FAQ

1.1 When does course selection occur and what is the add/drop period?

Course selection (for the entire academic year) typically takes place from early to mid-August, while the add/drop period (for each term) usually spans the first 2 weeks of each academic term.

1.2 How can I determine if I should select or add/drop courses via the Internet?

Some programmes may not require students to register for courses on CUSIS. Please consult "Course Selection for New Academic Year " > "Check the Course Selection Schedule" for details.

1.3 Where do I select courses?

You can manage course selection and add/drop on CUSIS through MyCUHK Portal. Refer to the "User Guide" for comprehensive instructions.

1.4 Can I modify my course selections during the course selection or add/drop period?

Yes, you can alter your course choices during the designated add/drop periods.

1.5 What is the procedure for adding courses from other departments not listed in my programme's timetable?

To add/drop courses outside your study scheme, complete Form CS-1. Ensure you obtain all required signatures before submitting it to the Graduate School Office for processing.

1.6 What should I do if I am unable to select courses during the specified period?

If your programme requires CUSIS course selection but you miss the specified period, you may do so during the add/drop period, typically in September or January. If you miss both periods, complete Form CS-2, obtain required signatures, and submit to the Graduate School Office.

1.7 How do I register for courses if I report to study after the add/drop period of each academic term?

Register courses by completing Form CS-2. Obtain all required signatures before submitting to the Graduate School Office for processing.

1.8 When will I receive confirmation of my course registration?

After the course registration and add/drop periods, your Graduate Division will review your records. This typically takes about two weeks. The Graduate School will post an announcement on its homepage and email affected students when the final course register is confirmed.

1.9 What should I do if I find that the Course Register has some discrepancies from what I have registered on CUSIS?

You should contact the Graduate School within a week of the final Course Register release date for follow-up action.

2.1 Course Code: Subject Area & Catalog Number

Course Code consists of two components: Subject Area Code and Catalog Number. For example, in MATH5001, “MATH” is the “Subject Area Code” and “5001” is the “Catalog Number”.

2.2 Class Section

Class Section refers to specified classes opened under a course. For instance, two sections (A & B) might be offered for HIST5010. These sections can have different schedules and instructors. Students cannot enrol in multiple sections of the same course in one term.

2.3 Class Number

Class Number is a system-assigned identifier for a specific class in a term. It differs from the Catalog Number. For example, RELS5001A and RELS5001B in 2011-12 Term 1 might have class numbers "1234" and "5432" respectively.

2.4 Shopping Cart

Course selection on CUSIS resembles online shopping. Browse available classes and add desired ones to your Shopping Cart. Complete enrolment by "checking out".

2.5 My Requirements

Choose courses within your Study Scheme, unless approved by your Programme. On CUSIS, find courses in your Study Scheme under "My Requirements". For courses outside your Study Scheme, complete Form CS-1 with required signatures and submit to the Graduate School Office.

2.6 Enrolment Appointments

Enrolment Appointments are timeslots for submitting your shopping cart and completing course enrolment via CUSIS. These are assigned in mid-July or within 3 days after online registration completion (whichever is later).

No assigned appointment implies you are not required to perform course selection/add/drop on CUSIS. Check your Enrolment Date via: MyCUHK Portal > CUSIS > Manage Classes > Enrolment Dates; or consult the Programme Arrangement and Schedule.

2.7 Enrolment Requirement

Enrolment requirement refers to eligibility criteria for class/course enrolment. The system verifies fulfilment of all enrolment requirements when you submit the shopping cart for course enrollments.

3.1 "You do not have a valid enrolment appointment at this time" 

This message indicates you're attempting to enrol in classes outside the Course Registration Period and Add/Drop Period. Verify you enrolment appointment and enrol within the specified timeframe.

3.2 "Enrolment in Courses in Career: Undergraduate are normally not allowed for those in Career: Postgraduate - Research"

This error suggests you are trying to enrol in an Undergraduate course. Consult your Programme to check if you are allowed. If so, complete Form CS-1 and submit it for approval.

Alternatively, you may have mistakenly entered the course code in the "Enter Class Nbr" field. Note that class number differs from course code. For adding classes to your shopping cart, refer to pages 3-7, 12-14 in the User Guide.

3.3 "You are not registered for classes in this term". 

This message indicates you haven't enrolled in any classes for this term yet. It's unrelated to online registration. To enrol in classes, refer to pages 3-7, 12-14 in the User Guide and perform course enrolment during your assigned appointment.

3.4 Unable to access the registration page.

This message appears if you have already submitted online registration and can not access the registration page again.

3.5 "You do not have access to enrollment at this time" 

This message appears if you attempt course selection immediately after submitting online registration. The Graduate School needs to check and confirm your submitted information before allowing course selection.

This process typically takes 2 working days (e.g., submit on Monday, select courses on Wednesday). During Course Registration and Add/Drop Periods for Term 1, processing times are shortened as follows:
 

3.6 Error messages when enrolling in classes

Refer to different messages below for answers.

Message 1: Unable to add this class - requisites have not been met 
 

Meaning 1: You do not meet the course requisites consult your Programme/Graduate Division if you believe you are eligible.

Message 2: You are unable to enrol in this class at this time. Available seats are reserved and you do not meet the reserve capacity requirements

Meaning 2: All seats are reserved for students in certain programme(s). Consult your Programme/Graduate Division for queries.

Message 3: You cannot add this class due to a time conflict with class 1234. Select another class

Meaning 3: Time clash between the class you want to enrol in and a class in your shopping cart or an enrolled class. You may use the class number to identify the class with time clash.

Message 4: Class 2345 is full. If a wait list is available, click Add Another Class to return to step 1. Click the class link, select the wait list option and resubmit your request

Meaning 4: The class you want to add is full (closed class). If you want to be put on wait list, please tick the check box "waitlist if class is full". You can join the waitlist if available. Consult your Programme/Graduate Division.

Message 5: Department Consent Required. You must obtain permission to take this class. If you have a permission number, click Add Another Class, click the class link, enter the number and resubmit.

Meaning 5: Seek prior approval from your Programme/Graduate Division before enrolling.

Message 6: Department Consent Required to Drop from the Class, Drop Not Processed. Consent is needed to drop from the class. The drop transaction was not processed.

Meaning 6: Seek prior approval from your Programme/Graduate Division to drop this class.

Message 7: You have a hold on your record. The hold on your record must be removed before this transaction can be processed.

Meaning 7: Submit required documents to the Graduate School to fulfil academic conditions.

Message 8: Unable to add this class - term maximum exceeded. Adding this class would exceed the maximum number of units or courses allowed for this term.

Meaning 8: Adding this class exceeds your Programme's maximum term unit load. Waitlisted classes count towards this limit.

Message 9: Class 1699 is full. You have been placed on the waitlist in position number 1.

Meaning 9: The class is full, but you have been added to the waitlist. The system will enrol you when seats become available.

4.1 I have been placed on the waitlist in position number 1. Someone has just dropped the class. Why wasn't I automatically enrolled?

The system regularly checks to determine which students should move from the wait list to the class list. You'll be enrolled if you're the next eligible student when the system check is completed.

Some classes may have multiple queues, and the student at position number 1 may not be eligible when seats become available. For example:

• Seats in a class are equally shared by Programme A and Programme B students.
• You, a Programme A student, are at position number 1 on the wait list.
• A Programme B student drops the class.
• The seat is assigned to the first Programme B student on the wait list, not you.
   

4.2 The class detail page shows available seats, but I was placed on waitlist when trying to enrol. Why?

For some classes, priority may be given to students in certain programmes. For example:

• Seats in a class are equally shared by Programme A and Programme B students.
• All seats reserved for Programme A students are taken.
• Seats reserved for Programme B students are still available.
• You, a Programme A student, will be placed on the wait list when enrolling, even though seats.
   

4.3 I enrolled in this class before my classmate. They successfully enrolled, but I'm still on the wait list. Why?

When a vacancy becomes available, CUSIS checks the eligibility of the 1st candidate on the wait list. If they are NOT eligible, CUSIS moves on to the 2nd candidate.
CUSIS may consider you NOT eligible to enrol in the class for the following reasons:

• Already enrolled in another section of the same course (refer to Scenario 2 in 4.4 below)
• Time conflict with another class (refer to Scenario 5 in 4.4 below)

4.4 Different Scenarios on Waitlist and Use of Swap

Enrol AAAA5001A (full)
Enrol AAAA5001B (full)
Enrol AAAA5001C (full)

5.1 What is the "edit" function used for?

There are some courses with related class(es). For instance, students may need to enrol in both a lecture and a tutorial session. In such cases, the lecture is considered the primary component of the class, while the tutorial is the related class. To modify your selection of a related class, use the "edit" function in the enrolment system.

5.2 How do I enrol in a course with related class?

Some courses have related class components, requiring students to enrol in two or more parts simultaneously. For instance, when enrolling in course ABCD5001, which includes both a lecture and a tutorial session, you'll encounter the following enrolment screen:

Click the arrow shown to add both components—the lecture and tutorial session—to your shopping cart simultaneously. To complete enrolment, proceed to the "Confirm Classes" step in the Add process. Repeat Add - Step 2 confirm classes for any additional courses with related classes.

6.1 What is the meaning of "TBA"?

"TBA" stands for "To be arranged".

6.2 I learnt from my Programme that course ABCD5001 would be offered in Term 1, but I could not find it in the course list under "My Requirements". What should I do?

If you know the course code, you may search for the class using "class search".

While you may search for any class using "class search", you may not be able to enroll in it successfully. Most classes have enrolment requirements to restrict enrolment to students in certain programmes. You cannot enrol in the class if you do not fulfill the requirement. If you have queries on the eligibility to enrol in a particular course, please consult your Programme/Graduate Division.

6.3 According to my programme's study scheme, I must repeat a course in which I obtained a D grade last term. However, the system does not allow me to do so. What should I do?

Students cannot enrol in classes for terms on leave. If you've been approved for leave during the concerned term, you cannot enrol in classes for that period. If you haven't applied for leave but can't enrol in classes for a particular term, complete Form CS-3 and submit it to the Graduate School.

6.4 I obtained a D grade (failure grade) in a course taken in the previous term. I must retake this year to graduate, but the system does not allow me to. What should I do?

The system doesn't allow students to retake courses in which they've earned a Grade D or above in previous terms. Some Graduate Divisions/Programmes may set higher grade requirements for graduation, necessitating course repetition despite passing grades. In such cases, consult your Graduate Division/Programme to confirm if you should retake the course or take a substitute.

Note: Since the 2010-11 academic year, the grading scheme has been revised. Grade D is now considered a passing grade for courses taken from 2010-11 onwards.

7.1 CUSIS Student Functions Resources

Refer to https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/cusis/faqs-enrollment.html for

• Computer-based Training Materials
• User Guides and FAQs

7.2 Postgraduate Programmes Study Schemes

Available at Postgraduate Student Handbook.

7.3 Postgraduate Teaching Timetable

Access at Teaching Timetable

7.4 On-campus Computer Laboratories

• ITSC User Area: 1/F Pi-Ch’iu Building
• WMY Learning Common: 6/F Wu Ho Man Yuen Building (WMY)

7.5 Technical Support

For login issues, forgotten passwords, etc.:

• Click here for assistance
• Or contact the Graduate School