Professional in demand globally


Higher Diploma in Artificial Intelligence and Information and Communication Technology


Programme (taught in English) 2-year full-time or 3-year part-time higher diploma programme
with computing, IT, multimedia, AI and their applications with Catholic values
taught by caring staff with diverse expertise and passion
Career Graduates are currently in great demand and have many job options
Further study Graduates may articulate to either BSc(Hons)AI or BSc(Hons)DET degree programme with perfect match in curriculum to bridge to Year 3.
Local admission: Year 1 entry Minimum 2222A (English, Chinese, Citizenship and Social Development and 2 other subjects) in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE); (or an equivalent qualification) more
Local student finance Apply directly through online application. more
International student Non-Chinese speaking international student may have Chinese courses substituted by other courses. more,hostels
Why at SFU?


Higher diploma in AI and ICT
with Catholic values
is taught by caring staff with diverse expertise and passion,
with 2 IEEE Fellows,
PhD from:
Imperial College London, Maryland, HKU, CUHK, TsingHua, Waterloo,
IT industry experience in
ATT Bell Labs, Huawei USA, IETF standards, 5G Wireless.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information and Communication Technology, etc.
are useful to many professions
with many job options
in a rewarding career.
Why Catholic values in science and technology?


The gifts of human intelligence have enabled many innovations and tools in IT, AI, and design that continues to improve and affect human lives tremendously. Yet these powerful tools may also be misused such as in addiction, in pornography, in the culture of death, and in fierce competitions to prosper at the expense of defeating others. Authentic Catholic teaching encourages to live out Christian faith of love, care and helping each other in the use of high-tech in one's profession in life in serving other people and the common good of the society.

Dean's Message


Professor H. Anthony CHAN, IEEE Fellow

Both BSc (Honors) in Artificial Intelligence and BSc (Honors) in Digital Entertainment Technology are in fast growth areas with many jobs and career options. Students will be equipped with fundamentals in computing and information science, and will learn AI or design from basic concepts, technologies, and applications in many fields. The expertise of our staff spans diverse and important areas including machine learning, deep learning, digital entertainment, multimedia, data science, design, Internet, communication network, standards, and ICT industry. Being active in research in these areas, our staff pay attention to ease of understanding and care for students in teaching.

Computing and information technologies are the enables to become a professional to innovate, create and design new and more useful products and services to improve daily life. New technologies in artificial intelligence, multimedia, virtual reality, and cloud have arisen, and newer technologies will continue to emerge. It is interesting to acquire and appreciate such new knowledge with opportunities to innovate as such a professional in demand globally.

I have enjoyed such an exciting career myself, having worked in both industry and academia overseas and having changed area of expertise multiple times as needs in industry changes. I intend to nurture students with understanding of the industry and with capability to take up new challenges to contribute to the society professionally and ethically.

My motto: I do not possess anything; all I have is only borrowed from God so that I may serve others.

Program Objectives


The program aims to nurture students:

  1. To command a comprehensive and sound foundation in AI and ICT in both theory and applications;
  2. To apply the knowledge and skills of AI and ICT to design, plan, develop and solve problems;
  3. To make logical, technical and ethical judgment and decisions with competence in taking professional roles in AI and ICT;
  4. To command competence in generic skills including communication skills in English and Chinese for both professional and routine operations pertaining to AI and ICT;
  5. To exercise competence, professionalism and interpersonal skills to communicate and collaborate with team members and customers; and
  6. To exercise knowledge and capability in life values and in society.
Special Features of the Programme


Equip students with both ICT and AI skills to align with the trend in the growing job market.

Give plenty of hands-on practices to enhance the learning experience.

Provide a variety of elective courses in different areas of ICT, as the trend of ICT/AI professionals is not only in purely ICT/AI but also in the knowledge of different disciplines of applications.

Program Learning Outcomes


Upon successful completion of the Program, students should be able to:

  1. Identify problems in different disciplines and apply the knowledge of AI and ICT to solve these problems;
  2. Design and develop appropriate software solutions and applications in web, network, and AI;
  3. Demonstrate the responsible and ethical behavior at the entry level of the information technology (IT) professional hierarchy;
  4. Demonstrate the skills to work effectively in a team;
  5. Communicate effectively with specialists as well as end-users in English and Chinese; and,
  6. Develop a broader perspective on life and society.
Career Prospects


The higher diploma in AI and ICT programme with the up-to-date and essential discipline-based courses (including AI, data analysis, cloud, web development, networking and programming) plus the flexibility to choose from varied additional courses, will enhance career readiness of students in the fast-developing AI age when jobs in the computer science sector are increasingly expected to be well-trained in multidisciplinary applications. On completion of the Programme, graduates will be competent to purse a broad range of jobs including programmer, web page developer, database developer and system analyst.

  1. Software development: Average Python developer salary in the USA is US$120,000 per year. All students in Year 1 begin learning Python, which is relatively much easier to learn and is yet the most popular computing language in the global job market.
  2. Artificial intelligence and machine learning: As ICT development professionals using AI are increasingly in demand, the HDAI-ICT graduates will indeed be in demand in the job market.

Graduates, having met the minimum GPA requirement of 2.0, are also prepared for further studies, such as our BScDET and BScAI programmes offered by the School.

  1. Top-up to BSc(Hons)AI: Students wishing to articulate to Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Artificial Intelligence are guided by one's advisor in a study plan with good match to the first 2 years of the BSc(Hons.)AI programme to enable smooth transition to the degree programme upon completion of the Higher Diploma.
  2. Top-up to BSc(Hons)DET: Students wishing to articulate to Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Digital Entertainment Technology are guided by one's advisor in a study plan with good match to the first 2 years of the BSc(Hons.)DET programme to enable smooth transition to the degree programme upon completion of the Higher Diploma.
Local students


Applicants having completed middle school / high school / 12th grade

Year 1 Entry admission requirements

For admission to Year 1 of the Programme, applicants must satisfy one of the following admission requirements:

  • have obtained Level 2 in five subjects (including Chinese Language and English Language) in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE); or
  • have completed Diploma Yi Jin; or
  • have completed a Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) Level 3 programme that is approved by the Institute; or
  • Mature applicant aged 21 or above on 1 September of the year when admission is sought, with relevant working experience and academic background; or
  • have obtained an equivalent qualification.
  • Remark:

    #1. As specified in the letter of the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) dated 12 July 2017, the maximum number of non-standard admission (including mature aged students) for local degree programs is capped at the maximum of 5% of the actual number of Year 1 new students of the year. The cap is applied in line with the general expectation on self-financed degree-awarding institutions in safeguarding teaching and learning quality and thereby upholding the creditability and recognition of the qualifications.

    Apply for Admission (local students)


    Direct Application for Year 1 Entry

    To seek admission to the Program, applicants should apply via online application.

    Interview Arrangements


    Shortlisted local applicants will be invited to attend an admission interview. Applicants are requested to bring the following when attending the interview:

    Tuition Fee


    Local Student

    The total tuition fee for the 2022-23 intake of the 2-year HDAI-ICT (or BScAI) programme is HK$112,000.

    With entrance scholarship, the net fees for full-time student are reduced to:
    Year 1: $56,000
    Year 2: $36,000
    Total over 2 years: $92,000

    With academic achievement scholarship, the net fees for full-time student are reduced to:
    Year 1: $56,000
    Year 2: $16,000
    Total over 2 years: $72,000

    With entrance scholarship, the net fees for part-time student are reduced to:
    Year 1: $37,330
    Year 2: $7,330
    Year 3: $37,340
    Total over 3 years: $82,000

    With academic achievement scholarship, the net fees for part-time student are reduced to:
    Year 1: $37,330
    Year 2: $(2,670)
    Year 3: $37,340
    Total over 3 years: $72,000

    Apply for admission (International students)


    International students may apply: All courses in HDAI-ICT are taught in English, where Chinese language courses may be replaced by other courses for non-English speaking students.

    Admission requirements for international students


    The equivalent qualification to meet the admission requirements for local studentsis generally the successful completion of high school education in a 12-grade school system. It will include basic STEM courses and sufficient preparation in English proficiency to enable study in this degree program with lectures taught in English. Performance based on school transcript will be evaluated individually. Non-English speaking international students may be exempted from Chinese language study.

    Non-local student tuition fee


    The annual non-local student tuition fee for the 2022-23 intake of the 2-year HDAI-ICT (or HDAI-ICT) programme is HK$96,310. (Exchange rate: HK$7.8 = US$1)

    Hostels

    Enquiries


    School of Computing and Information Sciences:

    Office Telephone: (852) 3702 4211

    WhatsApp: (852) 5269 3846

    Email: cis-info@sfu.edu.hk

    WeChat ID: wxid_ohv675ayadso52

    Public Affairs Office:

    Office Telephone: (852) 3702 4388

    Email: pao@sfu.edu.hk

    Campus Address:

    2 Chui Ling Lane, Tseung Kwan O, N.T. (Exit B, Tiu Keng Leng MTR Station)

    Programme Structure


    Curriculum


    Year 1

    Program Core course - IT

    Program Core course - Maths

    Program Elective course

    Language and Communication course

    Interdisciplinary Elective course

    General Education Course

    Year 2

    Program Core course - IT

    Program Core course - Maths

    Programme Elective Course

    Language and Communication course

    General Education course

    List of Interdisciplinary Electives

    List of Program Electives

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    Internship


    Students are highly encouraged to take the Internship course to gain industry experiences.

    Industry parters are offering Internship to our students and are also hiring from our graduates.

    Partial list of our industry partners are:

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    Frequently Asked Questions on HDAI-ICT


    Job market

    What is the job prospect of HDAI-ICT students? Which industry can I work in?

    Programmer, Software/Web/App/Developer, Data Analyst.


    Admission

    If I do not meet the basic admission requirements, will I still be enable to study this higher diploma programme?

    Students could study the Diploma in Foundation Studies of Higher Education and be admitted to HDAI-ICT programme when they graduate from the diploma.


    Do I have a higher chance of admission in the HDAI-ICT programme if I have studied ICT? Does ICT have a higher weighting than other electives e.g. Economy?

    In the selection process, the applicant's scores in two elective subjects in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination will be considered as additional scores. Although prior study in ICT may help, other factors such as interview, motivation and interests of the applicant are also considered.


    Would some subjects of the HDAI-ICT be exempted if I have studied some related subjects in the Diploma?

    We can only exempt subjects that have QF level 4 or above.


    Will there be interview after the annoucement of JUPAS result?

    Yes. If students are interested in our programme, welcome to give us a call or whatsapp to 52693846, so we can arrange special interview.


    I have already complete a Diploma Yi Jin or IVE, can I apply for HDAI-ICT?

    One who has already complete Diploma Yi Jin may apply for HDAI-ICT.


    About study

    Does the school help the BASI students buy the expensive professional softwares for their personal use?

    The school has established AI laboratory and installed the needed software. Students may use the lab facilities without having to buy their own.


    Would it be difficult to understand the contents if I have never studied and contacted any related topics or knowledge?

    No. When we design the programme, we do not require that the students have studied any related topics or knowledge.


    Can I study other courses other than the courses of HDAI-ICT if I have interest in other industries?

    AI is already applied in almost every other field. Students will choose 2 interdisciplinary subjects in the first two year. Then for the students who bridge to BSc(Hon.)AI programme, they choose 2 application areas in the fourth year to apply AI to those areas such as finance, translation, healthcare, education, and engineering.


    Does the school provide any supports for the HDAI-ICT students if they have the opportunity to join the Hong Kong or international competitions?

    Our institute has budget to support students' competitions.


    Do HDAI-ICT students have internship opputurnities in technological or digital companies?

    For students who bridge to BScAI or BScDET in Year 3, we encourage students to intern at Year 3 summer. Our school also has connections with various IT and digital entertainment companies, and will recommend students to intern at these companies.


    About fees

    Is there any scholarship programme for the HDAI-ICT students?

    If the new students score 13 points in the best five subjects in the DSE, they can also receive an admission scholarship of $30,000.


    About the CIS School

    What are the qualifications of the academic staff of the HDAI-ICT programme?

    The teaching faculty is composed of both local and international experts in AI, ICT, and 5G, including some staff with rich industry experience and Fellows of IEEE.


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