General Information and Instructions

1. Application Period
   
   Applications are accepted and considered in three batches with the following deadlines:
   - 31 January (main round)
   - 31 May (1st clearing round)
   - 30 September (2nd clearing round)
   
   Successful MPhil applicants will commence studies on either 1 September or 1 January. Successful PhD applicants may commence studies on the first day of any calendar month. Due to the limited number of student places, it would be to your advantage if you submit your applications for the main round.
   
   
2. Submission of Application
   
   Application for admission can be submitted online or by paper form. A complete set of supporting documents should also be submitted by post or in person. Applicants who wish to apply for admission to more than one department should submit an application with a complete set of supporting documents for each proposed 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.
   
   
3. Application Acknowledgement
   
   After you have submitted your application online, you will receive an acknowledgement email with an application number within one day. Please quote the application number and your full name for any future correspondence with the Graduate School.
   
   After you have submitted your supporting documents, another acknowledgement email will be sent to you, normally within four weeks after the receipt of the documents by the Graduate School. An acknowledgement letter will also be sent to your correspondence address. The letter and the email will contain instructions on how each applicant can check his/her own application status online. Applicants are strongly advised to quote the application number whenever they make any enquiries concerning their applications.
   
   
4. Interview/Test
   
   The Graduate School will send the application papers to the relevant Faculty/School/Department/Centre/Institute for review after the deadline of each round of application. Applicants may be required to attend an interview and/or sit for a test arranged by the proposed department of study as part of the selection process.
   
   
5. Notification of Results
   
   The Graduate School will inform all applicants of the result of their applications in writing in about three to four months after the deadline of application. Applicants may also check the result on the web and the details will be given in the application acknowledgement email/letter.
   
   
6. Postgraduate Studentships (PGS)
   
   Full-time MPhil and PhD students who hold a first degree at second class honors upper division (or equivalent) or above are normally considered eligible for receiving Postgraduate Studentships during the normative study period. The University's Board of Graduate Studies, which has sole and absolute discretion in granting the award of the Postgraduate Studentship, may also take into consideration the candidates' results in Master's degrees. Studentships are tenable on an annual basis and are renewable upon satisfactory progress and the availability of funding. The monthly stipend for the 20065-2007 academic year is HK$12,500 and the value of the Studentship is subject to review by the University from time to time. Please indicate whether you would like to receive a Postgraduate Studentship in the online application form. No separate application form for a Postgraduate Studentship is required.
   
   A Postgraduate Studentship holder may be required to undertake in each year, under supervision, duties which carry educational benefits for the holder. The amount of such work to be performed by a student receiving the above amount of Studentship shall not exceed 100 hours. Apart from the work undertaken in this capacity, the Studentship holder shall not undertake any other employment either within or outside the University during the tenure of the Studentship.
   
   
7. University Postgraduate Fellowships (UPF)
   
   University Postgraduate Fellowships (UPF) are available for selected full-time PhD candidates with excellent academic record. The Fellowship is worth $70,000. This is awarded on-top of the Postgraduate Studentship. Applicants in the final year of study may also apply for the Fellowship. If you wish to apply for the UPF, please indicate in "Degree & Candidature" section of the online application form and submit an essay of not more than 2 pages on why you think you should be awarded the Fellowship. Only one round of UPF applications will be considered annually and the deadline for application is 31 January.
   
   
8. Related Regulations and Procedures
   
   Regulations and Procedures for the Degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and the Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studentships can be downloaded from the Graduate School homepage.
   
   
9. Enquiries
   
   For academic related matters, e.g. choice of research area and proposed supervisor, please contact the Postgraduate Admissions Advisor of the Faculty/School/Department/Centre/Institute concerned. The list of Postgraduate Admissions Advisors can be found in the Guide to Application for Admission.
   
   For administrative matters, please contact the Graduate School office (email: gradsch@hku.hk; tel: (852) 2857-3470; fax: (852) 2857-3543). Detailed information on application can also be found in the Graduate School homepage under the section "Information for Applicants".