional measures in 2020/21 will be arranged for non-local students:

  1. Allocation of Non-local Current Students

    Due to the revision of the scoring system for Non-local Students in 2021/22, a portion of Non-local Current Students will reside off-campus in 2021/22. For a better transition, the non-local who will not be admitted to the RCs can apply for residing in the Old Hall, if bedplace of the Old Hall is still available after accommodating Taught postgraduate students.

  2. Scoring System of Non-local Senior Intake

    The score of “Home Distance from HSUHK” will be lowered from 50 to 25. Off-campus accommodation information service and tours will be rolled out in early to mid-June 2020.