About the Scheme
CALIS is a 4-week summer study tour 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 in the College of Engineering. Interested students should stay alert to the information sessions scheduled in late November and check the webpage regularly for any updates. We look forward to receiving your application in December this year!




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 |
Content 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 returned in Sept after full completion of CALIS) |
31 Mar | Submission of Project Topic | Compulsory |
Week 12 | Final Payment | Students' 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 group B) Time and venue to be advised. |
Compulsory |
May | Announcement of Host Family Assignment | |
21 May | Pre-departure Workshop (Edinburgh group and Sheffield group with BST) Time and venue to be advised. |
Compulsory |
Late May / June | Final Briefing (Edinburgh group and Sheffield group with BST) Time and venue to be advised. |
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 |
Itinerary (Tentative)
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 – Phantom of the Opera, Medieval Banquet
- Service Project: Elderly, 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: 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 (the market leader of wire joiners / tensioners and wire-rope hanger)
- Service Project: Society for the Blind, primary school
- 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
College of Engineering