Q: Do I need to spend longer time to complete my study as I only confirm my major programme in Year 2?
A: No, students do not need to spend extra time to complete the whole course of study. The normative period of study is 4 years for students admitted through Social Science Broad-based, same as that for other programmes’ students.
Q: Will it be difficult to catch up with students applying for direct entry in other programmes?
A: In Year 1, Social Science Broad-based students can study courses of their intended majors. These courses equip Broad-based students with the necessary knowledge to join the major programme in Year 2. You can understand more from the sharing of our students.
Q: Are there any past admission scores for reference?
A: For JUPAS, the upper quartile, median and lower quartile scores are very similar in the past few years for Social Science Broad-based Programme. Please refer to last year's scores. For IB and GCE qualifications, you can refer to the university-wide admission score ranges in the past few years.
Q: What are some career opportunities for Social Science graduates?
A : The majority of Social Science graduates choose to join the workforce or pursue further studies after graduation. The ability to think rationally and have a good understanding of the society are vital to whatever one chooses to do. Social Science study trains students’ critical thinking skills and provide them with broader perspectives to solve different problems. With such capabilities, our graduates are very much sought after by various employers, ranging from private firms to public organizations.
Q: Should I put JS4801 CUHK Social Science Broad-based in Band A to increase my chance of success?
A: According to the admission statistics, all admitted students in the last three years put JS4801 in Band A.
Q: Is there any special weighting for specific HKDSE subjects?
A: Yes, according to the admission requirements, the weighting of the English Language is 1.3.
Q: Will there be any interview for JUPAS applicants?
A: Only applicants from JUPAS special schemes (e.g. School Principal's Nominations) and non-school applicants would be invited for interview on a selective basis.
Q: Comparing to individual major programmes, is it easier to apply for Social Science Broad-based before joining certain majors through major declaration?
A: It depends. The admission statistics of various programmes vary every year. Besides, Architectural Studies has special requirements for declaration of major.
Q: Do I need to indicate a potential major upon admission?
A: No. The aim of Social Science Broad-based is to allow students to explore different social science disciplines before deciding on a major programme.
Q: When do I need to declare major?
A: Students will need to declare their major programme towards the end of their first year of study.
Q: Is there really no quota for Social Science Broad-based students to declare major programmes in Year 2?
A: Yes, according to the major declaration principles, programmes have NO pre-set quota for students of Social Science Broad-based. However, there are some special requirements for Architectural Studies.
Q: As I do not belong to any Department/School in my first year, how can I seek help in academic matters?
A: The Associate/Assistant Deans (Student Affairs) and other faculty members from the Departments/Schools will serve as the academic advisors for freshmen admitted through Social Science Broad-based. Students are most welcome to seek help from these academic advisors. Students can also explore their true aptitude and potential with the guidance of our faculty members.
Q: If I join CUHK through Social Science Broad-based, can I still choose a double degree or minor programme in the future?
A: Yes, there are two double degree options offered by School of Journalism and Communication and Department of Sociology. Students can also choose to fulfill the requirements set by different departments to declare a minor. You can find more details on minor programmes here.
Q: Apart from studying, can students join student societies or clubs?
A: Definitely. You can join student associations, including the International Student Association, Korean Student Association, and Taiwanese Student Association. You can also join a wide range of interest clubs (e.g. martial arts, band, photography, drama, debating, and astronomy) housed under various colleges and units.
Q: What Bachelor degree will I get upon graduation?
A: Students who are admitted through Social Science Broad-based will declare a major under the same Faculty at the end of the first year. Upon graduation, students will receive a Bachelor of Social Science degree of the chosen major from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Q: Does Social Science Broad-based admit non-local students?
A: In the past few years, we have freshmen who studied in or came from Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, South Korea, Mainland China, Taiwan, United Kingdom and United States.
Q: Why should I choose Hong Kong to pursue a Social Science degree?
A: Hong Kong is a place where “East Meets West” and CUHK combines “Tradition with Modernity”. The community of Hong Kong society is diverse, and this facilitates students to study the various social science disciplines from multiple perspectives.
Q: Can I apply for overseas enrichment or study exchange?
A: The University provides various exchange programmes at university, college, faculty and departmental levels. In addition to overseas enrichment/study exchange, some students choose to devote their time to internship, second major, minor, social innovation projects or other extra-curricular activities.
Q: I don’t know Chinese. Can I study Social Science Broad-based at the Chinese University of Hong Kong?
A: Yes. International students are not required to know Chinese to be admitted to Social Science Broad-based. Courses are taught in English or Chinese, and in some cases in both languages. Some of our international students treasure the opportunity to take non-credit bearing self-learning elementary Chinese courses at the University to enhance their language skills.