30-credit Program Curriculum
The 30-credit Program is for students admitted in 2022-23 onwards
The Common Core Program is a key part of the undergraduate education, complementing studies in specialist disciplines and other learning opportunities. Starting from the academic year 2022-23, a 30-credit Common Core framework took effect and all undergraduates admitted in 2022-23 and therafter will follow this framework.
Within the structure of the 30-credit Common Core Program, a competency framework has been introduced in a scaffolding format to assist you in acquiring, developing, and practicing essential competencies for your studies and future endeavors. This scaffolding structure comprises 3 tiers of Common Core groups: Foundations, Broadening, and Experiencing. These groups provide students with enhanced interdisciplinary and experiential learning opportunities, promoting and facilitating the progression of knowledge and competency development.
Foundations: This group lays the groundwork for university education by emphasizing critical thinking, data literacy, wellness, and effective communication in both English and Chinese. It prepares you to manage your personal and academic lives while fostering essential communication skills in diverse contexts.
Broadening: This group encompasses a variety of disciplines, including the arts, humanities, science, technology, social analysis, and sustainability (with effect from 2025-26). It aims to cultivate a well-rounded education by promoting creativity, cultural awareness, scientific inquiry, technological appreciation, and a deeper understanding of societal issues.
Experiencing: This group focuses on undergraduate experiential opportunities, encouraging you to engage with real-world issues through research and collaborative dialogues. Through the Undergradaute experiential Opportunties Program (UxOP), you can develop critical thinking skills and enhance your ability to articulate experiences and implications for future learning.
| Common Core Groups | Common Core Areas | Required Credits |
| Experiencing (For Year 3 or above students and providing opportunities to engage without prerequisites.) | Undergraduate experiential Opportunities Programs (UxOP):
| 3 credits (substitutable by courses from the areas of CTDL, E-Comm (Advanced Communication courses only), C-Comm, A, H, S, T, SA, and SUS (with effect from 2025-26)) |
| Broadening (with specific outcomes) | Arts (A) | 12 credits under stipulated program-specific areas |
| Humanities (H) | ||
| Science (S) | ||
| Technology (T) | ||
| Social Analysis (SA) | ||
| Sustainability (SUS) (with effect from 2025-26) | ||
| Foundations (skillsets and mindsets) (preferably taken in Year 1) | Cognitive Foundations of University Education: Critical Thinking and Data Literacy (CTDL) (in any year) | 3 credits (substitutable by courses from the areas of E-Comm (Advanced Communication courses only), C-Comm, A, H, S, T, SA, SUS (with effect from 2025-26), and UxOP) |
| Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness (HMW) (year-long in Year 1) | 3 credits | |
| English Communication (E-Comm) (at least 3 credits in Year 1) | 6 credits | |
| Chinese Communication (C-Comm) (in any year) | 3 credits | |
| Total Credits Required | 30 credits | |
Competency
The Common Core Program incorporates a competency education framework that helps you to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to perform in real-life situations. Competency refers to a student’s ability to master the knowledge and/or skills required to perform in tasks or real-life situations. The University has identified a total of 15 sub-competencies under four broad competencies that are essential and desired for our graduates. These competencies are presented in the form of attributes and skillsets. You can use the course search engine to search for common core courses that teach the competencies you want to learn.