Frequently Asked Questions
|
|
|
Terms and Conditions
This FAQ is intended solely to assist participants in understanding their participating programmes. In case of dispute, United College has sole and final discretion in interpreting the information provided in this FAQ.
|
|
General Questions
Q1: When will the short-term learning programmes or non-local service learning programmes be open for application? Ø The non-local language and cultural programmes are usually open for application at the beginning of the second semester. The most non-local service-learning programmes usually open for application afterward.
Q2: Am I eligible? How do I apply? Ø As long as you are a student of United College, you are eligible to apply for the UC GOAL programme. You can click the link provided on the programme leaflets and the College website. Final year students are also eligible to apply, but your student identity must not expire before the beginning of the programme.
Q3: What are the selection criteria? Ø We comprehensively consider the applicant’s academic performance, participation in College activities or extracurricular activities, and the personal statement submitted to the programme(s) applied for.
Q4: Can I participate in more than one programme? Ø Due to fairness and resource limitations, students can only participate in one non-local GOAL programme each academic year, except for programmes in Taiwan and China. In particular, if you have applied for a long-term GOAL programme for the 2025-26 academic year and are selected by the College, you can only accept one offer, either for a long-term or short-term GOAL programme. However, if you participated in a long-term GOAL programme in the 2024-25 academic year, you are eligible to participate in the 2025 summer GOAL programmes. However, you can still prioritize different programmes. We suggest including more than three programmes in your application, as some programmes are highly popular and competition is intense.
Q5: Can I stay behind? Ø Yes! You can choose to stay behind 1 week or 2 weeks after the programme provided you notify the College in advance, except for Uganda and Taiwan.
|
|
Interview Matters The College suggests that students who have applied for the GOAL programmes should regularly and carefully check their mailbox, as all results and related information will be delivered via email only.
Q1: When will we know the interview schedule? Ø Due to the large number of applications, we need some time to rearrange the interview schedule. Usually, we will release the interview schedule by late January, and you are required to confirm your attendance. You will find your application number on the confirmation letter sent by the system once you submitted your application. Please note that if you do not find your application number or receive the email with the interview schedule, it means that you are not shortlisted to attend the interview.
Q2: I cannot attend the interview. What should I do? Ø As mentioned above, you are required to sign up for an interview timeslot via the online e-form. If you are unable to attend the interview for legitimate reasons, such as lectures and tutorials, please state your available timeslots in the WebForm, and we will try our best to reschedule the interview for you. Please note that we do not accept requests for changing the interview timeslots without reasonable causes, such as personal activities or part-time jobs.
Q3: What should I wear to the interview? Ø It is up to your choice, but we suggest smart-casual or formal attire.
|
|
Acceptance Matters The College suggests that students who are shortlisted and attend the interview should regularly and carefully check their mailbox, as all results and related information will be delivered via email only.
Q1: I cannot complete all the webform and upload copies of my Passport and/or HKID on or before the deadline. What should I do? Ø You must complete the webform and upload all the documents before the deadline. 1. For those who need to renew their passports or have lost their HKID, please upload copies of your old passport or HKID first. You must send us the updated passport or HKID copy as soon as it is ready. 2. You must upload a copy of the ATM slip or printed online banking record showing the transaction is completed (deposit of HKD 3,000). 3. Email us to inform what you are unable to submit for the time being.
Q2: I do not have a Hang Seng Bank account. What should I do? Ø If possible, please ask a family member or friend to help you. If not, you may still queue up at the bank to do the transfer and get a pay-in slip. You are also reminded to choose “Transfer” at the ATM machine instead of “Bill Payment”.
Q3: I lost my slip! Ø Please log in to your i-banking account and provide us with a screenshot of your transfer record, showing the date, accounts, and amount transferred. As a precaution, we suggest you take a photo or make a copy of your slip before handing it in to the College.
Q4: I am unable to pay the deposit for the programmes on time. What should I do? Ø Please send an email to the responsible staff, and we will follow up with you.
Q5: I forgot to submit the acceptance form on time. What does it mean? Ø We will assume that you are no longer interested in the programmes, and we will pass the opportunity to students on the waiting list. This decision is irreversible.
Q6: Can I stay behind for less/more than a week/two weeks? 4 days? 9 days? A month? Ø No, you can only choose from the following options, except for Uganda and Taiwan: 1. Not staying behind 2. Staying behind for 1 week 3. Staying behind for 2 weeks
Q7: I cannot decide on how long I would like to stay behind yet. May I hand in the form later? Ø No. You must make your decision before the submission deadline. We are unable to quote the price for group tickets if any participant has not confirmed. Prices increase daily, and you will have to bear the additional flight costs.
Q8: Could I change my stay-behind period? Ø You may change your stay-behind period as long as it does not affect the price of the group tickets, which means: 1. Either before the submission deadline 2. Or during the quotation process. However, if changing to another stay-behind group means that your original group can no longer enjoy the group ticket price, you are not allowed to change. 3. After booking the tickets (non-refundable), you are not allowed to change under any circumstances. After collecting all documents from participants, we will review your replies. If you are the only one in a stay-behind group, we will inform you immediately and suggest you change your stay-behind period.
Q9: Why is my scholarship amount not the same as the one shown on the leaflet? Ø When you filled in the online form during the application period, there was an item asking you to choose your preferred scholarship amount: 0% (self-financed), 50%, or 100%. We have allocated your scholarship amount according to your choice. Please note that the scholarship amount does not equal course fees. The scholarship only partially supports your trip expenses. Please email us if you have any questions.
|
|
Flight-Related Matters
Q1: What is the schedule for booking tickets? When will I know the final decision of the College regarding the flight schedule? Ø We collect and organize all participants’ replies after the deadline. You will then receive an email asking you to confirm your information, especially passport names and stay-behind period. The confirmation deadline is usually the next morning. You will be able to see who is in the same stay-behind period as you. We will then send the information to travel agents to quote air ticket prices. Replies from agents will be discussed, and after consideration, we will choose the most suitable flight schedule based on pricing, arrival time (as required by our counterpart University), airline safety, etc. Booking will then be confirmed immediately as prices change daily.
Q2: I found a cheaper air ticket on Skyscanner! May I buy it myself? Ø No.
Q3: I will be traveling during the summer holidays. May I not depart from Hong Kong airport but meet you at the airport on my own? Ø No, you are in the GOAL Programme and must travel as a group departing from Hong Kong airport. Please note that you are required to report as a group at the check-in counter, not inside the restricted area, as this is not a connecting flight. You must enter Hong Kong first and check in for the flight if you are coming from outside Hong Kong.
|
|
Visa Matters
Q1: Do I need a visa? Ø That depends on the passport you will be using to travel and the countries you will be visiting. Generally speaking, HKSAR passport holders do not require visas for European countries, but if you are going to visit other countries during the weekends/stay-behind period, please check carefully by yourself. PRC passport holders generally require visas for European countries. If you hold a passport other than the two mentioned above, please check if you need a visa by yourself.
Q2: I need a visa. What should I do? When can I get the required documents? Ø Please reply to our email indicating if you need to apply for a visa. We will prepare all necessary documents for you and inform you when everything is ready for collection (by late April). Required documents usually include: 1. Supporting letter from the College 2. Supporting letter from the host Institute (with address proof) 3. Air ticket 4. Insurance certificate (For more information, please visit Group Travel | CUHK Insurance Arrangement.) You may be required to attend interviews at the embassy, so please reserve enough time. We suggest you obtain your visa at least 2 months before your trip. You are also reminded to take a copy of everything before handing in the documents to the embassy, as they may not return the documents to you.
|
|
Pre-departure Matters
Q1: How many briefings will we have? Do we have any dates and times yet? Ø We will usually have 1-2 briefings. As we have to invite speakers and advisers for these briefings, we cannot provide you with dates at this moment. We usually have a sharing session in March and a pre-departure meeting a week or two before your departure. We will email you the briefing dates as soon as they are confirmed.
Q2: What if I cannot attend the meeting? Ø Participants are required to attend all briefings. Please email us directly if you are under unforeseen circumstances. Please note that the College reserves the right to deduct 5-10% of your scholarship reimbursement depending on your attendance. As details of the programme will be mentioned at the briefings, if you are absent from the briefing sessions, the College does not bear any consequences or answer any repeated questions as mentioned in the briefings or the FAQ unless there are updates.
Q3: Are we allowed to visit other cities/countries over the weekends? Ø It depends on your course schedule. Some programmes have scheduled course activities over the weekends, and all participants are required to attend. Other than those scheduled dates, you are allowed to visit other cities/countries over the weekends. However, please inform the College of where you will be visiting, as there have been cases where students traveled to other countries over the weekends and did not attend class on Monday. Please be reminded that attendance will be counted, and as previously mentioned, please check if you will need a visa for other countries.
Q4: When can we leave on the last day? Ø It differs from programme to programme, but you are not allowed to leave before the programme officially ends (i.e., after the examination, farewell ceremony, etc.). We will provide the programme schedule as soon as possible.
Q5: How much money should I prepare for the trip? Ø Costs vary year by year.
Q6: Can I deduct the amount of scholarship I will receive and only hand in the balance to the College as the programme fees? Ø No, you must hand in the whole amount as stated in our notification. You will receive your scholarship after successful completion of the programme. If you have any financial difficulties, please feel free to contact us.
Q7: Where can I find my insurance policy? Ø Please visit Group Travel | CUHK Insurance Arrangement for more details. |
