To:          All Postgraduate Students (Excluding PCLL and PgDip students)

The University shall confer degrees on eligible students who have fulfilled graduation requirements and received Senate approval on three specific dates in a calendar year: 31 March, 31 July, and 15 October. For degrees conferred on 31 March and 31 July, the dates printed on the degree certificates will be the corresponding degree conferment dates. For degrees conferred on 15 October, graduates will be given two options regarding the date to be printed on their degree certificates: (i) 15 October; (ii) 15 November.

Thesis/Portfolio Submission Deadlines and Corresponding Conferment Dates

Research postgraduate and taught doctoral students must adhere to the following timelines:

Declaration of Intention to Submit: At least four months prior to the intended submission date.

First Draft Submission: By the deadline specified in the above declaration.

Final Thesis/Portfolio Submission: No later than the stipulated deadline of your intended conferment date.

Only final thesis/portfolio submission which reaches the GSO by the respective deadlines can be considered in accordance with the above-listed degree conferment schedules. Hence, students should pay particular attention to the above deadlines to ensure a timely and completed thesis/portfolio submission.   

For research postgraduate students, degrees will be conferred on the nearest conferment date upon fulfilling graduation requirements and receiving Senate’s approval.   

One-time Application for Changing the Conferment Date for Taught Postgraduate Programmes

While students should graduate on the nearest conferment date upon fulfilling graduation requirements and the Senate approval, students of taught postgraduate programmes (including Taught Doctoral) may apply for a one-time change to a different conferment date within the same calendar year, that is, 1) from 31 March to 31 July or 15 October; or 2) from 31 July to 15 October.

Eligible students who are up for graduation assessment and whose graduation is to be considered by GCExCo will receive a designated email from our Office, stipulating the application procedures, payment methods, and the application deadline.  Please note that the one-time application is irrevocable.  The administrative fee HK$500, once submitted, will not be refunded regardless of whether the application is successful or not.  The application will only be processed upon receipt of the GSO-designated application form and payment proof. 

Certificate Date

For degrees conferred on 31 March and 31 July, the certificate will date on the corresponding conferment date.  For degrees conferred on 15 October, students may choose either 15 October or 15 November as the certificate date.  All students whose original degree conferment date is on 15 October may choose 15 October or 15 November as the certificate date and no fee will apply.   

The general arrangement and FAQ are available at https://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/page/Graduation. If you need further information, please contact the Graduate School Office.

With best regards,

Graduate School Office