Frequently Asked Questions –
Application for TPG programmes
Q: Is there any specific requirements for the classification of Honours, CGPA or major subject for the Bachelor’s degree?
A: No, the basic requirements are obtaining a Bachelor’s degree and satisfying the English Language requirement. Our Department will consider qualified applicants on a merit-based basis. Many aspects shall be considered when our panel review an application, including but not limited to the followings: relevance of background (qualification and/or working experience), academic standing, quality of personal statement, language ability and referees' reports, etc.
Q: Can I apply for admission if I am still in my last year of study?
A: You do not need to have graduated from your Bachelor's degree programme at the time of application. However, you must obtain a Bachelor's degree on or before August 31 of your admission year.
Q: Do you accept TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS indicator, IELTS One Skill Retake or IELTS for UKVI (Academic)?
A: Yes to IELTS UKVI (Academic), as it is basically the same test as IELTS (Academic). The only different is UKVI test has an additional score - CEFT Level at the Test Results field and this score is for UK Visas and Immigration purposes.
However, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS indicator and IELTS One Skill Retake tests are not sufficient to meet the English Language requirement. They could be taken as reference only and a waiver should be granted by the University. You are strongly advised to take an official examination of TOEFL or IELTS instead in this regard.
Q: How long is the validity period for IELTS and TOEFL results?
A: The validity period of IELTS and TOEFL results is two years, starting from the date of issue of the test result until the receiving date of the application form.
Q: If the medium of instruction for my degree is in English, do I still need to take the English Proficiency test?
A: You are not required to take the English proficiency test if you obtained a master's/bachelor's degree from an institution where the medium of instruction was English.
Q: Is there any required format and/or content for the personal statement?
A: There is no specific requirement on the format and/or content as it is purely something “personal”. The only requirement for the personal statement is 500max. word limit and to type it when you fill in the online application form. Any personal statement uploaded onto the TOLA Add-on system later as a supporting document, which is not filled on the application form, may not be reviewed.
Q: Do I need to send the supporting documents to your office by post or by email?
A: Please do not send us any supporting documents at the initial stage of application. Kindly upload all the supporting documents onto your TOLA Add-on system. You will be asked to provide the official copies of the documents only after you were given an offer.
Q: My referee does not have a university/organizational/company email account, can you consider personal email address exceptionally for my referee?
A: You are advised to invite another referee who owns an official email account. The requirement of accepting E-reference only from official university/company email addresses has been clearly stated in the instruction document, which you should have read it before submitting your application, and has also been remarked on the application form. As applications for our programmes are highly competitive, to maintain fairness among all applicants, no exceptions shall be entertained.
If you insist inviting a referee with a personal email address, you may try asking your referee to upload his/her business name card or any other proof of identification when he/she is completing the E-reference. However, please note that any E-reference with personal email address may not be reviewed and it is your decision of what reference to be included and how to strengthen your application.
Q: Can my referee directly send you the reference letter, instead of completing the E-reference?
A: Only E-reference completed through the online system shall be accepted. Any reference letter sent to us by any other means, e.g. by email or by post, will not be considered.
Q: My referee did not receive the invitation for filling in the e-reference. Can you resend the invitation for me?
A: The invitation shall be sent to the referees by the online system within 48 hours after the application is submitted. Applicants should be able to check the reference status and resend invitation by logging into your TOLA Add-on account. You are also advised to remind your referee to check the “spam/junk box” of his/her email account.
If your referee still cannot receive the invitation after you have resent it a few times, please ask your referee to write us an email from his/her official email address explaining the situation along with your full name and application number (not sending us any reference letter via email). We will send him/her the direct link to the E-reference system by replying his/her email.
Q: I have submitted an application for a long time but did not receive any updates on my application status. When will the admission result be released? Are you admitting on a first-come-first serve basis or on a rolling basis?
A: All the applications will be reviewed by our panel, and the shortlisted candidates will receive an update and/or invitation to interview within one month, after the application deadline.