Course Selection Period
You must select ALL your courses for the entire 2024-2025 academic year in this period 10:00 am, 12 Aug 2024 – 16:00 pm, 16 Aug 2024
1st semester Dates
Teaching Period: 9 Sep 2024 – 30 Nov 2024
Add-drop Period, except intensive courses (See Note 1; for MCL students see also Note 2): 9 – 23 Sep 2024
Assessment Period: 7 – 23 Dec 2024
Release of Assessment Results: Mid-Jan, 2025
January semester (Optional - Intensive course(s)) Dates
Teaching Period: Jan-Mar 2025
Add-drop Period (See Note 1): Ends immediately after the second class (by session)
Assessment Period: Feb – May 2025 (TBC by course teacher(s))
Release of Assessment Results: Mid-Jun, 2025
2nd semester Dates
Teaching Period: 27 Jan 2025 – 3 May 2025
Add-drop Period, except intensive courses (See Note 1; for MCL students see also Note 3): 27 Jan 2025 – 18 Feb 2025
Assessment Period: 12 – 27 May 2025
Release of Assessment Results: Mid-Jun, 2025
June semester (Optional - Intensive course(s)) Dates (See Note 4)
Teaching Period: May-Jun 2025
Add-drop Period (See Note 1): Ends immediately after the second class (by session)
Assessment Period: Jun - Jul 2025 (TBC by course teacher(s))
Release of Assessment Results: Mid-Sep, 2025
Note 1: Intensive courses are any courses that are taught within a short period of time (typically 3-4 weeks). Add-drop period for all intensive courses, including January and June semester courses, ends immediately after the second class (by session).
Note 2: The add-drop period for MCL students choosing a one-semester or a full-year LLB course in the 1st semester is 10:00 am, 2 Sep 2024 – 4:00 pm, 15 Sep 2024.
Note 3: The add-drop period for MCL students choosing a one-semester LLB course in the 2nd semester is 10:00 am, 20 Jan 2025 – 4:00 pm, 2 Feb 2025.
Note 4: Courses offered in June semester are intensive courses. Enrolment and the study load will be counted as summer semester courses on academic transcript. Assessment result will only be released in next academic year (i.e., mid-September). Failure in a June semester course at first attempt will defer your graduation and affect your future study plan.
(1) There is a minimum attendance requirement of 70% for each course, failing which you may not be permitted to sit the final examination. If you are unable to attend any class or you have any difficulties in continuing the programme, please inform the General Office in writing (LLMMCL@hku.hk) as soon as possible or as soon as practicable.
(2) Warning letters may be issued to those students who have missed two classes. Students will be required to give formal explanations to the Faculty for their absences. Medical proof must be provided if the absence was due to illness, otherwise, no leave will be granted. As a general rule, work-related reasons are not sufficient to justify non-attendance at classes.
If you hope to undertake a research dissertation as part of your programme, you should first contact a potential supervisor as early as possible to discuss the proposed topic. Begin by checking the research interests of faculty members listed at Faculty’s website. Further details and instructions for preparing a dissertation proposal are given in the course descriptions under LLAW6014 (18 credits) and LLAW6054 (9 credits).
For LLMs / MCL students
Before making your course selection: READ THIS
(a) You must access the Student Information System (SIS) in HKU Portal during the course selection period to choose ALL your courses for the entire academic year. This will only be available in August.
(b) You may use the Student Information System (SIS) in HKU Portal to modify your choice of courses before the end of the course selection period and/or the add-drop period in each regular semester.
(c) If you have a degree in a discipline other than law, you must take the foundational law course(s) in your first year to gain the background knowledge which is essential for the more advanced courses in the programme.
(d) Most elective courses have fixed quotas. Priority in an oversubscribed course is generally given to students who have properly registered for the course (see (c) above) and who need that course to fulfil syllabus requirements.
(e) If you are sucessfully enrolled in the course as shown in the SIS, whilst your name is missing from a course attendance list, then when classes begin simply inform the course instructor and add your name to the list.
(f) Courses offered in June semester are intensive courses. Enrolment and the study load will be counted as summer semester courses on academic transcript. Assessment result will only be released in next academic year (i.e., mid-September). Failure in a June semester course at first attempt will defer your graduation and affect your study plan (i.e., admission to the PCLL, PhD).
Changes to Course Selection
(a) Course enrolment is to be conducted online via the Student Information System (SIS) in HKU Portal as scheduled below. Please click HERE for instructions.
(b) Dropping an intensive course in mid‒semester means that you will be unable to make up lost credits in that same semester, and will need to take an extra course in the semester that follows, which may/will affect your study progress and defer your graduation.
(1) FAQs on Visa-related Matters (by Admissions Office, Registry, HKU)
(2) Non-local students who wish to take up curriculum-related internship in Hong Kong during their semester break, reading week, or after their final exams should approach the General Office (in-person at 10/F Cheng Yu Tung Tower, or by email at llmmcl@hku.hk) for eligibility checking and necessary document(s) before they accept internship offers.
(3) Final year students intending to apply for a new Hong Kong student, work or IANG visa after completing their programmes should note that all applications to the Immigration Department must include appropriate proof of completion, for example, a final transcript or certificate of graduation issued by the HKU Registry. Course grades for 2nd semester are normally available each year in late June or early July; grades for June semester courses will be available only after September. The Immigration Department typically takes 8 weeks to process visa applications, and it is recommended that non–local students complete ALL of their programme requirements (including submitting a final dissertation if necessary) by the end of the 2nd semester to avoid a delay in the issue of a new visa.
(4) A student visa will expire on the date as shown on the landing slip, or four weeks after termination of studies, whichever is earlier. Non-local students who expect that their student visa will expire before the approval of their next visa in Hong Kong should apply for “Extension of Stay” directly at the Immigration Department. Click here for details and application.
