Contents Welcome Message P2 1. Planning Your Arrival P3 1.1 Important Dates 1.2 Things to Bring Along 1.3 Arrival Pick-up Service 1.4 LU Mobile App 2. Arrival and Orientation P7 2.1 Reporting and Hostel Check-in 2.2 Orientation 3. Studying at Lingnan P10 3.1 Course Registration 3.2 Graduation Requirements 3.3 Academic Support Services 4. Facilities and Student Services P15 Facilities 4.1 Student Hostels 4.2 Dining Facilities 4.3 Sports Facilities 4.4 Chaplain’s Office 4.5 Prayer/ Meditation Room Student Services 4.6 Healthcare 4.7 Lingnan Host Family Scheme 4.8 Student Societies/ University Teams 4.9 Student Development Awards 5. Financial Matters P22 5.1 Bank Account, Automated Teller Machine and Credit Card 5.2 Expenses 5.3 Octopus Card 5.4 MTR Student Travel Scheme 6. Living in Hong Kong P24 6.1 Hong Kong Identity Card 6.2 Internship / Part-time job 6.3 Weather and Clothing 6.4 Communication 7. Coping with a New Culture P28 7.1 Culture Shock 7.2 How do I Adjust and Cope with a New Culture 7.3 Tips on Adjustment from Senior Non-local Degree-seeking Students 8. Appendices P33 Appendix 1 Contacts of University Units/ Campus Facilities Appendix 2 Useful Contacts in Hong Kong Appendix 3.1 Transportation from Shen Zhen Airport / Lo Wu Railway Station to Lingnan University Appendix 3.2 Transportation from Hong Kong International Airport to Lingnan University Appendix 4 Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Route Map Appendix 5 Campus Map P1 Welcome Message Welcome Message Welcome Dear Student, Welcome to Lingnan – one of the top liberal arts universities in Asia! On behalf of the Student Services Centre, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to you! It may be challenging to start a brand new chapter of your life in a new environment without the physical presence of family, friends and all the other things you are familiar with. However, it is a big step to make your life different from the others. Lingnan University will be your new ‘HOME’. Our campus is full of love, care and joy. You will enjoy the close relationship with your professors and classmates and feel the love and care from your new friends all over the world. To help you better prepare your journey to Hong Kong, we have prepared this informative handbook with survival tips and essential information of your study prior to your arrival. Looking forward to greeting you on campus soon! Yours sincerely, Jenny Ko Director of Student Services P2 Planning Your Arrival 1.1 Important Dates At Lingnan University, the academic year consists of two terms, Term 1 and Term 2, each covering approximately 15 weeks of academic activities. Term 1 <3 Sep - 21 Dec 2018> 14 – 15 Aug 2018 Arrival Pick-up Services 16 ,17 & 20 Aug Welcome Lunch cum Kick-off of Lingnan Host Family Scheme, Orientation Talks and Briefings for Non-local Students 20 Aug; 30 Aug – 8 Sep* Course Registration; Period for Adding/ Dropping Courses 22 – 24 Aug New Student Orientation (NSO) 26 Aug – 30 Aug Hostel Orientation 3 Sep Academic Year 2018-19 begins (TERM 1 CLASSES BEGIN) 10 – 11 Sep Registration for Service-Learning and Research Scheme 11 – 14 Sep Registration for Integrated Learning Programme (ILP) 27 Sep Aquatic Meet 3 Dec TERM 1 CLASSES END 10 – 21 Dec TERM 1 EXAMINATIONS 22 Dec 2018 – 17 Jan 2019 TERM BREAK (Hostels will not close during term break) * You may register your courses on 20 Aug or 30 Aug – 8 Sep after consultation with your academic adviser upon your arrival (Please refer to Page 8 for more details). Term 2 <18 Jan – 24 May 2019> 14 – 24 Jan 2019 Period for Adding/Dropping Courses 18 Jan TERM 2 CLASSES BEGIN 25 – 26 Jan Registration for Service-Learning and Research Scheme 28 – 31 Jan Registration for Integrated Learning Programme (ILP) 21 Feb Sports Day (classes suspended) 2 May TERM 2 CLASSES END 9 – 22 May TERM 2 EXAMINATIONS End of Residential Term (students must move out from hostels by noon; 24 May students may also apply for Summer Residence, application for Summer Residence in April 2019) Further information on academic study: www.LN.edu.hk/reg/ Full version of academic calendar 2018-19: www.ln.edu.hk/reg/info/cal2018.pdf P3 Planning Your Arrival Planning your Arrival Planning your 1.2 Things to Bring Along 1.2.1 Checklist Tickets Air / train ticket Travel document(s) i) Valid Passport/ 中华人民共和国往来港澳通行证 and valid Student visa issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department (the validity of your passport/ entry permit must cover your entire study period in Hong Kong) ii) 2-3 photocopies of your travel document(s) Admission letter Official copy of the admission letter from Lingnan University Photos Several passport size photos Proof document Your residential address in your home country in English (for opening of bank within the past three months (the proof may be a bank account) statement, your driving license with address or utilities bills issued to you) Insurance document Photocopies of your medical and travel insurance documents Money Cash (at least around HK$4,500 - 5,000 for the first month) / Credit card(s) / Traveller’s cheques Clothing and Suitable clothing for Hong Kong climate, formal wear/ your Personal items national costume for formal occasions or special events, prescribed medicine and medical history (if any), Laptop (if necessary) This Handbook 1.2.2 Beddings You may bring your own linen set, OR purchase a full linen set (include a pillow, a pillow case, a bed sheet and a blanket) from the Student Services Centre (SSC) by completing and sending to us the Linen Set Order Form (will be sent to you by e-mail in late July), OR buy on your own a new set in the neighbourhood areas of the university upon your arrival. 1.2.3 Adaptors The voltage in Hong Kong is 220V / 50Hz. If your electrical device does not accept 220V / 50Hz, you may bring along a universal plug adaptor or buy one after arrival in any convenient stores, supermarkets or electrical stores in Hong Kong. The plugs used in Hong Kong are the UK-style, with three rectangular prongs. P4 Planning Your Arrival 1.3 Arrival Pick-up Service 1.3.1 Date of Arrival Pick-up Service You are suggested to arrive on either 14 or 15 August. The University will provide Arrival Pick-up Service on both dates. Our senior non-local students will receive you at the Hong Kong International Airport / railway stations. They will accompany you to the University and assist you to complete the reporting and hostel check-in procedures. To use our arrival pick-up, you must provide your arrival information by completing the Arrival Information Sheet (will be sent to you by email in late July). 1.3.2 Travelling to Lingnan University by Public Transportation If you wish to make your own way to Lingnan University, you can get the transportation information in Appendices 3.1 and 3.2. Please also inform us your arrival date by completing the Arrival Information Sheet (will be sent to you by email in late July), therefore, we can make the reception arrangement for you (i.e. hostel check-in) accordingly. i) Transportation from Shenzhen Airport / Lo Wu Railway Station to Lingnan University (Chinese Version, please see Appendix 3.1) ii) Transportation from Hong Kong International Airport to Lingnan University (English Version, please see Appendix 3.2) More public transportation options from the airport: www.hongkongairport.com/en/transport/to-from-airport/ Other information about Hong Kong Public Transportation: Octopus Card: www.octopus.com.hk/en/consumer/index.html Transport Department : www.td.gov.hk/en/home/index.html MTR: www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/main/index.html Buses: Kowloon Motor Bus www.kmb.hk/en/ City Bus www.nwstbus.com.hk/home/ Lung Win Bus www1.lwb.hk/en/ Enquiries: Ms Joey Leung of SSC Tel: (852) 2616 7302 / Email: [email protected] P5 Planning Your Arrival Planning your Arrival Planning your 1.4 LU Mobile App You are very welcome to learn more about Lingnan by downloading the LU Mobile App prior to your arrival. To download the LU Mobile app, please follow the steps below. For more information, http://www.ln.edu.hk/itsc/services/mobile Search: LUMobile Others - APK files for downloading Select “Guests (you can change to “Students” after reporting to the University in August.) P6 Arrival and Orientation 2.1 Reporting and Hostel Check-in Please (1) report to the Registry; (2) check in your hostel room when arriving and (3) read carefully the welcome pack in your hostel room. All the useful information such as orientation schedule and campus maps are available inside the welcome pack. Steps of Reporting and Hostel Check-in If You Arrive During Office Hours (9:00am – 12:30pm and 1:30pm – 5:30pm on Monday to Friday) Step 1: Report to the Registry - Go to the Registry - Present the official copy of the Letter of Admission 2018-19 and passport with valid student visa to the Registry - Present all the required original copy of the documents to the Registry to substantiate your qualifications/ achievements - The Registry will take photo for you for issuing your Student ID Card Step 2: Hostel check-in - Go to your assigned hostel block (announced through e-mail in early August) - Go to the security counter at the G/F of your hostel block, present official copy of the admission letter and printed copy of hostel allocation email with hostel room number (to be sent to you in early August) to the security guard - Get your room key/ keycard and collect your bedding set (if applicable, see page 3) Enquiries: Ms Joey Leung of SSC (Tel: 2616 7302 / Email: [email protected] ).