Graduate School Homepage  
Important Notes to Applicants  

Documents to Support an Online Application

Please read the following carefully and send the required documents to the Graduate School by the application deadline to ensure thorough and timely consideration of your application. Your full name should be clearly marked on each document. Where possible, please also quote your application number (which will be assigned to you after submission of your application online), proposed programme (MPhil/PhD) and department of study.

All documents should reach the Graduate School Office (Room P403, Graduate House, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong) on or before the application deadline. Documents once submitted will not be returned.

To avoid any possible delay in processing your application, please submit your application online and obtain an application number before sending the supporting documents to the Graduate School (except the official score reports of English language proficiency tests and GMAT/GRE, which may be sent after you take the test(s) but before you submit an application for admission).

Supporting application documents without a corresponding application record in the online application system will not be considered.

  1. 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 using the Transcript Request Form (pdf format / doc format).

    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.

  2. Statement of research interest or research proposal

    Please submit a statement of research interest or a research proposal according to the requirements of the Faculty and programme for which you will apply. Please click here for details. 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.

  3. Two academic referee's reports

    Please invite two people who are familiar with your academic achievements to complete the academic referee's report form (pdf format / doc format) 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 application documents.

  4. 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) (Institution code: 9671; Department code: 99)
      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

      (Note: Applicants who took the TOEFL 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.)

    • 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)
    • Cambridge Test of Proficiency in English Language (CPE)
      All Faculties: Grade C or above

  5. 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)

  6. 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: GRE - 2482)

  7. 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 received and professional qualifications, and summary of relevant experience.