Cultural & Language Immersion Scheme (CALIS)

About the Scheme

CALIS is a 4-week summer study programme that takes place in the UK, with an objective to improve students’ English proficiency through immersion in the British culture and classroom learning. Cultural immersion comprises a variety of activities including homestay at a local family, community services, sports and music, weekend excursions and sightseeing.

CALIS welcomes all non-final year full time students of the College of Engineering. Information sessions are normally held in late November of each year. Interested students are invited to visit this webpage regularly for update.

Work Schedule

Dates	Work description	Remarks
	Briefing sessions: 12 Nov 2018 1100 LT-7 15 Nov 2018 1100 B4302 16 Nov 2018 1400 LT-11	Contents of all briefing sessions are the same.
28 Dec 2018 (5:00 PM)	Application deadline	Hardcopy to dropbox at Room 4A, 4/F Block 1, To Yuen Building
Week1-2, Sem B	Interview	Departments and interview panels have full discretion with regard to the interview arrangement and student assessment / nomination.
Week 3	Announcement of results
Week 5	Payment of airfare	Airfare: ~$10,000
Week 7	First meeting	Compulsory: Exact date to be confirmed
Week 8	Payment of caution money	Caution money: $8,000 (to be reimbursed in Sept after successful completion of CALIS)
31 Mar	Submission of project topic	Compulsory
Week 12	Final payment	40% of programme fee LESS airfare
30 Apr	Submission of 2-page summary on project	Compulsory
29 April to 4 May	Final briefing (London group A and B) Pre-departure workshop (London group A and B)	Compulsory
May	Announcement of host family assignment
21 May	Pre-departure workshop (Edinburgh group and Sheffield group with BST)	Compulsory
Late May / June	Final briefing (Edinburgh group and Sheffield group with BST)	Compulsory
22 May 14 Jun 26 Jun 29 Jun	Departure Date (Tentative) London group A Sheffield group London group B Edinburgh group	Group departure is a MUST
24 Jun 15 Jul 29 Jul 29 Jul	Return date (tentative) London group A Sheffield group London group B Edinburgh group	Staying behind is NOT allowed
26 Jun 17 Jul 31 Jul 31 Jul	Final presentation and debriefing (tentative) London group A Sheffield group Edinburgh group London group B	Compulsory

Programme

London (Middlesex University)

Visits: Buckingham Palace, House of Parliament, London Eye, Greenwich, River Thames, Royal Observatory
Weekend trips: Stratford, Oxford, Brighton, Windsor
Sports: Horse riding, cricket, sports day
Evening activities: Musical – Medieval Banquet
Service project for the elderly and school children
Homestay

Edinburgh (Edinburgh Napier University)

Visits: Edinburgh Castle, St Andrews University, City tour, Glengoyne Distillery, Whitelee Windfarm
Weekend trips: Lock Lomond, Stirling Castle
Sports: Rugby, golf, horse riding
Industrial Visits: Distillery, windfarm, manufacturing plant
Service project for the homeless, a joint project with the Salvation Army or Church of Scotland
Homestay

Sheffield (Sheffield Hallam University)

Visits: Sheffield Cathedral, Mayfield Alpaca Animal Park, Peak District
Weekend trips: Newcastle, Edinburgh and London
Sports: Sports day
Industrial visit - Gripple
Service project for the blind and school children
Homestay

The above programme is subject to change.

Application

Eligibility:

All non-final year full-time CENG undergraduates
BST students should apply to their own Department

Application Form: Download

Application Period: Deadline: 5:00 PM, 28 Dec 2018 (Fri)

Please submit the completed application forms to the Drop Box located at

College of Engineering

Room A, 4/F, Block 1, To Yuen Building

Late submission will not be entertained under any circumstances

Interview: Week 1-2, Sem B

Departments and interview panels have full discretion with regard to the interview arrangement and student assessment/nomination. In general, the following criteria will be considered:

basic communication abilities in English to be able to benefit from the program
attitude
initiative
teambuilding abilities
willingness to serve
basic communication abilities in English to be able to benefit from the program

Announcement of Results: Week 3, Sem B

Results will be announced via email

Payment

Programme Fee

The programme fee covers airfare, accommodation, course fee, IELTS examination fee and some of the programme activity expenses. It also covers the meal costs partially. General daily expenses, data plan and local transportation are not included in the programme fee. They are to be borne by students separately.

Caution Money

Students need to pay a caution money of HKD8,000. It is non-transferable and does NOT form any portion of the programme fee. It will be returned to students only after students' successful completion of the programme. Students who withdraw at any time for any reason will NOT get any refund. If additional cost is incurred after full payment, e.g. change in exchange rate or rise of fuel cost, the additional cost will be deducted from the caution money.

The programme activities of CALIS include all the meetings and workshops, the pre-departure briefing, all the scheduled classes and activities in the UK and the post-CALIS debriefing and review meeting. Students are required to attend all the above-mentioned activities. Absent from any activity/class or failure to submit any assignment may result in the forfeiture of the caution money in part or in full.

General Information

Visa application

Students are responsible for obtaining the necessary visas and checking that their passports hold a 6-month expiry period at least when they enter the UK. Cost of visa applications and passport renewals are to be borne by students.

Insurance matters

Students are strongly advised to purchase their own travel insurance. For details of insurance policies offered by CityU, please refer to the webpage of the Finance Office.

Enquiry

Ms Maidie Lo
Tel: 3442 9148
Email: maidie.lo@cityu.edu.hk

Miss Wayne Li
Tel: 3442 7735
Email: wayne.li@cityu.edu.hk