Leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Doctor of Music (DMus), Master of Music (MMus) or Master of Fine Arts (MFA), our research programmes consist of coursework and research components. Students need to submit a written research thesis and pass an oral examination for graduation.
Degree |
Mode of Study |
Normative Study Period |
Maximum Study Period |
Master of Music |
Full-time Part-time |
1 year 2 years |
3 years 4 years |
Master of Fine Arts |
Full-time |
2 years |
4 years |
Master of Philosophy |
Full-time Part-time |
2 years 3 years |
4 years 5 years |
Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Music |
Full-time Part-time |
36 months 48 months |
84 months 96 months |
Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Music |
Full-time Part-time |
48 months 64 months |
84 months 96 months |
MPhil-PhD articulated programmes
Articulated MPhil-PhD programmes offer the option to enter a PhD programme with a Bachelor’s degree. Students will be offered admission as either MPhil students or as PhD students (pre-candidacy). Upon satisfying all the candidacy requirements (including course requirements, candidacy examination, thesis proposal submission and defence) within the candidacy period, PhD students (pre-candidacy) may be promoted to the post-candidacy stage preparing to work towards completion of their research thesis and oral defence for graduation.
Degree | Mode of Study |
Maximum Period to fulfill Candidacy |
Normative Study Period | Maximum Study Period |
Master of Philosophy |
Full-time Part-time |
/ / |
2 years 3 years |
4 years 5 years |
Doctor of Philosophy (entering with a research master’s degree1) |
Full-time Part-time |
24 months 32 months |
36 months 48 months |
72 months 84 months |
Doctor of Philosophy (entering without a research master’s degree1) |
Full-time Part-time |
36 months 48 months |
48 months 64 months |
84 months 100 months |
1 The University reserves absolute discretion to decide whether the degree possessed by a student is a research master’s degree or not, such decision to be communicated through the admission notification.
In response to academic and societal needs, taught postgraduate programmes cover a broad range of academic subject areas with different periods and modes of study. Students need to fulfill coursework and project/thesis requirements (if any) for graduation.
Periods of study for each programme are as follows:
Degree/Diploma |
Mode of Study |
Normative Study Period |
Maximum Study Period |
Doctor of Education |
Full-time Part-time |
3 years 4 years |
7 years 8 years |
Juris Doctor |
Full-time Part-time |
2 years 42 months |
4 years 7 years |
Juris Doctor/MBA |
Full-time Part-time |
3 years 5 years |
5 years 90 months |
Doctor of Nursing |
Part-time |
4 years |
6 years |
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology |
Part-time |
3 years |
7 years |
Master of Laws, Postgraduate Certificate in Laws |
Full-time Part-time |
1 year 2 years |
2 years 3 years |
Master of Social Science in Social Work |
Full-time Part-time |
2 years 3 years |
4 years 5 years |
Master of Arts, Master of Accountancy, Master of Education, Master of Public Health, Master of Science, Master of Social Science, Master of Social Work, Postgraduate Diploma in Education |
Full-time Part-time |
1 year 2 years |
3 years 4 years |
Master of Architecture, Master of Social Science in Clinical Psychology, Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology |
Full-time |
2 years |
4 years |
MBA |
Full-time Part-time |
2 years 25 months |
4 years 4 years |
Executive MBA, Executive MBA (Chinese), MBA (Finance), Master of Clinical Pharmacy, Master of Nursing, Executive Master of Professional Accountancy |
Part-time |
2 years |
4 years |
Master of Chinese Medicine |
Full-time |
4 years |
6 years |
Master of Divinity |
Full-time |
2 years |
4 years2 |
Master of Nursing Science (Pre-registration) |
Full-time |
3 years |
5 years |
Master of Science in Applied Economics |
Full-time |
17 months |
3 years |
Master of Science in Information & Technology Management |
Full-time Part-time |
1 year 18 months |
3 years 4 years |
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering |
Part-time |
3 years |
4 years |
Master of Science in Financial Technology |
Full-time Part-time |
1 year 2 years |
2 years 4 years |
Postgraduate Diploma in Prehospital & Emergency Care |
Full-time Part-time |
1 year 1 year |
3 years 4 years |
Postgraduate Diploma in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health, Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health |
Part-time |
1 year |
3 years |
2 In special circumstances, the maximum study period may be 5 years if so recommended by the Head of the Graduate Division concerned.
Mode of Study
Unless otherwise specified, classes of full‐time and part‐time programmes are scheduled during daytime.
A student registered for a full‑time programme of studies shall not take up any full‑time employment, paid or unpaid, during term time except with prior permission of the Graduate Council. Recipient of a Postgraduate Studentship shall not take up full-time or part-time employment, except with prior permission of the Graduate Council.
Concurrent Registration
A student shall not be registered simultaneously for another programme of studies leading to the award of a degree, diploma or certificate at this University or at any other tertiary institution unless an application has been submitted in advance to the Graduate Division concerned, endorsed by the Faculty concerned and approved by the Graduate Council. A student in breach of this regulation shall be required to discontinue studies at the University.