FAQ – Questions about majors/ minors

Q5.1 What should I consider when considering majors / minors?
Q5.2 Whom should I seek advice from for my major / minor selection?
Q5.3 When should I declare major/minor?
Q5.4 Are there any academic requirements for declaring a specific major/minor?
Q5.5 Is it possible to double major or double minor?
Q5.6 How many majors/ minors I can take to the maximum?
Q5.7 Can I change my major/ minor later? How many times can I change it?
Q5.8 How will my study plan be affected if I switch my majors/ minors?
Q5.9 Can I take a first-year prerequisite course for a major/minor, in my second/third year of study?
Q5.10 If I have declared a second major or a minor, but I cannot go on to complete them. What are the consequences?
Q5.11 Would all the credits that I took for a particular major be ‘totally wasted’ if I switch to a new one? Do I need to start from scratch again?
Q5.12 Different majors/minors may have overlapping courses for their respective programmes. Can I use the same course taken to fulfill the requirements of more than one major or minor? What should I do if I can’t?
Q5.13 How do I know if I have fulfilled all the requirements of a major/minor?
Q5.14 Will my degree certificate show my major(s)/minor(s)?
Q5.15 Can I extend my period of study to fulfill the requirement of an additional major/minor, even if I have already taken the required 240 credits?

Q5.1 What should I consider when considering majors / minors?
First, reflect on your interests, strengths and goals and see what major / minor options are available in the University, then try to find out more about each particular subject of interest before you make your choices. For details, please watch the video talks “Major & Minor Selection: What to Consider?” and “Major Minor Declaration and Planning Tools Demonstration” , and check out the relevant planning tools, all at https://aas.hku.hk/how-to-select-mm/.

Q5.2 Whom should I seek advice from for my major / minor selection?
You can seek advice from your Faculty Academic Adviser and the advisers at the Academic Advising and Scholarships Office. You can also request a Temporary Academic Adviser (TAA) in SIS. TAAs are current teachers from specific programmes who specialize on helping students explore major/minor options and attend to questions for a particular subject area. Also, you can try to talk to some senior students who are from your interested majors/minors. If you are concerned about employment prospect of your interested major, you may talk to Careers Advisers at CEDARS (Career and Placement) to understand employers’ expectations and how to make career preparation.

Q5.3 When should I declare major/minor?
For most non-professional programmes, the earliest students can declare major is before the start of their second year. By the start of the third year of studies, students are required to declare their majors/minors. Before deciding on your major, you have to think about your academic interests and career aspirations. It is also very important for you to consider which prerequisite courses to take in your first year in order to declare the major(s)/minor(s) you like.

Q5.4 Are there any academic requirements for declaring a specific major/minor?
It depends. Faculties may have requirements, for example, attainment of a certain level in certain HKDSE subjects or a pre-requisite introductory course for specific majors/ minors. It is very important for you to check the academic requirements of your intended major/minor programme before you declare them.

Q5.5 Is it possible to double major or double minor?
Yes, as long as you have enough credits to do so and all relevant requirements are fulfilled.

Q5.6 How many majors/ minors I can take to the maximum?
There are no rigid regulations in this regard. However, please make sure that you have enough number of credits to take the courses of these major/ minor programmes and that all relevant requirements could be fulfilled by your graduation. On the other hand, please take into account the workload involved and consider whether you could handle them. Most importantly, please always refer to the regulations/ syllabus/ curriculum of your programme when you plan for your majors/ minors.

Q5.7 Can I change my major/ minor later? How many times can I change it?
It depends on the setup which may vary from programme to programme. Under normal circumstances and for most Faculties, if you are in a non-professional programme, after you declare your major/minor, you can still revise/change your choices in the subsequent course selection/ add drop periods (no regulations on the number of times you can make changes) until the first semester of your final year. No changes are allowed to be made in the second semester of the final year. Please consult your home Faculties for assistance if in doubt.

However, please consider the followings before you make your decision:

• Are you ready to study a major/minor that is completely new to you?
• Are there any completed courses that can be counted in the major/minor you wish to switch to?
• Are you serious about this decision?
• Have you fulfilled the pre-requisite requirements of that major/minor? Will this switch lengthen your study period? You have to think about whether you could pass the required pre-requisite(s) and the respective ED course (for switching majors) and whether you could finish the required number of credits in the remaining period of study. Students are not allowed to take more than 288 credits during their 4 years of studies, unless they are required to make up for the failed credits.

Q5.8 How will my study plan be affected if I switch my majors/ minors?
You can use the “What if” system in Degree Audit in SIS to check study loads if you choose different major/ minor combinations. (Navigation: HKU Portal -> My Page -> SIS Menu -> Academic Records -> My Degree Audit)

Q5.9 Can I take a first-year prerequisite course for a major/minor, in my second/third year of study?
For most majors/ minors, you can. Please check with the Faculty if in doubt.

Q5.10 If I have declared a second major or a minor, but I cannot go on to complete them. What are the consequences?
If you cannot complete the second major or the minor at the end, these second majors/ minors would not be shown on your transcript. The courses that you have done towards these majors/ minors will be counted as free electives. In all cases, please double check with your Faculty Office if in doubt.

Q5.11 Would all the credits that I took for a particular major be ‘totally wasted’ if I switch to a new one? Do I need to start from scratch again?
A major usually requires 72-96 credits. If you switch major, it is very likely that you have to start with the introductory courses in the “new” major again. Therefore, you should consider carefully whether you can finish your degree on time if you switch. Usually, the credits that you have already earned can be counted as electives. In all cases, please double check with your Faculty Office.

Q5.12 Different majors/minors may have overlapping courses for their respective programmes. Can I use the same course taken to fulfill the requirements of more than one major or minor? What should I do if I can’t?
Double-counting of courses for fulfilling more than one major or minor is not allowed. You are advised to consult the programmes concerned and see which replacement course(s) you are required to study so that the total credits completed for each major or minor will not be reduced. You may also refer to the Degree Audit report on SIS for your progress with each declared major/minor.

Q5.13 How do I know if I have fulfilled all the requirements of a major/minor?
It is your responsibility to check the course enrollment on a regular basis to ensure whether you have complied with the relevant curriculum requirements of the majors/ minors you have chosen. You may also refer to the Degree Audit report on SIS for your progress with each declared major/minor.

Q5.14 Will my degree certificate show my major(s)/minor(s)?
Your completed major(s)/minor(s) will only be shown on your academic transcript and the academic attainment profile, but not on the degree certificate.

Q5.15 Can I extend my period of study to fulfill the requirement of an additional major/minor, even if I have already taken the required 240 credits?
Under normal circumstances, no. Since a second major and/or minors are only optional parts of your studies and not graduation requirements, you will not be permitted to extend the period of study to fulfill such requirements if you have already completed the graduation requirements.