HKMU New student orientation

1. New Student
Orientation Session
for Distance Learning
Programmes
(2023 Autumn Term)

2. Contents
1. About HKMU
2. What is Distance Learning (DL)?
3. Credit System
4. Academic Year, Academic Calendar and Key dates for DL programmes
5. Study Load and Advice on Course Selection
6. Learning Materials
7. Assessment and Examination
8. Financial Assistance on Tuition Fees
9. Student Portal and IT Helpdesk
10. Campus Facilities
11. Possible Difficulties You May Encounter During Your Studies
12. Introduction of School of Open Learning
13. How to seek help？
14. Q&A

3. 1
About HKMU

4. About HKMU
• Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU),
formerly The Open University of Hong Kong, was
established by the Government in 1989 as
The Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong.
• We have been committed to the mission to
realize ‘Education for all’.
• The University is currently the largest self-
financing institution in Hong Kong with over
140,000 graduates.

5. 2
What is
Distance Learning (DL)?

6. • Allowing students to learn at a
distance from the campus
• Flexible learning time and pace
managed by students
Features of Distance Learning Programmes
What is Distance Learning (DL)?

7. Recognition of Distance Learning programmes
• HKMU awards are well recognized locally and
internationally.
• Whether the study mode is face-to-face or distance
learning, programmes are listed on the HK
Qualifications Register (QR).
• Our Bachelor's and Master's Degree are at QF Level 5
and 6 respectively.
What is Distance Learning (DL)?

8. 3
Credit System

9. Levels of Award
Required credits for graduation
（5-credit system）
Required credits for graduation
（3-credit-unit system）
Associate Degree
Successful completion of at
least 80 credits
Successful completion of at
least 60 credits
Ordinary Bachelor's
Degree
Successful completion of at
least 120 credits
Successful completion of at
least 90 credits
Bachelor's Degree with
Honours
Successful completion of at
least 160 credits
Successful completion of at
least 120 credits
• A student who has been awarded an HKMU degree may continue to take courses in order to
upgrade it to an honours degree.
• While ordinary degrees are not classified, honours degrees will have the following classifications:
First, Second (Upper Division), Second (Lower Division) and Third Class Honours, Pass (for 3-credit-
unit system only).
Courses under the 5-credit system are basically assigned credit-unit values in multiples of 5. (e.g. 5, 10, 20‘credit-units’etc.)
Courses under the 3-credit-unit system are basically assigned credit-units in multiples of 3. (e.g. 3, 6, 9, 12‘credit-units’etc.)
Credit Requirements for Graduation

10. 4
Academic Year,
Academic Calendar,
Key dates for DL programmes

11. p.11
Academic Year
Summer Term
Beginning around
early June
• At the beginning of each academic year,
students are advised to plan ahead for the
courses they wish to take.
• There are three separate re-registration
periods for the Autumn, Spring and
Summer terms which will start in June,
November and March/ April respectively.
last for 12 weeks with the last 2
weeks as an examination period
(*Fewer courses offered)
last for 20 weeks with the last 4 weeks
as an examination period
Spring Term
Beginning around
late January
Autumn Term
Beginning around
early September
last for 20 weeks with the last
4 weeks as an examination period

12. p.12
The Academic Calendar can be found in the latest version
of our "Distance Learning Student Handbook". You can
scan the QR code or visit the University's website at
https://www.hkmu.edu.hk/distance-learning-
students/tc/policies-and-guidelines/student-handbook/
for access to the academic calendar.
Academic Calendar

13. p.13
4/9 Commencement of term
Key dates for DL programmes
19/11 Last day to apply for
deferment of studies
10/12 Final assignment cut-off date
25/12 – 14/1 Examination period
14/1 Last day of term

14. 5
Study Load
and
Advice on Course Selection

15. Registration value
• The registration value of a course is the credit value of the course divided by the
number of terms it takes to complete. It is an indication of a student’s study load.
• Prior approval is required from the Dean of the School concerned in order to exceed
these limits.
Maximum Registration Value per Term
5-Credit System 3-Credit System
 New students or first-time Postgraduate students
= 15 Registration value
 Continuing students = 30 Registration value
 New students or first-time DL students
= 12 registration value
 Continuing students = 24 Registration value
For students who may have full-time jobs, they may tend to spread the study load for a degree over four years.
Before registering for a course, please carefully examine your circumstances and assess whether you can fulfil
the requirements of the course.

16. Advice on Course Selection
• As a part-time distance learning student, you have the flexibility to manage
your own study pace.
• If you are a new student studying a part-time distance learning programme,
we advise you to start with a pre-foundation or foundation course. Courses
at these levels are designed to help you re-establish good study habits.
• You should make reference to the respective programme regulations each
time before course enrolment to ensure that sufficient and appropriate
credits are obtained to fulfill the programme requirements.

17. Level of course
• Each course normally carries a credit value.
• Courses will normally run for one or two terms and the course code generally indicates the
level of the course.
1st digit Level of course
0 Pre-foundation: These courses are designed as primers for higher education. They have no
prerequisites. They are especially suitable for new students. These courses may be counted
towards sub-degree programmes but not degree programmes.
1 Foundation: These courses have no recommended prerequisites. They are the entry level
courses for students wishing to study for a degree. They are especially suitable for new
students.
2 Middle: These courses may have recommended prerequisites at the Foundation level.
3 Higher: Normally, these courses will have recommended prerequisites. In order to obtain a
degree, a student must complete courses at this level.
4 Higher (Honours): Normally, these courses have recommended prerequisites and are
prescribed as part of the requirements for an Honours degree.
8 or 9 Postgraduate: These are courses offered under a Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma,
Master’s or Doctorate Degree.

18. Course Code
ACTB210C
ACT is the subject area code.
The letter indicates the School offering the course:
A: School of Arts and Social Sciences
B: Lee Shau Kee School of Business and
Administration
E: School of Education and Languages
N: School of Nursing and Health Studies
S: School of Sciences and Technology
The three-digit number
indicates the course level
A course code with a
suffix‘C’ indicates that
Chinese is used as the
medium of instruction.
Under 5-credit system
會計學導論
Example

19. ACT3094BED
ACT is the subject area
code.
The letter indicates the School offering the course:
A: School of Arts and Social Sciences
B: Lee Shau Kee School of Business and
Administration
E: School of Education and Languages
N: School of Nursing and Health Studies
S: School of Sciences and Technology
The four-digit number
indicates the course level.
The letter indicates the
medium of instruction.
The letter indicates the
mode.
D: Distance Learning
Under 3-credit-unit system
Accounting in Business and Practice
Example
Course Code

20. Advice on Course Selection

21. Recommended Course Enrolment
Plan (part-time study load)
Advice on Course Selection

22. Advice on Course Selection

23. Advice on Course Selection

24. Recommended Course Enrolment
Plan (part-time study load)
Advice on Course Selection

25. Advice on Course Selection

26. 6
Learning Materials

27. Learning Materials
• Students studying in the distance learning mode
receive packages containing specially structured
learning materials such as written texts, assignment
questions and other supplementary materials. The
University also makes use of other media, such as video
and audio programmes, computer software, and online
discussion boards to enrich students’ learning
experience.
• Your tutor will also run optional tutorials and/or
surgery sessions on weekday evenings or at weekends.

28. 7
Assessment
and
Examination

29. • At HKMU, there are two main forms of assessment for most courses:
continuous assessment and examinations.
Assessment of Your Study

30. • Details of course assessment will be provided by the programme leader/tutors or will be listed in
the relevant course materials.
• Assessment methods include one or a combination of the following: assignments (in the form of
essays, short answers, multiple choice questions, etc.), quizzes, tests, project studies, examinations
and other forms.
• Most courses have a written examination which is held at the end of the course.
• Examinations are normally held in December / January, May / June and August / September. The
examination timetable will be announced via the University Website.
Assessment of Your Study

31. 8
Financial Assistance
on Tuition Fees

32. Financial Assistance on Tuition Fees
• HKMU Student Financial Assistance
Scheme
• HKMU Emergency Assistance Loan
• Continuing Education Fund (CEF)
• Extended Non-means-tested Loan Scheme
(ENLS)
• Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary
Students (FASP) and Non-means-tested Loan
Scheme for Post-secondary Students (NLSPS)
HKMU students taking distance learning programmes may be able to apply for the following
University or Government financial assistance:
Financial Assistance
supported by the University
Financial Assistance
supported by the Government

33. 9
Student Portal
and
IT Helpdesk

34. MyHKMU
What is MyHKMU?
MyHKMU is a portal that serves as your single entry point for all of the
University’s online services and content. MyHKMU enables you to:
1. Access all of the University’s online services including the Student
Administration System, Open Learning Environment and E-Library by logging in
just once;
2. Personalize the content and appearance of your page to make it easy to
access the content and services that you use most often;
3. Use this channel to communicate with the University and vice versa for
important and personalized messages
Before your first logon, please be reminded to create your single password .
For technical support, please call the hotline at 2711-2100 or email
to itohelp@hkmu.edu.hk .

35. Online Learning Environment (OLE)
The OLE is an interactive online learning
environment for students to study, obtain course
information, exchange ideas and communicate
with their Tutors.
Website：https://ole.hkmu.edu.hk
Technical Support
Hotline: 2768 6454
Email: olemaster@hkmu.edu.hk

36. Student IT Helpdesk/Hotline
Hotline:
2711 2100
Operating hours:
09:00 – 21:00 daily
09:00 – 17:40 festivals*
(*) Festivals are: Lunar New Year’s Eve and Day, New Year’s Eve, The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival,
The Winter Solstice and Christmas Eve
Email:
itohelp@hkmu.edu.hk

37. Zoom Technical Support
Hotline:
2768 6404 (9:00 – 19:30, Monday to Friday)
2768 6454 (9:00 – 18:00, Monday to Friday)
Email:
zoomsupport@hkmu.edu.hk

38. HKMU Libraries
Stanley Ho Library
Location: Level 1& Level 2, Block C, Main Campus
Hotline: 2768 6777
(Access via lift no. 6 or no. 9 to 2/F of Main Campus)
Ho Sik Yee Library
Location: Level 5, Jockey Club Campus
Hotline: 3120 2555
(Access via lift no. 11 or no. 12 to 5/F of Jockey Club Campus)

39. 10
Campus Facilities

40. HKMU Campus
Main Campus (MC)
30 Good Shepherd Street,
Ho Man Tin, Kowloon
Jockey Club Campus (JCC)
81 Chung Hau Street,
Ho Man Tin, Kowloon
Jockey Club Institute of
Healthcare (IOH)
1 Sheung Shing Street,
Ho Man Tin, Kowloon

41. Learning Commons
Main
Campus
(MC)
Discussion Room
Location:
C0414, 4/F, Kwok Tak Seng Building (Block C)
Opening Hours:
Monday – Sunday (including public holidays)
8:00 am –12:00 midnight
Self-study Centre
Location:
Connie Fong Student Self-study Centre,
C0310, 3/F, Kwok Tak Seng Building (Block C)
(Open for students with valid HKMU student cards)
Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday (excluding public holidays):
8:00 am – 12:00 midnight (Used as common room)
Saturday/Sunday/Public Holidays:
9:00 am – 12:00 midnight (Used as self-study room)

42. Jockey Club Campus
(JCC)
Learning Commons
Location:
E0G26, 0/F, Block E, Jockey Club Campus
Opening Hours:
Monday – Sunday & Public Holiday:
8:00 am – 12:00 midnight
Learning Commons
Self-study Centre
Location:
Inside Ho Sik Yee Library, 5/F, Block E, Jockey Club Campus
Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday (excluding public holidays) & Saturday – Sunday (including
public holidays) & Examination Period:
10:00 pm – 12:00 midnight
Public Holidays (Mon – Fri):
9:00 pm – 12:00 midnight

43. Learning Commons
Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare (IOH)

44. 11
Possible Difficulties You
May Encounter During
Your Studies

45. • Feeling of loneliness
• Ineffective time management
• Lack of self-discipline
• Loss of motivation and commitment
• Lack of support from family, supervisors/ subordinates
• Failure to use appropriate learning techniques
Possible difficulties you may encounter during your studies

46. 12
Introduction of
School of Open Learning

47. Introduction of School of Open Learning
• Location: B-128, -1/F, Block B, Main Campus
School Office
• Provide professional administrative support
and enquiry services
Providing enquiry services to distance learning and
part-time students
• Open in weekday evenings and weekend
afternoons

48. Student Activities
The SOL organizes a wide range of student activities for our distance-
learning and part-time students, for example:
▰ Foster students’ whole-person development;
▰ Enrich students’ campus life and learning experience.

49. Learning Support
The SOL aims to further strengthen our learning
support for students learning at a distance from
the campus.
▰ Provide a variety of student services (including
seminars/workshops on study skills and exam skills)
to enhance students’ learning effectiveness;
▰ Reduce students’ learning barriers.

50. 13
How to seek help？

51. How to seek help？
Registry Please scan the QR code or visit
the university's website
https://www.hkmu.edu.hk/reg/tc/
about-us/contact-us/ for more
information.

52. Course Offering School
Course Offering School Hotline / Email
School of Arts and Social Sciences 2768 5717／as@hkmu.edu.hk
Lee Shau Kee School of Business and
Administration
2768 6940／ba@hkmu.edu.hk
School of Education and Languages 2768 5809／el@hkmu.edu.hk
School of Nursing and Health Studies 3970 2968／nhs@hkmu.edu.hk (General Office)
School of Science and Technology sct@hkmu.edu.hk
How to seek help？

53. School of Open Learning strengthens learning support and provides students with a
variety of student activities to enrich their campus life and learning experience
Contact us
General Enquiries: (+852) 2768 6743
Learning Support: (+852) 2768 6723
Student Activities: (+852) 2768 6742 WhatsApp
2768 6743
School Office
B-128, -1/F, Block B,
Main Campus
Hotline Email
sol@hkmu.edu.hk
School of Open Learning
How to seek help？

54. How to seek help？
SOL Website: www.hkmu.edu.hk/sol/

55. Q&A
WhatsApp
2768 6743
Email
sol@hkmu.edu.hk

56. Thank you！