MAAL FAQ

MAAL is taught entirely in English and only accepts students who graduated from English-medium universities or have proof of their English proficiency (e.g. we normally expect 7.5 or above in IELTS). MAAL students are required to complete their assignments (2,500 words each) and a capstone project (around 15,000 words) in English. The topics covered are related to English language and education, except for some courses which may deal with a contrastive perspective, in which case examples from other languages may be cited.

We believe that the MAAL programme should be comparable to English language and literature (A050201 英语语言文学) programmes in mainland China. However, it is at individual employers’ sole discretion to recognize any qualification to which this programme may lead.

Our MAAL programme can offer a letter issued by our Centre to students/graduates upon request. Please refer to its sample letter here.

Our programme can also offer a letter issued by our Centre proving the MAAL contact hours upon request. Please refer to its sample letter here.

Moreover, students/graduates could also apply for official documents from the Registry. Please visit http://www.ase.hku.hk/asoffice/ for more details.

MAAL students must satisfy the examiners in coursework assessment for each of the courses which may take the form of written assignments, oral presentations, tests and/or other prescribed work.  Courses which are assessed by means of only one written assignment usually require work of 2,500 words (+/- 10%) in length. There are no final examinations.

Most of our MAAL graduates are English teachers in primary or secondary schools. As the programme provides an entry-level qualification for teaching EAP at many tertiary institutions, a number of our graduates have become EAP teachers in local and overseas tertiary institutions. Some other students have also pursued further postgraduate studies or other career fields.

Our programme is designed for those who have professional experience in English language education although we welcome applications from non-teaching linguists or those with related professional experience in the analysis of language. The focus of the programme is on issues relating to the teaching, learning and use of English for academic or professional purposes. Some courses in the programme contribute to an understanding of English in all contexts, while others relate more specifically to the learning context in Hong Kong.

Please refer to https://admissions.hku.hk/tpg/admissions-requirements.

Starting from Semester 1 of 2022/2023, the University will resume face-to-face teaching for all programmes. Students must attend classes in person. Please visit the HKU website regarding the latest teaching and learning arrangement at https://tl.hku.hk/email-announcement-from-vice-president-teaching-and-learning/.

As in 2022-23, the Entrance Scholarships and Peter Cheung Memorial Prize are available for MAAL students.

For the Entrance Scholarships, students will be invited for application after they are accepted by the programme. Successful application of Entrance Scholarships will be based on the academic merits (prior to students’ MAAL studies) and financial needs.

Peter Cheung Memorial Prize is awarded to graduating MAAL students based on their overall MAAL academic performance.

General Regulation G6(b)(i) PROHIBITS concurrent registration by a student of this University for any other post-secondary qualification either at this University or at any educational institution, unless approval of the Senate has been obtained in advance.  Students in breach of this regulation may be required to discontinue their studies at this University.

Please check out the application details here: http://www.ase.hku.hk/asoffice/ (under Transcript).

Capstone projects are due normally 1-2 weeks before the end of August. You will be expected to get your final programme result end of September and you will attend your congregation normally in November/December.

You can apply for a certificate of graduation before your congregation so long as you have passed all the courses and the capstone project. Check out the details here: http://www.ase.hku.hk/asoffice/ (under Certificate of Graduation).

The graduation certificate, on which the date of congregation is stated, will be available for your collection after the congregation.

The TPg Online Application System for admission 2024 has opened. Please visit https://admissions.hku.hk/tpg for details.

No, you CANNOT make any changes in the application form after submission. Please make sure that all the information is correct before your submission.

If you need to update any necessary information, please contact the Programme Office at caes-maal@hku.hk as soon as possible. Please be reminded to quote your application number in all your correspondence. Late provision of your updated information may cause delays in the processing of your application.

You may be invited for an admission interview and a written test if the admission committee would like to have a better understanding of your background and experiences.

We will be in touch if further information is required or if the admission committee decides to take your application forward. You should check your emails frequently in order to receive the latest updates from us.

Please refer to https://caes.hku.hk/maal/tuition-fees-and-deposit/.

Fees once paid are NOT refundable.

You will be able to upload supporting documents after successful submission of your application. You can log into the HKU online application system and go to the upload page to submit your supporting documents accordingly.

Please visit the HKU TPg FAQ webpage at https://admissions.hku.hk/tpg/faq for more frequently asked questions about the application system.

For admissions 2024, please refer to https://admissions.hku.hk/tpg/sites/default/files/R83_SUPPORTDOCUMENT_2.pdf for details.

You can only upload your supporting documents before the application deadline or within four weeks of your account creation, whichever the earlier. If the uploading period is expired, please contact the Programme Office at caes-maal@hku.hk as soon as possible. Please be reminded to quote your application number in all your correspondence.

You are strongly advised to upload your supporting documents right after submitting your application. Late provision of supporting documents may cause delays in the processing of your application.

Please upload all your supporting documents onto the online application system first. Posting documents is NOT required at the initial application stage.

If you are given the offer of admission or selected for interview, you will be required to send us your official transcripts, original IELTS/TOEFL report, and other relevant documents as soon as possible.

Please refer to the HKU TPg FAQ at https://admissions.hku.hk/tpg/faq.

All documents once submitted will NOT be returned.

Please post the document only after our Programme requests you to do so. The University requires the official/certified true copies of the documents, including the original IELTS report, in order to issue an offer. Hence, please arrange with the issuing institution for sending the official/certified true copy of your original IELTS report to our Centre.

Please post the document only after our Programme requests you to do so. Please request the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send an official score report to Ms. Amber Chau (University’s TOEFL code: 9671) directly.  Original/certified true copy of the examinee’s score record will NOT be accepted.

Please email the softcopy of your IELTS report to the Programme Office at caes-maal@hku.hk as soon as possible. Please be reminded to quote your application number in all your correspondence.

Late provision of your updated IELTS scores may cause delays in the processing of your application.

Please post supporting documents only after our Programme requests you to do so. Please be reminded to quote your application number in all your correspondence.

English address:

Ms. Amber CHAU (tel. no. 3917 7940)

Centre for Applied English Studies

Room 6.60, 6/F, Run Run Shaw Tower

Centennial Campus

The University of Hong Kong

Pokfulam

Hong Kong

(Ref.: MA(AppliedLinguistics))

Chinese address:

香港薄扶林道香港大學百周年校園逸夫教學樓6樓應用英語中心6.60室

Ms. Amber CHAU 收

(註: MA(AppliedLinguistics))

An applicant who is seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a university or comparable institution outside Hong Kong of which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English is required to satisfy relevant English language requirements. For details, please refer to:  https://admissions.hku.hk/tpg/admissions-requirements

No, as advised by the Faculty, IELTS Indicator or TOEFL iBT Home Edition are both UNACCEPTABLE. For details of English language requirements, please refer to: https://admissions.hku.hk/tpg/admissions-requirements

Given the potentially large number of applications and for the sake of fairness, unless requested by the Admission Committee (‘the Committee’), any materials, including statement of interest, sent by email will not be considered by the Committee. Applicants are reminded to provide all the information and materials in their online application.

It is fine if at least ONE of your referees is able to comment on your academic abilities.

Please check if the email address of your referee is correct first. If correct, please contact the Programme Office at caes-maal@hku.hk as soon as possible. Please be reminded to quote your application number in all your correspondence.

You are responsible to remind your referees to submit online reference reports.

No, we ONLY accept references submitted via the online reference report system.