- The Academic Calendar
- Undergraduate Programs
- Postgraduate Programs
- How Credit Units Work
Introduction
The academic transcript provides the full record of a student's academic results and performance. This record may not be released to any other party without the written consent of the student, in accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance established in 1996.
About the University
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) opened in October 1991 as a technological university dedicated to the advancement of learning and scholarship, with special emphasis on research, postgraduate education, and close collaboration with business and industry.
The Academic Calendar
Term Start 1st September 31st AugustThe academic year begins on 1 September and ends on 31 August of the following year. There are four terms in each academic year, namely Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Fall and Spring are regular terms with thirteen weeks of scheduled classes.
Calendar prior to 2010 Spring
The academic year of the University begins on 1 September and ends on 31 August of the following year. It includes two semesters and two sessions. Each semester has fourteen weeks of schedules classes.
Undergraduate ProgramsExcept as noted, the undergraduate programs offered by the University normally require full-time attendance of four academic years and they all lead to honors degree. The curriculum is founded on a credit-based system and comprises a structured set of courses. Credits are earned term-by-term towards the completion of the degree requirements. Prior to the 3-3-4 education reform in Hong Kong and before the 2012 cohort, students are normally required to have full-time attendance of three academic years.
Postgraduate ProgramsThe University offers postgraduate programs leading to master's and doctoral degrees and graduate diplomas.
Degree Awarded
The undergraduate programs offered by the University all lead to honors degrees. The University also offers postgraduate programs leading to master degrees, doctoral degrees and graduate diplomas. The Master of Arts (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Public Management (MPM), Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) are coursework degrees whereas the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) are research degree programs.
How Credit Units WorkCredit units are earned through the completion of courses and other assessed learning activities. For undergraduate courses, one credit unit generally represents 40-50 learning hours. For postgraduate courses, one credit is normally designated for one lecture, one tutorial or three laboratory/ field study hours per week.
Undergraduate 1 Credit Unit 40 - 50 learning hours Postgraduate 1 Credit Unit 1 lecture, tutorial, or 3 lab/field study hours per weekCredit Unit prior to 2010 Spring
One credit is designated for once lecture hour, one tutorial hour or three laboratory hours per week for fourteen weeks.
Grading & Definitions
Students receive a grade in each course in which they are enrolled. Transfer credits and courses graded HP/P/LP/U/Y, AU, CR, DI, DN, I, IP, P, PA, PP, PS, T and W are omitted from the calculation of grade point averages.
- Letter Grades
- Other Grades
- Executive Programs
Marginal Performance 1
Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Postgraduate UndergraduatePass, Ungraded
(under the P/F grading system)
Pass, Ungraded
(under the P/F grading system)
Pass, Graded
(under the DI/PA/F grading system) 3
Permitted to Proceed 4
PostgraduatePermitted to Proceed 4
Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Postgraduate UndergraduateWithdrawal without Penalty
PostgraduateWithdrawal without Penalty
Postgraduate Postgraduate Postgraduate Postgraduate PostgraduateNotes
- Definition revised from ‘Good Performance’ from 1999-2000 Fall
- Ceased to be used from 1997-98 Fall
- The DI and PA grades can only be used under the “Distinction/Pass/Fail” grading system.
- The Permitted to Proceed (PP) grade may be given in two-part or three-part project courses. When progress in thesis or project work is satisfactory but not scheduled for completion at the end of a term, the PP grade will be used. The PP grade is also used at the end of the first term of a two regular-term course.
- Academic Regulations on: Course Auditing With the permission of the course instructor, students may register in a course as an auditor and attend the course and participate in course activities. Auditing students will not be awarded a grade or earn credits. Subject to satisfactory completion of requirements set by the instructor, the course will be designated AU on the student’s transcript. Otherwise the course will be removed from the registration record. Incomplete Grades An Incomplete (I) grade is used when completion of a student’s work is necessarily delayed. This grade must be converted to a regular grade at least one working day before the start of the following regular term; otherwise the I grade is converted to F.
Grading (prior to 2010 Spring)
Grade Averages
With effect from 2010-11 Spring, the University adopted a 4-point grading system to replace the 12-point system that had been used since 1991-92 in the calculation of grade averages.
The following grade averages are calculated and are presented in numeric values only:
Term Grade Average (TGA): TGA is calculated across all courses taken in a term.Cumulative Grade Average (CGA): CGA is calculated for all the courses earning grade points completed since first registration in a program up to the point of calculation.
Graduation Grade Average (GGA): GGA is the student’s CGA adjusted by excluding courses from the calculation under established University rules.
Major Cumulative Grade Average (MCGA): MCGA is calculated based on the grade points earned for the courses used to fulfil the major requirements and the requirements of the corresponding School or Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies, where appropriate. For students admitted in 2018-19 academic year or after, the classification of awards is based on a two-tier system of MCGA and overall CGA.
Semester Grade Average (SGA): SGA is the combined grade average covering all courses taken in Fall including the following Winter or Spring including the following Summer. This grade average was used before 2010-11 Spring.
The following table shows the conversion of 12-point and 4-point grading system:
Grade Averages & Course Weight (prior to 2010 Spring)
Gradings have been updated as of Spring 2010
Format of Transcript
Effective from 1st August 2011, the University adopted a new transcript in landscape format. The transcript is printed on watermarked paper with the Chinese name of the University as background. It is valid only with the authorized signature, and it bears the embossed stamp on the last page.
Starting from 1st June 2020, the HKUST official transcript is printed on the HKUST logo watermarked paper with fine prints of the full name of the University as background. It is valid only with the authorized signature, and it bears the embossed stamp on the last page.
The University began issuing electronic transcript (e-Transcript) in September 2020. The authenticated e-Transcript is verifiable at the official website of the University with fine prints of the full name of the University as background and an authorized signature. The document is developed based the blockchain technology, it is cryptographically signed, tamper-proof, and shareable. Discover more information about the electronic documents issued by the HKUST at this page.
Application
For Students with ITSC Network Account: Login with ITSC Network Account
For Alumni with @connect or Alumni Account: Login with @connect or Alumni Account
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the official transcript any time I wish to do so?Yes, UNLESS you have overdue payment with the University. You will need to settle the payment before you can apply for the official transcript. Please contact the Central Student Financials (CSF) Unit of the Finance Office (fostudent@ust.hk) for enquiries of the payment that you need to settle.
You are also advised NOT to apply for the official transcripts during periods where course and/or registration records are subject to changes (e.g. grade reporting, grade review, course registration, add-drop periods, awaiting for the approval of graduation status, degree conferral…etc). If a request for the official transcript is made during these periods and should changes occur after the official transcript is printed, a fresh application and the necessary payment will need to be made again for an updated copy.
Does HKUST issue official transcript in soft copy?There are two types of transcripts available: hard copy and digital (e-Transcript).
Hardcopy transcripts are printed on the HKUST logo watermarked paper with fine prints of the full name of the University as background. It is valid only with the authorized signature, and it bears the embossed stamp on the last page. All hardcopy transcripts will be folded and placed in an envelope. If you do not want your document(s) to be folded, then you should put this down in the “Remarks” section of the online application form.
The e-Transcript is a secure electronic document supported by the blockchain technology. It is registered on the blockcert server so that it is cryptographically signed, tamper-proof, and shareable. It can be accessed by a third party, ranging from other tertiary institutions to employers, in a more secured way. For details of the e-Transcript initiative, please visit here.
How can I apply for the official transcript?You can apply for the official transcript via the online Transcript Application System. Log in to the system:
- with your ITSC Account if you are a current student; or
- with the @connect or @alumni account if you are a graduate; or
- by providing personal particulars for other students (e.g. former exchange in students, students who have attended a non-degree program…etc).
Yes. A fee of HK$50 is charged for each copy to each recipient. An additional postage/courier fee is applied according to the delivery service that you have chosen for hard copy transcript. All fees paid are non-refundable in all circumstances.
How can I settle the transcript fee?You can settle the transcript fee using Visa/Master Cards.
Can I collect the official transcript in person?If you would like to collect your official transcript in person on campus, you can collect it from our Smart Lockers. Transcripts that are not collected within three months from the date of application will be disposed.
Details can be found here.
Can the hard copy transcript be posted directly from the Academic Registry to a designated address?Yes, that can be done. You should note that the hard copy transcript contains much of your personal data. To avoid postal error, you should state clearly, preferably in ENGLISH, the addresses to which the official transcripts will be sent. The Academic Registry will bear no responsibility for the loss or damage of the document during postal delivery.
Can I request that the hard copy transcript be sent to a designated address by ordinary mail only?Yes. But you are strongly recommended to have it sent by registered mail or by courier service as you will be able to track the delivery progress with the Hongkong Post/courier service provider by quoting the respective reference number in case you need to do so.
How long will it take for the official transcript to be ready?Unless otherwise specified, the official transcript will be prepared as soon as the related payment is settled and, normally, five working days should be allowed for processing the request. Transcript requests are processed in the order of receipt. Applicants can check the status of their requests by logging into the application page again. An email will be sent to you after your request is completed.
Time needed for a hard copy transcript to be delivered to a designated address varies from one destination to another as well as the postal/courier service that you have chosen. Please refer to the estimated delivery time for reference. You are advised to plan ahead and allow enough time for postal delivery if you need to meet any deadline.
As for the e-Transcript, after your transcript request is completed, an email containing a download link to the document will be sent to the recipient’s email address provided in your transcript application. The recipient can view and download the document using the link. The document is solely for the recipient’s use. It is important that you provide accurate information of the recipient in your request or there may be a delay in the process. The University bears no responsibility in the event of non-delivery of the e-Transcript.
Do you offer courier service?Yes. Courier services by Fedex and SF Express Freight Collect (順豐到付) are offered. An overview of the estimated delivery time and amount chargeable to the delivery services available is given in the table below.
Please note that if you choose SF Express Freight Collect (順豐到付), you (or the recipient) will be charged by SF Express upon package collection (No postage fees will be charged through the online application system). It is therefore important for you to make sure that the package is sent to a recipient who will be responsible for settling the delivery charge. As a mandatory requirement by the SF Express company, graduates/students who require delivery to mainland China will have to upload to the application system a colour copy of both sides of the recipient's China ID card for uploading to the company’s website. You should upload the required document to the system when completing your application on the system. Applications with insufficient identification documents will be denied. The ID documents uploaded to this application system will be purged 7 days after the request is processed and completed.
Delivery Services
Applicable Destinations
ESTIMATED Delivery time (in terms of working days) #
Amount of delivery service charge to be paid through the transcript application system
Ordinary Local/Air Mail (Hong Kong Post)
No additional charge
Registered mail i.e. with mail tracking feature (Hong Kong Post)
Non-local (airmail) : 4-24
ALL Regions / Countries covered by Fedex (Except for Hong Kong local delivery)
Courier (SF Express Freight Collect - 順豐到付)
HK, Mainland China, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia
Students will be charged by SF Express upon package collection(No fees will be charged through this system)
# The estimated delivery time is for reference only and the delivery time may vary depending on the destination and other situational factors. For updated postal/courier delivery service, please refer to the respective service provider's website.
I have just completed my degree. When will my degrees be shown on the transcript?The following information will be shown on both the hard copy and the electronic transcripts after your graduation status is approved by the University:
- name of the degree completed (including additional major, minor, options, streams and concentrations, etc.);
- degree classification (applicable to undergraduate programs only); and
- program completion date *
In case you wish to include the information on your official transcript and provided that your ITSC account is still valid, you can check and see whether it is shown on your unofficial transcript before applying for the official one.
*After the degree has been conferred on you, the “Conferred Date” will be shown on the transcript instead of the program completion date.
I am applying for further studies in other universities and I am required to send the official transcript to them in a sealed envelope with an official stamp applied across the flap of the envelope. Can that be done?
Yes. You will need to indicate such kind of instructions AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION for the official transcript in the space under the “Remarks” section of the online application form.
On some occasions, you may also be requested by some universities or institutions to send them the transcript together with a specific covering form. You are strongly advised to apply for HARD COPY transcript in this case. You should upload the relevant document when completing the online application form. Please ensure the accuracy of the information provided in the form, otherwise, there may be a delay in handling your request.
Can I have a scanned copy of the transcript sent to the designated recipient before the hard copy/ digital one reaches him/her?
No. Please apply for the e-Transcript in this case.
Will free transcripts be issued to students by the University?A free copy of transcript will be issued automatically by the Academic Registry to students who have:
- completed a degree program at the University and have been formally admitted to the degree ( i.e. after the conferment of degree ); or
- withdrawn from the University and have completed all formal procedures for withdrawal.
