Program Overview

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Introduction to the Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies is a comprehensive program that considers religion as an integral part of human life, thought, and activity. It advocates for an objective and academic approach to the study of religious phenomena and a critical yet sympathetic understanding of people's religious life.

Characteristics of the Programme

• The program offers courses in five areas: Approaches to Religious Studies, Religious Traditions and Classics, Religion, Culture and Society, Classical Languages, and Seminars.
• To facilitate the development of various study interests of students, the program offers three areas of concentration: "Religion and Culture", "Religious Education", "Arabic Studies", and "Religion and Health".
• Particular attention is paid to interdisciplinary studies, including the Psychology of Religion, the Sociology of Religion, the Philosophy of Religion, Religion and Ethics, Religion and Education, and Religion and Literature.
• The program requires students to conduct fieldwork, research, and study to gain a greater understanding of the daily religious rituals of people in their own society and in the region.
• The program provides internship opportunities for undergraduate students to integrate religious theory and application and to provide students with on-site experience.

Learning Guidelines

Programme Information

• Programme information, such as Study Scheme, Course List, Learning Outcomes, Teaching Timetable, and Course Outlines, are available for download.

Term Dates and Add/Drop Periods

• Students can only enroll and withdraw courses during Add/Drop Periods.
• Term 1: 1 September 2025 (Mon) – 29 November 2025 (Sat), Add/Drop: 8 September 2025 (Mon) – 14 September 2025 (Sun).
• Term 2: 5 January 2026 (Mon) – 18 April 2026 (Thu), Add/Drop: 12 January 2026 (Mon) – 18 January 2026 (Sun).

Academic Honesty – VeriGuide

• The University places high importance on honesty in academic work.
• All assignments should be submitted to VeriGuide for checking and accompanied by a signed declaration statement when handing in to teachers.

Extra-curricular Activities

• The Programme regularly organizes lectures, workshops, conferences, and tours to enhance students’ learning and to broaden their perspectives.
• Students are expected to actively engage in these activities.

Curriculum Design

• The normative period of study is four years, and students have to complete 123 units and satisfy requirements under separate categories.
• The overall curriculum structure is as follows:
  • Categories | Units
    • Major (including Faculty Package) | 66
    • Chinese language | 5
    • English language | 8
    • General Education | University GE: Foundation Courses (6 units) | 19
    • University GE: Four Areas (7 units)
    • College GE (6 units)
    • Understanding China | 1
    • Hong Kong in the Wider Constitutional Order | 1
    • Digital Literacy and Computational Thinking | 3
    • Physical Education | 2
    • Free electives | remaining units (18)
  • Total: | 123

Support and Counselling Services

• Under the “Academic Advisory System”, each student is assigned a teaching staff as their Level I Advisor who provides general support.
• Students who are in greater need will be further taken care of by Level II Advisors who provide more individualized and in-depth support.
• Students who would like to receive emotional/psychological support or counselling service can approach the Programme Coordinator.

Maximum Course Load

• A student shall take no more than 18 units of courses in a term except with prior permission of their Major Department.
• No student shall be allowed to take more than 21 units in any term.

Academic Probation and Discontinuation of Studies

• Academic Probation: A student shall be put on academic probation if they fail to comply with the requirements as stipulated on the University Undergraduate Student Handbook.
• Discontinuation Studies:
  1. A student shall be required to discontinue their studies at the University if they fail to comply with the requirements as stipulated on the University Undergraduate Student Handbook.
  2. If a student obtains a grade point average below 1.0 or fails in more than half of the units of course taken in a term but wishes to continue, they must write to the Programme Chairman of the Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and obtain permission from the Department to continue their studies.

Useful Platforms

Student Handbook

• The Student Handbook is available at the RES website.

Campus-Wide Email

• The Department, RES, and other units of the University will send announcements and notices to students via the @Link, an email service under CUHK Microsoft O365.

MyCUHK and CUSIS

• Students can access different information related to the University and study via MyCUHK.
• Students can update their contact information, perform course registration, view academic results, and other study-related matters via CUSIS.

CU eLearning System

• Students may download course materials and conduct online discussions of each course via the CU eLearning System – Blackboard Learn.

Useful Links

University Almanac

• Term dates and holidays are available at the University Almanac.

Campus Map

• The campus map is available for students to navigate the university.

Classroom Location & Building Abbreviations

• Classroom locations and building abbreviations are available for students to find their classrooms.

Office of Student Affairs

• The Office of Student Affairs provides support and services to students.

General Arrangement for Typhoons and Black Rainstorm Signal

• The general arrangement for typhoons and black rainstorm signals is available for students to know the university's policies during these events.