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FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(Version
1.0 2005)
April 2005
Examinations:
Please click on following links for relevant information.
1.
About
the Institute – ICS Flyer
2.
Entry Requirements and Procedure
3.
Student Registration
Requirements
4.
Schedule
of Fees
5.
Syllabus
– Qualifying Examinations
6.
Examination
Structure
7.
Examination
Centres 2005
8.
Time
Table April 2005 Examinations
9.
Student
Registration Form
10. Qualifying
Examination Entry Form
11. Form for Exemption
12. Tutorship Enrolment Form
The answers
given below are the actual answers given to the students and thus should be
helpful to the prospective students. For standard FAQ, please refer to www.ics.org.uk.
Q 1
Is it correct one must have registered as
Student (understand the deadline is 30th November 2004 with 45 Sterling
Pounds registration fee) before eligible for taking any examination?
A1
Your understanding is correct. You must register as a student member before
taking any examination.
However, the last date of registration is 14th January 2005 (the
deadline has changed since 2003-04 examinations).
The fee is equivalent of GBP 45 (Pounds Sterling) equivalent in
Hong Kong Dollars at the existing exchange rate as on the day of application
(e.g. if the exchange rate is 1 GBP = HK $ 14.5, then the fee payable is HK $
650).
Q 2
If in the time being I would like to apply ONLY
for "Tutorship", do I have to register as Student right now?
A 2
It is a usual practice that the students register themselves
before applying for the Tutorship. However, this is not mandatory though
useful.
Q 3
Is it true a student MUST sit minimum 3
examinations in his first attempt (with "Shipping Business" must be
one of them + ANY other 2 subjects)?
A 3
Right on the head again!!
Your understanding is correct. Shipping Business is a compulsory
subject and MUST be taken in the very first sitting along with a minimum of
three other subjects.
Q 4
Regarding the Tutorship, how long will it last
for each subject enrolled. I
mean, from the date I have enrolled one subject, till when will the
marking/tutorship service provided by the tutor expire?
A 4
It is up to you. How much time you are able to take out for the
studies and how quickly you can submit your assignments. I would like to
clarify here that "it is not a precondition that you must finish all the
tutorship assignments before you can appear for the examinations". If
you feel confident that you can appear and pass (though as the Branch Education
Officer of the Institute I would encourage you to strive for distinctions in
most of the subjects, if not all) in a given year, even if you have not
finished all the assignments, you can do so.
Students can enroll at any time of the year and on enrolment they
will be forwarded a course book and allocated a tutor who will guide them
through their studies
The course book contains 10 assignments and a mock examination
paper that needs to be forwarded to the assigned tutor for marking
(preferably by e-mail).
Assignments are returned within 7-10 days. Students may elect to
submit assignments by post if preferred but the turn round time is of course
affected by the vagaries of the International postal services.
Q 5
Is it possible to enroll for the exams without
attending the classes and buy the books (the theoretical material)?
A 5
Yes. However, the tutorship text material is available only if you
enroll in the Tutorship. You do not have to attend the classes. Tutorship is basis
completion of assignments. It is not necessary that you must finish all the
assignments before you appear for the examinations. If you feel confident
that you can sit for the examinations and successfully complete these, you
can appear for the examinations.
Q 6
How much does materials plus the exams cost?
A 6
I would like reply this question in following steps based on where
you need to make the remittances –
·
Registration as a student MUST
always be paid to the Branch, in this case the “Hong Kong Branch”. Amount
shall be equivalent of GBP 45 in HK $ (using the exchange rate as applicable
on the date of making the cheque. For example, an exchange rate of 14.5 gives
the equivalent of HK $ 650 for GBP 45).
·
All other fees e.g. the exemption
fee, qualifying examinations fee and the Tutorship fees should be paid in GBP
(Pounds Sterling) directly to ICS, London, in such a way that the Institute receives full payment
without any deductions whatsoever by the bank etc.
For fee schedule, please refer to the information under fees.
Q 7
Is it still enough time to enroll for the exams
in April 2005?
A 7
Yes. The last date for registration as a student is 14th
January 2005 and for submitting the Qualifying Examinations date is 21st Jan
2005.
Q 8
If I have to attend classes, how many classes
out of the total number of classes do I have to attend to take the exams? I
would prefer to study at home and still take the exams if possible.
A 8
You do not have to attend classes.
Q 9
Could you
please advise the estimated workload to complete the two modules via the
Tutorship scheme?
A 9
Completion of two
modules is not very difficult. I would estimate a period of not more than 6
months to 9 months total, keeping your own busy work schedule in mind.
Tutorship scheme: Once
enrolled and the text books obtained, it will depend on you to put in
time and complete the assignments, which in my view are not difficult
(especially when you are involved in shipping). In case of practicing
students, I would guess, "Introduction to Shipping" may even be
exempted, depending upon your qualifications and past experience. Once you
fill in the forms with supporting and the registration fee, you may ask ICS
whether you qualify for exemptions in any subjects.
Q 10
In order
to complete the full course, must this all be done in one
examination year or is it possible to pick and choose modules to study over a
number of years?
A 10
I would recommend the
route of trying to complete the examinations as soon as possible though you
can complete the examinations in a number of years (maximum 5 years. However,
in the first year, you must necessarily take three (3) subjects
including "Shipping Business".
Q 11
What is the basic outline of the examination
scheme?
A 11
There are three Groups. First Group - all subjects are compulsory,
while exemption may be obtained in some of the Group 1 subjects. You can
chose subjects from Group 2 and Group 3.
A student requires credit for 7 subjects (including the exempted
subjects) before he/she is considered to have completed all the qualifying
examinations for applying as a member of the Institute (MICS).
Q 12
How and
where should I register as a student?
A 12
Register as the Student
Member by filling up the form and attaching a cheque for HK $ equivalent of
GBP 45, drawn in the name of "The Institute of Chartered
Shipbrokers" and mail it to -
The Honorary Secretary
The Institute of
Chartered Shipbrokers
GPO Box 12292
Central
Hong Kong
Q 13
Can I apply
for any exemptions and how?
A 13
If you have completed
any Shipping related or other relevant courses earlier, you may qualify for
exemptions from some of the subjects. Please fill in the form for the
exemptions (as you feel you may qualify for) and send it to the Honorary
Secretary who in turn will forward to London. There is no need to send any
fees at this time except fees for registration as a student member.
After you receive a
reply from ICS, UK about the exemptions granted, you may then fill up the
form for Qualifying examinations and send it to ICS London along with the
fees for the exempted subjects, as well as the ones you will be appearing
for.
Q 14
What are the pre-requisites of registering as a
student with the Institute?
A 14
Every applicant for registering as a student and subsequent entry
to the qualifying examinations will be required to comply with one of the
following conditions:
a)
have gained passes in 2 subjects at
GCE "A" level or the equivalent outside the U.K. education system
or
b) have
complete one year's employment in an organization which has a bona fide connection with shipping business including
serving at sea.
or
c) have
obtained the Institute's Foundation Diploma in Shipping.
Q 15
I understand that the Institute offers
Foundation Diploma and Qualifying Examinations. I wonder if students are
allowed to first obtain the Foundation Diploma and then at later stage move
on write the Qualifying Examinations in order to become a member if they have
such interest.
A 15
Yes. The Institute offers the Foundation Diploma and Qualifying
Examinations. It depends whether the students satisfy the first two
conditions given above under Answer 14. If they do not satisfy the first two
conditions, they must obtain the Foundation Diploma in Shipping. Otherwise,
they can appear for the Qualifying Examinations directly.
Q 16
Concerning tutorship, I understand that a
course book containing assignments and mock exam is provided. I would like to
know if required readings are also included in the course book as I am
worried completing an individual assignment will require a lot of extra
research work if the readings provided (if any) do not well cover the
assignments. Also, are there any definite deadlines being set for submitting
the assignments?
And, how long does it usually take to receive the course materials after
subscribing the tutorship?
A 16
Yes, you can apply for the Tutorship, which is an excellent tool
for preparing for the examination. Even though it might appear a bit
expensive at first sight, it is value for money. The course material provided
is sufficient for obtaining a pass in the examinations. However, like any
other examination, better preparation through reading the reference books and
a bit of research always helps to gain distinctions and possibly may help you
to win a few prizes! The assignments will have deadlines. However you should
not be discouraged by the deadlines but take it as a challenge to submit the
assignments timely, continue to prepare and depending upon the confidence
gained, may appear for the examinations even if the Tutorship program is not
fully completed.
It takes about 3 weeks after application to receive the tutorship
material.
Q 17
Is there any Institute's accredited Distance
Learning Centre located in Hong Kong?
A 17
As much as we would have liked to, I regret that at present we do
not have a DLC located in Hong Kong. Having said that please be rest assured
that I and our other Executive Committee Members would be pleased to help you
if you have any questions.
Q 18
Is there any Residential Weekend Program
offered in Hong Kong?
A 18
I am afraid there is none such residential course in Hong Kong.
Q 19
I understand that a student is required to write
a minimum of three exams at his/her first attempt. What happens if a student
happens to be not able to pass all 3 exams in the first attempt? Will he or
she not be qualified to become the Institute's member even if he later
completes all the Qualifying Examinations?
A 19
Yes. Your understanding is correct. Amongst the 3 minimum subjects
required in the first attempt, please note the Shipping Business is
compulsory and must be “attempted” in the first year.
It is not necessary that the minimum three subjects that you
appear for in the first attempt must be passed in that attempt. If you fail
in any of these subjects in the first attempt, you may appear again. However,
as a motivation, we have prizes for the students who appear and pass “all”
the subjects in the first attempt i.e. in one sitting!
Once you have passed all the required subjects in one or more
sittings (a maximum of 5 attempts are allowed but you have to register again
each year by paying the registration fee and also the qualifying examinations
entering fee), you will then be qualified to apply for the membership. The
Controlling Council in London, upon receipt of your application for election
to membership, will then approve the election. Once this is done, you will be
advised to pay the membership subscription and you will be presented with the
membership certificate in a certificate awarding ceremony by the Branch
Chairman.
Q 20
With reference to the captioned subject, I
would like to know if I
completed a fundamental diploma
of your institute with an extra subject
passed (i.e. totally 3 subjects), does it mean that I have fulfilled
the requirement of sitting three
subjects of the Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) in the first year?
A 20
The Foundation Diploma consists of 2 subjects only, namely
Introduction to Shipping and one subject from Group 2. When you have
completed the Foundation Diploma you may proceed to the Qualifying
Examinations, whereupon you will have the 2 subjects you have passed already
credited, but you must still sit 3 subjects in your first year of the QE,
including Shipping Business.
Q 21
Should I submit my registration form (and
cheque payment) and "Exemption Application Form" locally to your HK
branch office and your office will handle accordingly?
A 21
Yes, you are correct. You may do so. Once again, the registration
MUST be paid in HK $ and to the Hong Kong Branch as per the instructions in
answer 12 above and 22 below.
Q 22
Understand that fees, be they for registration,
entry for exams or tutorship, can be settled by credit card payment. However,
there is no space where I can fill in my credit card information in the
"Student Registration Form" and in "Examination Entry
Form" (at the later stage).
A 22
Please note the “registration fee” in HK $ to the local Branch can
not be remitted by credit card payment. Please issue a Cheque for HK $
equivalent of GBP 45, using following procedure -
Please make cheque or bank draft payable to "INSTITUTE OF
CHARTERED SHIPBROKERS"
OR
Directly deposit into the Standard Chartered Bank A/C No. 411-1-000018-6 and
send the pay-in-slip to:
THE HONORARY SECRETARY
THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED SHIPBROKERS
G.P.O. BOX 12292,
HONG KONG
Other fees such as Examinations Fees, Fees for Exemptions and the Tutorship
Fee can be paid by Credit Card. On a separate sheet you can write down your
name (as on the credit card), the credit card number, Date of expiry,
authority for amount to be debited, name of the beneficiary and your
signature. You must then attach this sheet of paper with your forms and send
to London. For future forms, we will try to include the rows/columns for
the credit card payment.
Additionally please find following information with regards to the
Credit Card Payment. PAYMENT ACCEPTED BY CREDIT CARD (VISA, MASTERCARD) OR
DEBIT CARD (DELTA OR SWITCH). PLEASE NOTE 3% WILL BE ADDED TO ALL CREDIT CARD
TRANSACTIONS.
Q 23
If payment is to made by cheque drawn on a bank
with a UK branch (my choice here is HSBC), I can settle all the bank charges
that may be levied at my end but how I will surely know and hence settle the
amount of bank charges, if any, that will be levied at the Institute's end at
UK? That is the reason why I would prefer to use credit card payment.
A 23
If you advise the remitting bank exact amount that must be
credited to the beneficiary's a/c, the bank will accordingly ask you to remit
an additional amount (for its fees). Please note for credit card transaction,
a 3% surcharge is to be added.
Q 24
Should I wait for the Institute's confirmation
of acceptance of my registration before I proceed to register the Tutorship?
or should I be able to proceed concurrently to register with the Institute
and with the Tutorship? In the former case, I expect extra waiting time will
be incurred.
A 24
Normally it is better to first register as a student if you intend
to appear for the examinations in the current Institute year (Institute year
is from 1st June to 31st May). However, there is no pre-condition that you
must register first as a student before applying for the Tutorship. I would
reckon that best way would be to apply and register for both at the same
time.
For general information about the procedure, you may also refer to
following document:
http://www.ics.org.hk/doc/Waterlink2004.pdf
For further enquiries, you may please
send an e-mail to the Education Officer, Mr. Jagmeet Makkar at edu_icshk@yahoo.com.hk (please note
*underscore” between “edu” and “icshk”).
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