Yes. If you think you need further study in languages to enable you to complete OUHK courses satisfactorily, you may decide to take the following Language Enhancement courses:

Pre-foundation Level:

ENGL A090 - English Speaking and Listening Skills
ENGL E070 - English for Post-secondary Study

These two courses combine English language and training in the study techniques required for successful distance study. Credits gained from completing these courses cannot be counted towards any degree programme, however.

Foundation and Middle Level:

ENGL E100 - English for Effective Communication I
ENGL E200 - English for Effective Communication II: Reading and Writing
ENGL E210 - English for Effective Communication II: Listening and Speaking
ENGL E205 - Preparing for IELTS

These courses are at University level. Credits gained from completing them may be counted towards the free choice credit component that is a feature of most OUHK programmes of study.

There are also enhancement courses for Chinese and Putonghua languages. These include:

First of all, you may study courses in any of the programmes. If your particular interests or career requirements are not met by one of the OUHK's named programmes, you may decide to aim for the award of a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) or Associate of General Studies (AGS). These two programmes offer students the opportunity to construct their own programmes of studies within the framework of OUHK programme regulations.

For further information and advice, an application form requesting BGS or AGS academic support is available for download from the University Website (Students→Academic Information→Distance Learning→ Forms ), or you can pick one up from the Information Centre of the University in person, or by sending your request to the Admissions and Student Records Office .

Yes. You should be aware, however, that when you change your programme of study, the degree regulations will usually be different. The courses that you have completed, and the credits you have obtained by examination or advanced standing/credit exemption, may not count towards the newly chosen programme of studies.

Please note that with effect from 1 December 2010, continuing students applying to the OUHK distance learning / part-time face-to face programmes with entrance requirements shall pay the application fee of HK$200.  Graduates of the University who have already obtained a qualification awarded by the University will be given a waiver of the application fee when they apply to a distance learning / part-time face-to-face programme with entrance requirements.

Self-diagnostic quizzes for certain courses are available to enable you to assess your ability to study them. You can obtain these tests in person from the Information Centre of the University or by sending your request to the Admissions and Student Records Office.

The self-diagnostic quizzes are available for the following courses:

Course Codes	Course Titles
ENGL A101	University English Writing Skills
ENVR S237	Environmental Control and Public Health
MATH S121	A Foundation in Pure Mathematics
MATH S122	A Foundation in Applied Mathematics
MATH S242	Statistics in Society
MECH S213	Materials: Engineering and Science
SCI S121	A Foundation Course in Physics and Chemistry
SCI S122	A Foundation Course in Biology and Earth Science

New students and students entering postgraduate programmes for the first time can register for courses with a total maximum registration value of 15.  For continuing students, the maximum is 30.

The registration value of a course is the credit value of the course divided by the number of semesters it takes to complete. It is an indication of a student's study load. For example, a 20-credit course of two semesters' duration has a registration value of 10, while a 5-credit course of one semester's duration has a registration value of 5.

Prior approval is required from the Dean of the School concerned in order to exceed these limits.

Distance learning students receive packages containing specially structured learning materials such as written texts, assignment questions and other supplementary materials.  The OUHK also makes use of other media, such as video and audio programmes, computer software, CD-ROMS, and online discussion boards to enrich students' learning experience.  Electronic Library resources are available for access 24 hours daily.  You will be allocated to a tutor who will provide teaching comments and advice on your assignments and is available by telephone to answer your queries.  Your tutor will also run optional tutorials and/or surgery sessions on weekday evenings or at weekends.   Students of part-time face-to-face courses will have more frequent and regular class sessions.  These sessions are usually held during weekday evenings and weekends.

Your result in a course will depend on your performance in both the continuous assessment and an end-of-course examination, and in some cases, the required attendance at the compulsory dayschools or laboratory sessions.

An email account will be provided to all students.  All academic and administrative information will be sent to the student's university email account as far as it is applicable.  This includes information about the student's programme and courses, tutorial timetables, changes to tutorial and study schedules, University news, and student announcements.  For this reason, enrolled students should check their email account frequently to access important and updated information.  

The University provides services to students with special needs during their studies.  The services include loan of equipment, arrangement of wheelchair accessible tutorial centre, course materials in CD format and special examination arrangement.  Students have to apply for the services via Student Affairs Office before the stipulated deadline and should indicate their type of disabilities to facilitate the University to provide the appropriate services for them.

Students should carefully consider their study load as they will be assessed by the same academic performance measure as other OUHK students.  They are encouraged to seek further advice from their respective Course Coordinator(s) by calling the Information Centre at 2711-2100.  Students should also read the requirements of course information in the Prospectus, the Courses Supplement and the Course Guide.

Elderly persons aged 65 or above with a Senior Citizen Card will be offered a 30% discount on the tuition fees at the time of course registration.  If you are interested in the Scheme, you should submit your application in person and produce your senior citizen card for verification during office hours.  If you prefer to apply by mail, you should submit your application together with a copy of your senior citizen card. To comply with the requirements of the HKSAR Government's Office of the CEF, the University will not offer any tuition fee discount or reduction to students applying for "CEF reimbursable courses".

Applicants interested in the short courses offered by the Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional and Continuing Education should contact LIPACE for further information.

The OUHK Student Financial Assistance Scheme aims to provide bursary or loan by paying tuition fees for OUHK students who encounter financial difficulties.

Regarding the OUHK bursary, continuing students who have passed one distance-learning or part-time face-to-face credit-bearing course at OUHK are eligible to apply.  Applications are invited twice a year in June and December.  For OUHK loan, continuing students may be considered for “Pay After One Year” (PAOY) or “Pay On Graduation” (POG) Loans.  New students can only apply for “Pay As You Learn” (PAYL) Loan.

Applications for financial assistance (bursaries and loans) are processed in the following periods:

Semester		General Application Period	Students who may apply
April semester	First round	Around 1-20 December#	Continuing students may apply for bursaries
		Around 1-31 December#	New and continuing students may apply for loans
	Second round	Early January-early March	Continuing students may apply for PAOY loans* New students may apply for PAYL loans* *Students must pay tuition fees first, regardless of whether or not their applications for loans are approved
October semester	First round	Around 1-20 June#	Continuing students may apply for bursaries
		Around 1-30 June#	New and continuing students may apply for loans
	Second round	Early July-early September	Continuing students may apply for PAOY loans* New students may apply for PAYL loans* *Students must pay tuition fees first, regardless of whether or not their applications for loans are approved

# Details of application dates for the coming semesters are available on the OUHK website (Current Students) or contact the Information Centre at 2711 2100.

Yes. Successful completion of courses at the tertiary level (i.e. qualifications must be at a level not lower than Level 4 in the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework or equivalent and obtained from a recognized Tertiary Institututions and be completed by coursework) may be counted towards your OUHK degree. Associate Degree holders and Higher Diploma holders from recognized local programmes may obtain exemptions of up to 80 credits. These students may be required to complete only 40 credits to obtain a 120-credit OUHK Bachelor's degree, or only 80 credits to obtain a 160-credit Bachelor's degree with honours. Furthermore, if you wish to transfer credits into an OUHK Postgraduate Diploma or Master's degree programme, then the qualification you hold must be at Postgraduate level standard, that is, at least be a Postgraduate Certificate/Postgraduate Diploma or a higher degree at Master's degree level.  In this regard, certain postgraduate programmes may set higher academic requirements for advanced standing. Research degrees are only accepted for transfer towards certain programmes at postgraduate level.

The OUHK offers three advanced standing/credit exemption schemes which are General Credit Transfer (GCT), Specific (course-to-course) Credit Transfer (SCT) and Block Credit Transfer (BCT).

Persons living overseas are welcome to pursue their studies in OUHK through distance learning.  However, they should note the following before submitting applications for enrolment: Students will be provided with course materials designed by experts in their respective fields, which should enable students to successfully complete the course requirements. These course materials are normally to be collected in Hong Kong, but can be mailed to students living overseas at the students' cost. There will be tutorial classes, but they are not mandatory. Some courses include compulsory Day Schools. Both tutorial classes and Day Schools are conducted in Hong Kong. Examinations are also held in Hong Kong. However, students may apply for overseas examination arrangements if needed, but the extra expenditures incurred will be borne by the students. As there are stringent requirements on overseas examinations arrangements, therefore, not all applications will be approved. Students not residing in Hong Kong who wish/need to attend tutorial classes, Day Schools and examinations in Hong Kong should enquire with the Immigration Department of the HKSAR Government about entry requirements and visa applications. Normally, entry visas are not issued for people who come to Hong Kong solely for the purpose of studying distance learning programmes. Students who are not Hong Kong residents are not normally eligible for financial assistance.

You may come in person to obtain the current OUHK Prospectus for New Students , Courses Supplement and related information from the Information Centre of the University, or you can visit our website for such information. You may also call our Information Centre at 2711 2100, our Admissions Hotlines at 2768 6601-3 or our 24-hour Infoline at 2309 2188 for further information; or you can contact us via email at info@ouhk.edu.hk.

Course set books, course materials, course related audio-visual materials, books, journals, and reference materials are available at the Campus Library.  The Electronic Library provides thousands of full-text e-books, e-journals, e-news, databases, reference resources, past examination papers and supplementary readings. OUHK students can access the Electronic Library from computers with Internet connection.

The Stanley Ho Library is located on Levels 1 and 2 of the academic building in Homantin Campus.  The address is as follows:
  
  Stanley Ho Library
  The Open University of Hong Kong
  30 Good Shepherd Street
  Homantin, Kowloon
  Hong Kong

  Enquiry: 2768 6777 
  Fax: 2715 1950
  Email: libwww@ouhk.edu.hk
  
  (Access via lift no. 6 or no. 9 to 2/F of Kwok Tak Seng Building)

The Stanley Ho Library is open to OUHK students every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; with early closing at 5:40 p.m. on some festivals. Special opening hours will be put up in advance on the Library homepage and at the Campus Library entrance.

Enquiry	Contact	Phone No.	Room No.	Email Address
1. General	Information Centre	2711 2100	P22	info@ouhk.edu.hk
	24-Hour Infoline	2309 2188
2. Admission & Support Services	Admissions Office	2768 6601-3	A0511	regadm@ouhk.edu.hk
3. Student Records	Student Records Office	2768 6606	A0511	regrec@ouhk.edu.hk
4. Student Financial Assistance & Awards	Student Affairs Office	2768 6636	A0511	regsao@ouhk.edu.hk
5. Advanced Standing/Credit Exemptions	Advanced Standing Office	2768 6624	A0511	regaso@ouhk.edu.hk
6. Tutorials & Assignments	Tutors, Assignments & Time-tabling Office	2768 6677	A0511	regtat@ouhk.edu.hk
7. Examinations	Examinations Office	2768 6688-9	A0511	regexam@ouhk.edu.hk
8. Graduation	Graduation Office	2768 6683	A0511	reggrad@ouhk.edu.hk

The OUHK campus is located at 30 Good Shepherd Street, Ho Man Tin. It comprises 32,700 square metres of gross built area.