Course Selection Period
You must select ALL your courses for the entire 2023-2024 academic year in this period 10:00 am, 4 Aug 2023 – 4:00 pm, 10 Aug 2023
1st semester Dates
Teaching Period: 8 Sep 2023 – 30 Nov 2023
Add-drop Period, except intensive courses (See Note 1; for MCL students see also Note 2): 8 – 21 Sep 2023
Assessment Period: 8 – 23 Dec 2023
Release of Assessment Results: Mid-January, 2024
January semester (Optional - Intensive course(s)) Dates
Teaching Period: Jan-Mar 2024
Add-drop Period (See Note 1): Ends immediately after the second class (by session)
Assessment Period Feb – May 2024 (TBC by course teacher(s))
Release of Assessment Results: Mid-June, 2024
2nd semester Dates
Teaching Period: 22 Jan 2024 – 27 Apr 2024
Add-drop Period, except intensive courses (See Note 1; for MCL students see also Note 3): 22 Jan 2024 – 4 Feb 2024
Assessment Period: 6 – 21 May 2024
Release of Assessment Results: Mid-June, 2024
June semester (Optional - Intensive course(s)) Dates
Teaching Period: May-Jun 2024
Add-drop Period (See Note 1): Ends immediately after the second class (by session)
Assessment Period: Jun - Jul 2024 (TBC by course teacher(s))
Release of Assessment Results: Mid-September, 2024
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, 1 Sep 2023 – 4:00 pm, 14 Sep 2023.
Note 3: The add-drop period for MCL students choosing a one-semester LLB course in the 2nd semester is 10:00 am, 15 Jan 2024 – 4:00 pm, 28 Jan 2024.
(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 Head of Department 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
(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) 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.
(c) If you run into technical difficulties, please refer to How to select a course in SIS or Student’s Guide to the SIS, or contact ITS Service Desk at 3917 0123 / ithelp@hku.hk.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
(f) Don’t panic if the course is full. It is common for students to drop course all the way up to the end of the add/drop period and the course will be open again when there are available places, via Student Information System (SIS) in HKU Portal. While you are waiting, you might try to explore if there are other options or alternatives for fulfilling your study path.
(g) It is your responsibility to CHECK your enrolment records shown in SIS. If any discrepancy and/or error (i.e., incorrect sub-class) is found, you should report to the Department for correction as soon as possible. Please note that this is NOT an extended deadline for the add/drop period. No further changes to course selection nor enrolment will be entertained.
(h) Your enrolment records are taken as confirmed, and you will be admitted to the examinations for those courses that are listed in the SIS.
(i) Late add or late drop is not allowed unless you have extraordinarily strong reasons with valid supporting documents.
(j) When planning your course selections please note any applicable prerequisites – some courses require you to successfully complete another course prior to being eligible to take the course. You must plan your study programme in view of any such prerequisites.
(k) We seek your understand that the General Office deals with hundreds of queries during the course selection period and the add‒drop period, and will be unable to respond immediately to your request.
(l) 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.
Changes to Course Selection
(a) You must obtain prior General Office approval if your intended plan of study differs in any way from the programme requirements of your programme and instructions given for online course selection. Write before 31 August 2023 to LLMMCL@hku.hk, explaining your reasons with supporting documents for requesting a change with a study plan, and citing your full name, student number, programme title and mode of study. Example: Chan Tai Man John, 3035123456, LLM PT2.
(b) If you would like to seek waiver for a course pre-requisite, you should complete the online request form for the course pre-requisite waiver before the first class of the course. Please email General Office (lawcoursereg@hku.hk) for enquiries.
(c) 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.
Legal Essentials Seminars
About the Seminars
Note: Attendance at this seminars is strongly recommended to all non-law graduates students in the LLMs programme.
The Department of Law is organising a series of seminars aimed at providing non-law graduates in the LLM programmes with a better understanding of legal concepts and the legal process prior to starting their LLM studies. These seminars will also help students to improve their legal research and writing skills throughout their first year of studies. Students undertaking the Introduction to Law and Legal Thinking course do not need to undertake this Legal Essentials course.
There will be a total of six seminars. Students who are interested in the seminars are required to register in advance. Although the seminars are provided on a voluntary-basis, students will be expected to attend all of the six seminars as well as participating in in-class activities and writing exercises etc. All seminars will be face to face. All Seminars are intended to be interactive and students are encouraged to participate fully in all aspects of the Seminars. Time will be allowed for students wishing to raise questions on any aspect of the material covered.
This course is not assessed.
Course convenor: Mr Richard Holt, Adjunct Associate Professor, HKU
After qualifying as a Barrister at Law with the Inner Temple and completing pupillage Richard Holt later worked with Clyde & Co, Solicitors, in their London office as a shipping lawyer.
In 1992, Richard took up a position as Senior Lecturer and later Principal Lecturer at the Inns of Court School of Law and taught there for 6 years on the Bar Vocational Course.
In 1998. Richard returned to private practice as a shipping lawyer.
In 2000, Richard became the Director of the Bar Vocational Course at BPP College. Richard was a Director of BPP College from 2003 onwards and in 2006 the Deputy Chief Executive. Richard led and taught on the Bar Vocational Course at BPP College for over 7 years.
Richard joined The University of Hong Kong, Law Faculty in September 2010 as the Director of Legal Research and Writing in the Department of Law. He taught Contract Law, Civil Procedure and Drafting Contractual Clauses and, also was Module Leader and taught and designed the following courses: Legal Research and Writing I, Legal Research and Writing II, Arbitration Law, Private International Law (Conflicts) and Law of International Trade.
Since 2014, Richard, as an Associate Adjunct Professor at The University of Hong Kong, has taught the following courses: Understanding the Common Law on the MCL programme, Introduction to Law and Legal Thinking on the LLM(CR) programme and International Trade Law on the LLM programme. Richard also teaches “Legal Essentials Seminars” for LLM students, which is specifically designed for non-law students.
Since 2014, Richard has also taught in the Law School at the University of Surrey. He has taught Contract Law, Company Law and Commercial Law: International Sales, there.
Schedules:
Schedule and outline
Registration period: From 10:00am, August 8, 2023 to 11:59pm August 13, 2023. Please click HERE to register.
[LLM(CR)] Introduction to Law and Legal Thinking Course
About the Course
Note: Attendance at this course is strongly recommended to all students in the LLM(CR) programme.
This is a preparation course for students undertaking the LLM(CR) programme. Following the completion of the course, students should have an appreciation of:
1. how the legal system works;
2. how basic elements of the law (such as contract, equity and tort) might interact with subjects of their study within the LLM(CR) programme; and
3. legal analysis and legal writing techniques.
This course is non-credit bearing, non-compulsory and non-graded. Self-study materials will be provided in class or via Moodle.
There is no set textbook for the course however reference will be made to books you may wish to consult for further study.
All classes are intended to be interactive and students are encouraged to participate fully in all aspects of the class.
Time will be allowed for students wishing to raise questions on any aspect of the material covered.
Course convenor: Mr Richard Holt, Adjunct Associate Professor, HKU
Schedule:
(2:30pm-5:30pm, Hong Kong Time) Aug 22*, 27, 28, Sep 3, 4, 2022; and
(5:30pm-8:30pm, Hong Kong Time) Sep 10, 2022
*Pre-recorded seminar.
Format: Online via Zoom except Aug 22 (Meeting links and details will only be sent to the successful registrants by email on Aug 19 afternoon)
Registration period: From 10:00am, August 11, 2022 to 3:00pm August 18, 2022. Please click here to register.
