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, the weighting of the English Language is x1.3.
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: Is it easier to enter the Social Science Broad-based to declare a certain major than entering a major through the programme-based admission line?
A: It depends. The admission statistics of various programmes vary every year. Besides, there are special requirements for some programmes when it comes to major declaration.
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 any quota for Broad-based Admission Line students to declare major programmes in year 2?
A: No, programmes have NO pre-set quota for students of Broad-based Admission Line students. However, there are some special requirements for Architectural Studies, Urban Studies, Social Work, Global Communication and Global Economics and Finance.
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 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 had new students 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 exchange and internship?
A: The University offers different types of student exchange programmes (including university-wide, college, and department/school) in various countries/regions. University-wide student exchange programmes are administered by the Office of Academic Links. Students may also participate in exchange programmes offered through their colleges and departments/schools. Various internship and career development activities/initiatives are offered by Career Planning and Development Centre, colleges and departments/schools.
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 some in both languages. Some of our international students treasure the opportunity to take non-credit bearing self-learning elementary Chinese courses to enhance their language skills.