Programme Description
Since we first offered a Doctor of Philosophy programme in 1990, graduates have filled key positions as educational researchers and professional educators in the school and tertiary education sectors both in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Graduates also serve in national research institutes, government research units, and education-related institutions and services. Our Ph.D programme’s emphasis on conceptual originality, academic rigor, and critical inquiry is widely recognized throughout the education profession.
The Ph.D is a research doctorate that is pursued mainly through individual guided study with some supplementary coursework. Ph.D students pursue their scholarly interests under the guidance of scholars who are appointed to enlighten, direct, and evaluate in accordance with international standards and the Ph.D programme provide opportunity for promising individuals to pursue intensive specialization in a specified area of educational studies. Their efforts in critical review of literature, formulation of ideas, research construction, and theory building will benefit from a variety of activities that include research seminars, coursework, comprehensive examination, and guided research for thesis.
Areas of Study
(1) Curriculum and Instruction
- Curriculum Studies
- Educational Technology
- Instructional Design & Evaluation
- Language Education
(2) Educational Administration and Policy
- Educational Administration
- Studies in Education Policy
- Comparative Education
- Economics of Education
- Philosophy of Education
- Sociology of Education
(3) Educational Psychology
- Cognitive and Intellectual Development
- Counselling
- Exceptional Children / Gifted Education
- Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology
- Motivation
- Psychosocial and Personality Development
(4) Sports Science and Physical Education
- Sports Biomechanics
- Pedagogy in Sports and Physical Education
- Sports and Exercise Psychology/Motor Behaviour
- Sociology of Sports and Physical Education
- Sports Physiology
- Physical Activity, Health and Fitness
- Measurement in Physical Education and Sports
Programme Requirements
The Ph.D Programme in Education is research-oriented. A student normally combines seminars with guided independent research in an individually designed course of study under the guidance of the supervisor and academic advisers. In addition, s/he may be required to enroll in formal courses of lectures within the Graduate Division of Education and in other divisions of the University as deemed necessary.
(1) Coursework Requirement
(a) Research-related courses
| 1 course to be chosen from the following: | PEDU 7301*, 7302* | 1.5 unit |
| 2-3 courses to be chosen from the following: | PEDU 6003, 6004, 6401-6406, EXSC6101, SSPE6000 | 4.5 units |
(There are pre-requisites for PEDU 6404, 6405, 7301 & 7302.)
(*Students who receive failure grades in PEDU7301 or 7302 will be allowed to have make-up examinations for 1 time only within 2 months’ time. The grade for make-up examination will not be higher than grade “C”.)
(b) PEDU 8000 is a thesis monitoring course. Students are required to take PEDU 8000 every term from the time of admission, throughout the preparation of thesis, until its completion. A student normally combines seminars with guided independent research in an individually designed course of study under the guidance of the supervisor and academic advisers. In addition, s/he may be required to enroll in formal courses of lectures within the Graduate Division of Education and in other divisions of the University as deemed necessary.
(2) Qualifying Examination
The qualifying examination will consist of two parts: the student’s field of specialization and one related field or a more narrowly defined sub-field within the student’s field of specialization. Examinations could be conducted in sit-in or take-home format, or other format. All applications will be subject to the approval of the Graduate Panel.
Students are required to pass the qualifying examination within the maximum period stipulated below (Applicable to students admitted on 1 August 2010 and thereafter):
| With research Master’s | Full-time | 30 months |
| Part-time | 42 months | |
| Without research Master’s | Full-time | 42 months |
| Part-time | 58 months |
(3) Ph.D Candidature
Students will be granted Ph.D Candidature upon completion of Coursework Requirements, with an average grade “B” for Research-related courses, and passing of the Qualifying Examination.
(4) Attending PhD Programme Annual Seminars / Doctoral Thesis Proposal Presentations
| Full-time Programme | Attend not less than 15 sessions of PhD Programme annual seminar / doctoral thesis proposal presentation during normative study period |
| Part-time Programme | Attend 6 sessions of PhD Programme annual seminar / doctoral thesis proposal presentation during normative study period |
(5) Research Ethics Training
Students are required to complete an online Research Ethics Training (RET) module on “Publication Ethics” offered by the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services (ORKTS) and obtain a valid Publication Ethics Certificate for graduation. Relevant information can be accessed from the RET website at https://www.research-ethics.cuhk.edu.hk/web/.
(1) Coursework Requirement
(a) Research-related courses
| 1 course to be chosen from the following: | PEDU 7301*, 7302* | 1.5 unit |
| 2-3 courses to be chosen from the following: | PEDU 6003, 6004, 6401-6406, EXSC6101, SSPE6000 | 4.5 units |
(There are pre-requisites for PEDU 6404, 6405, 7301 & 7302.)
(*Students who receive failure grades in PEDU7301 or 7302 will be allowed to have make-up examinations for 1 time only within 2 months’ time. The grade for make-up examination will not be higher than grade “C”.)
(b) PEDU 8000 is a thesis monitoring course. Students are required to take PEDU 8000 every term from the time of admission, throughout the preparation of thesis, until its completion. A student normally combines seminars with guided independent research in an individually designed course of study under the guidance of the supervisor and academic advisers. In addition, s/he may be required to enroll in formal courses of lectures within the Graduate Division of Education and in other divisions of the University as deemed necessary.
(2) Qualifying Examination
The qualifying examination will consist of two parts: the student’s field of specialization and one related field or a more narrowly defined sub-field within the student’s field of specialization. Examinations could be conducted in sit-in or take-home format, or other format. All applications will be subject to the approval of the Graduate Panel.
Students are required to pass the qualifying examination within the maximum period stipulated below (Applicable to students admitted on 1 August 2010 and thereafter):
| With research Master’s | Full-time | 30 months |
| Part-time | 42 months | |
| Without research Master’s | Full-time | 42 months |
| Part-time | 58 months |
(3) Ph.D Candidature
Students will be granted Ph.D Candidature upon completion of Coursework Requirements, with an average grade “B” for Research-related courses, and passing of the Qualifying Examination.
(4) Attending PhD Programme Annual Seminars / Doctoral Thesis Proposal Presentations
| Full-time Programme | Attend not less than 15 sessions of PhD Programme annual seminar / doctoral thesis proposal presentation during normative study period |
| Part-time Programme | Attend 6 sessions of PhD Programme annual seminar / doctoral thesis proposal presentation during normative study period |
(1) Coursework Requirement
(a) Research-related courses
| 1 course to be chosen from the following: | PEDU 7301*, 7302* | 1.5 unit |
| 3 courses to be chosen from the following: | PEDU 6003, 6004, 6401-6406 | 4.5 units |
(There are pre-requisites for PEDU 6404, 6405, 7301 & 7302.)
(*Students who receive failure grades in PEDU7301 or 7302 will be allowed to have make-up examinations for 1 time only within 2 months’ time. The grade for make-up examination will not be higher than grade “C”.)
(b) PEDU 8000 is a thesis monitoring course. Students are required to take PEDU 8000 every term from the time of admission, throughout the preparation of thesis, until its completion. A student normally combines seminars with guided independent research in an individually designed course of study under the guidance of the supervisor and academic advisers. In addition, s/he may be required to enroll in formal courses of lectures within the Graduate Division of Education and in other divisions of the University as deemed necessary.
(2) Qualifying Examination
The qualifying examination will consist of two parts: the student’s field of specialization and one related field or a more narrowly defined sub-field within the student’s field of specialization. Examinations could be conducted in sit-in or take-home format, or other format. All applications will be subject to the approval of the Graduate Panel.
Students are required to pass the qualifying examination within the maximum period stipulated below (Applicable to students admitted on 1 August 2010 and thereafter):
| With research Master’s | Full-time | 30 months |
| Part-time | 42 months | |
| Without research Master’s | Full-time | 42 months |
| Part-time | 58 months |
(3) Ph.D Candidature
Students will be granted Ph.D Candidature upon completion of Coursework Requirements, with an average grade “B” for Research-related courses, and passing of the Qualifying Examination.
(4) Attending PhD Programme Annual Seminars / Doctoral Thesis Proposal Presentations
| Full-time Programme | Attend not less than 15 sessions of PhD Programme annual seminar / doctoral thesis proposal presentation during normative study period |
| Part-time Programme | Attend 6 sessions of PhD Programme annual seminar / doctoral thesis proposal presentation during normative study period |
(1) Coursework Requirement
PEDU 8000 is a thesis monitoring course. Students are required to take PEDU 8000 every term from the time of admission, throughout the preparation of thesis, until its completion. A student normally combines seminars with guided independent research in an individually designed course of study under the guidance of the supervisor and academic advisers. In addition, s/he may be required to enroll in formal courses of lectures within the Graduate Division of Education and in other divisions of the University as deemed necessary.
(2) Qualifying Examination
The qualifying examination will consist of three parts: the student’s field of specialization, research methodology, and one related field or a more narrowly defined sub-field within the student’s field of specialization. A prospective Ph.D candidate could apply to substitute the paper on research methodology and one of the two papers in theories with relevant courses taken in the Faculty. Examinations could be conducted in sit-in or take-home format, or other format. All applications will be subject to the approval of the Graduate Panel.
Students are required to pass the qualifying examination within the maximum period stipulated below (Applicable to students admitted on 1 August 2010 and thereafter):
| With research Master’s | Full-time | 30 months |
| Part-time | 42 months | |
| Without research Master’s | Full-time | 42 months |
| Part-time | 58 months |
(3) Ph.D Candidature
Advancement to Ph.D Candidature is conditional upon the passing of a qualifying examination.
Other Requirements (Applicable to all students)
(a) Students must fulfill the Term Assessment Requirement of the Graduate School. For details, please refer to Section 13.0 “Unsatisfactory Performance and Discontinuation of Studies” of the General Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies which can be accessed from the Graduate School Homepage: http://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk.
(b) A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in order to fulfill the graduation requirement.
(c) Students are required to submit a research thesis and pass an oral examination for graduation.
(d) Each Ph.D student is required to present a research seminar at least once a year before the advancement to Ph.D candidature, and to submit an annual progress report to her / his supervisor. The supervisor, in consultation with the Graduate Panel, will review annually the progress of the student.
(e) Within twelve months after advancement to Ph.D candidature, the candidate must submit a thesis proposal. After the thesis proposal has been approved, the candidate should, under the supervision of her / his supervisor, submit a thesis and pass the oral examination within a prescribed period of time for graduation.
(f) Complete an Improving Postgraduate Learning (IPL) module “Observing Intellectual Property and Copyright Law during Research”. This will be an online module and relevant information can be accessed from the website: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/clear/prodev/ipl.html.