Second Major in Mathematics

The four-year undergraduate curriculum offers students who do not belong to the MATH programme an opportunity to read for a second major in Mathematics.

Upon completion of a second major in Mathematics, such a student will be awarded by the CUHK a single degree which is about the student's first major but which also indicates the second major in mathematics.

Upon endorsement by the Department of Mathematics, students who are reading for a second major in Mathematics will be eligible for the same benefits that MATH students are entitled. These include scholarship, internship, and outgoing research opportunities. However, higher priority will be given to MATH students.

Note. Students belonging to programmes that have already incorporated a substantial portion of MATH-major-requirement content will not be eligible to read for a second major in Mathematics. These programmes include:

• B.Sc. Mathematics and Information Engineering,
• B.Ed. Mathematics and Mathematics Education.

Procedures.

Students who wish to declare a double major must complete the requirements of both majors within the normative study period and attain the required cumulative grade point average (CGPA).

Students are advised to search for `second major' in CUHK RES for the most updated procedures, and the application period applicable to the current academic year.

1. With the approval of the first major department and ours, students may declare a second major in Mathematics at the start of the last term of attendance within the normative study period.
2. Students can make enquiries to the Department of Mathematics, and express in writing the intention of declaring the second major at least one term before registration of the second major.
   1. The Department of Mathematics will only consider second major intention from students who have completed a significant portion of the MATH major requirements.
      1. For students admitted to the CUHK in 2025-26 or after, this translates into the completion of 33 units of the MATH major requirements which are made up of:---
         • Science Faculty Package courses, and
         • MATH1010, 1025, 1030, 1090, 2010, 2020, 2040, 2050, and
         • at least one of MATH2060, 2070, 2230, 3270, 3280.
      2. For students admitted to the CUHK in 2024-25 or before, this translates into the completion of 33 units of the MATH major requirements which are made up of:---
         • Science Faculty Package courses, and
         • MATH1010, 1030, 1050, 2010, 2020, 2040, 2050, 2070, 2230.
   2. According to experience, in order to complete the above, a student with intention for second major in Mathematics will need at least two and a half years, probably including the summer semester for taking courses.
   3. The letter of intention should be attached with an academic plan on how the second major is to be completed.
      The academic plan will be judged with reference to previous academic result.
3. Before making the declaration, students must have attained a CGPA of 3.0 or above in all the courses taken before the last term of attendance.
   Students must also have completed/registered for all course requirements for graduation purposes in the first major (including University/Faculty/College requirements) at the time the declaration of second major is made.
4. The application form for `Declaration of a Second Major' can be obtained from CUHK RES within the add/drop period of each term.
   Students permitted to declare a second major should submit the approved form to RES by the close of the application period listed in CUHK RES.
5. Reminder. Students who have declared double major and cannot complete the requirements of the first or second major within the normative study period will be charged a prescribed fee for the remaining units of courses, as set by the university.
   For more detail, refer to the CUHK RES `per unit charge' webpage.