Doctor of Philosophy / Master of Philosophy

Talented and enthusiastic individuals interested in research, aspiring academics, or those aiming to become teacher educators.

The programme comprises core courses and independent research under the guidance of supervisors. Students are required to take all core courses (3 credits for each course) and present their thesis or thesis proposal at the Qualifying Examination and Viva Examinations to complete the programme requirements.

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Students pursuing MPhil or PhD studies are first required to register provisionally for the degree and their registration will be confirmed after successfully undertaking a Confirmation of Candidature.  The Confirmation of Candidature is expected to be taken after 12 months of study.

The confirmation process provides an opportunity for the students to submit and obtain recommendations on a plan for the structure of their research programmes, describe the investigative programme, and identify the range of expertise necessary to complete the research.

Application for an upgrade from MPhil to PhD will be considered after Confirmation of Candidature and completion of the coursework requirements.

The medium of instruction is English.

MPhil

• A Bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) from a recognised university

PhD

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) from a recognised university; or
• A Bachelor’s degree with first class honours (or equivalent qualification) from a recognised university

Applicants with a Bachelor's or Master's degree at a university where the programme was not taught and assessed in English are normally required to  demonstrate competency through one of the following minimum requirements:

• IELTS Score of 6.5 (academic module) with no subtest lower than 6.0#; or
• TOEFL (internet-based test)#:
  • Score of 80 (for tests taken before 21 January 2026)
  • Score of 4.0 (for tests taken from 21 January 2026 onwards); or
• Other equivalent qualifications^.

#The result of IELTS/TOEFL provided should be within two years.
*Individual fields of study such as the English Language may have higher requirements.
^The College English Test (CET) is not accepted as an equivalent qualification.

For details on the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), including the scholarship benefits, eligibility, application procedures, admission requirements, financial support, and sharing from HKPFS awardees, please click here.

All full-time UGC-funded research students are automatically considered for the Research Postgraduate Studentship. The value of the studentship shall be determined by the University when necessary. The monthly stipend for the 2026/27 academic year is HK$19,100 (approximately US$2,440) for all MPhil and PhD students and HK$19,600 (approximately US$2,450) for post-candidacy PhD students. Conference and research support will also be provided to UGC-funded research students.

HK$47,000/annum (UGC-funded students) (Provisional and subject to adjustment)
HK$94,000/annum (Self-financed students) (Provisional and subject to adjustment)
Extension fees will be charged to students who have to extend their studies beyond the normal duration.

For more information on the Tuition Waiver Scheme for Local Students enrolled in full-time UGC-funded RPg programmes, please refer to: http://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/tws.html

Research Proposal Guidance Notes