| RPg students admitted | Details |
| from the 2021/22 cohort onwards |
All English Enhancement Subjects (ELC6011, ELC6012 and ENGL6016) are credit-bearing. These students are required to take the Research Language Skills Assessment (RLSA) in their first semester of study at PolyU. Based on their performance of the RLSA, they will be assigned to complete zero to two English Enhancement Subjects (ranging from 0 to 5 credits) before thesis submission. RPg students can refer to English Language Centre (ELC)’s webpage at Research Language Skills Assessment (RLSA). Exemption may be granted to either (i) returning students who have taken the ELC6001 and ELC6002, which is equivalent to Band 1 performance; or (ii) returning students who have already taken the Assessment with a result of “ELC6001 and/or ELC6002 exempted”, within eight years of their re-entry to the RPg programmes at the MPhil or PhD level. These students can submit the relevant record to ELC (rpg.enquiry@polyu.edu.hk) to apply for exemption. For other non-PolyU English enhancement subjects, students may apply for credit transfer. Please note that only credits that have not been used to contribute to an award will be acceptable for transfer. The credit transferred will be counted within the 50% limit of the maximum number of credits that can be transferrable. If a student fails to take the RLSA within the first semester of study, a Band 3 or below performance will be assigned. |
| Between 2018/19 and 2020/21 cohorts | These students are required to take and pass two English enhancement subjects, namely ELC6001 “Presentation Skills for Research Students” and ELC6002 “Thesis Writing for Research Students” before thesis submission. They are advised to approach the ELC for details on enrolment procedures. For exemption, RPg students need to pass the RLSA. With strong justification, the Chief Supervisor could recommend, for the Dean(GS)’s special consideration, an RPg student for exemption from taking the English enhancement subjects without sitting the RLSA. The Dean(GS)’s decision will be final and not subject to appeal. |
| On or after 1 July 2014 and before the 2018/19 cohort | These students are required to take the RLSA. Exemption is granted to returning students who have taken the Assessment within five years of their re-entry to the RPg programmes at the MPhil or PhD level. If improvement in the area of academic writing, academic speaking or both is imposed after the RLSA, the student concerned must take and pass the language enhancement subjects/programmes designed and conducted by the ELC or the Department of English before thesis submission. They are not allowed to retake a language enhancement subject except when they obtained a “fail” in their previous taking of the subject. |
| On or before 30 June 2014 | These students are required to take the RLSA. Exemption is granted to returning students who have taken the Assessment within five years of their re-entry to the RPg programmes at the MPhil or PhD level. The results of the RLSA will determine whether these students will be recommended to make improvements in the area of academic writing, academic speaking or both. If improvements are recommended, these students may take any, or all, of the language enhancement subjects/programmes designed and conducted by the ELC or the Department of English. They are not allowed to retake a language enhancement subject except when they obtained a “fail” in their previous taking of the subject. No penalty will be imposed on these students for not completing all or even any of the recommended subjects. |