At university, students are fully responsible for not only their studies📝 but also living matters🏠. There is a lot to do when entering campus and during study.
After the university offer✉️, we will strive for offer conditions💯, apply to Halls and prepare for university life.
At the start of university life, we need a student ID card🪪 first (after new student registration), followed by a range of registrations, including SIM card, bank account💳, and so on.
In this article, I will introduce and explain what I did before and at the start of my university journey🚄. Follow me!
Before University
You may have received a lot of offers📩 from a range of universities during your final year (also the "university application year") in high school🏫.
Yes. It's time to prepare for university!
Follow Email Instructions
After accepting✅ your offer, you may receive a range of emails, including learning more about the university and applying to Halls.
Keep track of your email inbox📥 (the one used for university applications) for the latest important information and updates, including exam result submission (once released), Hall application and information sessions.
Some universities ask students to upload their Statement of Results📄 for exams after the release of the exam results. Make sure to upload them before deadline.
You may also need to apply to Halls🏘️ for different universities in advance, even before your official exam results.
After your last International (official) exam, you will have time⏳ to check university emails and information.
Due to the large uncertainty🤨 of which university you will enter (whether offer conditions will be reached), apply to Halls for ALL universities you have received offers for.
Registrations after Offer Confirmation
Once the offer is confirmed✅ (conditions met), you will receive many emails including:
- New Student Registration
- Confirmation for New Student Registration (for getting the student card later)
- Orientation for Freshers
- Information Meetings (if any)
- (etc.)
If you decide to study at a university, you will need student registration.
This may include activating your university account (with an email address📩 under the university domain name), uploading visa and photos, and so on.
University Account Login Page
With a university email address, you can enjoy many benefits, including Student (Educational) Discount for online platforms.
After Arriving at Campus
After your successful registration✅, you will get into the university campus🏫 and do some initialisation. This includes:
- Connect to University WiFi 🛜
- Get a Student Card 🪪
- Check in Hall/House 🏠
- Apply for a Local SIM Card 📲
- Apply for Local Bank Account(s) 💳
- Apply for a Student Octopus 🚌🚇
- Be Familiar with Campus Environment 🧭
Connect to University WiFi
If you have activated your university account, you may use it (university email address and password🔐) to connect to the campus WiFi🛜.
One WiFi commonly seen around different universities is called "eduroam" (Education Roaming) giving convenience for Exchange✈️ / Study Abroad Students.
Note that some universities may have different WiFis other than "eduroam".
University "eduroam" WiFi
I consider this as the first step as the cost💸 for data roaming🗼 in SIM cards📲 is usually very expensive.
Apart from the on-campus WiFi, we can also connect to the WiFi exclusively for university students🎓 (free with unlimited time) around Hong Kong shopping malls with the same login process:
- Universities via CSL
- Universities via Y5ZONE
Get a Student Card
The second and the most important🌟 thing at university is to get your student ID card🪪.
It may be necessary and useful for future applications listed below, like local SIM cards, bank accounts and Student Octopus.
Check in Hall/House
You may be carrying a big luggage🧳 with those you need for housing, especially if you are a non-local student living in on-campus Halls (dormitories)🏢 or renting houses🏘️.
Heavy Luggage when Entering University
Since some applications later on, including SIM cards, bank accounts and Student Octopus, need a local residential address🏠, you need to check in before the next stages.
While you can apply for them several days or weeks later, this is more important‼️ as you will live in your university journey, including the first day.
One difference between university and high school is that students need to check in and out☑️ their Halls at university.
Unlike my high school where Halls (dormitories) were automatically checked out at the end of each term, students generally need to check out manually at the end of each term or academic year.
Apply for a Local SIM Card
Many application forms📄 for opportunities around our university, including Student Octopus (see below⬇️), require and only accept local phone numbers.
Therefore, you will need to apply for a local SIM card📲 via local ISPs. This can be done after checking in your Hall (on-campus) or house (off-campus).
Octopus Application Form with Local Phone Numbers
Some student mobile phone plans require student ID proof (e.g. student card)🧑🎓. This is why you should get your student ID card first before this step.
More importantly, some ISPs may verify the reported local residential addresses🏘️ with address proofs. Regularly check your Hall/home mailbox📬 (usually at G/F (Ground Floor)) and verify it✅ before deadline.
CMHK SIM Card Address Proof
Apply for a Student Octopus
Students studying in Hong Kong universities can apply for a Student Octopus with half price🤑 for MTR (metro)🚇 rides, usually at the beginning of the academic year.
Octopus cards are usually used for not only public transporation🚌🚇🚢 but general payments, including in restaurants and shops.
Hong Kong Octopus Card
There is an online application form📄 submitting your information, including student ID card, local residential address and email address.
The application may take several weeks⏳. This means you may not receive your card immediately.
We need to renew the "Student Status" on a yearly basis (renewal application; usually at the beginning of each academic year) as it is usually valid for 1 year only for university students.
Since our university is not close to an MTR station, we have to take buses🚌 first where some buses only accept Octopus💳 and HKD cash.
Note that we still need full price for buses (generally) despite the half price for MTR.
It's very convenient that we can directly top-up💰 our Octopus right on campus (usually in 7-Eleven store) by HKD cash.
Discover Knowledge in Real Life - My “Tradition” from 2019
Discovering🔍, applying🔬 and sharing📤 knowledge in real life can help me remember knowledge firmly, teach others and explain real-life phenomena.
This is my invented🌟 study tip in 2019 in middle school. It used to be available in WeChat Moments (among friends) only.
Since 2021, I started inserting knowledge, whether learned in middle school, high school or university, in Green Boxes in my articles📄.
Now, I discovered relevant university knowledge in Signal and Packets (ELEC1200) course: Step Response
Due to some physical properties, the signals (0 and 1 bits) cannot make instantaneous changes.
Instead, it will rise from bit 0 to bit 1 for some very short time⏳.
Step Response Function: s(n) = k * (1 - an+1) * u(n), where a and k are coefficients
Unit Step Function: u(n) = 1 (when n >= 0), 0 (otherwise)
Due to the review time, the Octopus company will make and send your Octopus card after several days/weeks of your application.
Similarly, an athlete🏃 will not stop immediately after crossing the finish line, where he will decelerate💨 for a while before a full stop.
Graph for bits 1100 0101 (SPB = 8)
Signal Inputs and Outputs (bits: 1100 0101)
Apply for Local Bank Account(s)
Apart from local SIM card and Octopus, we may also need a local bank account💰.
It's usually used for cash withdrawal (at ATMs), topping up Octopus (online via bank app or via cash), receiving refunds (e.g. scholarships) and making payments.
We need to, again, be mindful of our Hall/house physical mailboxes for the ATM card💳 and important bank notifications🔔.
Be Familiar with Campus Environment
Unlike high school, there is usually no one automatically guides🔭 you around the university campus.
This means you will need to be familiar with the campus environment, which is simple, by just walking around🚶.
The following things usually appear at university but not in high school:
- Banks 🏦 and ATMs (Automated Teller Machines)
- Supermarkets 🏬 and Convenience Stores 🏪
- Automated Vendoring Machines 🎰
- Café (Starbucks and Pacific Coffee in our campus) 🍵
- Different Restaurants with Different Food Types 🍱
- Bus Stops 🚏 and/or Metro (MTR) 🚇 Stations
- Notice Boards for Opportunities 🪧
- Student Card System 🪪 for Library, Sport Facilities, Labortories, etc.
University Starbucks & Bridge Link
We can enjoy discounts around different shops (including cafés) on campus with our university cards. For example:
- 5% off at convenience stores and supermarkets
- 10% off at the Souvenir Shop
- 30% off at cafés
At University
After (or during) your pre-university setup🛠️, you will need to quickly get used to the university study environment and vibe.
This includes:
- Course Enrollment & Payments 💸
- Check Lesson Schedule 🗓️ & Find Classrooms 🧑🏫
- Check University Email 📩
- Check Course Announcements 📣
- Check Graduation Requirements ☑️
- Apply to Opportunities & Halls 👆
- Pay for Hall Laundry/AC 🧺💨
Course Enrollment & Payments
Before and at the beginning of each term (after offer confirmation✅ for the first term), students enrol in courses and make payments.
You may need to enrol at the earliest time possible⌛️ due to the limited quotas of each course. This includes pre-enrollment, enrollment and add/drop.
Apart from university course enrollment, people usually buy railway🚄 tickets at the earliest time possible (once the tickets are released, usually 15 days in advance) on the 12306 (China Railway) website.
This includes students travelling🛤️ between Mainland cities and our university campus (via Hong Kong West Kowloon Station).
Even if the quota is full, we can still be at the front position⬆️ of the waitlist as possible.
Except for Year 1, we make plans🗓️ in advance based on our majors, listing out the courses🧑🏫 to be taken in each term.
Our university has an online "Class Schedule & Quota" board📺 showing the real-time course status (e.g. whether it is full).
We log in to our university account🪪, check the quota board, add courses in Shopping Cart🛒 and enrol during the enrollment period.
Class Schedule & Quota Board
Discover Knowledge in Real Life - My “Tradition” from 2019
Discovering🔍, applying🔬 and sharing📤 knowledge in real life can help me remember knowledge firmly, teach others and explain real-life phenomena.
This is my invented🌟 study tip in 2019 in middle school. It used to be available in WeChat Moments (among friends) only.
Since 2021, I started inserting knowledge, whether learned in middle school, high school or university, in Green Boxes in my articles📄.
Now, I discovered relevant Computer Science knowledge I learned in both A Level (9618) and my University (COMP2011): Queue
Queue is an Abstract Data Type (ADT) with the First In First Out (FIFO) structure.
When you enrol in a course with full quota📦, you are at the back of the waitlist (queue) ("enqueue" operation).
When the quota is increased or someone drops the course, the student at the front enrols✅ in the course ("dequeue" operation).
Queue in Course Waitlists
Apart from enrollment, we have to pay💸 fees, including tuition fee, Hall fee and Caution Money online.
You may need to make payments at the beginning of each term (refer to your university email). Be sure to make payments on time before the deadline.
There may be some actions (e.g. suspending services) for overdue payments which may vary among different universities.
University Payment System (No Outstanding Charges)
Check Lesson Schedule & Find Classrooms
Unlike high school, universities generally have no administrative classes where everyone's schedule🗓️ is completely different (unique).
After selecting☑️ your courses (including the Add/Drop Period), you will get your personalised schedule from the university's online systems.
My Personalised Schedule (Public Version)
Also be mindful of your real-time waitlist status. You will no longer be on the waitlist once enrolled.
You need to be familiar with your schedule and the routes🛣️ to your classrooms.
Focusing on Science and Technology, our university has a (self-developed) Path Advisor🧭 (web version and app) helping students to easily find places🔍 (e.g. classrooms).
HKUST Path Advisor
Check University Email
You will use your university email account📩 for daily communication, including notifications🔔 and event promotions.
It may include notifications about academics (e.g., course enrollment; including those from course instructors/teachers🧑🏫), Hall, library, application results, and so on.
You can also send emails📤 to university departments and instructors in case of questions or enquiries.
Final Exam Seating Assignment Email
Whether you have interests or not, you may receive many of mass promotion emails📥 in your university inbox every day.
You can just pick up👆 the opportunities you enjoy among massive emails📩 and notice boards around the campus.
Check Course Announcements
As well as your university email, you should also check for any announcements of your courses.
This includes quizzes, exams (e.g. mid-term and final), make-up lectures🧑🏫, assignments/homework📄, etc.
For example, we had a Project Report🛠️ in one of my courses as an assessment for final grades.
Canvas Course Announcements
Some make-up classes, quizzes or exams✍️ may be held at weekends (e.g. mid-term exams). Be careful⚠️ not to skip or miss the important grading components.
While some courses may have their own webpages and homework📝 systems, Canvas is majorly used for course management by many universities.
In some course or exam/quiz schedule🗓️ at our university, time and venue may be "TBA" which means To Be Announced (Later).
TBA = To Be Announced (Later)
This means we need to check for any updates in the course announcements📣 or emails.
Check Graduation Requirements
To plan ahead for our study journey, you also need to constantly check the university graduation requirements☑️ and whether we satisfied them.
This may include the total number of credits📚 (120 credits for my university program), major course requirements, language and Common Core courses.
We can simply use the "Academic Requirements" section of our university system to check🔍 what to meet later without any difficulty.
Check Graduation Requirements
Apart from our majors, our university also offers Common Core courses broadening our horizons (as part of the graduation requirements).
Apply to Opportunities & Halls
Apart from managing academic matters, you may need to apply👆 to opportunities and Halls.
In addition to Hall applications, students can pick up, apply to and join a wide range of opportunities matching their interests👍 at their fingertips👆 in emails✉️ before the given deadlines, including:
- Global Learning (e.g. Exchange)🔄,
- Internship/Job opportunities (like IEI (Center of Industrial Engagement and Internship) at our university),
- Entrepreneurship🤵,
- Student society/club,
- Student ambassador📣/helper,
- Research🔬,
- Project making (like USEL (Undergraduate Student-initiated Experimental Learning) at our university),
- Competition.
Apart from that, our university also conducts some regular events📆 (with booths set up), including:
- Student Society Recruitment; the first week of each term
- Career Mosaic 📄 (showcasing job opportunities on campus); several weeks later
- Global Learning Week 🌎
- (etc.)
Student Society Recruitment & Career Mosaic
The Hall application and selection🔂 at our university is conducted once a year. This means we need to apply to Halls on a yearly basis (keep an eye on email notifications🔔).
We also need to pay Hall fees💳, usually together with Tuition Fee, at the beginning of each term.
Apart from regular terms (Fall and Spring), our university also offers optional Winter and Summer terms (like Winter/Summer vacations for schools) without any extra cost.
Pay for Hall Laundry/AC
If you live in Halls on campus, you may need to pay for Laundry and Air Conditioning (AC) services.
We buy laundry🧺 tickets (for washers and dryers) and top up the air conditioning💨 credits in advance in online systems.
There may be a time lag⏳ (usually 5 minutes or up to several hours) when using WeChat Pay or Alipay in the afternoon or evening🌙, depending on the congestion of the cross-border network.
Hall Laundry Ticket (with Payment Delay)
Thanks for Reading!
These are the things (living🏠 matters) I did before and during my university journey. Hope you enjoy a productive and fruitful🎨 university life.
More university-related articles (e.g. my Time-management Tips) may be released later📤. You can subscribe to my Email Newsletter📩 and stay tuned.
More useful study techniques🛠️ and habits📝 are available on my website. You can explore them if you want.
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