Frequently Asked Questions
Course-related
What is a typical school year like?
The programme follows the academic system of Hong Kong and is divided into Fall Term (September to December), Spring Term (January to May) and Summer Term (June to July) each year.
* Students must take at least one course during Fall Term and Spring Term, otherwise they must apply for a leave of absence before the start of the semester. Summer Term does not require students to take any courses.
What are the arrangements for class suspension during typhoons and heavy rain?
On any normal school day, if the Yellow, Orange, Red Typhoon Warning or Red Rainstorm Warning Signal is still in effect during the following times, classes will be suspended as required:
Signal effective time
Class suspension arrangements
7:00am
Classes will be suspended from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
12 noon
Classes will be suspended from 1:30pm to 6:30pm
If a yellow, orange, red typhoon warning or red rainstorm signal is issued during class time, classes will be suspended immediately. During the period when a red rainstorm warning signal is in effect, students should stay in a safe place until the weather and traffic conditions improve.
If classes and exams are suspended due to typhoons and heavy rain, the programme will notify students of the specific rescheduling details.
How to apply for a leave of absence?
Applications must be submitted 2 weeks before the start of each semester. Please fill in the Application for Leave of Absence Pg in English (form download link: https://msimba.cuhk.edu.cn/download-category/imba-files), and send it to the project academic affairs mailbox mscimba_reg@cuhk.edu.cn. The body of the email must state the reason for the leave in English and attach the corresponding supporting documents. If you are taking a leave of absence due to illness, you must attach medical certification materials; if you end your leave of absence early, please notify the project team one week in advance.
Do I need to write a graduation thesis after completing all the credits?
The programme does not require a graduation thesis and students can graduate as long as they complete the required credits.
*6 compulsory courses (18 credits) + 2 professional elective courses (6 credits) + 4 elective courses (12 credits) = 36 credits.
If I have taken a similar course before, can I skip it in this programme?
Students can submit a course/credit exemption application in the SIS (Educational Management System) https://sis.cuhk.edu.cn/ - Course and Unit Exemption, and attach the transcript of the courses taken and the syllabus of the courses to be exempted to apply for course or (and) credit exemption. If the requirements are met, the course can be exempted. If not, the student needs to continue to study the course.
Alternatively, students can submit the Course and Unit Exemption Application Form to the programme academic affairs email address: mscimba_reg@cuhk.edu.cn (form download link: https://gs.cuhk.edu.cn/page/25), and attach transcripts of completed courses and the syllabus of the courses to be exempted to apply for course or (and) credit exemption.
If the requirements are not met, students are required to enroll in the course.
Are there any regulations on the number of times I can take leave?
According to school regulations, students’ total attendance time must not be less than 75% of the academic requirements, which means that students can take a maximum of 3 absences per course.
Will taking leave have any impact?
The attendance score for each course is determined by the instructor and the course assistant. Please consult the corresponding course assistant for specific details.
If I cannot attend classes due to some reasons (such as illness), how should I apply for leave?
Please be sure to email your course assistant and teacher in advance and attach the corresponding certificate. If you are on sick leave, please email your application before the end of the course that day and submit your medical records within 7 days.
Can students with an Information Management concentration take courses in the Business Analytics concentration? (and vice versa)
Due to the distinction between majors, students must take compulsory courses according to the programme arrangement and regulations: 4 common courses + 2 professional direction courses.
However, all electives are open to all students in the programme (on a first-come, first-served basis). Auditing does not count as credits and will not be shown on the transcript.
Can I switch classes?
A: Students are not allowed to change classes. If you need to adjust the class time slightly, please email the teaching assistant of each course to apply.
Can I still add or drop a course after the add-drop period has passed?
It is generally not recommended for students to perform this operation beyond the add-on or drop-off time, because there is a possibility that the original study plan will be changed due to disapproval . If there are special circumstances, please send the Late Course Drop Form to mscimba_reg@cuhk.edu.cn (form download link: https://msimba.cuhk.edu.cn/download-category/imba-files ) to apply. The body of the email must explain the situation, provide a valid and sufficient reason, and attach the transcript and relevant certificates. The form and email must be filled/written in English . Please note that the application for late drop after the midterm exam will only be approved if the circumstances are extremely unusual (such as being unable to continue classes due to illness) and sufficient supporting documents (such as hospital certificates) are submitted. In addition, late drop will be shown on the transcript, so please choose your courses carefully.
How long do the courses usually last?
The general course duration is 3 hours. In order to provide better teaching quality, it may be divided into 1.5 hours. The specific course duration depends on the instructor.
Questions about course selection and course arrangement consultation?
If you want to know the course introduction and class schedule before registering for a course, please contact the corresponding teaching assistant of the course; if you have any questions during course registration, you can send an email to the project academic affairs email address mscimba_reg@cuhk.edu.cn for consultation.
Can I choose courses from other Schools?
If students are interested in courses offered by other Schools of CUHK-SZ, they can apply to the instructor of the course to audit the course. Auditing does not count as credits.
Can I choose courses from other programmes within SFI?
Each student in the Information Management and Business Analytics Master's programme may take up to 2 elective courses from other programmes. Note that other programmes have fewer places available, so please choose carefully.
Please follow these procedures; note there are several options.
First, if the programme schedule for that semester shows courses from other programmes are available, students can directly select those non-IMBA courses on SIS during the course selection period.
Second, If the schedule does not show a particular course from other programmes available in SIS, there is a different application method. During the course selection period, students can apply for an outside course by submitting a Course Add Drop Form for Postgraduate Students (form download link: https://msimba.cuhk.edu.cn/download-category/imba-files) to the programme which is offering that course,. After approval by that programme, students can take the course.
Finally, if the course is full, students can email the course assistant to apply for auditing. Auditing does not count as credits, and the course assistant does not need to grade the homework of auditing students.
Why can't I log into the SIS system for course selection?
The SIS system requires connection to the campus intranet If you are off-campus, you can use SSL VPN to access campus resources. The operation is as follows:
- Open the VPN website https://vpn.cuhk.edu.cn , download and install Cisco AnyConnect ;
- Open Cisco AnyConnect and enter https://vpn.cuhk.edu.cn as the server address ;
- Log in with your CUHK(SZ) school account and password to connect.
How to select courses?
Each semester, students will log in to the academic management system SIS https://sis.cuhk.edu.cn/ to select courses. The process is divided into two stages.
The first stage of course selection: During the course selection period, students select the courses they want to take, and add these into their schedules. Please pay close attention - The course selection usually lasts for one day. The number of places for elective courses is based on a first-come, first-served basis.
The second stage is adding or dropping: During the add/drop period, students can add courses that still have vacancies or drop the selected courses. The adding or dropping period usually lasts for one to two weeks. Access to the remaining vacancies is again on a first-come, first-served basis. Students need to pay attention to the changes in the number of remaining vacancies for each course in order to successfully register the course.
If the elective course quota is full but you still want to apply, you can submit a Course Add Form for Postgraduate Students to mscimba_reg@cuhk.edu.cn during the course selection period (form download link: https://gs.cuhk.edu.cn/page/25). Whether the application is approved will be determined by the email notification.
If students do not take the required courses arranged by the program in the first academic year, they need to submit a Course Drop Form (form download link: https://gs.cuhk.edu.cn/page/25) to the program on the day of course selection to apply. Whether the application is approved will be determined by the email notification.
Is there any pattern in the course arrangement?
Generally speaking, the program courses are arranged on one-year cycles. For example, the courses offered in the Fall Term of the 2023-24 academic year will also be offered in the Fall Term of the 2024-25 academic year However, the program may adjust the course schedule from time-to-time, depending on factors such as instructor availability, etc..
Exams and Grades
If I take leave for an exam due to special reasons, can I apply for a make-up exam?
Students are required to take the subject examinations designated by the Graduate Affairs Committee of the School/Unit. The examination methods are written examinations, practical examinations, oral examinations, regular tests, or any combination of these methods.
If a student is unable to take part or all of a subject examination due to illness or important matters, he/she must fill out the Application Form for Absence from Examination (form download link: https://gs.cuhk.edu.cn/page/25 ) and send it to the project academic affairs mailbox mscimba_reg@cuhk.edu.cn and attach relevant proof to the application. In the case of illness, a certificate signed by a qualified doctor is required. This application must be processed within five working days after the examination.
After approval, the scoring method and standard will be determined by the course instructor. Also the instructor has the right to reduce the score at his/her discretion to maintain fairness to students who take the examination normally. If an examination is missed without permission, the result is calculated as a failure.
How to check the results after the exam?
After the final exam, the Graduate School publishes the student scores on the SIS system and are accessible through the normal login procedure. Each semester, the specific timing of score release is announced by the Graduate School. Students will also be notified by email.
How do I know my ranking?
According to regulations, the programme office cannot announce the ranking to students, and therefore cannot issue a certificate of grade ranking. If you need to know the total score ranking due to special circumstances such as internships or job applications, you can email the programme academic affairs mailbox mscimba_reg@cuhk.edu.cn to inquire about your personal ranking range (such as the top 30%, etc.).
Can I know the specific score of a certain course?
According to regulations, the programme office cannot release detailed scores to students without permission. If students need to know the score ranking of a certain course under special circumstances, they can contact the teaching assistant and teacher of the course for consultation.
Can I repeat a course if I have passed it?
Currently, our school does not allow students to repeat any subject after passing the examination.
Do I have to retake a course if I received an F grade?
If the failed subject is a compulsory subject, the student needs to retake it to obtain the corresponding credits and pay the fees incurred by retaking the subject in order to meet the graduation requirements.
How will the grades for retake courses appear on the transcript and how will they be calculated into the GPA?
All grades for repeated courses will be calculated into the GPA (except for courses with a pass/fail grading system) and will appear on the transcript like all other courses.
Can I take more than 36 credits?
When the credits reach 36, students can choose up to one free elective course, and the course will be counted into the GPA. However, the school does not recommend that students delay graduation by taking more courses (and paying more tuition). Generally speaking, students are encouraged to school after completing their 36 credits.
Graduation
How to check my student status?
CUHK-Shenzhen is formally registered with the Ministry of Education as a Sino-foreign cooperative education institution. Therefore the China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center cannot query the student status of the graduate students. If you need to check the student status, you can log in to the Sino-foreign cooperative education supervision work information platform to query the academic degree for certification registration information ( https://rzzccx.crs.jsj.edu.cn/StudentQuery.aspx?from=singlemessage ).
What should I do if my job requires a diploma?
Before receiving the degree certificate, our school will provide a graduation certificate and communicate with the HR of the employer to see if this alternative document is acceptable. After receiving the degree certificate, it is necessary to apply for the academic degree certification of Sino-foreign cooperative education. Go to the online service hall of the Overseas Study Service Center of the Ministry of Education ( http://zwfw.cscse.edu.cn/ ) and follow the relevant instructions.
Will there be a registration certificate or tripartite agreement after graduation?
Starting from 2023, the employment registration certificate will no longer be a required archival document, and our school graduates will not provide a registration certificate/tripartite agreement.
After completing my studies, how can I obtain the course completion certificate and graduation certificate?
The school will provide a course completion certificate and graduation certificate to each student who has completed their studies as soon as possible. The Institute will notify you by email that these are approved and available. Generally, the course completion certificate will be issued 14 working days after the results are announced. The graduation certificate will state the date of approval of the student's degree/diploma/certificate and the date of issuance of the graduation certificate. You can log in to the student affairs system to complete the graduation and departure procedures at https://stu.cuhk.edu.cn .
Can I graduate early?
Early graduation is allowed. The normal duration of study is 2 years, and the maximum duration can be extended to 3 years. Students must complete all graduation requirements within the maximum duration, which includes all periods of leave and suspension of study. If graduation is confirmed and the graduation review is passed, it will not be possible to issue a certificate of enrollment and reserve a student dormitory for the following semester.
When will the degree certificates be issued?
The degree conferment and graduation ceremony are not held simultaneously. The university confers degrees on three designated dates each year, namely March 31, July 31 and October 15, to students who meet the graduation requirements.
According to the university's degree awarding arrangements, once a student meets all graduation requirements, the degree awarding date defaults to the date corresponding to the graduation semester.
March 31, 202X is the date of degree award and the date of degree award printing.
July 31, 202X is the date of degree award and the date of degree award printing.
October 15, 202X is the degree award date and degree award printing date.
The degree award date is October 15, 202X, and the degree award print date is November 15, 2023.
Degree certificates will be collected one month after the degree is conferred. The programme will notify you by email about the details of collecting degree certificates. Students should plan their studies carefully and complete all graduation requirements before the end of the designated semester.
How to obtain the "Graduation Registration Form" and "Employment Recommendation Form"?
Our school provides two copies of the paper version of the "Graduate Student Registration Form" and one copy of the "Guangdong Province Ordinary Higher Education Graduate Employment Recommendation Form" for students who meet the graduation requirements. Please refer to the sample template for filling out the form.
The "Guangdong Province Ordinary Higher Education Graduate Employment Recommendation Form" is generally applicable to applications for civil servants and public institutions. Students will be notified to collect it after completing the stamping process.
*In principle, we do not accept individual student applications for stamping of employment recommendation forms.
Internship
How do I register for lectures or events?
Generally, lecture registration is notified by email or WeChat official account, and you can scan the QR code to register. The contact information for the corresponding lecture or event information is usually attached at the bottom of the relevant notification.
What should I do if the internship company requires a seal or signature on the project?
If your internship application requires a signature or seal from the project, you can use the project’s public account – official channel – signature application; or click the link https://msimba.cuhk.edu.cn/sign_request to apply here.
Will the school provide internal internship or job opportunities?
Generally speaking, students need to find internships and jobs on their own. If necessary, students can seek help from the Career Development Center. CDC provides resources to assist students in finding internships and jobs. The project regularly holds lectures and other activities and established an alumni exchange platform to create opportunities for students to communicate with industry professionals and alumni, When project teachers or alumni have internal referral quotas, they will be shared with project students first.
Transcripts and Certificates
How to apply for a transcript/enrollment certificate?
At the entrance of Student Activity Center 302, there is a 24-hour self-service printing terminal to obtain transcripts/certificates of enrollment.
The automatic printing terminals currently provide the following services (please refer to the Student Self-service Printer Guide):
自动打印终端机现提供以下服务（请查阅学生自助打印机指南）：
File Type
Fees
Transcript
Chinese version: RMB20
English version: RMB40
Proof of enrollment
free
Note:
1) The self-service machine does not provide an electronic version. If you need an electronic version, please scan it after printing it yourself.
2) If you need to collect the voucher on someone else’s behalf, please have the agent enter your account number and password on the self-service printer to print.
Tuition Fee and Scholarships
If I apply for withdrawal, can I apply for a refund of the corresponding tuition fees?
According to the Notice of the Guangdong Provincial Price Bureau, Guangdong Provincial Education Department and Guangdong Provincial Finance Department on Further Standardizing the Fee Management of Higher Education Institutions in Guangdong Province, after the student's application for withdrawal is approved, the tuition fees paid will be handled according to the following circumstances:
- If a student responds to the national call to enlist in the army, the educational institution shall fully refund the fees paid by the student; if a student drops out of school due to the educational institution publishing or distributing false enrollment brochures (advertisements) or other acts that violate national regulations, the educational institution shall fully refund the fees paid by the student and shall bear liability for compensation in accordance with the law if any losses are caused to the student.
- If the student fails to enroll after registering and paying the tuition, the educational institution shall refund 90% of the tuition and accommodation fees paid.
- If the student completes the course early, transfers to another school with approval, dies during the course, or takes a leave of absence due to illness, or drops out of school, the tuition and accommodation fees paid will be refunded based on the student's actual time in school. The refund standard for tuition and accommodation fees = tuition and accommodation fee standard per academic year ÷ 10 months × (10-the number of months the student actually spent in school). If the student spent less than one month in school, it will be calculated as one month.
- If a student leaves school without permission or is expelled from school for personal reasons or cannot continue studying due to criminal offenses, the tuition and accommodation fees paid will not be refunded.
- The enrollment time starts from the day when formal classes (including military training) begin.
How to apply for withdrawal?
Fill out the Withdrawal Notice and Refund Application Form (if necessary) in English and send it to mscimba_reg@cuhk.edu.cn for application. The email certificate must state the reason for withdrawal. (Application form: Withdrawal Notice and Refund Application Form).
At the same time, you need to submit the withdrawal and departure procedures in the Student Affairs System (you can log in to the Student Affairs System https://stu.cuhk.edu.cn for withdrawal and departure procedures). Please refer to the attached Graduate Departure Management (Student) Operation Manual
I received an entrance scholarship, why do I still need to pay tuition fees?
The admission scholarship will be deducted from tuition balance due starting with the fourth to the third to the second payment periods according to the amount received. The specific payment amount will be based on the payment display of the financial system.
For example, for Silver Entrance Scholarship and Bronze Entrance Scholarship recipients, tuition fees will be deducted from the fourth payment. The system will automatically deduct the scholarship portion.
For Gold Entrance Scholarship recipients, tuition fees will be deducted from the third and fourth semesters.
How are the scholarships for the project evaluated and awarded?
The project scholarship is divided into admission scholarship and academic scholarship. The admission scholarship will be assessed by the project scholarship committee based on the student's past performance in all aspects prior to admission. The scholarship award is delivered by way of an exemption from the corresponding tuition fees.
The academic scholarship will be assessed by the programme scholarship committee based on the student’s academic performance during their programmeme studies at SFI. After completion of their studies, the scholarship will be paid through bank transfer or other means.
Can I apply for late payment of tuition fees?
Students are required to pay tuition fees on time. Students who fail to pay tuition fees on time will not be able to enroll in courses. If you need to apply for late payment due to special circumstances, please send an email to the project academic affairs email address mscimba_reg@cuhk.edu.cn to apply. The body of the email must state the reason for late payment and the payment time, and attach relevant supporting materials.
How to pay tuition fees?
Refer to the instructions on the Acceptance Form to log in to the intranet (link: https://pay.cuhk.edu.cn:3306/ ), your user name is your student ID, and pay the tuition fee according to the prompts. It is recommended that you understand the daily transfer limit of your account in advance to avoid failure in tuition fee payment. Alternatively, you can use Yu'ebao in Alipay to pay.
*Undergraduate CUHK(SZ) students please use special account to pay.
How is the tuition payment schedule arranged?
Please refer to the tuition fee payment amount and arrangement in the admission notice. The first payment is due when you accept the admission offer, i.e. the reservation fee; the second payment is when you enroll, before course selection on September 1st.
Overseas Exchanges
Does the school have overseas exchange programmes?
Overseas exchange programmes are managed by the Office of Academic Exchange (OAL) of the university. Every academic year, students will be provided with detailed information, application requirements, nomination rules, and management regulations of our overseas exchange programmes. Relevant information is generally sent to students in the form of emails. Interested parties can register by contacting: (86) 0755- 2351 5509 or E-mail: oaloutbound@cuhk.edu.cn
Note:
Generally, overseas exchange programmes may have requirements for students' GPA, and Term 1 scores may be needed; since students need to maintain their student status during overseas exchange, they need to reserve at least one course within the prescribed academic system, and return to their home school to continue their studies after the exchange.
After the overseas exchange programme is confirmed, you need to submit an application for leave of absence to the programme academic affairs email address mscimba_reg@cuhk.edu.cn one month in advance (form download link: https://msimba.cuhk.edu.cn/download-category/imba-files) and attach the admission letter of the other school, air ticket information and other relevant certificates. Only after the application for leave of absence is approved can you go on an overseas exchange.
Please refer to the course-related Q&A for credit exemption and requirements.
Others
What should I do if I forget my school account password?
1) If you have set up password security questions or linked other personal email addresses in MyPortal - "My Account", you can reset your CUHK(SZ) account password on MyPortal if you forget your password or it has expired;
2) If you have not set up password security questions or bound other personal email addresses on MyPortal, when you forget your password or it expires, you will need to provide valid identity proof and apply for password reset by sending an email to isupport@cuhk.edu.cn or going to the campus ITSO service desk.
The system requires students to change their passwords every 365 days. Two weeks before the password expires, you will receive an email notification to remind you to change your password in time.
What is the use of a school account?
Each student will have a CUHK(SZ) school account to use the university's IT resources and services, such as orientation system registration, university email, CUHK(SZ) wireless network, online learning platform Blackboard, academic management system SIS, tuition payment, library public computers or classroom computers, etc.
*If you are an undergraduate CUHK (SZ) student, you can use your undergraduate school account information except for tuition payment. Undergraduate CUHK (SZ) students have a special account for tuition payment. Please pay attention to the project email for specific information.
How to obtain CUHK(SZ) school account number and campus card?
Before the start of the semester (usually in July-August), the programme will notify students of their CUHK(SZ) school account via email. The password can be set according to the instructions. Campus cards can be collected on site on the day of registration.
How to apply for accidental injury insurance?
Every school year, the school will organize students to purchase personal accident insurance, and will send a unified email notification at that time. The fee is generally around 30-50 yuan/person/year (the specific charging standard is subject to the latest notification of the school year). Every student needs to purchase accident insurance within the time specified in the email, otherwise it will affect the student's normal course selection.
How to apply for medical insurance at university?
You will receive an email sent by the Student Affairs Office, Please submit the relevant documents and the Student Affairs Office will handle the application for you. For more information, please send an email to osa@cuhk.edu.cn or call (86) 0755-8427 3692. You can also follow the official account: CUHK Shenzhen OSA for more information.
How to settle in school?
Students can voluntarily choose whether to transfer their household registration. The address is: The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), 2001 Longxiang Avenue, Longgang District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. For details, please refer to the new student household registration transfer process and Q&A.
1) Students with household registration outside Guangdong Province: After registration, please submit the original household registration transfer certificate, a copy of the admission notice, the original and copy of the ID card (front and back on one A4 paper) and other materials to the security team registration office for processing;
2) Students from Guangdong Province and outside Shenzhen: After registration, a copy of the household registration booklet, a copy of the admission letter, the original ID card and
Submit the photocopy (front and back on one A4 paper) and other materials to the security team's registration desk for processing.
How to transfer party organization relations to school?
If you need to transfer your organization relationship, please refer to the following process:
1) Relationship transfer:
(a) If the original party organization is in Guangdong Province, it can be transferred through the Guangdong Provincial Party Affairs Management System and the Shenzhen Smart Party Building (WeChat official account).
Heading: Party Committee of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen;
Destination: Student Branch of the School of Management and Economics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen);
(b) If the original party organization is outside Guangdong Province, please issue a paper letter of introduction:
Header: Organization Department of Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China;
Destination: Party Committee of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
You need to submit a paper letter of introduction and a party member information form (with a note of the college).
2) Follow the WeChat public account “Shenzhen Smart Party Building” and register to fill in the information > Personal Center > Organization Relationship Transfer, and transfer the relationship to the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen.
When registering for admission, we will issue a transfer chart for organizational relations, and a party member information form (including student email address) to students who request to transfer. For more information, please refer to the electronic version of the Party Organization Transfer Instructions for Graduate Students: https://msimba.cuhk.edu.cn/download-category/imba-files
How to transfer the Youth League organization relationship to school?
If you need to transfer your organization relationship, please refer to the following process:
1) Transfer students who studied undergraduate courses in Guangdong Province:
You can initiate a transfer through the Youth League branch of your undergraduate programme and transfer to the [Communist Youth League Committee of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) XX College]. The specific XX College can be learned after registration.
2) Transfer students who studied outside Guangdong Province:
If the student is from outside the province and his personal file is not transferred to the school, how should the smart team building relationship be handled?
There are two recommended approaches:
- Since our school has obtained a degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, we can ask the undergraduate school to handle it as studying abroad. Generally, the Youth League organization relationship can be retained in the undergraduate school for 2 years, or transferred to the mobile Youth League branch of the undergraduate school;
- If the personal file is kept in the talent market, talent exchange center, social security bureau, etc. in your hometown, the Youth League organization relationship can be reported in the community where the file is located.
If you have any questions, please contact: 0755-84273655, 18801623589 (Teacher Wang)
