Postgraduate Studentship (PGS) To: MPhil and PhD students and Supervisors cc.: Senior Management Team, Deans of Faculties, Dean of Student Affairs, Registrar, Faculty Secretaries, Head of Research Services
1. Subsequent to my email announcement of August 10, 2011 to postgraduate studentship (PGS) holders regarding the new PGS rate for 2011-12, the Graduate School has received some feedback from students on the revised rate. 2. The two Associate Deans of the Graduate School and I met with student representatives of the Council, Senate and Postgraduate Student Association on September 6, 2011 to hear their concerns. We had a fruitful discussion on this matter and explained to them that the nature of the PGS as well as the mechanism on the PGS rate review. I understand that the student representatives of the Council and Senate have brought back some messages discussed at the meeting to all research postgraduate students via bulk email. 3. Other than communicating with the student representatives, I would like to address students’ concerns in this email to ensure that the PGS review mechanism is transparent to students. In addition, the Graduate School will later upload a document on its website, outlining its vision, mission and commitments to research education to help students, teachers and other stakeholders better understand the role and position of the Graduate School. PGS is a Scholarship 4. First of all, I would like to reiterate that PGS is a SCHOLARSHIP provided by the University to selected students who have attained good academic qualifications to study full-time for the degree of MPhil and PhD. It is not a salary. Because it is a scholarship, therefore PGS holders are not required to pay salaries tax to the HKSAR Government arising from the PGS. Secondly, the terms of scholarship are determined by the offering institution and are accepted by the student on admission. The scholarship terms are not negotiable and are not affected by the geographical location or reputation/ranking of the institution. In order to avoid misunderstanding and to reflect the nature of the financial support more explicitly, ‘Postgraduate Studentship’ shall be renamed as ‘Postgraduate Scholarship’. PGS Review Mechanism 5. With regard to the review mechanism, you may wish to note that since 2003, the Postgraduate Administrators’ Circle (PGAC) comprising representatives from the Graduate Schools of all local institutions funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) has met each year to determine the PGS mid-point and the common band (±5% of the mid-point) for the following academic year so as to avoid unhealthy competition among institutions. The decision is submitted to the Heads of Universities Committee (HUCOM) for information and is forwarded to the University Grants Committee (UGC) for reference. At the PGAC meeting held on January 14, 2011, it was agreed among institutions that the PGS mid-point for 2011-12 be revised from $12,800 to $13,400 and that individual institutions could set its own PGS rate as long as it is within the common band of ±5% of 1
$13,400 (i.e. within the range of $12,730 to 14,070). Though the PGAC will review the PGS mid-point and common band on an annual basis, adjustment may not be made every year. 6. Taking into account the revised PGS common band, the financial situation of the University and the PGS rate of our sister institutions, the Graduate School recommended to the Policy Board of Postgraduate Education in April 2011 that the PGS rate (Level 1) be increased from $13,100 to $13,600 and the other 3 PGS top-up levels (Levels 2 to 4) be also adjusted upwards accordingly w.e.f. September 1, 2011. The Policy Board, membership of which includes an RPg student representative, approved that the proposal be submitted to the University Budget Group for funding approval. The proposal was subsequently approved on August 2, 2011. 7. I would like to mention that the revised PGS rate of $13,600 is basically on par with our sister institutions, particularly the two major research-intensive universities, namely HKUST and CUHK. HKUST offers the same PGS rate of $13,600 as HKU, and some post-qualifying PhD students who have done well in their research and studies may receive a higher PGS rate topped up by their supervisors and/or Department at their own discretion. CUHK also offers $13,600 to its pre- and post-candidacy MPhil students and pre-candidacy PhD students, although post-candidacy PhD will receive a higher rate. Proposal for Changes 8. The Graduate School has the intention to propose some minor adjustments to the current PGS model. Our principle is that no student will receive a lower PGS rate after transition to a new model. CUHK Model: A higher rate for PhD students after confirmation of probation 9. At the meeting with student representatives, I requested them to conduct a survey to find out if RPg students would be in favour of adopting a model similar to the CUHK where post-candidacy PhD students will receive a higher PGS rate or prefer to remain status quo. This proposal will apply to both existing and new PhD students. We already have some initial feedback from the student representatives and will have further discussions with them on the matter. PGS Top-up Levels (Levels 2, 3 and 4) be phased out gradually 10. We also have the intention to phase out the PGS top-up levels. At present there is around 7% of PGS holders receiving a higher PGS between Levels 2 to 4. Strictly speaking, additional payment for extra work done by students for their supervisor or Department or Faculty should not come under a scholarship. We would like to rectify this anomaly without affecting the current students. It is therefore proposed that the top-up PGS levels (i.e. Level 2 to 4) be abolished with effect from the new intake of RPgs. Any work done by students which exceeds the max. 100 hours/year of service or scope for the PGS awarded to them for studying the MPhil/PhD curriculum should be treated as employment and it should be done through part-time employment (such as Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant or part-time helper) between supervisor/ Department/ Faculty and the PGS holder in accordance with the University’s HR normal practices and salary scale/hourly rate for the different job grades, subject to the student’s fulfilment of the immigration law where appropriate (see note below). Nonetheless, the part-time employment should not exceed 150 hours/year for full-time students so as to ensure their 2
studies will not be affected. This proposal will only apply to new intakes. The existing PGS Level arrangements (Levels 2 to 4) will remain unchanged for current students until they phase out gradually. That is to say, current students who are receiving Levels 2 to 4 will not be affected. 11. The proposed changes are subject to agreement of the stakeholders (Faculties, supervisors and students). The Policy Board considered the recommendations last week and was supportive to the changes. Faculties will be consulted and I plan to meet with the student representatives again to further discuss the matter. 12. Lastly, I wish you all every success in your studies.
Professor P.K.H. Tam Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Dean, Graduate School October 17, 2011 Note: The HK Immigration Department has relaxed the employment restriction for non-local students with effect from academic year 2008/09. The relevant notice to students can be viewed at the CEDARS’ website: http://cedars.hku.hk/cedars1/SubCampusLife.aspx?submenu=../VisaMatters/Menu/VisaMatters &cmd=./VisaMatters/VisaPolicy&lkind=11&slt=5 Student visa holders enrolled in a full-time full-degree programme (with duration of one year or more) can take up on campus part-time work of not more than 20 hours per week during term time (i.e. from 1 September to 31 May) provided that they have already obtained a 'No Objection Letter' from the HK Immigration Department when they apply for entry visa or extension of student visa. For more information on the immigration law regarding part-time employment, please refer to the website of the HK Immigration Department: http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/faq_ipoe.htm#e
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