The University of Hong Kong
Academic Support and Examinations Section, The Registry
University Fees

Fixed Daily Rate (FDR) Approach

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Composition fee for research postgraduate (RPg) students is collected at a 6-month period interval during the normative period of study and continuation fee beyond the normative study period is collected every 3 months. In the case where a student has taken a period of non-study leave and/or was approved to change the study mode (from full-time to part-time or vice versa), odd months/days in the total duration of the normative study period will arise. The FDR approach was introduced in 2010, along with the Student Information System (SIS), as an administrative arrangement to calculate the composition fee for these odd days.

Under the FDR approach, credit(s) arising from the taking of non-study leave/Leave of Absence (LoA) will be generated by the SIS and the credit will be used to offset the ensuing (i.e. next) instalment of composition fee after the end of the entire non-study leave/Leave of Absence (LoA) period.

With the adoption of the FDR approach, the following key principles in calculation of fee will remain the same:

• The general composition/continuation fee payment schedule would normally synchronize with student candidature.
• Composition fee for PhD, MPhil and SJD students would continue to be collected at 6-month intervals. For the vast majority of students, two equal instalments will be collected in an academic year. The billing months will remain largely the same throughout a student’s study at the University. Continuation fee will be charged upon the lapse of the normative period of study at 3-month intervals until the submission of thesis.
• The practice of NOT refunding composition/continuation fees paid for a complete instalment period will be upheld.

Please note that the FDR approach is only applicable in calculating fee adjustment for odd days and it is NOT accepted as ground for request for partial refund/waiver of composition/continuation fees.

Calculation of FDR

• FDR for composition fee = Annual composition fee / 365 days (or 366 for a leap year)
• FDR for continuation fee = Amount of continuation fee for 3-month period / 90 days

FDR in 2021-22

Change of study mode

When a student changes study mode within the normative study period, the composition fee that should be payable for the corresponding instalment during which a change of study mode takes place shall be re-calculated by FDR in the following manner:

Full-time FDR x number of days of Full-time study +
Part-time FDR x number of days of Part-time study

If there is an ‘over-paid’ amount, no refund will be made to the student but it will be carried forward as a credit and be offset in the following instalment for the ensuing 6-month interval. If there is a shortfall, the student will be required to pay for the amount of the shortfall immediately.

Taking of non-study leave

If a student takes non-study leave, composition/continuation fee will be exempted for the period of leave taken. While no refund will be made to the student, a credit will be calculated by FDR for the non-study leave period (i.e. FDR x number of days of non-study leave) and it will be carried forward and be offset in the ensuing instalment. The student candidature will be extended accordingly by taking into account the number of days of non-study leave taken. Odd days arising from the extension of the student candidature period will be billed according to FDR and handled in the last instalment. Please refer to the following illustrative example.

Student A is a full-time PhD student.