Studying in Hong Kong

Housing

A) Semester Accommodation Package offered by NTT International House

NTT International House is a guesthouse located on the Hong Kong Baptist University campus next to the Lam Woo International Conference Centre. It offers full-time students a special Semester Accommodation Package that provides students with hotel-style accommodation in a quiet and comfortable living environment. NTT’s space is limited and in high demand so students are advised to apply early.

B) Off-Campus Accommodation offered by the Housing Office of HKBU’s Estates Office

Address: Nos. 51-53 Sa Po Road, Kowloon City, Hong Kong
Monthly Rent: HK$2,600 per head (excluding all utility charges)
Usable Floor Area: About 380 square feet per unit
Facilities: Furniture - Double decker bunk bed, cabinet, desk. Electrical appliances – Split-type air-conditioner, refrigerator, cooker, water heater
Layout: 2 bedrooms, kitchen, 1 toilet/bathroom, balcony
Remarks: Central location with easy access to restaurants, parks, shops. Convenient transport – the 25M minibus takes 10-20mins to campus, bus stop is opposite the entrance to the building; 20-25mins walk from campus

Medical Insurance

The programme has committed a substantial subsidy for all of its students to enjoy the same privileges and services at the University Health Clinic as students of government-funded programmes. Please visit the following website for details of medical services and the University Student Dental Benefit Scheme: http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/sa/template/services/med&den_index.htm

Please call the Student Affairs Office at 3411-5023 for enquiries about these services.

The Medical, Dental, Sports Facilities and Counselling Services provided to students of self-financed academic programmes in the Academic Year 2006/07 (September 2006 to August 2007) are as follows:

1. Full-time ("FT") self-financed students

(a) Medical Service - FT self-financed students can receive outpatient medical consultations at the University Health Centre ("UHC") by paying the nominal fee of $20 per visit at the UHC.
(b) Dental Service - FT self-financed students are eligible to enroll for the annual dental scheme by paying a fee of $100 per annum.
(c) Sports Facilities - FT self-financed students are eligible to access the sports facilities on campus including the Shek Mun campus subject to the prevailing charges applicable to eligible student users.
(d) Counselling Service - FT self-financed students can obtain counselling from the Counselling and Development Section of the Student Affairs Office (SAO) free of charge.

2. Part-time ("PT") Self-financed Students

(a) Medical Service - PT self-financed students can recieve outpatient medical consultations at the University Health Centre ("UHC") by paying a fee of $120 per visit at the UHC.
(b) Dental Service - PT self-financed students are eligible to enroll for the annual dental scheme by paying a fee of $130 per annum.
(c) Sports Facilities - PT self-financed students are eligible to access the sports facilities on campus including the Shek Mun campus and subject to the prevailing charges applicable to eligible student users.
(d) Counselling Service - PT self-financed students can obtain counselling service from the Counselling and Development Section of SAO by paying a fee of $400 per session to the CDS.

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Insurance

On campus: All students are automatically insured for all accidents that occur on campus.

Off campus:
Private travel: Personal insurance packages are available for students travelling outside Hong Kong on personal business. See Hong Kong Baptist University Official / Personal Overseas Trips , Hong Kong Baptist University Request for Insurance Coverage for Personal Overseas Trips to get detailed information about purchasing relevant travel insurance.

Study tours: All students (including those on self-financed programmes) participating in the internship programme or study tour, as long as these are School activities and not personal activities, either overseas or local, are insured under the "Group Personal Accident Insurance" and/or "Official/Personal Overseas Trips Insurance" policy arranged by the Hong Kong Baptist University except in the following cases:

1. Students from Mainland China who go back to Mainland for the period of internship
2. Students who have a formal employment relationship with the cooperating organization, i.e., who have signed a contract. (Employee compensation should be arranged by the cooperating organization)

More information at: Hong Kong Baptist University Group Personal Accident / Medical Insurance For Short Term/Visiting Staff & Students Insurance Summary

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Places to know

The Department of Journalism's General Office is located in Room FSC 1015 on level 10, Fong Shu Chuen Library Building (FSC), Ho Sin Hang Campus.

The Computer Laboratory at FSC 1019 is open 9 a.m.-5.30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.-midday on Saturdays. It can occasionally be used overnight for classwork purposes by special arrangement (see below under Overstay). If the door is shut but not locked you can use your student ID card to enter.

The Printing Laboratory houses the printing press and related equipment and is at STC901, Sing Tao Communication Centre, which is close to the Academic Community Hall and the main university entrance. Mr Leung, who is in charge of the lab, also keeps digital cameras there which can be borrowed for use in class work or the international news website.

The TV News Studio is located in Room LMC 513. As a rule, you will not be using the broadcasting equipment for the MA in IJS course. The Computer Lab is equipped for editing video and website building.

The International News & Communication Resources Centre is located at AML 119 in the basement of the library building, with its entrance on Renfrew Road. This converted studio will be opened in September 2007 as a meeting place and class venue for all journalism students. It can be used for accessing international media, discussing international communication matters and working on international communication-related assignments.

The School of Communication Computer Laboratory at FSC906 (9th floor, FSC) is open to all students of the School 9:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. except during scheduled classes (the timetable is posted outside the door).

Academic Registry (AR) is on the 6th and 7th floor of Fong Shu Chuen Building, below the Journalism Department. AR is the place where all official registration matters take place (though this is generally done online), and you will also get your transcripts from there.

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Things to know

1. The Course
   Please note that there are core subjects, which everyone must take, and elective subjects, which provide a range of subjects to make up the requisite number of units to gain your degree. You must register for all classes through the Academic Registry (AR). You may be able to gain exemption from core subjects if you have special experience or have already taken similar classes before, but please check the conditions and get approval first. If you gain an exemption, make sure you check whether you must take another class to replace it or not. Although Academic Registry will keep a record of your subjects, it is your responsibility to make sure that you have signed up for the right number and types of classes to qualify for the MA degree.

2. Scholarships
   Scholarships will be awarded during Semester 2 to the 15 per cent of students scoring the highest GPA in the first semester. The highest level scholarship(s) of HK$50,000 each will be awarded to student(s) who attain the highest GPA for the four subjects in the first half of their study period, as long as their GPA is above 3.5. Winners of the second-level scholarship(s) of HK$30,000 must attain a GPA of at least 3.3. Those winning the third-level scholarship(s) of HK$10,000 each must have a GPA of least 3.1. Students do not need to apply. A panel of faculty members chaired by the Programme Director will make decisions on recipient(s) and amounts in cases of tied GPA scores.

3. Grades and Degrees
   You will receive your initial semester’s GPA around early January and a final cumulative GPA when you graduate in June. In order to graduate you must pass all subjects (that is, have a grade of C- or above) and a GPA of 2.5 or above. A first-semester GPA of 1.7 or below will bring you a warning. A final cumulative GPA of 3.7 or above will bring you a distinction.

4. Plagiarism
   A very important note here about the university’s policy on plagiarism, that is, the unacknowledged use of other people’s work as if it were your own. This definition sometimes causes problems because the basis of study is the reading of what others have written on a subject and using their work as a basis for yours Sometimes it seems as if the author has expressed his or her ideas very well and therefore you can use their words verbatim to express your own ideas. This is not the case: doing this is no less than the theft of that person’s work and is an act of dishonesty. However, avoiding plagiarism is very easy. All you need to do is provide a reference to the source of your information, that is, author and title of work, plus page number or other specific location. This can be done in a footnote or endnote, or by any clear means acceptable to whoever is setting the assignment. Please note that if you cite the work exactly, you must use quote marks.
   
   Any piece of work handed in by a student that is found to be plagiarised will be automatically given an F grade and the student involved will be counselled and made fully aware of the implications. The student will then be allowed to choose to let the F grade stand or re-do the piece of work in a proper way and receive a maximum of D for that particular piece of work.

5. Overstay in the Computer Laboratory
   1. To apply to overstay Mondays to Fridays (5.30 p.m.-11 p.m. or 5.30 p.m.-9 a.m. the next day) please fill in the form (available on the download page of the Department’s website) and submit it to the Department’s General Office for approval AT LEAST TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE.
   2. To apply to overstay on Saturdays after 12:00 and on Sundays, the form should be filled in and submitted to the Department Head for approval AT LEAST TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE.
   3. After approval, the applicant should make three copies of the form and submit two of them to Estates Office at the Ho Sin Hang Security Control Room, L2, Car Park Entry, for their registration and approval. The other copy is to be kept by the Department Office as a record. Please note that this bothersome process is necessary for security purposes.
   4. The person who makes the application is responsible for any damage to fixtures and equipment in the areas booked. He or she must stay in the Computer Lab and any other area booked until the Estates Office's staff come to lock the doors (at 11 p.m.) or the Computer Technician on duty arrives (the next morning). If you wish to leave before the designated time, the doors can be locked by a security guard—call 34115555. The person who made the application must wait for the guard to arrive. The Department has the authority to refuse further applications to overstay to any student who fails to comply with these rules.

6. Use of equipment
   1. The equipment should only be used for class work and the International News Website.
   2. Requests for use of equipment should be made at least one day in advance.
   3. There is a limit on the amount of equipment, so we follow a "first-come-first-served" policy.
   4. When borrowing equipment you must complete a check-out form, which you can find on the download page on the Department’s website. You should ensure that the equipment and/or accessories are in good working order before you check them out, and you will be held liable for any damage due to improper or careless use.
   5. The equipment or accessories are lent out for 5 days, and this period can be extended once on application if others do not need the equipment.
   6. You must check out and return the equipment yourself.

7. Student ID
   Your student ID card is the key to access to the library, computer labs and equipment, so keep it with you at all times. If you lose it, report the loss to Academic Registry immediately. Your student ID number is used for your e-mail address—as in “yourID@hkbu.edu.hk”.

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