# Tips for students facing the possibility of discontinuation
**Source**: https://aas.hku.hk/discon/
**Parent**: https://aas.hku.hk/apply-scholarships/
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**What should I do when facing the possibility of discontinuation?**\
- Take initiative to seek help and advice from your adviser
- Tell them your worries and concerns
- Explore with your advisers adaptive ways to take care of themselves during this difficult time
- Think about other study options and weigh the pros/cons with them
- Take constructive actions and appropriate compensatory measures, instead of avoiding
- Do remember that your health and wellbeing are very crucial. Reach out to the counsellor at [CEDARS-CoPE](https://www.cedars.hku.hk/cope/cps/appointment "Click here to make an appointment with counsellor in CEDARS-CoPE"), when you feel hopeless, depressed or even suicidal.
- Last but not least, remember “One door closes, another opens!”
**What should I do when facing the possibility of discontinuation?**\
- Take initiative to seek help and advice from your adviser
- Tell them your worries and concerns
- Explore with your advisers adaptive ways to take care of themselves during this difficult time
- Think about other study options and weigh the pros/cons with them
- Take constructive actions and appropriate compensatory measures, instead of avoiding
- Do remember that your health and wellbeing are very crucial. Reach out to the counsellor at [CEDARS-CoPE](https://www.cedars.hku.hk/cope/cps/appointment "Click here to make an appointment with counsellor in CEDARS-CoPE"), when you feel hopeless, depressed or even suicidal.
- Last but not least, remember “One door closes, another opens!”
**Invited to review meeting with the Faculty Review Committee \
on Student Performance and Discontinuation (FRC)\
\
After being requested to attend FRC:**\
- Arrange meeting with your Faculty Academic Adviser to seek prompt advice
- Be open and share your thoughts with your adviser
- Self-reflect / evaluate on your situation, look into the possible/real causes of your study problems and how the issues might be interrelated
- Develop an action plan with the adviser to address your issues and study difficulties (you may make reference to our “[back on track](https://aas.hku.hk/wp-content/resources/pdf/onlinekit/item_14_file a_back_on_track.pdf "Click here to download the 'back on track' worksheet")” worksheet)
- Make use of university learning support and community resources (e.g. counselling, financial aids, language support, etc.) if needed
- Prepare the supporting documents for submission (e.g. medical certificate, support letter(s))
- Submit personal statement, study plan and other relevant documentations **ON TIME**, attend the meeting in person and pay attention to your email inbox so that you can respond to the email communications from Faculty/Department promptly
**Invited to review meeting with the Faculty Review Committee \
on Student Performance and Discontinuation (FRC)\
\
After being requested to \
attend FRC:**\
- Arrange meeting with your Faculty Academic Adviser to seek prompt advice
- Be open and share your thoughts with your adviser
- Self-reflect / evaluate on your situation, look into the possible/real causes of your study problems and how the issues might be interrelated
- Develop an action plan with the adviser to address your issues and study difficulties (you may make reference to our “[back on track](https://aas.hku.hk/wp-content/resources/pdf/onlinekit/item_14_file a_back_on_track.pdf "Click here to download the 'back on track' worksheet")” worksheet)
- Make use of university learning support and community resources (e.g. counselling, financial aids, language support, etc.) if needed
- Prepare the supporting documents for submission (e.g. medical certificate, support letter(s))
- Submit personal statement, study plan and other relevant documentations **ON TIME**, attend the meeting in person and pay attention to your email inbox so that you can respond to the email communications from Faculty/Department promptly
**Recommended to continue to study\
\
Work hard to improve your academic performance:**\
- Define short term/long term goals
- Set deadlines/milestones to reach the goal
- Arrange a regular advising meeting schedule with your adviser for periodical monitoring/reporting of your academic progress
- Fine-tune your [study plan](https://aas.hku.hk/e-planner/ "click here to get more details about study plan"), if needed, after regular reviews with FAA to reach the goals
**Recommended to continue to study\
\
Work hard to improve your academic performance:**\
- Define short term/long term goals
- Set deadlines/milestones to reach the goal
- Arrange a regular advising meeting schedule with your adviser for periodical monitoring/reporting of your academic progress
- Fine-tune your [study plan](https://aas.hku.hk/e-planner/ "click here to get more details about study plan"), if needed, after regular reviews with FAA to reach the goals
**Case presented to the Committee of Discontinuation (CoD)\
(Option 1)\
\
Voluntary withdrawal**
\
**Procedures for withdrawal:**\
- A student who wants to withdraw from the University officially must complete the “Withdrawal of Study Form” which can be downloaded from [http://www.ase.hku.hk/](http://www.ase.hku.hk/ "click here to download the 'Withdrawal of Study Form'") (under the last Section of “Guidelines and Forms”) and return the completed form to the student’s home Faculty Office.
- Upon withdrawal from the University, you are required to surrender the Student Registration Card to your Faculty Office.
- Transcript will show voluntary withdrawal from studies, without specifying the reasons behind such as unsatisfactory performance or recommendation for discontinuation
- Easier (compare to the case of discontinuation) to gain admission or apply for transfer of credits earned at HKU to another university
- Eligible for application for readmission to the same curriculum at HKU in future, which is not allowed for students who are discontinued from their studies
- Forgo the chance of being allowed to continue your study by CoD
**Case presented to the Committee of Discontinuation (CoD)\
(Option 1)\
\
Voluntary withdrawal**
\
**Procedures for withdrawal:**\
- A student who wants to withdraw from the University officially must complete the “Withdrawal of Study Form” which can be downloaded from [http://www.ase.hku.hk/](http://www.ase.hku.hk/ "click here to download the 'Withdrawal of Study Form'") (under the last Section of “Guidelines and Forms”) and return the completed form to the student’s home Faculty Office.
- Upon withdrawal from the University, you are required to surrender the Student Registration Card to your Faculty Office.
- Transcript will show voluntary withdrawal from studies, without specifying the reasons behind such as unsatisfactory performance or recommendation for discontinuation
- Easier (compare to the case of discontinuation) to gain admission or apply for transfer of credits earned at HKU to another university
- Eligible for application for readmission to the same curriculum at HKU in future, which is not allowed for students who are discontinued from their studies
- Forgo the chance of being allowed to continue your study by CoD
**Case presented to the Committee of Discontinuation (CoD)\
(Option 2)\
\
Attend the meeting with CoD**
\
**Get prepared for the meeting:**\
- Discuss with the adviser on the feedback from the FRC (if available); Self-evaluate on what could be done better
- Provide new/additional information to address the possible concerns raised in FRC and improve your action/study plan
- Fill in the provided form and prepare all the information you wish the CoD to consider timely, allow ample time for your adviser to comment and submit to the CoD Secretary on time (no further information can be considered by CoD after it has made the final decision)
- One more opportunity to explain your case
- Might have a chance to continue studies in HKU
- Transcript will show clearly the status of discontinuation of studies if the COD make such a final decision
**Case presented to the Committee of Discontinuation (CoD)\
(Option 2)\
\
Attend the meeting with CoD**
\
**Get prepared for the meeting:**\
- Discuss with the adviser on the feedback from the FRC (if available); Self-evaluate on what could be done better
- Provide new/additional information to address the possible concerns raised in FRC and improve your action/study plan
- Fill in the provided form and prepare all the information you wish the CoD to consider timely, allow ample time for your adviser to comment and submit to the CoD Secretary on time (no further information can be considered by CoD after it has made the final decision)
- One more opportunity to explain your case
- Might have a chance to continue studies in HKU
- Transcript will show clearly the status of discontinuation of studies if the COD make such a final decision
**Hard to decide?\
\
If you find it hard to decide, you may consider:**\
- Checking on the alternative study opportunities in Hong Kong or overseas e.g. Admission website to UG programme (and the chance of getting advance standing), associate degree or higher diploma programme with top-up options, technical certificate
- Seeking advice from teachers, family members and mentors
- Discussing different study options with [AASO Adviser](https://ugaa.hku.hk/aao/ "Click here to make an appointment with AASO Adviser")
- Meeting [careers advisers](https://w2.cedars.hku.hk/c/careers_booking/index.php "Click here to make an appointment with careers advisers") at CEDARS for employment information
- Seeking professional counselling service at [CEDARS-CoPE](https://www.cedars.hku.hk/cope/cps/appointment "Click here to make an appointment with counsellor in CEDARS-CoPE") if necessary
**Hard to decide?\
\
If you find it hard to decide, you may consider:**\
- Checking on the alternative study opportunities in Hong Kong or overseas e.g. Admission website to UG programme (and the chance of getting advance standing), associate degree or higher diploma programme with top-up options, technical certificate
- Seeking advice from teachers, family members and mentors
- Discussing different study options with [AASO Adviser](https://ugaa.hku.hk/aao/ "Click here to make an appointment with AASO Adviser")
- Meeting [careers advisers](https://w2.cedars.hku.hk/c/careers_booking/index.php "Click here to make an appointment with careers advisers") at CEDARS for employment information
- Seeking professional counselling service at [CEDARS-CoPE](https://www.cedars.hku.hk/cope/cps/appointment "Click here to make an appointment with counsellor in CEDARS-CoPE") if necessary
**Continue to Study\
\
It is very critical for you to get back and stay on track:**\
- Make extra and sustained efforts to turn around your academic performance
- Define short term/long term goals
- Set deadlines/milestones to reach the goal
- Arrange a regular advising meeting schedule with your adviser for periodical monitoring/reporting academic progress
- Fine-tune your [study plan](https://aas.hku.hk/e-planner/ "click here to get more details about study plan"), if needed, after regular reviews with FAA to reach the goals
**Continue to Study\
\
It is very critical for you to get back and stay on track:**\
- Make extra and sustained efforts to turn around your academic performance
- Define short term/long term goals
- Set deadlines/milestones to reach the goal
- Arrange a regular advising meeting schedule with your adviser for periodical monitoring/reporting academic progress
- Fine-tune your [study plan](https://aas.hku.hk/e-planner/ "click here to get more details about study plan"), if needed, after regular reviews with FAA to reach the goals
**Final Decision and No Appeal\
\
It’s the final decision and no appeal is allowed.\
\
What will happen next:**\
- Faculty will inform you about necessary procedures (e.g. return of student card)
- Other service units (e.g. Library, UHS, CSE), upon notification from Faculties, will decide by themselves when to stop you from using their services.
- Residential halls, upon notification from CEDARS, will ask you to leave within a short time decided by the Warden. Overseas students may approach their Warden if they need more time to move out.
If necessary, you may approach:
- [AASO for academic advice](https://ugaa.hku.hk/aao/ "Click here to make an appointment with AASO Adviser") on other study options outside HKU
- [CEDARS-CoPE](https://www.cedars.hku.hk/cope/cps/appointment "Click here to make an appointment with counsellor in CEDARS-CoPE") for counselling / emotional support
**Final Decision and No Appeal\
\
It’s the final decision and \
no appeal is allowed.\
\
What will happen next:**\
- Faculty will inform you about necessary procedures (e.g. return of student card)
- Other service units (e.g. Library, UHS, CSE), upon notification from Faculties, will decide by themselves when to stop you from using their services.
- Residential halls, upon notification from CEDARS, will ask you to leave within a short time decided by the Warden. Overseas students may approach their Warden if they need more time to move out.
If necessary, you may approach:
- [AASO for academic advice](https://ugaa.hku.hk/aao/ "Click here to make an appointment with AASO Adviser") on other study options outside HKU
- [CEDARS-CoPE](https://www.cedars.hku.hk/cope/cps/appointment "Click here to make an appointment with counsellor in CEDARS-CoPE") for counselling / emotional support
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