Degree Conferment Dates in a Calendar Year, with effect from 2021-22

Pursuant to the arrangement to decouple degree conferment from University’s Congregation, the University shall confer on eligible students’ degrees upon fulfilment of graduation requirements and receiving Senate’s approval on three specified dates in a calendar year namely, 31 March, 31 July, and 15 October.

Graduation Certificate Issuance

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. 

Students will be individually notified by email about the collection arrangements. Also, details will be posted on the GSO website nearer the time.

Graduation Assessment: Requirements and Timeline

Students are reminded to plan their studies carefully and to fulfill all graduation requirements by the end of the specified academic term. Students should proactively follow up with the course teachers concerned for any pending grades after the grade release date. For students with pending grades, outstanding credit and unit exemption applications, unresolved disciplinary matters, etc. at the end of the graduation-assessment period, their degree conferment will be postponed to the next degree conferment date.

Research postgraduate and taught doctoral students should also observe the timeline for declaring intention to submit a thesis (i.e. at least four months ahead of time of submission) and deadline of thesis (first draft) submission. In particular, students are required to submit the final thesis before the deadline as stipulated below.

Nearest Degree Conferment Date

Following the University’s degree conferment arrangement, once a student has satisfied all graduation requirements the nearest degree conferment date in the year concerned will be taken as the default degree conferment date.

Students’ graduation certificates will be dated the corresponding degree conferment dates. For degrees conferred on 15 October, students can choose either 15 October or 15 November as the date to be printed on their graduation certificates.

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

While students should graduate on the nearest conferment date upon fulfilling graduation requirements and receiving 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. For degrees conferred on 15 October, students can further choose between 15 October or 15 November for their certificate date.

Please note that the one-time application is irrevocable. Hence, please ensure the information submitted is accurate, no change to the conferment date and certificate date after submission will be allowed.  An administrative fee of HK$500 will apply regardless of whether the application is successful or not. There will be no refund for the fees paid under any circumstances. The application will be processed upon receipt of the GSO-designated application form and payment proof.

When a student is up for graduation assessment, s/he will receive an email from the Graduate School Office (GSO) with information on the application procedures, including the application form to use, payment methods, and reply deadline.

Students whose original degree conferment date is 15 October will receive an email from GSO asking their choice of certificate date - 15 October or 15 November.  No fee will apply.   

Award Certificate Collection

Award certificates and e-certificates will only be available after the respective degree conferment dates.  For instance, for students whose degree is to be conferred on 31 July 2025, their degree certificates will be ready for collection in-person from the Graduate School and available in the e-Certificate System from 8 August 2025 onwards.  Graduates who wish to use the e-certificate service, please visit the website on e-Certification System. An email regarding the arrangement for collection of graduate certificates will be announced to the respective graduates in due course. The announcement will also be posted on the General Announcements of the GSO’s website.

If you have further enquiries on the subject, please contact the Graduate School Office.