An HKUST Student Account is automatically created for both undergraduates and postgraduates following registration with the Academic Registry(ARO). Your account name will be created using your initials and surname, with the email address in the form of <account name>@connect.ust.hk. After graduation, your HKUST Student Account will automatically transition to an HKUST Alumni Account.
Due to the global storage reduction in the Microsoft 365 Education Storage Policy, Student Email Mailboxes will be adjusted to 15 GB, and OneDrive quota will be adjusted to 50 GB.
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Account Activation
All students are expected to observe acceptable standards of behavior in using their HKUST accounts. Please read the Acceptable Use Policy, Access to User Accounts Policy, Protect My Account and IT Security Guidelines carefully before activating your account.
Activation Guidelines:
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Read the online information carefully, and then input your Student ID and Hong Kong ID card number in the data entry screen. If you do not have a HKID card, please provide your date of birth in the format of day, month, and year.
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Your account name, creation status, and personal details, such as Student ID, name, department, and undergraduate/postgraduate status, will then be displayed.
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If your account has been created, you will be prompted to assign a new password. After setting the password, you will be guided to register for multi-factor authentication (MFA) to enhance your account's security.
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After a few minutes, you can start using network services and access @Connect – Students' Email Services at http://O365.ust.hk . You may also visit the 'Related Tools' section below to set your email display name or create a full-name email alias, which is available for postgraduate students.
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Once your student account is ready, your contact information will appear in the University Communications Directory. Visit the Set Up Contact Details page for more information.
Important Updates for Student Accounts
Please note the following Microsoft Office 365 services entitlements for all student accounts. Newly created HKUST student accounts in the current cohort will be assigned to these new storage quotas. Existing students will be gradually transitioned to the new quotas by 31 October 2025.
Email: 15 GB
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Once your mailbox reaches 90% capacity, the Archive Mailbox will be automatically activated in Outlook, and emails older than two years will be moved to this archive mailbox, freeing up space and not count toward your storage quota.
Please note that your HKUST student email account serves as the university's official communication channel.
To ensure you continue receiving important university emails, please regularly delete unnecessary emails (e.g., large attachments, outdated threads) to stay within the quota.
OneDrive: 50 GB
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When OneDrive usage exceeds the quota, access will be restricted to read/download/delete functions only.
Please review your OneDrive and clean up unnecessary files to stay within the quota.
Microsoft 365 Online Apps
- Access to Microsoft 365 Online Apps, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and others, remains unchanged with a HKUST Student Account.
Additional Resources
- Visit the Microsoft 365 Storage Global Reduction page for more information on managing your storage.
Email Account Settings
Visit the @Connect (Students' email service) page to configure email settings, including changing your display name and setting up a full name email alias (for postgraduates).
Account Termination
A student’s HKUST account will be terminated upon leaving the University. Upon successful completion of the study, a four-month grace period will be granted to transition from a Student Account to an Alumni Account. Email notifications will be sent. Students are urged to back up or transfer files before termination.
Alumni Accounts
Graduates can continue using their @connect email address (i.e., @connect.ust.hk) and Microsoft Online Outlook. Please refer to the Alumni Account for more details.
The Development & Alumni Office offers a variety of services for HKUST graduates. For more details and assistance, please refer to Services and Benefits | HKUST Alumni.