The main round of applications for research degrees will be invited in late 2006. The closing date for this round will be 31 January 2007. Clearing round applications may be invited in May and September 2007 if there are study places left. The closing dates for these rounds will be 31 May 2007 and 30 September 2007 respectively. Applicants are therefore advised to apply early. MPhil candidates may commence their studies on 1 September 2007 or 1 January 2008. Applicants who are unable to commence their studies on 1 September 2007 will be allowed to commence on 1 January 2008. Successful PhD applicants, however, may commence their studies on the first day of any calendar month during the academic year. Applications should be made at least three months before the intended date of registration, allowing extra time as necessary for visa and other formalities.

There are two ways for submitting an application:

By paper form

Application forms are obtainable from the Graduate School office (P403, Graduate House, HKU main campus) and the Academic Services Enquiry Office (UG05, Knowles Building, HKU main campus), and can be downloaded from the Graduate School's website at www.hku.hk/gradsch. The completed application form should reach the Graduate School by the appropriate closing date.

By electronic form

Applicants can also submit their application form and pay the application fee online by credit card at www.hku.hk/gradsch/online. However, supporting documents must be submitted by mail, and reach the Graduate School by the appropriate closing date.

Applicants should submit one complete set of application documents to apply for admission to the MPhil or PhD programme. Applicants who wish to apply for admission to more than one department should submit one complete set of application documents for each proposed department of study. The application documents include:

(a) Application form (unless an electronic form has been submitted via the Online Application System)

(b) Certificates and complete transcripts of undergraduate and postgraduate studies

Please submit officially certified certificates and complete official transcripts of your undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Documents which are not in English should be accompanied by a formally certified translation in English. If the policy of your institution is that the transcript should remain confidential, please request your institution to send it directly to the HKU Graduate School.

For current undergraduate or postgraduate students: it is to your advantage to submit an interim transcript showing the results of courses you have so far completed.

For qualifications obtained from HKU (except HKU SPACE): Certified certificates and official transcripts are not required but if you are a graduate, you are requested to submit a photocopy of the transcript with your application; if you are a current student, you are requested to attach a printout of your examination results from the Student Connect or a photocopy of your examination result slips.

(c) Statement of research interest or research proposal

Whether a statement of research interest or a research proposal is required depends on your proposed programme and department of study. Please click here for the requirements of individual Faculties. In general, a statement of research interest should include your reasons for undertaking graduate work at HKU while a research proposal should include the background, the objectives and the methodology/approach you propose to take in studying the subject matter.

(d) Two academic referee's reports

Please invite two people who are familiar with your academic achievements to complete the academic referee's report form and send it directly to the Graduate School. Alternatively, you may request the referees to return the referee's report to you in a signed and sealed envelope, and send the unopened envelopes to the HKU Graduate School together with your other supporting documents.

(e) Proof of payment of application fee (HK$150 or US$20) (unless payment has been made via the Online Application System)

Local applicants: Please deposit the amount to any branch of HSBC (account no.: 002-222834-014 (Ref: 4001)) or transfer the amount to the account using the ATM machine (account no.: 002-222834-014) and submit the original customer copy of the Account Deposit Form or the ATM customer advice with your application.

Overseas applicants: Please pay by bank draft of HK$150 or US$20 payable to "The University of Hong Kong".

Note: Please write your full name and proposed department of study on the back of the pay-in-slip or bank draft for identification purposes. Cash will NOT be accepted.

Applicants who wish to apply via the Online Application System are required to pay the fee by credit card online.

(f) Official score report of one of the following English language proficiency tests (for applicants from institutions outside HK where the language of instruction and examination is not entirely in English).

Please note the basic standards required by different faculties as indicated:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken within a two-year period:

Paper-based test	An overall score of 550 or above Additional requirement for applicants to the Faculty of Arts except the School of Chinese: 4 or above in the Test of Written English (TWE)
Computer-based test	An overall score of 213 or above Additional requirement for applicants to the Faculty of Arts except the School of Chinese: 4 or above in the Essay section
Internet-based test	An overall score of 80 or above Additional requirement for applicants to the Faculty of Arts except the School of Chinese: 25 or above in the Writing section

Applicants should request the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send an official score report to the University direct. Original or certified copy of the Examinee's score record will not be accepted. For this purpose, the TOEFL code of the University is 9671 and please use 99 as department code for sending official score report to the HKU Graduate School. [It is a policy of the TOEFL Policy Council to validate scores which are obtained within a two-year period. The University therefore accepts this two-year validity rule in the admission exercise]; or

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) taken within a two-year period:

Arts Faculty: Band 7 with no subtest lower than 5.5
Other Faculties: Band 6 with no subtest lower than 5.5

• Overseas General Certificate of Education (GCE), International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) or Cambridge Test of Proficiency in English Language (CPE):

All Faculties: Grade C or above

(g) Official score report of the GMAT or GRE (taken within a five-year period) (ONLY for applicants to the School of Business) (Institution codes: GMAT - FS2-WL-48; GRE - 2482)

(h) Official score report of the GRE Subject Test in Psychology (taken within a five-year period) with a minimum score of 550 (ONLY for applicants to the Department of Psychology if they do not have a first degree in Psychology)
(Institution code: 2482)

(i) Other documents

Other documents which the applicants would like to bring to the attention of the University, e.g. list of publications, documentary evidence of academic awards and professional qualifications, and summary of relevant experience.

Applicants who submit their applications in hard copy are requested to attach all supporting documents. If some of the supporting documents are not ready or available at the time of submission of applications, they should send the documents to the Graduate School as soon as they are available with their full name in English, the proposed curriculum and department of study and application number (if known) clearly written on the top right hand corner of each document. Applicants who submit their applications in electronic form should submit such documents to the Graduate School by mail. In either case, all supporting documents should reach the Graduate School on or before the closing date and due allowance should be made for postal delays.

All documents submitted in support of an application will be destroyed if the application is unsuccessful. Do not send original or irreplaceable documents.